The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-02-24

being mixed up in this-weiL fhere'H
be something to settle on that score.
too. Hitch up the drivers. Allan, and
be quick about it"
You're not going to leave your
pIOwIng, are your asked his wife
The words sprang to her lips without
any misintent- 1t was such an unusual
thing for her husband, on any account.
to leave the farm work unfinished
The practice on the Harris homestead
WIS work first. all other considera-
tons second
That's enough of your sarcasm"
he snapped. Il would think when our
name is threatened with a disgrace
like this you would he as anxious to
defend it as I am. How is it you go
hack on me in a moment like this?
You're not the woman you once were.
Mary"
and you're not the man you once
we're. John" she answered. "Oh, can't
you see that we're just reaping what
has been sown-the crop we've been
raising through all these years? Beu-
labs very life has been crying out for
action. for scope. for room. for some
existence, that would put a purpose
into her life and we've not tried to
answer that cry. 1 blame myself as
much as you. John. perhaps more. be-
cause I should have read her heart-I
should have seen the danger signals
long ago. But I WAS so busy. 1 didn't
think That's the trouble. John. we've
been so busy, both of us. we haven't
taken time TO keep up with her We've
gathered some property together. and
our cares have grown in proportion
but that which was more to US thar
all the property in the world we have
lOst-because we valued it less The
tears We're slowly coursing down her
cheeks, and her thin. wOrk-worn arms
were stealing about his neck Don't
think. dear" she whispered. that I'm
Indifferent. or that this hurts me less
than YOU. or that I would shield my
self from one iOta of my just blame.
hut let Us face the fact that IT has
been our mistake rather than Beu-
Iah'S."
He removed her arms. not urgently.
81 never thought it would come to
this" he said. II thought I humored
her every way 1 could AS for our
hard wOrk-welI. work makes money.
and 1 noticed Beulah could spend her
share
You don't understand, John. It
wasn't the work, If was the making
god of work, and giving it so much of
our lives that there was none left for
her. That's why she looked some
where else-if she has looked some
where else"
"AIlan works as hard and harder
than ever Beulah did, and Allan
doesn't feel that way about it"
That's true" she admitted. ''but |
AIlan's ambition is work He works |
and is satisfied. but Beulah thinks, |
and is not satisfied. It's the difference
in their nature, and we didn't take it |
into consideration" In every phrase
she tried TO link his blame with hers. |
that the burden might unite instead of |
separate them
eff she'd thought little more be-
fore this mad prank it would have
been better for everybody" he said
well, she'll have plenty of time to
think yet" He stepped to the kitchen
door. and from the nail above took
down the repeating rife.
You're not going to take that" she
cried. Don't take that. John. 1t
can't possibly do any good. and it may
do a lot of harm"
SCI won't do anything foolish" he
answered. ''but I'll take it along, just
the same"
Allan. with the drivers harnessed |
to the top buggy. was now at the door.
Without saying goOd-by TO his wife
Harris Joined him, and the two set
off on their search. Almost at the
gate they met George Grant. who had /
come over to haul water for another
days piOwing. He stopped in some
surprise at the turnout.
81 guess we won't be blowing to-
day" said Harris. He hesitated be
fore Georges questioning look. and
certain sense of family shame came /
upon him. But it was evident that he /
could hardly search for Beulah with
out mentioning her departure. and he /
might as we'll make clean breast of /
the affair.