The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-01-08
CHAPTER vIli-continued.

Lncy Travelled tOgetnSr TOT year III
Eu-Ape. Then home again, Irene pur-
sued her art, and her mother sur
rounded her with the social attractions
which Doctor Hardy's comfortable in
come and professional standing made
possible. Her purpose was obvious
and but thinly disguised. She hoped
that her daughter would Outiive her
youthful infatuation and would at
length, In a more suitable match, give
her heart to one of the numerous eli
gibles of her circle.
To promote this end Mrs. Hardy
spared no pains. Young Carlton, son
OF banker and one of the leading
men of his set, seemed a 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
q 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
It's 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
cVrifn no fx-nn
promise, and that settled the matter.
Notwithstanding her Indifference the
girl found herself encouraging Carl
tons advances, or at least not meet
ing them with the rebuffs which
had been her habit toward all other
suitOfs, and Mrs. Hardy's hopes grew
as the attachment apparently devel-
oped. But they were soon to be shat
tered.
Irene had gone with Carlton to the
Eheater; afterward to supper. 1t was
long past midnight when she reached
home. She knocked at her mothers
door and Immediately entered. Her
hair was disheveled and her cheeks
were flushed, and she walked INSTEAD
lily across the room.
whats the matter, Irene? What's
the matter, child? Are you sick p
cried her mother. springing from her
bed.
mo. I'm not sick" said the girl bru-
tally. ''Im drunk !''
ooh, don't say that" said her mother
sOothingly. Proper people do not be-
come drunk. You may have had too
much champagne and tomorrow you
will have a headache"
Mother! 1 have had too much
champagne, but not as much as that
precious Carlton of yours had planned
for. 1 just wanted to see how des-
picable he was. and 1 hoated down
stream with him as far as 1 dared.
But just as the current got too swift
1 struck for shore. Oh, we made q
scene, all right, but nobody knew me
there, so the family name is safe and
you can rest in peace. I called a taxi,
and when he tried to follow me in I
slapped him and kicked him. Kicked
him. mother. Dreadfuily undignified,
wasn't 1t? And that's what
you want me to marry, in place of a
manI'
Mrs Hardy was chattering with
modification and excitement. Her
plans had miscarried. Irene had mis-
behaved. Irene was q difficult, head
strong child. 1t was useless to argue
with her in her present mood. 1t was
useless to argue with her in any mood
No doubt Carlton had been impetuous.
Nevertheless he stood high in his set
and his father was something of a
power in the financial world. AS the
wife of such a man Irene might have
q career before her-a career from
which at least some of the glory would
reflect upon the silvering head of the
mother of Mrs. Carlton.
$50 to your ROOM" she said at
length. you are in no condition to
talk tonight. 1 must say it is a shame
that you can't go out for an evening
Ing a scene. What will Mr..
Carlton think of you?"
eff he remembers all 1 told him
about himself he'll have enough to
think Of" the girl blazed back. "You
know-what have told yOu-and still
Mister Carlton stands as high in your
sight as ever. I am the one to blame.
Very well. I've tried your choice and
I've tried my own. Now I am in a
position to judge. There will be moth
Ing to talk about in the morning.
Mention Cartons name to me again
and I will give the whole incident to
the papers with photographs
and names. Fancy the feature
heading, Society Girl, Intoxicated,
Kicks Escort Out of Taxi Good
night"
But other matters were to demand
the attention of mother and daughter
in the morning. While the scene was
occurring in Mrs. Hardy's bedroom
her husband, clad in white, toiled in
the operating room to save the life of
a fellow being. There was a slip of
an instrument, but the surgeon toiled
on; he could not at that juncture
pause the life of the patient was at
stake. When the operation was I'm
fshed he found his injury deeper than
he supposed, and Irene was summoned
from her heavy sleep that morning to
attend his bedside. He talked TO her
as a philosopher; said his lffe's work
was done and he was just as glad to
go In the harness; the estate should