The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-03-26
BY
Robert ]. G. Stead

family intimacy. And now that Dave
seemed to have won the prize Con
ward realized that his own position
was more secure than ever. Had he
not been called in consultation by the
girls mother? Were not the inner az
fairs Of the family now laid open he
fore him? Did not his position as
her mothers adviser permit him to
assume toward Irene an attitude
which, in q sense, was more intimate
than ven Dawes could be? He turned
these matters over quickly in his mind
and congratulated himself upon thu
wisdom of his tactics.
Its very dreadful" Mrs. Hardy was
saying, between dabbings Of her per-
fumed handkerchief on eyes that bore
witness to the genuineneSs Of her dis
tress. Irene is not an ordinary girl.
She has in her qualities that justified
me in hoping that-that she would do
very different from this. Need I
conceal from you, Mr.. Conward-from
you, Of all men-what have been my
hopes for Irene?"
COnward's heart leaped at the con-
fession. He had secretly entertained
some doubt as to Mrs. Hardy's pur.
pose in opening her home to him as
she had done; absurd as the hypothe-
sis seemed, still there was the hy-
pothesis that Mrs. Hardy saw in Con-
ward a possible comfort TO her declin.
ing days. He had no doubt that her
vanity was equal to that s%uppositiOn,
but he had done her less than justice
In s%upposing that she had any directly
personal ambitions. Her ambitions
were for Irene. She had hoped that,
by bringing Coward into the house,
by bringing Irene under the influence
Of q close family acquaintanceship
with him, that young lady might be
led to see the folly of the road she was
choosing. She had hoped that he
would be the successful sutton for
Irene. And Conward's heart leaped
at the confession.
81 suppose 1 need not conceal froi
you," he answered, "what my hope
have been. 1t is reasonably safe to
judge a daughter by her mother, ant
by that standard Irene is one of thu
| most adorable Of young women"
II have been called attractive IN my
day." confessed Mrs. Hardy, warm
ing at once to his fiattery.
"Have been?' said Coward. "Say
rather you are. II l had not been rem.
dered, perhaps, a little partial by my
admiration Of Irene, well, one can
scarcely give his heart in two places,
you know. And my deep regard for
you, Mrs. Hardy-my desire that you
shall be spared Observation-Disclosures
humiliation, will justify me in using
heroic measures to bring this I'm
fortunate affair to a close. You may
trust me, Mrs. Hardy. Irene is-y0u
will forgive me, Mrs. Hardy, but Ireae
is, IL I may say IL, somewhat head
strong. She is"
"She is her father over again. Ars
Hardy interrupted. 81 told him he
| should not attempt that crazy trip OF
his without me along, but he would 60
And this is what he has brought upOt
me, and he not here to share 1t"
Mrs. Hardy's tone conveyed very
| plainly her grievance over the doctors
behavior in evading the consequences
| Of the situation which his headstrona
| folly had created.
"She is set in her w mind" Con
ward continued. 1--WE must not openly
| oppose her. We must adopt other tao
tics"
"You are very clever" said Mrs,
| Hardy. "You have been q student Of
| human nature"
Coward smiled pleasurably. Little
| as he valued Mrs. Hardy's opinion, her
words Of praise fell very gratefully
| upon him. Flatterers are seldom proof
| against their own poison.
"Yes, / have studied human nature
he admitted. "The most interesting
and the most profitable-of all studies.
| And / know that young couples in love
| are not governed by the ordinary laws
Of reason. That Is why it Is useless
to argue with Irene-sensible girl
| though she is-On a subject like this.
| We must reach her some other way.
"The way that occurs to me is TO
| create distrust. Love Is either abb
| surdly trustful or absurdly suspicious.
| There is no middle course, no bal
| anced judgment. In the trustfulness
| Of love little virtues are magniied TO
angelic qualities, and vices are quite
unseen. But change that trust to sus
| picion, and a hidden, sinister meaning
Is found behind the simplest word or
act. We must plan two campaigns:
| One, which I have already suggested,
and one, If that should fail, to cause
Eden to distrust Irene. No. no." he
said, raising his hand toward Mrs.
Hardy, who had started from her seat,
"there must be NO vestige Of reason.
except that the end justifes the means
1t Is a case Of saving Irene. even If w
must pain her-and you-in the saw
ing"
"It's very dreadful" Mrs. Hardy ~
peated. "But you are very thorough
you leave nothing to chance. ] sur
pose that is the way with all big buzz