The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-02-05

mucn we nave 10 be than6ful for. We
have our health, and our home, and
the bright sunshine, and-I declare. .
she interrupted. catching a glimpse of
something through the window, "if the
cows haven't broken from the lower
pasture and are all through the oat-
neld! You'll have to take Collie and
get them back, somehow, OF bring them
up to the corral"
Pulling sun-bonnet upon her head
Beulah called the dog, which came
leaping upon her with boisterous af-
lection, and hurried down the path to
the field where the cows stood almost
lost In jungle of green oats. She
! soon located the breach in the fence
and, with the help of the dog, quickly
turned the cows toward it. But alack
just as victory seemed assured a rab-
bit was frightened from its hiding
place in the green oats and sailed
forth in graceful bounds across the
pasture. The dog, of course. conclud-
ed that the capture of the rabbit was
of much more vital Importance to the
Harris homestead than driving any
number of stupid cattle, and darted
across the field in pursuit, wasting his
breath in sharp, eager yelps as he
went. Whereupon the cows turned
oatward again, not boisterOusly nor
insolently, but with calm persistence
that steadily wore out the girls
strength and patience. She was in no
joyous mood at best, and the perverse-
ness of things aggravated her beyond
endurance. Her callings to the cattle
became more and more fearful, and
presently ended in a sob.
There, now, Beulah, don't worry;
we will have them in q minute" said
a quiet voice, and looking about she
found Jim almost at her elbow, his ON
nipresent smile playing gently about
his white teeth. 81 was down at the
creek filling the tank, when saw you
had little rebellion on your hands,
and l thought re-enforcements might
be in order"
you might we hollered farther
back" she said, half reproachfully, but
there was light of appreciation in her
eye when she dared raise it tOwar
him. I'm afraid l was beginning to
be very-foolish."
She tripped again on the treacherous
buckwheat, but he held her arm in a
strong grasp against which the weight
of her slim figure seemed but as
feather blown against a wall. Then
they set about their task, but the
sober-eyed cows Tad no thought of be-
ing easily deprived of their feast, and
1t was some time before they were all
turned back into the pasture and the
fence temporarily repaired behind
them.
II can't thank you enough" Beulah
was saying. "You just keep piling one
kindness on top of another. Say, Jim,
honest, what makes you do it?"
But at that moment the keen blast |
OF an engine whistle came cutting |
through the ARA long clear note, fol- |
lowed by series Of toots in rapid sue
cession.
Il guess they're running short Of
water" said Jim. 81 must hustle" So
saying he ran to the ford of the creek
where the tank-wagon was still stand
ing, and in a minute his strong frame
was swaying back and forth to the
rhythmic clanking Of the pump.
Meanwhile other things were trans
piring. Harris had returned from
town the night before with the fixed
intention of paying an early visit to
the Farther West. He and Rifles had
spent more time than they should
)reasting the village bar. while the
after drew a picture of rising color of
he possibilities which the new lands
afforded. Harris was not man who
abused himself with liquor. and Rifles,
90. rarely forgot that indulgence was
and had to be paid for in
ash. Moreover, Allan occasioned his
ather some uneasiness. He was young,
md had not yet learned the self-con-
rOl to be expected in later life. More
han once Of late Allan had crossed
he boundary Of moderation and John
Harris was by no means Indifferent to
he welfare Of his only son. Indeed,
he bond between the two was so real
nd so intense that Harris had never
een able to bring himself to contem-
late their separation, and the boy had
lot even so much as thought of estab-
lshing a home of his own. The idea
f homesteading together assured fur
her years of close relationship be-
ween father and son, and the younger
ian fell in intellectually with it.