Jerome County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1919-1920, 1920-02-05
CHAPTER VIII
Hardy

Upon the return of Irene Hardy to
the East it had slowly become appar-
ent TO her mother that things were not
as they once had been 1t seemed as
though she had left part of her nature
behind-had outgrOwn it. perhaps
and had created about herself an at
mosphere of reserve foreign TO her
earlier life 1t seemed as though the
loneliness of the great plains had
settled upon her
| Whatever has come over 1reneT
said Mrs. Hardy to the doctor one eve
ming "She hasn't been the same since
she came home 1 should not have let
her so west alone"
The doctor looked up mildly from
his paper 1t was the custom of the
doctor to look up mildly when Mrs.
Hardy made a statement demanding
some form of recognition From the
wide initiation into domestic affairs
which his profession had given him
Doctor Hardy had long since entirely
4 ceased to look for the absolute III
e woman. He had never looked for II
in man. He realized that in Mrs
o Hardy he did not possess a perfect
l. mate, but he was equally convinced
e that in no other woman would he have
found a perfect mate, and he accepted
Y his lot with the philosophy of hi
I sixty years SO instead of reminding
le his wife that Irene had not been alon
N when she went west he remarked YER
ST mildly that the girl was growing Older
Mrs. Hardy found in his remark OF
e, casion to lay down the book she ha
IS been holding and 10 sit upright in
s rightly of intense diSapproval. Do
e tor Hardy was aware that this we
tie | entirely a theatrical attitude, assume
IN for the purpose of imposing upon hi
a proper humility. He had expei
he enced it many times
ire Doctor Hardy" said his wife aft
l~1,A Of n
Jig do you consider that an intellige
ey. remark -
1rs 1T has the advantage of truthfl
for ness" returned the doctor comp
Gently 1T is susceptible of demo
fin stratiOn-"
e" II should think this is a matter
" sufficient interest to the family to
al discussed seriously" retorted
are Hardy. who had an unfortunate ha
be of becoming exasperated by her h
hs.~ bands good humOr- Irene is
hat only child. and before your very e.
den you see her-you see her- 10
ven know. I Begin really begin to 5
and pect that she's in love"
dn't It was Doctor Hardy's turn to
upright Nonsense - he said. 'V
late should she be in lOve?" 1t is the
can fortunate limitation OF the philosop
or that he so often leaves irrational
havior out of the reckoning. Ssh
hose only a child"
age" she viii be elShteen presei
ON And why shouldn't she be in ID
,fora And the question is-who? Tina
two for you to answer. Who did
NJ a meet -
Miss she met no one WIN me- my
thing cident leit me TO ENJOY my honu"
nv best 1 could at ranch deep in
foothills. and Recnie stayed will
,reod- there There was no one else"
traf- NO one? No rnnchmen. cowbo
y the cow puncherS-i think nave near
mined with nice diSdain-
es OF No Only young Elden-"
they "OnIy2 Who is this young ED
the but he is just boy. Just thu
r was of the old rancher of whom
road told YOU
reams Exactly. And Irene is just a
IN fra Doctor Hardy, you are all very
With your fevers and your chills
/, driv- YOU can't diagnose love case
zen for n cent What about this youn
IN the dcn| Did Irene see much of hill
off his The doctor spread his hands.
te the YOU realize that there were TO
the ST. US at that ranch-four only, al
water one else for miles? How coul
at and help seeing him2"
And you permitted itf'
behind 81 was on my back with {
OF an leg. We were guests at their
able to They were good Samaritans TO