The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-02-20

c"ulunt .ilaperOn ho.. Auu Ges'ue.
they don't do things thst way IN that
country. You don't understand. It's
altogether different"
ANDREW" said Mrs. Hardy. leaning
forward, and the word "a ominous+
for she used his Christian name only
in moments of crisis, twas Irene e
with this young man-alone"
The doctor arose to his feet and
trod heavily upon the rich carpetinE"-
II told you you don't understand" he
protested. 'sThe West Is not the East
Everything is different"
II suppose human nature Is differ
emit" she interrupted m%eaningly. Then
her head fell upon the table and her
hands went up about her hair. It
had been brown hair n but was
now hin and streaked with gray. "Oh,
Andrew" she wept, w are ruined!
That we should ever have come to
this !"
1t was now Doctor Hardy's turn to
be exasperated. There was n thin:
his philosophy could not endure. That
was a person who was not and who
would not be philosophical. Mrs
Hardy was not and would not be phil
osophical.
"This is all nonsense /" said the uoc.
tor, ~impatiently. There Is nothing
to it, anyway. The girl had to have
some company. What If they did ride
together? What" i.
They rode togetherf Alone?"
''They had their horses along" said
| the doctor. whose imnatiehce had
made way for sarcasm.
"You are hooking me. In this hour
of shame you are making jests. Can
Irene"
The girl was summoned. Her fine
| face had lost some of its BROWNIES.
and the eyes seemed deeper and
| slower, but she was still a vision Of
grace and beauty as she stood in re-
Spouse to their call, framed in the
| curtains of an archWay. Her qu'cE
sense caught the tense atmosphere,
and she came forward with parted
lips and extended fingers.
"Yes?" she said. what is wrong
Can l help?"
your father has confessed" said
Mrs. Hardy. trying hard to speak with
judicial calm. "Now tell us about
your relations with this young Eden
this cow puncher. Let us know the
worst"
Irene's eyes flew from her mother
to her fathers face, and there they
caught something that restored thei,
calm.
There was no worst" she said
with a ripple of laughter, "but there
was a good deal Of best. Shall I tel
you the best?"
Irene said her mother severely
did you permit that young man tc
make love to you!"
Il did not give him permission. il
that swe you, because he didn't
ask it,"
Mrs. Hardy had risen. ANDREW
YOU hear that? She confesses. IT.:
dreadful! Horrible! What viii ev
erybody say?"
mo worse than you have said, II
be bound" put in the doctor.
Eyes, take her part. What care 20,
for the family name?'
II have a right to speak for thu
family name," said the doctor firmly
1T was mine before it was yours.
cannot see that the family name ha.
been compromised In the slightest de
gree. This is Irene's first adventure
1t will pass away. And yen if it doe
not-he is a manly boy"
Mrs. Hardy surveyed her husband
hopelessly, then turned to Irene
"lIave you made any promises?'
"Only that l wouldn't make an.
promises until he had his chance. Tha
seemed fair"
II suppose you are receiving letter
from him?'
mo"
"Nhy doesn't he writer"
For the first time Irene's eyes fel
and the color mounted richer in he
cheeks. She had to confess now. no
for herself but for him.
"He can't WRITE" she said.
"Nferciful heavens! !" exclaimed MR.
Hardy. collapsing into a chair. . .
ANDREW. bring me a stimulant."
i (TO BE CONTINUED)
!, Beating the Train.