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

crumbIlno Castles.
At the foot OF the garden Beulah
paused irresolute, the suitcase swing
ing gently In her hand. She had made
no plans for the decisive step events Of
the day had forced upon her. but the
step itself she felt to be inevitable.
She was not In love with Jim Travers;
she had turned the whole question
over In her mind that afternoon. weigh
ing II with judicial impartiallty. sup
posing all manner OF situations to try
out her own emotions, and she had
come TO the conclusion that Travers
was merely an incident In her life,
somewhat inspiring Incident perhaps,
but an incident none the less. The
real thing-the vital matter which de-
manded some exceptional protest-was
the narrow and ever narrowing horizon
OF her father. a horizon bounded only
by material gain. Against this mar
rowing band OF outlook her vigorous
spirit. with Its dumb. lnsistent stretch
ings for the infinite, rebelled. IL was
not matter OF fillal duty: II was not
a matter OF love; 10 her Il was a mat
ter OF existence. She saw her ideals
dlmly enough at best. and she would
burst every cord of affection and con-
vention rather than allow them to be
submerged In the gray. surrounding
murk OF materiallsm.
Perhaps Il was custom and the
subtle pulllngs OF association that
drew her feet down the path across
the bench TO the edge OF the stream
that gurgled gently In the still night.
The stars blInked strange challenge
from the sky. as though to say. Here
Is the tree OF knowledge, II you dare
to drink thereof"
AT length she turned her back on the
stream and took the path past the
house and down TO the corral, where
she paused, her ear arrested by the
steady drone OF milking. A lantern
sitting on the black earth cast little
circle Of Hight and threw docile COW
In dreadful silhouette against the barn.
And by that dim light Beulah dis
eerned the bent form OF her mother.
milking.
Mother. this Is too much !" the girl
exclaimed.
Her mother started and looked up.
you're leaving us, Beulahr' she
asked There was no reproach in her
voice. nor even surprise, but a kind Of
quiet sorrow. Il couldn't let the poor
brutes suffer" she explained.
"Nes, I'm leaving" said Beulah. Il
cant stand II any longer"
The mother sighed. 'Tve seen II
coming for some time" she said. at
length. 81 suppose II can't be helped"
you're so passive" returned the
girl, with touch of impotence. "You
make me want 20 fight OF course II
can be helped, but Il 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 a good man, Beuah. a.. should
send YOU back TO your bed. but some
how can't IL don't blame you,
Beulah"
She had finished the last COW. Beu-
lah helped with the pals OF milk, and
the two women went back 10 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, aud Il took all the
steel In her nature TO prevent surren-
der
"stay TIL morning, Beulah. Your
father may he disposed 10 give and
take a little then, and you'll DO the
same. won't your oh, my girl,
don't break up our home like thisl
"You can't break up what you
haven't got. Aside from you. why
should call this place homer work
here. and get my board and clothes.
Well. ] can work other places. and get
my board and clothes. II I've got 20
be a cog In a money making machine,
l will at least choose the machine"
"What plans have you madef Where
are you goingr
-Haven't made any plans, and don't
know where I'm going. But TN 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
fulness. She was already planning for