Show BOOTH AUTHOR OF- OF MONSIEUR THE cox CONQUEST lESa OF CANAAN PENROD ETC I j I IGHT BY O a SYNOPSIS Sheridan's attempt to make a business business busi busi- ness man of his son Bibbs b by start mg him in the machine shop ends in ill Bibbs going to a sanitarium a n nervous nervous nerv nerv- rv- rv ous US wreck On his return Bibbs r is met at the station b by his sister Edith i He finds himself an inconsiderable and unconsidered figure In the New NewHouse NewHouse NewHouse House of the Sheridan s. s lie sees Mary Iary Vertrees looking at t him from froma a summer house next door The Ver- Ver old town fa family mil and impoverished impoverished call can on the Sheridan new new- rich ly-rich and afterward discuss them Mary Iary puts Into words her parents unspoken wish that she marry one of the Sheridan boys bos At the Sheridan banquet Sheridan spreads himself Mary frankly encourages encourages encourages en en- Jim Sheridan's attention and Bibbs hears he Is to be sent back to the machine shop Mary l tells her mother about the banquet and shocks her mother b by talking of Jim as a matrimonial possibility Jim tells Mary farr Di Bibbs bs is not a lunatic just lunatic just queer He proposes to Mor Mary who half hale accepts him Sheridan tells Bibbs he lie must go back to the machine machne shop as soon as he is strong enough in spite of oC Bibbs Bibb's pica plea to be allowed to write Bibbs has to break to his father the news of Jims Jim's sudden death All AU the rest of or the family helpless in their grief grIer Bibbs becomes temporary master of or the house At Atthe Atthe the funeral he be meets Mary and nd rides home borne with her Mrs Irs Sheridan pleads with Bibbs Dibbs to return to the machine shop for his fathers father's sake and h he consents Mutual love lo of music an intimate friendship be- be Bibbs and Mary Mary sells ter er ter piano to help out the finances ot or othe he be Vertrees family Sheridan finds Roscoe in an au intoxicated condition during during office hours and takes him bo home e Friendship between bet n I Bibbs and and d Mary ripens into a more intimate intimate inti inti- r mate relation and under Marys Mary's influence in- in thence fluence Bibbs decides to return to the machine shop Sheridan finds his son Roscoe's affairs in a muddled com condition Uon owing to his intemperate habits Bibbs under the inspiration of of- l Marys lars ars ar's friendship makes good in inthe inthe the the machine shop Sheridan Is Injured injured In- In lured while attempting to show the Ii boy lioy y how h w to do his work worl Sibyl insanely Insanely insanely In- In sanely jealous over Lamhorn's attentions attentions at- at teRUo to tb to Edith makes a scene In Inthe I. I the Sheridan home and Lamhorn I is i out ordered of the house by Sheridan Bibbs finds great finds great happiness in his work and his love Mary Edith leaves for Cor New New York ot lily uly to visit visit- visita a a. friend Roscoe tells l his is father Cather i that that he i is going to quit the business and go away way with his wife Sheridan announces that he be Is going to take Bibbs into the tho oID office officer e i r Im and make business a a man of or him himA A telegram from rom Edith an announces announces an an- her marriage to Lamhorn Doctor Gurney tries without success success success suc suc- cess to induce Sheridan to give up upI I his lids plan Ilian to force torce Bibbs into a busi- busi v 11 toss nose B career Mrs Mra Sh Sheridan tells Sheridan tells her herh h husband that she believes Bibbs Dibbs Is 4 tp fp love lov with MaryNo MaryNo Mary Iary No And I I- I He contented him hini- hims himself s self J with shaking his head instead of offering more definite information Then ll he realized teat they thy were passing pass pas ting t- t ing In Inthe the new house and he be sighed pro pro- Mary our walks walk's almost over over f She looked as blank So it is IR is Bibbs They said sald no more until they came cameto t 4 l' l to her gate As they drifted slowly toa to toa tot a stop the door of ot Roscoe's house rouse opened and Roscoe came out with Sibyl who vho was startlingly pale She Rhe seemed little enfeebled by her Illness however walking rather quickly at her husbands husband side I and rul not his arm Tl The Tho e two crossed the tine street without appearing appearing appearing ap ap- ap- ap to see Alary and her companion compan- compan Ion lon and entering the new house were lost to si sight bt Mary Iary gazed after them gravely ely but Bibbs looking lookin at Mary did not see sec them Mary he said you seem very ery serious Is anything bothering you 1 No Bibbs And Aud she sho gave him a abright abright bright quick look that made him instantly instantly in In- unreasonably happy I 1 know you want to go 10 ID In- In b he be be- gnu gan nn ganNo No I dont don't want to I tnt keep you standing here bere ent and I mustn't go in with yon you but but I Just wanted to say say say-I've Ive I've seemed very stupid to myself this morning grumbling grum grum- it bling about 8 soot l. l d. d daU all l t that that a while e all the till time I I Mary Mary T I think its it's noon been the theer very er happiest of f f all nil the tho hours youve you've ou given n tie me I 1 do And nd l I dont don't know just t why why but but its it's s seemed to me