Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-01-03

1--WE mustn't try to meet each other
On the @. Il. at ALL Dick began.
''Those brothers of yours are Just the
sort to find it out, no matter how we
try to conceal it. We can stand it this
way for while. Your father has
been telling me his troubles this morn
ing. He's especially worried about
you-you wretch. He tells me you
worry him so he can hardly write, says
you ride the widest horse in the sta
BILE, go off in the woods unattended
and otherwise render him incapable
of the high degree of concentration
that he needs to complete his book.
He asked me to watch you especially
and to suggest a way to tame you.
I'd no idea you were such a wild crea-
ture-you wonderful, sweetest girl
there, L couldn't help it that time
but | won't steal another till | am no
| longer playing this role. 1t would
spoil everything if anyone suspected. 2
The next communication Madeleine
had from the new employee was writ
len and slipped iuto her hand as she
| passed him one evening on the stairs
II was brief and dictatorial. in or
| Ger to accomplish the aim in view you
| must become even more unruly. Do
everything you can except risk your
life. Fake runaway or two and get
lost in the mountains if you can do it
safely"
i Though Madeleine did not exactly
| understand Dicks motives in this in
| Struction she followed it to the letter,
and even the calm-eyed mother, who
took the shocks and anXieties incident
upon being the parent of five high
spirited daughters and two sons as
serenely as anyone could, became over
wrought with worry when, for the sec
ond time in a week, Madeleine re-
turned home from wild ride only af-
ter the faithful blue-serged fathers
helper" had gone out in search of her.
The next day the professor tried in
vain to write a chapter of his book,
for his publishers were beginning to
press him for the complete manu-
script. After wasting hours in the
bootless effort he called for the young
man he had recently employed.
did you reprove Madeleine severe
ly for her escapade yesterday" he
asked. you know. how it tries me to
have to attend to that sort of thing
still, unless you are very severe shall
have to take her in hand"
II reproved her very severely, SIR
replied Dick, ''but if you will pardon
me for saying so, think reproofs are
of little avail.'
Something must be done, man.
said the professor peevishly. ST can't
let,her go on this way wearing out my
nerves. Can you think of any possible
remedy--some way of calming the wild
creature down little? Mind you,
am very fond of Nadeleine-very fond
OF fer-but / can't let her go On III
this way
Il anticipated such question" sale
Dick solemnly. For that reason
studied the girls nature. Again, par
don my franl5ness. I think that
young as Madeleine is, she would over
come her rather hoydenish ways if you
permitted her toto become engaged
possibly to contemplate rather ear
ly marriage"
The professor studied the carpet fol
sevesul minutes, then without looking
ut Dick, he said: Yes, that might
be just the thing. But Madeleine IS
not like Minerva. Minerva has some
dozen of suitors-they quite drive me
distracted. But Madeleine, poor child
has no such charms and fascination
as Minerva. Frankly. / do not think
there is anyone Who wants to marry
her, and an quite sure that she cares
for no one
1t was here that Dick hesitated. He
had not planned just what to say wher
he had led the professor up to this
point 50 he. too, studied the carpet
for q full minute and then looked al
the ns4Grasor With embarrassment that
he could not conceal
'sBut IL there were someone who die
care fo1 her devotedly and for whom
She cared III return-would you con
sent then?"
The professor wss taJ much of g
psychologist moi {: guess that the
youne si,an was speaking of himself
though, perhaps in his present mood he
could not conceive how a seemingly
sane young man would choose to as
sumo the task of being Madeleine's
husband.
"AIr. Stoner, my hand. Forgive me
when tell you that from the time
first saw you / realized that there was
something in your nature that would
find harmony in Madeleine's. M,
knowledge of psychology is not all
theoretical, you see. And, in spite Of
what have just said. realized as you
have just done that what Madeleine
| really needed was husband. So yor
see my little scheme has worked. But
Madeleine is very sweet girl, in spite
of her hoyden ways, and know YOU
will be happy"
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