The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1920-02-26
CHAPTER VIII.

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 1t, 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 IreneT
said Mrs. Hardy to the doctor one eve
ming. "She hasn't been the same since
she came home. l should not have let
her go 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
ceased TO look for the absolute in
woman. He had never looked for it
in man. He realized that in Mrs.
Hardy he did not possess a perfect
mate, but he was equally convinced
that in no other woman would he have
found perfect mate, and he accepted
his lot with the philosophy of his
sixty years. So instead of reminding
his wife that Irene had not been alone
when she went west he remarked very
mildly that the girl was growing older.
Mrs. Hardy found in his remark oc-
casion to lay down the book she had
been holding and to sit upright in a
rigidity of intense disapproval. Doc
tor Hardy was aware that this was
entirely theatrical attitude, assumed
for the purpose of imposing upon him
a proper humility. He had expert
enced 1t many times.
doctor Hardy" said his wife after
the lapse of an appropriate period,
"do you consider that an intelligent
remark?"
1T has the advantage of truthful
ness" returned the doctor compla-
Gently. ut is susceptible of demon
stration."
81 should think this is matter of
sufficient interest to the family TO be
discussed seriously" retorted Mrs.
Hardy, who had an unfortunate habit
of becoming exasperated by her hus-
bands good humor. "Irene is our
only child, and before your very eyes
you see her--you see her Do you
know, l 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 lover" 1t is the up-
fortunate limitation of the philosopher
that he so often leaves irrational be-
havior out Of thesreckoning. "She is
only child"
"She will be eighteen presently.
And why shouldn't she be in love?
And the question is-who? That is
for you to answer. Who did she
meet?"
"She met no one with me. My nc
cideht left me to enjoy my holiday as
best could at ranch deep in the
foothills, and Reenie stayed with me
there. There was no one else"
mo one? No ranchmen, cowboys
COW punchers-I think have heard
with nice disdain.
"No. Only young Eden"
"Only? Who is this young Eldenf"
'But he is just a boy. Just the son
of the old rancher Of whom / have
told you"
Exactly. And Irene is just girl.
Doctor Hardy, you are all very well
with your fevers and your chills. but
you can't diagnose a love case worth
cent. What about this young FL
den? Did Irene see much of himT
The doctor spread his hands. do
you realize that there were four Of
us at that ranch-four only, and no
one else for miles7 How could she
help seeing him7"
"And you permitted ST."
II was on my back with a broken
leg. We were guests ct their home.