Connecticut western news., 1919-11-20

of becoming exasperated by her hus-' bands good humor. ss Irene is our only child. and before your very eyes you see her-you see her Do you know, I begin-I really begin to sus- pect that she's in love-" -!
 It was Doctor Hardy's turn to sit upright. Nonsense he said, "Why should she be in love2" It is the un-, fortunate limitation of the philosopher that he so often leaves irrational be- havior out of the reckoning. "She Is only child" .ss. .,. ? "She will be eighteen presently. And why shouldn't she be in love? And the question is-who7 That Is for you to answer. Who did she meetT
 "She met no one with me. My ac- cident left me to enjoy my holiday as best could at a ranch deep: In the foothills, and Reenie stayed with me there. There was no one else" "No onef No ranchmen, cowboys COW punchers-I think have heard-, with ntce disdain.
 "No. Only young Elden-" .s..
 "Oniyta Who is this young Eldsnr
 But he Is just boy. Just the son of the old rnncher of whom I have told you" .,g4 -:'qsss5r. 's ,.--..
 Exactly. And Irene Is just a girl. Doctor Hardy, you are all very well with Ypur fevers and your chilis. but you can't diagnose 8; love case worth & cent. What about this young El- denf Did Irene see much jof, him r. 7, z The doctor spread htss kaffas. Do you realize that there were four Of us at that 2ranch---feur only, and no one else for miles7 How could she help seeing him7" d "And you permitted itf"
 "I was on my back with a broken leg. We were guests at their home. They were good Samaritans to us. I couldn't chaperon her. And besides they don't do. things that way in that country. You don't understand. It's altogether different"
 Andrew" said Mrs. Hardy, leaning forward, and the word was Ominous, for she used his Christian name only in moments of crisis, twas Irene ever with this young man-alone?"
 The doctor arose to his feet and trod heavily upon the rich carpetings. T told you you don't understand" he protested. "The West is not the East. Everything is different"
 'I suppose human nature is differ ent," she interrupted meaningly. Then her head fell upon the table and her hands went up about her hair. It had been brown hair once but was now thin and streaked with gray. "Oh, Andrew" she wept, i've are ruined! That we should ever have come to this P
 It was now Doctor Hardy's turn to be exasperated. There was one thing his philosophy could not endure. That was a person who was not and who would not be philosophical. Mrs. Hardy was not and would not be phil osophical.
 "This is all nonsense! !" said the doc tor, impatiently. ''There is nothing to 1t, anyway. The girl had to have some company. What if they did ride together? What"
 ''They rode together? Alonew
 "They had their horses along," said the doctor, whose impatience had made way for sarcasm.
 "You are mocking me. In this hour of shame you are making jests. Call Irene"
 The girl was summoned. Her fine and the eyes seemed deeper and slower, but she was still a vision of grace and beauty as she stood in re- sponse to their call, framed in the curtains of an archway. Her quick sense caught the tense atmosphere, and she came forward with parted lips and extended fingers.
 "Yes?" she said. What is wrong? Can help?"
 "Your father has confessed" said Mrs. Hardy, trying hard to speak with judicial calm. "Now tell us about your relations with this young Elden, this COW puncher. Let us know the worst"
 Irene's eyes flew from her mother to her fathers face, and there they caught something that restored their calm.
 "There was no worst" she said with a ripple of laughter, "but there was a good deal of best. Shall tell you the best?"
 "Irene," said her mother severely, did you permit that young man to make love to you?"
 'T did not give him permission, if that answers you, because he didn't ask it."
 Mrs. Hardy had risen. Andrew, you hear that? She confesses. It's dreadful! Horrible! What will ev- erybody say?"
 "No worse than you have said, I'll be bound" put in the doctor.
 "Yes, take her part. What care you