The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-10-18


on the q. T. at ALL" Dick began.
''Those brothers of yours are just the
!: sort to find 1t out, no matter how we
: try to conceal it. We can stand 1t this
. way for a 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
lie asked me to watch you especially
and to suggest a way TO tame you.
I'd no idea you were such wild crea-
ture-you wonderful, sweetest girl
there, | couldn't help it that time
but I won't steal another till | am no
longer playing this role. 1t would
spoil everything if anyone suspected"
The next communication Madeleine
had from the new employee was writ
ten and slipped into her hand as she
passed him one evening on the stairs
1t was brief and dictatorial. 'In or
der 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 il you can do it
safely"
Though Madeleine did not exactly
understand Dicks motives in this in
structOn 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 week, Madeleine re-
turned home from a 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 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 1 shall
have to take her in hand"
Il reproved her very severely, sir"
replied Dick, "but IL you will pardon
me for saying SO, / think reproofs are
of little avail"
Something must be done, man."
said the professor peevishly. 81 can't
let her go on this way wearing out my
nerves. Can you think of any possible
remedy-solhe way of calming the wild
creature down little? Mind you, /
am very fond of Madeleine-very fond
of her-but l can't let her go on in
this way"
Il anticipated such a question" said
Dick solemnly. For that reason
studied the girls nature. Again, par
don my frankness. 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 a rather ear
ly marriage"
The professor studied the carpet for |
several minutes, then without looking |
at Dick, he said: Eyes, 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, l do not think |
there is anyone who wants to marry !
her, and | am quite sure that she cares |
for no one"
1t was here that Dick hesitated. He !
had not planned just what to say when |
he had led the professor up to this |
point, so he, too, studied the carpet !
for a full minute and then looked at |
the professor with embarrassment that |
he could not conceal.
"But if there were someone who did |
care for her devotedly and for whom |
she cared in return-would you con-
sent then?r
The professor was too much of
psychologist not to guess that the |
young man was speaking of himself. |
though perhaps in his present mood he |
coulu not conceive now seemingly |
sane young man would choose to as
sumo the task of being Madeleines |
husband.
MIR. Stoner, my hand. Forgive me |
when | tell you that from the time | |
first saw you I realized that there was
something in your nature that would |
find harmony in Madeleine's. My |
knowledge of psychology is not all |
theoretical, you see. And, in spite of |
what have just said, I realized as you
have just done that what Madeleine
really needed was a husband So you
see my little scheme has worked. But |
Madeleine is very sweet girl, in spite |
of her hoyden ways, and l know you
will be happy"