Show rahe 1 by BOOTH copyright 1215 by bf barp r 11 ibm CHAPTER continued is sybil the loudmouthed loud mouthed daughter daughterly in ln law la Is engaged in poisoning mrs mr Sheri dans mind against the vertrees family and mary vertrees whom babba loves the two women are standing just outside the door of babb bbs room he hears it all so 60 bho started for but sho she found out pretty quick lie ho was married and sho she turned right around to jim and she eho landed him theres no doubt about it sho bho had jim and it hed lived had another daughter ln in law before this as sure as aa I 1 stand hero here tolling telling you the gods truth about ILI it well when jim was left in tho the conic cemetery she eho was waiting out there to drive homo home with jim cold and sho she know whether dibbs WAS insano insane or not but lie ho was the only ono one of tho the rich sheridan boys left sho she had to get him the torture texture of what was tile tho truth made an all even fabric with what alint was not in sibyls sibyla mind sue she believed every word that she uttered slid end she spoke with the rapidity and vehemence of fierce aercke conviction what I 1 feel about it la in sho she said it to be allowed to go BO on its too meant I 1 like poor unit anil I 1 dont want to see him made such it toot tool of ond and I 1 dont want to seo see the family mado made such a fool off I 1 tykp poor biblis but it if hell only stop to think a minute himself hed have to realize lie he tant the kind kill of a vinn any girl part would be opt apt to fall in love with iles better looking lately maybe but you know how lie ho wn jut kind of a long lone white rag in good clothes and alid girls like men inch with some go to belil cm some sort bort of nobody ever looked at poor hebbs befort before mid and nelt herd she no sirl not till shod tried both and jim first it was only when alion tier her nija and her ber fa fanelly nilly got desperate tint that she bebbs whlter than when lie he came from tin lilt op cd d tho the door illo ile stepped across KH its threshold and istook looking at tier her both women screamed oh good frood be avenal cried sibyl acre were you in there ph I 1 P asbe seized mrs Sheri dans arm pulling her ber toward tho the stairway come on mother sheridan slie she urged and as the befuddled and confused lady ladr obeyed sibyl left n trail of noisy ex good grac loual oil oh I 1 too baal I 1 dupain he be was therel there I 1 hurt his bis leei ineal hingst not for the worldly of course lie he lind had to know some aimel hut but good heavens 1 sho she heard beard tits his door close na as slie she and mrs sheridan readied reached tho the top of the stairs and she glanced over tier her der quickly but hibbs wits not following he had gone back anck into his room ue lie he be looked oh terrible badt bad I 1 mrs sheridan 1 I 1 I wish still its a good deal better lie he knows about it sald sibyl 1 I wonder it might turn out tile the very tory best thing could happened come on I 1 anil and completing their descent to the library the two made their ap appearance pen rance to roscoe and hla his father sibyl at once save gave a full and truthful account of what had taken place repenting rapp her awn remarks atad omitting emitting only olly the fact that it was ans through tier her desiga that bibbs had overheard them cut but na as I 1 told mother eh aftic in conclusion it might turn out for the very best beat that he did hear just that way dont you think tului so father sheridan ile he merely grunted in reply and sat ont rubbing the thick hair on the top of ills his hend bead with his fits left hand band and looking tit nt the fire iio had given no sign of being impressed in any manner by tier her exposure of mary iry vertrees Vcr trees character 1 but his fits impassivity did not dismay Siby lIt was bibbs whom she desired to lo impress Imp rests and sho she was content in that matter vi atter allm sure it was all for the best she said its tl over er now and ho he knows known what she Is in one way I 1 think it wai lucky luck lecause lic cause just hearing a thing that way a person can tell its so BO and lie he knows I 1 acut li got any a ax to grind his own good and the good of the family mrs went nervously to the door and stood there looking toward the stairway 11 1 wish I 1 wish I 1 what lie was doln doin she bhe sat said lie ho did look terrible bad it was illie like something bad been done to him that was I 1 dont know what I 1 never saw anybody look like he bo did ile iio looked so queer it was like she called iown down tile the hall georgel george 1 besin ye sin were you up in sir mr bibbs room lust just now Yes yeam Xit ue ring bell tole me make him flah flab la in his grate I 1 dono bull him bin nice flah flab I 1 reckon he aln ain beelin so 80 well ll 11 tie ile departed what do you expect he to wants a ore fire for aorl she asked turning toward her husband the house Is warm as can be I 1 do wish I 1 oil ohl quit said bald sheridan well I 1 I 1 kind 0 wish you sald said anything sibyl I 1 know you meant it for tile tho best and till nil but I 1 dont believe it would been so BO much harm if P mother sheridan you dont menn you wont want that kind of a girl lu in the family 1 why sho ho II 1 I dont know I 1 dont know the troubled trouble woman quavered it if