Judsonia weekly advance., 1920-03-04

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 inner 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 Dave's could be? He turned these matters over quickly in his mind and congratulated himself upon the wisdom of his tactics.
 Its very dreadful" Mrs. Hardy was saying, between dabbings of her per tuned handkerchief on eyes that bore witness to the genuineness of her dis tress. "1rene 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 I conceal from you, Mir Conward-from you, of all men--what have been my hopes for IreneY
 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 hy- pothesis that Mrs. Hardy saw in Con- ward possible comfort to her decin- ing days. He had no doubt that her vanity was equal to that supposition but he had done her less than justice in supposing that she had any directly personal ambitions. Her ambitions were for Irene. She had hoped that, by bringing Conward 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 suitor for Irene. And Conwards heart leaped at the confession.
 "I suppose I need not conceal from yOu," he answered, "what my hopes have been. It is reasonably safe to
 
 by that standard Irene is one of the most adorable of young women"
 q have been called attractive in my day." confessed Mrs. Hardy, warm' ing at once to his fiattery.
 "Have been?" said Conward. "Say rather you are If had not been rem dered, perhaps, little partial by my oJI scarcely give his heart in two places, you know. And my deep regard for you, Mrs. Hardy-my desire that you shall be spared this-ah-threatened humiliation, will justify me in using heroic measures to bring this un- fortunate affair to close. You may trust me, Mrs. Hardy. Irene is-yOu will forgive me, Mrs. Hardy, but Irene is, if I may say 1t, somewhat head strong. She is"
 "She is her father over again." Mrs. Hardy interrupted. "I 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 very plainly her grievance over the doctors behavior in eyading the consequences of the situation which his headstrong folly had created.
 "She is set in her own mind," Con- ward continued. we must not openly oppose her We must adopt other tac- tics'
 You are very clever" said Mrs. Hardy. You have been a student of human nature"
 Conward smiled pleasurably. Little as he valued Mrs. Hardy's opinion, her words of praise fell very gratefully upon him. Flatterers are seldom proof against their own poison.
 "Yes, 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 it is useless to argue with Irene-sensible girl though she is-on a subject like this. We must reach her some other way. "The way that occurs to me is to create distrust. Love is either ab surdly trustful or absurdly suspicious. There is no middle course, no bal anced judgment. In the trustfulness of love little virtues are magnifed 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 or act. We must plan two campaigns: One, which I have already suggested, and one, if that should fail, to cause Elden to distrust Irene. No, mo-" he said, raising his hand toward Mrs. Hardy, who had started from her seat, there must be no yestige of reason, except that the end justifies the means. It is case of saving Irene, even if we must pain her-anh you-in the saw ing"
 Its very dreadful" Mrs. Hardy re- peated. But yo4 are very thorough i; you leave nothiPg to chance. l sup