The state herald., 1920-03-19

'OWhAh Athis BLU NOuiu hVI ocA tAAsss
She sometimes wondered II Coward
For long while she refused to COM
plete the thought, but at length, why
not? Why shouldn't Coward marry
her mother? And what other purpose
could he have In his continuous visits
to their homer Mrs. Hardy, although
no longer young. had by no means
surrendered all the attractions Of her
Sex. and Coward was slipping by the
period where a young girl would be
his natural mate. II they should
marry- Irene was NO plotter. but 1t
did seem that such q match would
clear the way for all concerned. She
was surprised, when she turned II
over In her mind. to realize that Con.
ward had won for himself such place
In her regard that she could conten-
plate such . consummGtion as very
much to be deAred. Subconsciously.
rather than from specific motive. she
assumed still more friendly attitude
toward him.
Bert Morrison's confession had, how.
ever. set up another very inslstent
train Of thought In Irene's mind. She
realized that Bert, with all her show
If cyniclsm and masculinlty. was
really very wOmanly young woman,
with just the training and the insight
into life that would make her almost
Irresistible should she enter the mnt.
rimOnlal market. And Bert and Dave
were already good friends; very good
from fragments Of conversation which
either Of them dropped from time to
time. Although she never doubted
the singleness Of Dawes devotion. she
sometimes suspected that In Bert Nor
rison's presence he felt more frank
comradeship thnn in hers. And It was
prepOsterous that he should not know
that Bert might be won for the win
ding. And meantime
Another winter wore nway: another
spring came rushing from the noun.
tain passes; another summer was
upon them, and still Irene Hardy had
not surrendered. A thousand times
she told herself 1t was impossible. with
her mother to think Of-and always
she ended in Indignation over her
treatment Of DIVE. It was outrageous
to keep him waiting md some
where back Of her self-indlgnntion hit
ted the form7the now seductive form
of Bert Morrison.
Irene Hardy chose to be frank with
herself over the situation. She had
not doubted the sincerity Of her Mt
tachment for Dave Eden: but. had
she experienced such n doubt. the en-
try Of Bert Morrison into the drama
would have forever removed II. In
fairness she admitted that things
could not continue a. they were. II she
continued to tribe with Dave Eden
Yes. trine. She would be frank.
She would not spare herself. She had
been trifing With him. :. She would
lay her false pride aside. In the purity
Of her womanhood. which he could not
misunderstand. she would divest her.
self Of all convention and tell him
frankly that-that-
She was not sure Whist she would
tell or how she would tell II. She was
sure only that she would make him
know. At the very next opportunity.
II came on Q nne summers evening
In late July. while Dave and Irene
drlfted In his car over the rich ripen.
Ing prairies.
Everywhere were fields Of dark
green wheat. already beginning to
glImmer with the gold OF harvest: ev.
erywhere were herds Of sleek cattle
sIghInE and blowing contentedly In
the cool evening air. Awny to the west
lay the mountains. blue and soft as a
pillow Of velvet for the head Of the
dying day: overhead. Inverted islands
Of bruss and copper hosted laxily In
an inverted sea Of azure and opal; up
from the southwest came the breath
Of the far Pacific. mild and soft and
gentle.
I'VE started at the wrong end In our
nation building" Dave was saying.
ave started to build cities. leaving
tuN w tuNV VI We
nre finding out how wrong We were.
Depend upon II. where there In u pros.
porous country the cities will tak-
cnre Of themselves. We have been
putting the cart before the horse"
But Irene's eyes were on the sunset;
on the slowly fading colors Of the
cl0udlnnds overhead. Something OF
TINT color played across her fine face.
mellowing. softening, drawing MS II
seemed. the very soul TO checks nnd
lips and eyes. Dave paused In his
speech to regard her. md her benuty
rushed upon him. cngulfed him. over
whelmed him In such u polgnnncy Of
tenderness that II seemed for mo-
ment NIL his resolves must be swept
away md he must storm the cltudei
that would not surrender TO Siege. -.
Only action could hold him resolute:
he pressed down the nccelerntor until
the steel lungs Of his motor were
drinking power TO their utmost rnpnr-