Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-12-11
CHAPTER vIII.-continued.

The outcome was that Mrs. Hard
insisted upon Irene embarking at one
upon a finishing course. Afterwar
they Travelled together for a year /
Europe. Then home again, Irene pun
sued her art, and her mother SUI
rounded her with the social attraction
which Doctor Hardy's comfortable in
come and professional standing mad
possible. Her purpose was obviou
and but thinly disguised. She hopet
that her daughter would outlive he
youthful infatuation and would a
length, in a more suitable match, giv'
her heart to one of the numerous eli
gibles of her circle.
To promote this end Mrs. Hardy
spared no pains. Young Carlton, sol
Of a banker and one of the leading
men of his set, seemed particularly
appropriate match. Mrs. Hardy
! opened her home to him, and Carlton
whatever his motives, was not slow to
grasp the situation. For years Irene
had not spoken of Dave Eden, and the
mother had grown to hope that the
old attachment had died down and
would presently be quite forgotten in
new and more becoming passion.
The fact is that Irene at that time
would have been quite incapable of
stating her relation toward Eden and
its influence upon her attitude to life
She was by no means sure that she
loved that sunburnt boy of romantic
memory; she was by no means sure
that she should ever marry him, let
his development in life be what it
would; but she felt that her heart was
locked, at least for the present, to all
other suitors. She had given her
promise, and that settled the matter.
Notwithstanding her Indifference the
girl found herself encouraging Carl
ing them with the rebuffs which
had been her habit toward all other
Suitors, and Mrs. Hardys hopes grew
as the attachment apparently devel-
oped. But they were soon to be shat
tered.
Irene had gone with Carlton to the
Heater; afterward to supper. 1t was
ong past midnight when she reached
home. She knocked at her mothers
loor and Immediately entered Her
lair was disheveled and her cheeks
we're flushed, and she walked INSTEAD
ly across the room.
sxSAHnats the matter, Irene? What's
The matter, child? Are you sick?"
,ried her mother. springing from her
Jed.
mo, I'm not sick" said the girl bru-
ally. I'm drunk !"
"Oh, don't say that" said her mother |
oothingly. Proper people do not be-
ome drunk. You may have had too
much champagne and tomorrow you
will have a headache"
Mother! l have had too much
but not as much as that
recicus Carlton of yours had planned
or. l just wanted to see how des-
icable he was, and / floated down
tream with him as far as l dared.
tut just as the current got too swift
struck for shore. Oh, we made a
Gene, all right, but nobody knew me
lere, so the family name is safe and
on can rest in peace. l called taxi,
nd when he tried to follow me in l
appel him and kicked him. Kicked
i'm, mother. Dreadfully undignified
asn't it? And that's what
Du want me to marry, in place of a
anw
Mrs. Hardy was chattering with
ortification and excitement. Her
ans had miscarried. Irene had mis- J
,haved. Irene was a difficult, head
rong child. 1t was useless 10 argue
it'll her in her present mood 1t was q
eless to argue with her in any mood.
. doubt Carlton had been impetuous. q
evertheless he stood high in his set c
ID his father was something of a 9
wer in the financial world. As the Y
fe of such man Irene might have l
career before her-a career from c
lich at least some of the glory would
fleet upon the silvering head Of the Il
other of Mrs. Carlton. C
$50 to your ROOM" she said at Il
lgth. "You are in no condition to u
* tonight. must say it is a shame b
ut you can't go out for an evening d
thout drinking too much and max Ell
: scene. What will Mr. OF
rlton think of you?" tC
IF he remembers al I told him 81
out himself he'll have enough to
nix Of the girl blazed back. "You
Ow-what / have told you-and still
ster Carlton stands as high in your
hit as ever. l am the one TO blame. II
ry well. I've tried your choice and CT
e tried my own. Now am in m
'ition to judge. There will be moth as
to talk about in the morniAg tie
ntion Cartons name to me again al
| will give the whole incident to tn
papers with photographs pc
and names. Fancy the feature Its
ding. Society Girl, Intoxicated, ST
ks Escort Out of Taxi Good fin
hit" lai
tut other matters were to demand I'M
attention of mother and daughter tn,
The morning. While the scene was co