lie liked tier it seems kind of a pity to spoil it iles hes so queer and lie basant ever taken much enjoyment and besides besl dea I 1 lit believe the way it wits there was wait more chance of him film byln wil willita liti to do what papa wants him to if she wants to marry him sheridan interrupted tier her with a hooting laugh she dont he said barkin up lip the wrong tree sibyl sho she aint that kind or of a girl hut but father sheridan she II 11 ile iio cut tier her short encI enough ligh you may inny menn all right but you guess wrong so do you mar marlinn ninn 11 sibyl cried out ohl but just look how she ran utter after jim she did not lie ho said curtly site she take ake jim she turned lilt him down cold hut but thata 11 its ita not I 1 know she did sibyl looked glatly incredulous and you worry lie he said bald turning to to ills his wife tilts tills wont have liny effect on your idea because there any to it anyhow D you think shed he be very likely to taip after she tako take 3 jim 1 a good hearted girl wid slie she lots hibbs come to we see tier her but if shed ever given him one sign of encouragement the wily way you women think h he of acted tho the stubborn fool lie he haa bas hed a been at nio me long ngo ago beggin nio me for some kind of it job lie ho could support a wife on theres in it and ive got the same old light with him on of my hands bands ivo ive lind had all his life and tile lord knows known what lie wont do to balk nio lei Vh ItS happened halpen eI now 11 probably only make him teko nu as stubborn but ah mrs Sherl sheridan dan still lit in the doorway door wily lifted tier her band ills hla stop step hos comin downstairs she shrank away from the door ns ais it ahe feared to have babbs see tier her 1 I I 1 wonder vo lider 11 she aho said almost lu in a whisper 1 I wonder what hes bos gola to io dol do her timorousness lind lad its effect upon the others othera sheridan rose frown frowning ing but remained standing beside lila ills chair and moved toward sibyl who stared uneasily lly nt the open doorway they listened as tile he slow steps descend iio fic stairs and cattle came toward the 11 v 1111 stepped upon the he threshold and iv alolf and ana haggard eyes looked slowly croul ono one to the other until at last ills ilia gaze rested upon his fits father then lie dime came and stood before him hill im sorry youve had so much trouble with nie me ho he said you wont any more ill take the job you offered me sheridan did not speak he lie stared astounded nu ciul 1 I incredulous and dibbs bibbs 9 Z 1 ill take the job you me had bad left the room before any of its occupants uttered a sound though lie ho went as slowly as aasc he came mrs sheridan was the first to wove move she went nervously back to the doorway and thun then out into tho the hall ulbia babbe had geue from roni the house mother had a feeling about him film then that she had never known before it was indefinite and vague but very ey poignant something in her mourned for him uncomprehendingly she felt that an awful thing thine had been done to him though she did not know what it was sho she went up to hla his room the ore george had bad built for him was almost smothered under thick charred ashes allies ot or paper the lid ild or of bli big trunk stood open and the largo upper tray which she he remembered to have seen full of papera and notebooks was empty and somehow sh she understood that bibbs had given up the mysterious vocation lou he had hoped to follow and that lie had given it up for ever she thought it was the wisest thing he could have done and yet for an unknown reason sho oho eat ant upon tho the bed antl wept a little before she went downstairs so sheridan had hla his way with bibbs till through CHAPTER As bibbs came out of the new house a bunday alunday trio was wai in course ot of passage upon tho the sidewalk an ample young woman placid of face a black clad thin young man whose expression was waa one of habitual anxiety habitual wariness and habitual eagerness Us ile propelled a perambulator containing the third thira and all three were newly ci cleaned paned Sunday fled and made ut it to ditto with the cifes relatives clowd you like for me to bo be that young fella mammal the husband whispered 1110 hes fl one of tit the ious sous and there aint but two loft left now tile the wife stared curiously at well I 1 dont know she return returned eol lie ile looks to me ino like hlo he had hla his own troubles 1 I expect ho he has like anybody else said the young husband but I 1 guess wo we could stand a good deal it if we had his money cy well maybe if you keep on the way you been baby if 11 be as well fixed died as the Sheri dans you cant tell she glanced back tit it hibbs who had bad turned north lie ile walks kind of stow slow aud and stooped over like so much money in ills hl pockets it makes him stig I 1 guess said tile the young husband with bitter admiration mary happening to glance from a window saw bibbs coming coining and slip started clasping her hands handa together lit in a sudden alarm she met him at tile tho door Bibb sl sho she cried what li is the matter I 1 saw something was waa terribly wrong when I 1 you look she paused till and he came in not lifting his big yes to tiers hors always when ho he crossed that lint threshold he had