The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-01-21

caV0n TO lay down the, book she had
been holding and to sit upright In q
rigidity Of intense disapproval. Doc
tor Hardy was aware that this was
entirely theatrical attitude, assumed
for the purpose Of imposing upon him
n proper humility. He had expert
enced II many times.
Doctor Hardy" said his wife after
the lapse Of an appropriate period,
''do you consider that an intelligent
remark ?"
1T has the advantage of truthful
ness" returned the doctor compla-
Gently. 1T 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 exasperated by her hus-
bands good humor. ''Irene Is our
only child. and before your very eyes
you see her--you see her Do you
know. l begin--I really begin to sus-
pect that she's in love-"
1t was Doctor Hardy's turn to sit
upright. Nonsense |" he said. "Why
should she be In lover" 1t is the I'M
fortunate limitation Of the philosopher
that he so often leaves irrational be-
havior out OF the reckoning. "She Is
only a child"
"She will be eighteen presently.
And why shouldn't she be In lovei
And the question is-who? That Is
for you to answer. Who did she
meet"
"She met no one with me. My ac-
cident left me to enjoy my holiday as
best / could at ranch deep in the
foothills, and Reenie stayed with me
there. There was no one else"
mo one? No ranchmen. cowboys
COW punchers--I think have heard
with nice disdain.
"No. Only young Eden"
"Only? Who is this young Elden?"
'But he is just boy. Just the son
of the old rancher Of whom l have
told you"
Exactly, And Irene Is just girl.
Doctor Hardy. you are all very well
with your fevers and your chills, but
you can't diagnose love case worth
a cent. What about this young FL
denY Did Irene see much of him?"
The doctor spread his hands. do
you realize that there were four of
us at that ranch-four only. and no
one else for miles? How could she
help seeing hlmY'
"And you permitted it?"
81 was on my back with broken
leg. We were guests at their home.
They were good Samarltans 10 us.
couldn't chaperon her. And besides
they don't do things that way In that
country. You don't understand. It's
altogether different"
Andrew" said Mrs. Hardy, leaning
forward, and the word was ominOus
for she used his Christian name only
In moments of crisis, twas Irene ever
with this young mnn-aione?"
The doctor arose to his feet and
trod heavily upon the rich carpetlngs.
II told you you don't understand" he
protested. 1.-THE West is not the East.
Everything is ul1erent-
II suppose human nature is differ
emit" she interrupted meaningly. Then
her head fell upon the table and her
hands went up about her hair. 1t
had been brown hair once but was
now thin and streaked with gray. "Oh.
Andrew" she wept. "we are ruined
That we should ever have come to
thisw
1t was now Doctor Hardy's turn to
be exasperated. There was one thing
his philosophy could nc; 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 doc
tor. impatiently. There is nothing
TO it, anyway. The girl had to have
some company. What If they did ride
together? What
"They rode together? Alone?"
"They had their horses along" said
the doctor, whose impotence had
made way for sarcasm.
"You are mocking me. In this hour
of shame you are making jests. Call
Irene"
The girl was summoned. Her fine
face had lost some of its brownnesS
and the eyes seemed deeper and
slower, but she was still vision Of
grace and beauty as she stood in re-
Spouse to their call, framed in the
curtains of an archway. Her quick
sense caught the tense atmosphere,
and she came forward with parted
lips and extended fingers.
"YesY" she said. "What is wrong?
Can heinz"