The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-04-23

Irene said Mrs. Hardy, what way
is that TO speak to Mr.. Coward? You
are out OF your head, child! Such a
scene, Mr.. Conwardi That GOV
puncheri / always knew 1t would
come out some time. oh, II the pa
pers should learn Of thisI
That's all you think Of" Irene re-
torted. "a scene, and the papers. You
don't trouble TO even wonder what
was the occasion Of the scene. You're
afraid OF the papers. I'm not. I'll
give the whole story to them tomor-
row. I'll tell that you insulted him,
Coward, and how you stood there,
a grinning, gaping coward under the
muzZle of his gun. How / wish / had
a photograph of it," she exclaimed,
with a little hySterical laugh. at
would look fine on the front page"
She broke into peals Of laughter and
rushed up the stairs.
In the morning she was very sober
and pale, and marks Of distress and
sleeplessness were furrowed in her
face. She greeted her mother with
cold civility and left her breakfast
untouched. She gave part of her
breakfast to Charlie; 1t was a saving
balm to her to have someone upon
whom she could pour affection. Then
she went TO the telephone. She called
Dawes Office. Nothing was known Of
Mr.. Eden he had been working there
last night; he was not down yet. She
called his apartments. There was no
answer. Then she tried a new num-
Der.
Hello, is that the Office Of the Call?
VIII you let me speak to"
Her mother interrupted almost fran
tically: Irene, you are not going to
tell the papers? You mustn't do that.
Think of what II means-the dis
grace-a shooting affair, almost, in our
home. Think Of me, your MOTHER"
"I1l think Of you on one considera-
tion-that you explain what happened
last night and tell me where Dave
Eden is"
II can't explain. Idon't know. And
I don't know"
Sand you don't want to know. And
you don't care, so long as you a keep
1t out of the papers. / do. I'm going
to find out the facts about this, If
every paper in the country should
print them. Hello! Yes, / want 20
speak to Miss Morrison"
In a few words she explained Dawes
sudden Disappearance. stripping the
incident Of all but vital facts. Bert
Morrison was all sympathy. tits a
big story, you know" she said, "but
we won't think of 1t that way. Not
4 line. SO far as / am concerned.
edith Duncan is the girl we need. A
sort of adopted sister to Dave. She
nay know more than any Of u.s."
But Edith knew absolutely nothing;
nothing except that her own heart was
thrown into a turmoil Of emotions.
She spent the day and the evening
downtown, rotating about the points
where Dave might likely be found.
And the next morning she called on
irene Hardy.
In spite Of all efforts at self.control
she trembled as she pressed the bell.
She had never met Irene Hardy; 1t
was going to be a strange experience,
introducing herself to the woman who
aad been preferred owe her and who
lad apparently proved so unworthy of
hat preference.
She had difficult things to say, and
sven while she said them she must
light a battle to the death with the
jealousy Of her natural womanhood.
And she must be very. very careful
that I'm saying things which were hard
10 say she did not say hard things.
And, most difficult Of all. she must try
70 pave the way to a reconciliation be-
tween Dave and the woman who stood
between her and happiness.
Irene attended the door, as was her
custom. Her eyes took in Edith's face
and figure with mild surprise. Edith
was conscious Of the process Of a
quick intellect e~ndeavoring to classify
her-sclicitor, music teacher, busi-
ness girl? And in that moment OF
pause she saw Irene's eyes and a
strange commotion Of feeling surged
through her. So this was the woman
Dave had chosen to love!
No; one does not choose whom one
will love; one loves without choosing.
Edith was conscious Of that; she knew
that in her own life. And even as she
looked this first time upon Irene she
became aware Of q subtle attraction
gathering about her; she felt some
Thing Of that power which had held
Dave to a single course through all
.hese years. And suddenly a great
new truth was born in Edith Duncan.
Suddenly she realized that If the steel
at any time prove u~nfaithful to the
magnet the fault lies not in the steel
but In the magnet. What q change Of
view. what q reversion Of all accepted
things came with the realization OF
that truth which roots down into the
bedrock Of all naturei
wont you come mr. Irene was
saying. Her voice was sweet and mu-
deal. but thGre NJ a note Of sadness
\ II which set responsive chords