come with lit hit head up and ills wistful gazo seeking tiers hers ali ah poor boyl boy P she sit said k id I 1 with w 1 I tit a gesture of understanding and pity 1 I know what it ile iio followed follow od tier her into the room ft whore here they always sat and sank into a chair you toll tell me sho she said mado made you give up your fit aou vi ou youre going td to do what lie he wants youve siren given up still without looking nt at tier her he in dined bw bead lit in affirmation she gave a little iry erz i ry or of cerri passion and came and sat near him dibbs bibbs she said 1 I can be glad of one thing though its selfish I 1 can bo be glad you time came gh gli to me iva if a more to me c than even it 1 conic come because you were happy sho she did not speak again for a little while then she bho said hebbs blis dear could you tell we me about it do you want to still lie he did not look up but in a voice shaken and husky lie asked her a question so grotesque that at first site alie thought she had bad misunderstood his words mary ilary ho he said could you marry me 71 what did you say biblis she asked quietly ills tone and attitude did not change will you marry me both her hands handa leaped to tier her cheeks checks she grow grew red and then white she rose slowly and moved backward from him staring at hint him at first ulous ly then with an intense herple perplexity 1 more and more luminous lit in her wide eyes it was like a spoken question the room filled with strangeness in the long st silence lence the two were so strange to each other at last she sald said what made you say that I 1 ile he did nut not answer bubbi bbs look at tuel mel nor voice was loud and clear what made you say that look at met mel lie ile could not look nt at her and lie he could not bacak what haq it that made you she said 1 I want you to tell me she gho wont went closer to him tier her eyes ever brighter and wider with that intensity of wonder youve youre given up tip to your father she said bald slowly and then you cobic couie to ask me she broke olt off bibbs do you want mo me to marry you yes lie he sold said just audibly anol nol she cried you yon do not then what mado made you ask me what Is it happened nothing walt she said let me think its something that happened since our walk this morning yes since you loft left nu lilt at noon So something happened that she stopped abruptly with n tremulous murmur of amazement and dawning comprehension she remembered that sibyl had bad gone to the now new house bouse bibbs swallowed painfully and contrived to say 1 I do I 1 do want you to marry uie if atif lf you could she looked nt at him and slowly shook her head bead bobbt do you her voice was as unsteady as his little more than a whisper do you think rm im lu love with you no ho be said somewhere la in the still air of the room there was a whispered word it did not seem to como come from clarys parted lips but tio he was aware of it why ive had nothing but dreams dreama bibbs paid desolately but they to this sibyl sald no girl could care about me ne fie smiled faintly h still he be did lot look at mary and when I 1 first cams cam homo home edith told me sibyl was so bo anxious to marry that shed have hare married me she meant it to express sibyls sibyla extremity you see but I 1 hardly needed deeded either of them to tell me I 1 thought of myself as well not OB as particularly captiva captivatingly oddly enough marys pallor changed to on an angry flush those atwol she ehe exclaimed sharply and then with thoroughgoing contempt like theral site she turned away went to the bare little black blach mantel and stood leaning upon it presently she naked asked when did sirs mrs roscoe sheridan an any 7 that no girl could care about you today mary ilary drew a deep breath 1 I think im beginning to understand a little she bit tier her lip there waa anger in good truth in her eyes and in her voice answer mo me once more she said bibbs do you know now why I 1 stopped wearing my furs yes 1 I thought sot sol your sister in law told you she 4 X mary maryl ho he cried helplessly 1 I I 1 hoard heard her say 1 I think I 1 know what happened now marys breath came fast and her voice shook but she filie spoke rapidly you heard tier her say any more than that you heard her say that we wore were bitterly poor and ou on that account I 1 tried first to marry your brollier brot lier and then hut but now she faltered il and it was only after it a convulsive effort that she was able to go ou on and then that I 1 tried to marry youl you heard beard her say that and you believe that I 1 dout dont caro care for you and that no girl could care for you but you think I 1 ant am in such an extremity as sibyl was that you and so not wanting me and believing that I 1 could not want you except for my extremity you took your fathers offer and then came to ask me to marry youl what had bad I 1 shown you of myself that could make you suddenly she sank down kneeling with her faco face buried bulled in her arms upon the lap of a chair tears overwhelming her alary mary maryl ho he cried helplessly oh no you you dont understand 1 I do thought she sobbed 1 I dot dol lie ile came and stood beside her you kill me lie ho said 1 I tant cnut make it plain front 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