Sweet Ermengarde by H P Lovecraft

Summary

In 'Sweet Mingard,' a country girl is pursued by two suitors: the wealthy but sinister Squire Hardman, who covets her family's gold-rich farm, and Jack Manley, her childhood sweetheart. Amidst abductions, betrayals, and a journey to the city, Mingard's fortunes change when she's adopted by a wealthy woman and discovers the truth about her past, leading to a dramatic confrontation with the villain and a surprising resolution.

Takeaways

• 👨‍🌾 The story revolves around a farmer's daughter, Irmingard Stubbs, who is sought after by two suitors.
• 💰 Squire Hardman, one of the suitors, is rich and discovers a gold vein on the Stubbs' farm, which fuels his desire to marry Irmingard.
• ❤️ Jack Manley, the other suitor, is poor but is in love with Irmingard and promises to make his fortune in the city to save her and her family.
• 😈 Squire Hardman's villainy is revealed as he kidnaps Irmingard and tries to force her to marry him to claim the farm.
• 🚂 Irmingard escapes with the help of a stranger, Alon Regal Jones, but later discovers his infidelity and pushes him out of a train.
• 🏙️ In the city, Irmingard struggles to find work and ends up homeless, reflecting the harsh reality for country girls in the city.
• 👜 Irmingard finds a wealthy patroness in Mrs. Van Ity, who adopts her after she returns a lost purse.
• 💸 Irmingard learns about the gold on her family's farm from Alon, who she later reconciles with, and decides to help her family.
• 🏡 Irmingard returns to her family with enough money to pay off the mortgage and save their farm from Squire Hardman.
• 🤵‍♂️ Jack Manley returns with a bride of his own, Bridget Goldstein, and asks Squire Hardman for a loan to start a new life on the farm.
• 👶 A surprising twist occurs when Mrs. Van Ity recognizes Irmingard's mother, Hannah Stubbs, as the nurse who stole her baby 28 years ago, suggesting a deeper connection between them.

Q & A

What is the name of the protagonist in the story?

The protagonist's name is Irmingard Stubbs, though she was originally named Ethel Armagard.

Why did Irmingard's father persuade her to change her name?

He persuaded her to drop the prenomen 'Ethel' after the passage of the 18th amendment because it reminded him of 'ethyl alcohol', which made him thirsty.

What is the primary occupation of Irmingard's father?

Her father, Hyam Stubbs, is a poor but honest farmer and a bootlegger in Hogden, Vermont.

What is the main conflict in the story?

The main conflict revolves around Squire Hardman's desire to marry Irmingard for her father's farm, which he believes contains a vein of gold, and Jack Manley's love for her.

How does Squire Hardman plan to force Irmingard to marry him?

Squire Hardman threatens to foreclose the mortgage on her family's farm if Irmingard does not agree to marry him.

What does Jack Manley do when he learns about Squire Hardman's intentions?

Jack Manley decides to go to the city to make a fortune so that he can save the farm and marry Irmingard.

How does Irmingard end up in the city?

Irmingard is tricked by Alon Reginal Jones into eloping with him to the city, but after discovering his infidelity, she pushes him out of the train window and is left alone.

What happens to Irmingard after she is left alone in the city?

Irmingard struggles to find work and ends up sleeping on park benches and eating from the bread line until she is adopted by a wealthy woman named Miss Vanitty.

How does Irmingard resolve the conflict with Squire Hardman?

Irmingard returns to the farm with a large sum of money to pay off the mortgage and foil Squire Hardman's plans.

What is the final twist in the story involving Miss Vanitty?

The final twist is that Miss Vanitty recognizes Hannah Stubbs as the nurse who stole her baby 28 years ago, revealing that Irmingard is actually her long-lost daughter.

How does the story conclude?

The story concludes with Irmingard choosing to marry Squire Hardman for his wealth and the gold he discovered, despite her previous refusals.