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


Mother, this is too much - the girl
exclaimed.
Her mother started and looked up.
You're leaving us, Beulah?' she
asked. There was nc reprOach in her
voice, nor even surprise, but kind of
quiet sorrow. 81 couldn't let the poor
brutes suffer" she explained.
YES, I'm leaving" said Beulah. 81
can't stand it any longer"
The mother sighed. "Fve seen it
coming for some time" she said, at
length. 81 suppose it can't be helped"
You're so passive" returned the
girl, with a touch OF Impotence. 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 4 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, Beuiah. F.. should
send you back to your bed. but some
how I can't. II 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 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 it took all the
steel in her nature to prevent surren-
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 y
You can't break up what you
haven't got Aside from you, why
should 1 call this place home? 1 work
here, and get my board and clothes.
Well, 1 can work other places, and get
my board and clothes. If I've got TO
be a cog in money-making machine.
1 will at least choose the machine
"What plans have you made? Where
are you gOing?"
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 IA
Their won't be able to see it that way.
He'll put all this down to laziness and
obstinacy. It's neither. It's just
plain human craving to live"
Il sometimes wonder whether I'll
be able TO stand it through to the
end" her mother whispered. somewhat
fearfulIy, as though frightened by the
admission ''rve-Tve seen it coming
with you. and I can't help feeling that
perhaps this is only the beginning"
"Oh. mother, if you should :" cried
the girl 'HThat 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 ''He's my nus
band. Beu1ah. 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 to 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 solution that would
Teunite 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.
quiet smile stole across his strong.
still handsome face 'BeuIah 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 it was not until
they were seated at the table that
Harris noticed his daughters absence.
"Where's Beulah2" he demanded.
81 don't know" his wife replied.
~Ain't she up yetz