The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-12-16

about 10 enter.
Enough 10 start me. That's all !
need. can earn more. It's not work
I'm afraid Of. although suppose IA
Their won't be able to see Il that way.
He'll put all this down 10 lazIness and
obstinacy. It's neither. It's Just a
plain human craving 10 live"
81 sometimes wonder whether I'll
be able 10 stand II through 10 the
end" her mother whispered. somewhat
fearfully. as though frightened by the
admission. Twelve seen II coming
with you. and can't help feeling that
perhaps this is only the beginning"
"Oh, mother. II 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. II
you would come-if you would only
come too. things would be different"
"But 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
full 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 Plalnville. 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 a solution that would
reunite the broken family and tune
their varying chords in harmony.
From an unhappy sleep In his room
upstairs John Harris was awakened
by the whine Of the cream separator.
A quiet smile stole across his strong.
still handsome face. "Beulah has de-
cided to be sensible" he whispered to
himself.
In the morning the Harris house
hold was astir early as usual. The
farmer and his son gave their atten-
ton to the horses while Mary pre-
pared breakfast. and II was not until
they were seated at the table that
Harris noticed his daughters absence.
"where's Beulahf" he demanded
Il don't know" his wife replied.
"Aln't she up yetr'
Il don't know"
Harris rose from the table and
went upstairs. He entered his daugh-
ter's room without knocking. The bed
had not been slept In, and a strange
apprehension suddenly frightened
about his chest. He returned quickly
to the kitchen.
MARY, want to know where Beu-
lah is"
81 can't tell you where she is. John.
She left here last night"
Left herei Do you mean that she
has run awayT
mot just that, perhaps. but she has
gone. and I'm not looking for her back
for while" The mothers voice was
dry. and she talked In the restraint Of
subdued emotion.
'And you knew she was goingY
81 knew before she left. ! didn't"
"No. You didn't think II was worth
mentioning 10 me. Just a matter we
could talk about any time. I suppose
you thought I wouldn't care"
swell. you didn't seem to care very
much, John. You gave your orders
and went TO bed. Beulah could obey
or get out. You might have known
she had enough OF your own spirit to
soon settle that question. She settled
II Just as you would have settled II II
you had been in her place"
"Oh. OF course. I'm 10 blame for the
whole thing" said Harris. and his
throat was thick as he spoke. His
daughter was very dear TO him, and
that she would leave home had never
entered his head Why should shef
Wasn't he a good fatherf Didn't he
give her a good home. with plenty 10
eat and wear. and little money 10
spend from time 10 time. and no Ques-
lions askedI What more could man
do than that7 Already his heart was
crying out for his daughter-the cry
Of broken strings which never knew
their strength until they broke. And.
lest gentleness should be mistaken for
weakness. he clothed his real feelings
In sharp words 10 his wife.
"Of course, you must take her part.
suppose you advised her 10 60 II
was an awful thing for me TO tell her
she must do her work, but small
thing for her 10 run away. Wen, |
hope she likes II. II she thinks Tn
going 20 hitch up a buggy and go
chasing around the neighbOrhood, beg
gng her 10 come back, she's mistaken.
She's gone OF her own free Will, and
she can come back Of the same, or not
at ALL"
IL wouldn't look for her back too
soon" remarked Allan. "Looks TO me
as though this thing had all been fig
ured out ahead. Jim went yesterday
morning; Beulah goes last night. Just
a chance II they amt married by this
time
$50 that's II. is it7' exclaimed Har-
ris. jumping up from his untouched
breakfast. There was fierce light In
hia ava and N determination In his