The Southern herald., 1920-03-12
CHAPTER VIII.-continued.

The outcome was that Mrs Hardy
insisted upon Irene cmbarking ut once
upon a finishing course. Afterward
they Travelled together for a year in
Europe. Then home again, Irene pur-
sued her art, and her mother sur
rounded her with the social attractions
, which Doctor Hardy's comfortable in
! come and professional standing made
| possible. Her purpose was obvious
and but thlnly disguised She hoped
that her daughter would outive her
youthful infatuatiOn and would at
length, in n more suitable match, give
her heart to one Of the numerous eli
gbles of her circle.
To promote this end Mrs, Hardy
spared no pains Young Carlton. son
of a banker and one of the leading
men Of his set, seemed a particularly
appropriate match. Mrs. Harry
opened her home to him, and Carlton,
whatever his motives, was not slow to
grasp the situation. For years Irene
had not spoken Of Dave Elden, and the
mother had grown to hope that the
old attachment had died down and
would presently be quite forgotten in
new and more becoming passion.
The fact is that Irene at that time
would have been quite incapable Of
stating her relation toward Eden and
It's influence upon her attitude to life.
She was by no means sure that she
loved that Sunburnt boy Of romantic
memory; she was by no means sure
that she should ever marry him, let
his development in life be what it
would; but she felt that her heart was
locked, at least for the present, to all
other suitors. She had given her
promise, and that settled the matter.
notwithstanding her Indifference the
girl found herself encouraging Carl
TOMS advances, or at least not meet
ing them with tine rehulfs which
had been her habit toward all other
sutohs, and Mrs. Hardy's hopes grew
as the attachment apparently devel-
oped. But they were soon to be shat
tered.
Irene had gone with Carlton to the
theater; afterward to supper. 1t was
long past midnight when she reached
home. She Knocked at her mothers
door and Immediately entered. Her
lair was dlsheveled and her cheeks
were flushed, and she walked instead
lily across the room.
"What's the matter, Irene? What's
the matter, child? Are you siCk?"
cried her mother, springlng from her
bed.
mo, I'm not sick" said the girl bru.
tally. "Im drunk !"
"Oh, don't say that" said her mother
soothingly. "Proper people do not be-
come drunk. You may have had too
much champagne and tomorrow you
will have headache"
"1Iother! I have had too much
champagne, but not as much as that
I precious Carlton Of yours had planned
for. I just wanted to see. how des-
picable he was, and floated down
stream with him as far as l dared
But just as the current get too swift
I struck for shore. Oh, we made a
scene, all right, but nobody knew me
there, so the family name is safe and
you can rest in peace. ] called . taxi
and when he tried TO follow me in
slapped him and kicked him. Kicked
him, mother. Dreadfuliy uudigniied
wasn't it? And that's what
sou want mo 70 marry, in place of q
man."
Mrs. Hardy was chGttering with
modification and excitement. Hcr
plans had miScarr!ed. Irene had mis-
behaved. Irene was n difficult, head
strong child. 1t was useless TO argue
with her in her present mood. 1t was
useless TO argue with her in any mood
No doubt Carlton had been impetGous
Nevertheless he stood high in his SCI
and his father was something Of g
power in the financial world. As the
wife Of such. a man Irene might have
4 career before her--a career from
which at least some Of the glory would
reflect upon the silvering head Of thC
mother of Mrs. Carlton.
"Go to your room," she said a
length. "YOu are in no condition tC
talk tonight. I must say it is a shame
that you can't go out for an evening
without drinking too much and max
l. ing scene. What will Mr.
8 Carlton think of you?"
"If he remembers all I told hin
about himself he'll have enough t.
= think Of" the girl blazed back. "Yol
L knOw-what I have told you-and still
Mister Carlton stands as high in you
sight as ever. am the one to blame
Very well. I've tried your choice anC
I've tried my own. Now l am in {
. position to judge. There will be moth
= ing to talk about in the morning
= Mention Cartons name to me agail
y and l will give the whole incident Il
!, the papers with photograph
and names. Fancy the featur
: heading, Society Girl, Intoxicated
: Kicks Escort Out of Taxi Goo,
: night" IS N .Df-.
But other matters were to demant
The attention of mother and daughte
| l., tho v,owrtn0 Wb1o tbn soopo ,,o