ml that It was one Id I'd always remember And nd you he Iw added l you look so so-so so so beautiful today It Oil must have IIII be bt n the soot on my cheek Bibbs Libbs Mary Uary will you tell tell me me something he lie asked I think Wink I 1 will Its something Ive I've had n lot of theories about hut hat none of or them ever evel ju just t fit its fits You ou used to wear we r furs in the fall but now its it's so mach h colder you don't dont you dont you never nc wear them at all nil any more Wh Why dont don't l ii t you you ou Her eyes eyeR fell for a moment and aud sh she grew glew red Then Theu sh she looked up lip gayly Bibbs If I 1 tell you OU the answer will you rou promise e not to a ask k an any more questions questions ques Yes Why hy did you Oll stop wearing th them than UI Because I found Ill Id be warmer without them therm She he caught bt his hand quickly In her own for tor an instant lut laughed Into his eyes and ran mn Into the house bouse CHAPTER It I Is the consoling attribute of ot unused Unused un un- used books book that their decorative warmth will so RO often otten make even a n Tead macle library the actual living room of ot a family to whom the shelved volumes are Indeed sealed ea led Thus finis it was with Sheridan who read nothing newspapers business letters and figures who looked upon books as ashe ashe astie he he tie looked upon Ullon brie brie-a bric a brac or 01 crocheting crochet crochet- Jn ing when ing-when when when he hc was at ut home Koine and not abed or eating he was iu In the library lie stood in iu the Uw many-colored many light of ot the stained glass window at the far end of the long room when Roscoe no oe and nud lila gds wife carne came ID In a and he exhaled u n solemnity HJ His deference to the Sa Sabbath Sabbath Sab Sab- bath was UN manifest as us always I. in iu the length of bis his coat and amI the closeness of his l Saturday night shave ha and his bis expression expression ex ex- to match this religious io ls pone pomp was m more le Than 1 but the most niost dismaying of his demonstrations was his keeping his bis hand in his sling sUng Sibyl advanced ad to the middle of ot the room and halted there them rl riot looking at him but down at her mutT muff in which It could be seen her hands were nervously nervous nervous- ly moving mo Roscoe Hoscoe went to a chair in Mother Clother p P rt of the room There was wasa a deadly silence But Sibyl found a shaky voice volee after an interval of ot gulping she was as unable to lift urt her eyes and the darkling dark dark- ling Ung lid lids c continued to veil them She spoke hurriedly like an ungifted chili chIld 1 reciting something committed to memory mem mem- ory pry but but- buther b her r sincerity was none the theles less les evident e for that Father rather Sheridan you a and d mother Sheridan have buve always been so kind to tome tome tome me me and amI I would hate bate to have you ou think I dont don't don't dont apprecIate apprecIate- it it Prom from the way I acted Ive I've come to tell you Jou I I Iam am sorry for the wa way I did that night and to to siy say I know as well as an anybody the way ayl I behaved and It will never happen happen happen hap hap- pen again because Its It's been a pretty hard lesson QuI when we come back some day I hope hOle you'll see that youve you've g got t a law In ao ller you never need to to be ashamed l of again I want to ask you t to excuse me for the way I 1 did and I can ron say I haven't any my feelings e s stoward toward Edith now but only wish her happiness and good in her new life Ufe I thank you for all ull your our kindness kIndness' to me sand Jand I know knowl made imade I a n poor return return for 11 It but IT Ir you Iou can cau overlook o the the- way I behaved ed I know I would feel fecI a good deal happier happier and and I know Roscoe would too too- I wish to promise not to tobe tobe tobe be as foolish In the fut future re and the same flame error would never occur again to tomake tomake tomake make all If It be bl us so unhappy you can charitable enough to excuse It this time me lIe He looked steadily at her without replying and she stood before him never lifting her eyes motionless save Bave where the moving fur Cur proved the agitation of her hands within the muff All ri right bt he said at lat last t. t She looked up then with vast ast relief though there was a revelation of heavy tears when the eyelids lifted Thank you she said Theres something else else about about 1 something different dif dlf ferent l I I want to say to you but I 1 want mother Sheridan to hear it it too upstairs J lu in her room said Sheridan Roscoe Sibyl interrupted She had bad just seen Bibbs pass through the hall and nud begin to ascend the stairs and In a flash sh she sho Instinctively perceived perceiver the chance for precisely the effect t she wanted t No let me go she said I want want to speak to her a 11 minute first anyway any any- way And she went away awny quickly gaining the top of the stairs In iu time to see eo Bibbs enter his bis room and those close the door Sibyl knew that Bibbs In his room had bad overheard her quarrel with Edith In the hall ball outside for bitter I Edith thinking th the More iii rne Je b her her r Lad had subsequently 3 Informed rl Ii her cr r 67 oT rite circumstance