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Before such women as Louise can be understood and their lives made livable； much will have to be done。 Thoughtful books will have to be written and thoughtful lives lived by people about them。
Born of a delicate and overworked mother； and an impulsive； hard； imaginative father； who did not look with favor upon her coming into the world； Louise was from childhood a neurotic； one of the race of over…sensitive women that in later days in… dustrialism was to bring in such great numbers into the world。
During her early years she lived on the Bentley farm； a silent； moody child； wanting love more than anything else in the world and not getting it。 When she was fifteen she went to live in Winesburg with the family of Albert Hardy； who had a store for the sale of buggies and wagons； and who was a member of the town board of education。
Louise went into town to be a student in the Winesburg High School and she went to live at the Hardys' because Albert Hardy and her father were friends。
Hardy； the vehicle merchant of Winesburg； like thousands of other men of his times； was an enthu… siast on the subject of education。 He had made his own way in the world without learning got from books； but he was convinced that had he but known books things would have gone better with him。 To everyone who came into his shop he talked of the matter； and in his own household he drove his fam… ily distracted by his constant harping on the subject。
He had two daughters and one son； John Hardy； and more than once the daughters threatened to leave school altogether。 As a matter of principle they did just enough work in their classes to avoid pun… ishment。 〃I hate books and I hate anyone who likes books；〃 Harriet； the younger of the two girls； de… clared passionately。
In Winesburg as on the farm Louise was not happy。 For years she had dreamed of the time when she could go forth into the world； and she looked upon the move into the Hardy household as a great step in the direction of freedom。 Always when she had thought of the matter； it had seemed to her that in town all must be gaiety and life； that there men and women must live happily and freely； giving and taking friendship and affection as one takes the feel of a wind on the cheek。 After the silence and the cheerlessness of life in the Bentley house； she dreamed of stepping forth into an atmosphere that was warm and pulsating with life and reality。 And in the Hardy household Louise might have got something of the thing for which she so hungered but for a mistake she made when she had just come to town。
Louise won the disfavor of the two Hardy girls； Mary and Harriet； by her application to her studies in school。 She did not come to the house until the day when school was to begin and knew nothing of the feeling they had in the matter。 She was timid and during the first month made no acquaintances。 Every Friday afternoon one of the hired men from the farm drove into Winesburg and took her home for the week…end； so that she did not spend the Saturday holiday with the town people。 Because she was embarrassed and lonely she worked constantly at her studies。 To Mary and Harriet； it seemed as though she tried to make trouble for them by her proficiency。 In her eagerness to appear well Louise wanted to answer every question put to the class by the teacher。 She jumped up and down and her eyes flashed。 Then when she had answered some ques… tion the others in the class had been unable to an… swer； she smiled happily。 〃See； I have done it for you；〃 her eyes seemed to say。 〃You need not bother about the matter。 I will answer all questions。 For the whole class it will be easy while I am here。〃
In the evening after supper in the Hardy house； Albert Hardy began to praise Louise。 One of the teachers had spoken highly of her and he was de… lighted。 〃Well； again I have heard of it；〃 he began； looking hard at his daughters and then turning to smile at Louise。 〃Another of the teachers has told me of the good work Louise is doing。 Everyone in Winesburg is telling me how smart she is。 I am ashamed that they do not speak so of my own girls。〃 Arising； the merchant marched about the room and lighted his evening cigar。
The two girls looked at each other and shook their heads wearily。 Seeing their indifference the father became angry。 〃I tell you it is something for you two to be thinking about；〃 he cried； glaring at them。 〃There is a big change coming here in America and in learning is the only hope of the coming genera… tions。 Louise is the daughter of a rich man but she is not ashamed to study。 It should make you ashamed to see what she does。〃
The merchant took his hat from a rack by the door and prepared to depart for the evening。 At the door he stopped and glared back。 So fierce was his man… ner that Louise was frightened and ran upstairs to her own room。 The daughters began to speak of their own affairs。 〃Pay attention to me；〃 roared the merchant。 〃Your minds are lazy。 Your indifference to education is affecting your characters。 You will amount to nothing。 Now mark what I sayLouise will be so far ahead of you that you will never catch up。〃
The distracted man went out of the house and into the street shaking with wrath。 He went along muttering words and swearing； but when he got into Main Street his anger passed。 He stopped to talk of the weather or the crops with some other merchant or with a farmer who had come into town and forgot his daughters altogether or； if he thought of them； only shrugged his shoulders。 〃Oh； well； girls will be girls；〃 he muttered philosophically。
In the house when Louise came down into the room where the two girls sat； they would have noth… ing to do with her。 One evening after she had been there for more than six weeks and was heartbroken because of the continued air of coldness with which she was always greeted； she burst into tears。 〃Shut up your crying and go back to your own room and to your books；〃 Mary Hardy said sharply。
* * *
The room occupied by Louise was on the second floor of the Hardy house； and her window looked out upon an orchard。 There was a stove in the room and every evening young John Hardy carried up an armful of wood and put it in a box that stood by the wall。 During the second month after she came to the house； Louise gave up all hope of getting on a friendly footing with the Hardy girls and went to her own room as soon as the evening meal was at an end。
Her mind began to play with thoughts of making friends with John Hardy。 When he came into the room with the wood in his arms； she pretended to be busy with her studies but watched him eagerly。 When he had put the wood in the box and turned to go out； she put down her head and blushed。 She tried to make talk but could say nothing； and after he had gone she was angry at herself for her stupidity。
The mind of the country girl became filled with the idea of drawing close to the young man。 She thought that in him might be found the quality she had all her life been seeking in people。 It seemed to her that between herself and all the other people in the world； a wall had been built up and that she was living just on the ed