The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-02-26
CHAPTER VIl-Continued,
10


exclaimed.
Her mother started and looked up.
you're leaving us, Beulah?" she
asked. There was no reproach in her
voice, nor even surprise, but a kind of
quiet sorrow. 81 couldn't let the poor
brutes suffer-" she explained.
"Yes, I'm leaving" said Beulah. Il
can't stand ii any longer"
The mother sighed. "Tye seen 1t
coming for some time" she said, at
length. II suppose 1t can't be helped"
"You're so passive" returned the
girl, with touch of Impotence. you
make me want to fight. OF course 1t
can be helped, but it can't be helped by
slways giving in"
"Your father has met one of his own
nettle at last" said the mother, and
the girl fancied she detected note Of
pride, but whether of father, or daugh-
Ter, or both. she could only guess.
well, it's all very sad. Your father
q a good man, Beulah. should
send you back to your bed, but some
how l 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 PISSED her on the
cheeks. Slowly Beulah's arms stole
about her neck, and 1t 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 J"
"You can't break up what you
haven't got. Aside from you. why
should call this place home? / work
here, and get my board and clothes.
Well. can work other places, and get
my board and clothes. If I've got to
be cog in a money-making machine.
Twill at least choose the machine"
sWhat plans have you made? Where
are you gOing"
Haven't made any plans, and don't
how where I'm going. But I'm going.
At present that's enough. The plans
VIII come along as they're needed"
Have you any money" asked the
mother, with brisk effort at cheer
fulness. 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
ther won't he able to see II that way.
He'll put all this down TO laZiness and
oostinacy. It's neither. It's just
plain human craving to live"
7 sometimes wonder whether I'll
Be able to stand II through to the
end" her mother whispered. somewhat
fearfully, as though frightened by the
Ndmission., Twelve seen II coming
With you. and I can't help feeling that
Perhaps this Is only the beginning"
oh, mother. II you should!" cried
ne girl. THAT would do it-that
would open his eyes. He'd see then
mat there Is something in the world
"sloes wheat and cows. after all. If
"u would come-if you would only
~ne too. things would be different"
But l couldn't do that" said the
"o'her, after a silence, and as though
aking with herself. Hes my hus-
INA Beulah. You don't understand"
ihey talked then, in secret, sorrow
~ eontdence, of many things, things
uelr ears only, and the gray was
ufning In the northern sky when
Sn again left the house, and this
swung resolutely down the road
=" zee to Plainville. Her heart was
- az rest, even at peace. In the
communion Of that last hour
II NAG come to see something of her
hers problem and sacrifice: and
ough she was going ont into tho
o alone she felt that somewhere
uine' was solution that would
~. e the broken family and tune
varying chords in harmony.
an unhappy sleep in his room
John Harris was awakened
me whine of the cream separator
rw u'e' smile stole across his strong
~ ashdsome face. "Beulah has do,
lrs., % be sensible" he whispered to
Ia me morning the Harris bouss
vas astir early as usual Tho
and his son gave their attan
the horses while Mary nra
breakfast, and 1t was not mt,
IN, ss seated at the table that |
WS. a0eeed his daughters absence |
doa Beulah'" he demanded
4Ms NOW" his wife replied,
Ne up yetr