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

Upon the return of Irene Hardy to
the East it had slowly become appar-
ent to her mother that things We're not
as they once had been. 1t seemed as
though she had left part Of her nature
behind-had outgrown it, perhaps
and had created about herself an at
mosphere of reserve foreign to hel
earlier life. 1t seemed as though the
loneliness of the great plains had
settled upon her.
whatever has come over 1rene?"
said Mrs. Hardy to the doctor m eve
ming. "She hasn't been The same since
she came home. l should not have let
her go west alone"
The doctor looked up mildly from
his paper. 1t was the custom of the
doctor to look up mildly when Mrs.
Hardy made a statement demanding
some form of recognition. From the
wide initiation into domestic affairs
which his profession had given him
Doctor Hardy had long since entirely
ceased to look for the absolute IN
woman. He had never looked for /.
in man. He realized that in Mrs.
Hardy he did not possess a perfect
mate, but he was equally convinced
that in no other woman would he have
found a perfect mate, and he accepted
sixty years. So instead of reminding
his wife that Irene had not been alone
| when she went west he remarked very
mildly that the girl was growing older.
Mrs. Hardy found in his remark Oc-
| casion to lay down the book she had
been holding and to sit upright in a
rigidity Of intense disapproval. Doc
| tor Hardy was aware that this was
entirely a theatrical attitude, assumed
for the purpose of imposing upon him
a proper humility. lie had expert
enced 1t many times.
Doctor Hardy" said his wife after
the lapse of IN appropriate period,
do you consider that an intelligent
remark?"
ut has the advantage of truthful
ness" returned the doctor compla,
Gently. ut is susceptible of demon
stration."
II should think this is a matter of
sufficient interest to the family to be
discussed seriously" retOrted Mrs
Hardy, who had an unfortunate habit
Of becoming exaspesated by her hus
bands good humOr. "Irene Is Oul
only child. and before your very eyes
you see her-you see her Do yot
know. l begin-I really begin to sus
pect that she's in love-"
II was Doctor Hardy's turn to ST
upright. "Nonsense !" he said. "Wh,
should she be in lover" 1t is the I'm
fortunate limitation OF the philosophe1
that he so often leaves irrational be
havior out of the reckoning. "She il
only a child"
"She will be eighteen presently
And why shouldn't she be in love
And the question is-who? That i
for you to swe Who did sh'
meet?"
"She met 70 one with me-. My &C
cident left me to enjoy my holiday a
best I could at a ranch deep in tn
foothills, and Reenie stayed with N
there. There was no else"
mo one? No ranchmen, cowboys
COW punchers-I think l have heard
with nice disdain.
mo. Only young Eden
"Only9 Who is this young Eden?
"But he is just a boy. Just the SO
Of the old rancher Of whom ! hav
told you"
Exactly. And Irene IL just . CIR
Doctor Hardy, you are all very we
with your fevers and your chills. bt
you can't diagnose q love case wort
q cent. What about this young =
dent Did Irene see much Of himT
The doctor spread his hands. ID
YOU realize that there were four Z
US at that ranch-four only. and n
one else for miles7 How could 81
help seeing himi"
and you permitted I'll"
II was on my back with . broke
Ter. We were guests at their hom
Their v,ers good samaritans I" N