Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-01-22
| TheCOWPunCFler
cOpyrgAtby Harper
b
Robert. CStead
Aufhor Of
"Kfrchener and
Olher Poems"
IIlnSfrGfi1nJ b.
IRWIN MYERS

J manfully laying siege to the froI
{ gate Coward proposed to burglariz
5 the home through the back door {
family intimacy. And now that Day
seemed to have won the prize Coz
: ward realized that his own pOsitio
was more secure than ever. Had h
not been called in consultation by tn
girls mother? Were not the inner al
fairs of the family now laid open be
fore him? Did not his position a
her mothers adviser permit him t
assume toward Irene an attitud
which, In a sense, was more intimat
than even Dawes could be? He turne,
these matters over quickly in his mint
AMI congratulated himself upon tn
wisdom of his tactics.
Otis very dreadful" Mrs. Hardy wa.
saying, between dabbings of her per
fGzned 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 dc
WY AAOiu llIlo. 1NCCu
coaceal 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 n.y.
p9thesis 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 supposing 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 mountaineering
with him, that young lady might be
led to see the folly of the road she was
ciposing. She had hoped that he
YgNld be the successful sutton for
Irent And Conward's heart leaped
at t. !! confession.
81 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
mott adorable of young women"
II have been called attractive in my
toev," anfessed Mrs. Hardy, warm
at { ae to his fattery.
9"dave beenY said Coward. "Say
rather you are. If had not been rem
dered, perhaps, little partial by my
admiration of Irene, 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
will justify me in using
1eroic measures to bring this I'M
fortunate affair to a close. You may
rust me, Mrs. Hardy. Irene is-you
will forgive me, Mrs. Hardy, but Irene
s, if | may say 1t, somewhat head
trong. She is"
"She is her father over again." Mrs.
Hardy interrupted. II told him he
hOuld not attempt that crazy trip of
lis without me along, but he would go.
md this is what he has brought upon
1e, and he not here to share it."
Mrs. Hardy's tone conveyed very
lainly her grievance over the doctors
ehavior in evading the consequences
the situation which his headstrong
oily had created.
'She is set in her own mind" Con-
ard continued. 1--WE must not openly
ppose her. We must adopt other tao
cs."
you are very clever" said Mrs.
.ardy. "You have been a student of
uman nature"
Coward smiled pleasurably. Little
, he valued Mrs. Hardy's opinion, her
ords of praise fell very gratefully
pom him. Flatterers are seldom proof
sainst their own poison.
"Yes, have studied human nature"
, admitted. "The most interesting
I'd the most profitable-Of all studies.
nd know that young couples in love
e not governed by the ordinary laws
reason. That is why 1t is useless
argue with Irene-sensible girl
ough she is-on a subject like this.
e must reach her some other way.
"The way that occurs to me is to
cate distrust. Love is either abb
rdly trustful or absurdly suspicious.
lere Is no middle course, no bal
ced judgment. In the trustfulness
love little virtues are magnified to
gelic qualities, and vices are quite
seen. But change that trust to sus-
ion, and hidden, sinister meaning
found behind the simplest word or
/. We must plan two campaigns:
e, which l have already suggested,
] one, IL that should fail, to cause
len to distrust Irene. No, no." he
d, raising his hand toward Mrs.
rdy, who had started from her seat,
ere must be no vestige of reason,
ept that the end justlfies the means.
IS case of saving Irene, even If we
st pain her-and you--ln the saw
It's very dreadful" Mrs. Hardy re-