The spectator., 1920-12-14
CHAPTER VlI-Continued.

Mother, this is too much! !' the girl exclaimed
 Her mother started and looked up. You're leaving us. Beulah?" she asked. There was no reproach in her voice, nor even surprise. but kind of quiet sorrow. 'I couldn't let the poor brutes suffer" she explained.
 Yes. I'm leaving" said Beulah. II can't stand it any longer"
 The mother sighed. Eve seen 1t coming for some time" she said. at length. "I suppose it can't be helped
 You're so passive" returned the girl. with touch of impatience. You make me want to fight. Of course it can be helped, but it can't be helped by always giving in"
 Your father has met one of his own mettle at last" said the mother, and the girl fancied she detected a note of pride, but whether of father. or daugh- ter, or both she could only guess. "Well, it's all very sad. Your father is good man, Beulah. l should send you back to your bed, but some how I can't. I-I don't blame you, Beulah"
 She had finished the last COW. Beu- lah helped with the pails of milk, and the two women went back to the house together. When Mary had washed her hands she took her daughters face be- tween her palms and kissed her on the cheeks. Slowly Beulah's arms stole about her neck, and II took all the i, hnr tn der.
 Stay till morning. Beulah. Your father may be disposed to give and take a little then. and you'll do the same, won't you? Oh my girl, don't break up our home like this!'
 You can't break up what you haven't got. Aside from you. why should call this place home? l work here. and get my board and clothes. Well, I can work other places, and get my board and clothes If I've got to be cog in a money-making machine, will at least choose the machine"
 What plans have you made? Where are you gong?"
 Haven't made any plans, and don't know where I'm going. But I'm going. At present that's enough. The plans will come along as they're needed"
 Have you any money?" asked the mother. with a brisk effort at cheer fitness. She was already planning for her daughter in the new world she was about to enter.
 Enough to start me. That's all I need. I can earn more. It's not work I'm afraid of. although I suppose fa- ther won't he able to see 1t that way. He'll put all this down to laziness and obstinacy. It's neither. It's just plain human craving to live"
 "I sometimes wonder whether I'll be able to stand 1t through to the end" her mother whispered. somewhat fearfully. as though frightened by the admission. "Tve-I'ye seen it coming with you, and can't help feeling that perhaps this Is only the beginning"
 "Oh. mother if you should," cried the girl. That would do it-that would open his eyes. He'd see then that there IS something in the world besides wheat and cows. after all. If YOU would come--if you would only come too. things would be different"
 "But I couldn't do that said the mother after a silence, and as though speaking with herself. Hes my hus- band, Beulah. You don't understand"
 They talked then, in secret sorrow ful confidence. of many things. things for their ears only, and the gray was returning in the northern sky when the girl again left the house, and this time swung resolutely down the road that led 10 Plainville. Her heart was now at rest. even at peace. In the sacred communion of that last hour she had come to see something of her mothers problem and sacrifice and although she was going out into the world alone, she felt that somewhere some time. was q solution that would reunite the broken family and tune their varying chords in harmony.
 From an unhappy sleep in his room