The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-09-09


the world, because l saw Isobel's-and
then. holding her mothers hand, she
allowed Mrs. Sidney to have the no
ment of distress with the intimate sup
port of her W presence.
1t may seem a small struggle that
mother and daughter went through,
but 1t did not seem small to me who
witnessed it, and 1t had no rhetorical
and little emotional expression.
Isobel knew her mother suffered, but
she was wise. Mrs. Sidney dreaded
her daughters adopted mode Of life,
but knew her daughter,
Goodbye. mother" said 1sobel. 1--WE
sha'n't be gone long. Come on, John.'
That was the first time she had
called me John honestly and without
comedy. l knew her finesse. She did
1t to give her mother the comfortable
n that she was not going upon q
wild adventure of an automobile ride
with an unrelated man but was within
l. the strict intimacy of the family.
We went driving, Isobel at the wheel.
SHE liked to drive fast and l do not.
I am timid. I do not think that loco
motion Is a genuine human pleasure.
Possibly 1t is, behind either a fast or
a ploddi1g horse. l prefer the %plodding
horse. L%ocomotion then merely reveals
gradually changing facets of the scene;
n likes to see the manifold aspects
of a landscape unfold. But an auto
mobile driven as Isobel wanted to
drive it revealed no facets. 1t merely
blurred the vision and gave the idea
that the satisfaction sought was a GER
tain amount Of wind blown in the face.
For such as love it. not for me!
"That was a difficult scene, DOCTOR"
she said.
I knew that was what she would
call me next-"doctor." I came d.
rectly down out Of the clouds.
II know it was," l said, "and l. adj
managed it."
II think I shall continue to call you
john just that way" she said. ut
seems more honest and decent. After
all. we are engaged"
Sometimes Mr.. Sidney could be
taken out in an automobile, of a warm,
fair afternoon. 1t was not often that
his strength permitted this, but when
ever it did, 1 was glad not only to al
low but to suggest that he make use
of all opportunities.
The most beautiful Of our river
drives brought us, within the limitation
Of MI. Sidney's strength, to the peni-
Tertiary at Alwick. 1t was a hideous
structure of barracks, work-rooms and
walls, Of cells and armed guards; but
1t was in lovely surroundings, and If
we took the best roads, we came natur-
ally to the prison walls.
Mr.. Sidney would look at the en-
closure and the guards in the turrets
as If interpreting his own life in the
terms Of prison existence. We may
have taken this drive by the prison
road ten times when, approaching it
on another of our outings, MI. Sidney
had the driver stop at the entrance.
II feel very strong and we'll today,
DOCTOR" he said, "and If you do not
object, 1 think I should like to go in
side. I have seen the outside so many
times, I have q curiosity to see the in
SIDE"
I consented, thinking that with Jed
and me helping him-we acted as his
legs. guiding and sustaining his feeble
motions-he was strong enough to
make the effort. I did not know
whether it vas good or bad psychology
to give him a sight of so many impris-
oned men, but my instinct suggested
! that it would, in his case. be good. He
was a logical, reasoning mana rare
phenomenon in the human race. II he
had been emotional and sentimental. /
should have had more doubt.
Mr.. Sidney was important enough to
be known in the neighborhood. The
warden of the prison came to meet him
in the Office as soon as we had entered.
He was very cordial to Mr.. Sidney.
who himself never showed more his
aristocracy of democracy. I am a
democrat. I am most fond Of an
aristocratic democrat. Such was Mr..