Sibyl had Just remembered bored lids and with the tho recollection there had flashed 1 the tho thought thought out out or of her own o experience that experience that people are are often much more deeply Impressed by byword bywords bywords words word they overhear o than Ulan by words directly I addressed to them Sibyl intended Intended intended In in- tended to make It impossible for Bibbs not to overhear r She did lid not hesitate te her hr her heart was wm not hot with the old sore ore and h li believed 11 wholly In the justice of her lall cause e and ami In III the tro truth of or what she was going to sa say Fate was vas virtuous vir- vir at times It had delivered into her hands the girl irl who had affronted I Ih h her r. r Mrs Irs Sheridan wa was in her own room The approach of Sibyl and Roscoe Boscoe bad had driven tl her r from the library for or sl she e had miscalculated her husbands husband's mood and she felt PIt that It If he used his Injured hand hund n ns as n a mark of emphasis again in her pr presence she would as sll she thou thought ht of or W Jt stave have a n fit right there She She heard hurl Sibyls Sibyl's step tep and pretended to 1 bo be e putting hutting a touch to her bel hair before a n mirror r I 1 was Just JURt coming down she said as the door ope opened Yes s 's 11 lie he wants you ou to said Sibyl Its all nil right mother Sheridan Hes He's forgiven or i en me Mrs Sheridan sniffed Instantly tears appeared She kissed her daugh daugh- ter-in-In ter laws ter-in-law's w cheek heck Wen then in silence regarded regarded regarded re re- re- re the mirror afresh wiped her ber eyes and applied powder And I hope Edith will be happy Sibyl added Inciting more applications of or Mrs Sheridan's handkerchief and powder Yes yes murmured the good woman wom wom- an We mustn't make the worst of ot things Well there was something else I had bad to say and be wants you on to hear hearIt It too said Sibyl We better go godown godown T down mother Sheridan She led the Wt way Mrs Sheridan fol- fol obediently but when they came to a spot close to Bibbs' Bibbs door Sibyl stopped I want to tell you about it first she said abruptly It isn't a secret t of course in any way its it's something the ilie whole family has to tb know now and the sooner the whole family knows knows it the better Its It's something it wouldn't IK Iw right for us all not to understand un- un and of course father Sheri Sherl- klan Idan most of ot all But lint 1 I want to just juat tad kind of ot go o over it first with you ou It It'll 11 kind of or help me to see 1 got ot it nil all straight I 1 haven't ha got any reason for tor foraying paying aying it e except the good of or th the family find nd ad Its It's nothing to me one way or the ther of at course except for or that I oughtn't to ye ve ve behaved beul the way I 1 did that night and it seems to me if theres there's anything I cando can to help the family I to because it would help show I felt felt the right way Well what 1 I want to ito do is to tell this sos so's to keep the thu lalOlI fatally family from flom being made a fool tool of I dont don't want vant to see the tine family Just made mado madouse use of and twisted around her finger by somebody that's got no more heart than so much ice lee and aud Just as sure to bring troubles in the long run as as-as as as Edith's mistake 1 ls 19 Well then this is the way It is Ill I'll Just tell you how It looks to m me and see sec If fr it dont don't strike you the same Rame way woy Within the room Bibbs Bibb much annoyed an au- noyed tapped his ear with his pencil he He JIe wished they wouldn't stand talking near Ilear his door when he was trying to write He had Just taken token from his trunk the manuscript of a poem begun begun be be- gun the preceding Sunday n and he had some Ideas be he wanted anted to fix lx x upon paper before they maliciously Seized l the first opportunity to vanish for or they were but gossamer Bibbs was pleased with the beginnings of his poem and if he be could carry It through lie Ill meant to dare greatly g with it It-he It he would venture it upon an editor For Forlie he lie bad had his plan of life lite now his day would be of ot manual labor and thinking think think- ing lug lug-be he could think of his friend and be could think in cadences for poems to the crashing 1 of the strong machines and nud if It his father turned him of home and out of the works he would work elsewhere and live elsewhere His father tather had bad the ri right ht and it mattered very little to Bibbs lie he faced the prospect prospect prospect pros pros- of ot a working mans man's lodging house bous without trepidation He lIe could find a washstand to write upon he lie thought f fr r t r S F. F 4 rr He H. Felt Fett That Something Inevitable Was Waa Happening and every very evening when he be left Mary Marybe be would write a little and be he would write on holidays and on Sundays Sundays Sundays-on on Laz-I Laz afternoon ID I lodging a-lodging Ji Louse house 1 at t least fie he r lie fie f Inlet Inlet- fer by his sister sister laws laws law's choosing the Imme Immediate vicinity of his door for tor conversations evidently Important to herself but bot merely disturbing to him He frowned plaintively wishing he be could think of ot one polite way of ot |