The Yale expositor., 1920-04-15

I IudHIuny ldyluS siege 10 the IrOnt
gate Coward proposed to burglarize
the home through the back door of
| 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 inuer af-
fairs of the family now laid open be-
fore him? Did not his position as
her mothers adviser permit him to
assume toward Irene an attitude
which, in a sense, was more intimate
than even Dawes could be? He turned
these matters over quickly in his mind
and congratulated himself upon the
| wisdom of his tactics.
'It's 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 ]
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 by
| 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 supposition
| but he had done her less than justice
in supposng 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 a 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.
II suppose need not conceal from
you," he answered, what my hopes
have been. 1t is reasonably safe to
| judge a daughter by her mother, and
by that standard Irene Is one of the
most adorable of young women"
81 have been called attractive In m,
day." confessed Mrs. Hardy, warm
ing at once to his fiattery.
| "Have been?" said Coward. "SaJ
rather you are. II had not been rem
dered, perhaps, little partial by my
| admiration of Irene, I--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-you
will forgive me, Mrs. Hardy, but Irene
is, If l may say 1t. somewhat head
strong. She is"
"She is her father over again." Mrs.
Hardy interrupted. II told him he
should not attempt that crazy trip OF
his without me along but he would go
And this Is what he has brought upon
me, and he not here to share It,"
Mrs. Hardy's tone conveyed yer,
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 own 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. Litth
as he valued Mrs. Hardy's opinion, hei
words of praise fell very gratefully
upon him. Flatterers are seldom proof
against their own poison.
"Yes, 1 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 II is useless
to argue with Irene-sensible girl
though she is-on a subject like this
We must reach her some other way.
1.-THE way that occurs to me Is to
create distrust. Love is either alb
surdly trustful or absurdly suspicious
There is no middle course, no bal
anced judgment. In the trustfulness
of love little virtues are magnified 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 OF
act. We must plan two campaigns
One, which l have already suggested
and one, II that should fail, to cause
Eden to distrust Irene. No. no." he
said, raising his hand toward Mrs
Hardy, who had started from her se.lt
there must be no vestige of reason
except that the end justifies the means
II is a case of saving Irene, even IL va
must pain her-and you-in the say
ing"
IT'S very dreadful" Mrs. Hardy n
peated. "But you are very thorough
you leave nothing to chance. ! sur
i nose that In the way with all big bus