The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1922-04-27

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by material gain. Against this mar
rowing band Of outlook her vigorous
spirit, with its dumb, insistent stretch
ings for the infinite, rebelled. It was
not a matter Of filial duty; it was not
q matter of love; to her it was mat
ter Of existence. She saw her ideals
dimly 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 materialism.
Perhaps 1t was custom and the
subtle pullings 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 a 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
she paused, her ear arrested by the
steady drone Of milking. A lantern
sitting on the black earth cast a little
circle Of light and threw docile COW
in dreadful silhouette against the barn.
And by that dim light Beulah dis
cerned 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, Beulah2" she
asked. There was no reproach In her
voice, nor even surprise, but kind Of
quiet sorrow. II couldn't let the poor
brutes suffer-" she explained.
Eyes, I'm leaving" said Beulah. II
can't stand it any longer"
The mother sighed. I've seen It
coming for some time," she said, at
length. Il suppose it can't be helped"
you're so passive" returned the
girl. with a touch Of impatience. "You
make me want to fight. OF course it
can be helped, but 1t 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
il a good man, Beulah. should
send you back to your bed, but some
how I can't. III 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 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!"
.'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. lean work other places, and get
my board and clothes. II I've got to
be cog In a money-making machine,
l will at least choose the machine
"sWhat plans have you made? Where
are you going?"
Haven't made any plans, and don't
know where Tn going. But Pm going.
At present that's enough. The plans
will 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 !
need. can earn more. It's not work
I'm afraid Of. although suppose fa-
ther 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 a
plain human craving to live"
II sometimes wonder whether Til
be ablssto stand 1t through to the
end" her mother whispered. somewhat
fearfully. as though frightened by the
admission. Twelve seen 1t coming
with You. and can't help feeling that
perhaps this is only the beginning"
''tll,s mother. If you shouldl" cried
the girl. 'That would do it--that
would open his eyes. He'd see Their
that there is something in the world
besides wheat and cows. after all. If
von would come-if you would ONLY
come TOO, things would be different"
sRut ] couldn't do that" said the
mother. after d silence. and as though
speaking with herself. Hes my hus-
band. Beulah. 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