The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1922-04-20

ming to feel almost amiable again
when recollection of Beulah, and the
regard which she was evidently culti-
vating toward Travers, engulfed his
returning spirits like cold douche.
1t must not come to that. whatever
happened.
Ian, if you're goin'," he said as he left
the table. I've some shears to
change that'll keep me busy until you
get back"
An hour later Allan returned. ac-
companied by George Grant, and oper-
atoms in the field were resumed Fa-
Their and son were both anxious to
make up for lost time, and they work.
ed that night long after their usual
hour for quitting. 1t was quite dark
when the two men, tired and dusty,
came in at the close of their long days
labor.
The table was set for two. "We
have had our supper" Mary explained.
eve thought we wouldn't wait any
longer"
"That's all right" said Harris, try
ing to be genial. But he found it hard
er than he had supposed. He was
very tired. ana somewhat embarrassed
following the unpleasantness at noon.
He had no thought of apologizing,
either to wife or daughter; on the. COM
trary, he intended to make it quite
clear to them that they had been at
fault in the matter, but he would take
his time about reopening the subject.
When supper was finished Allan
went to the stables to give final atten-
ton to the horses-a duty that had
always fallen to Jim-and Harris, af-
ter few minutes quiet rest in his
chair. began to remove his boots.
''The cows are not MIXED, John"
said his wife. She tried to speak in q
matter-of-fact way, but the tremor in
her voice betrayed the import OF the
simple statement
Harris paused with boot half un-
laced. While his recollection of Beu-
labs defiance was clear enough. it
had not occurred to him that the girl
actually would stand by her guns. He
had told her that she would milk the
cows tonight as usual, and he had as
sumed. as a matter of course, that she
would do so. He was not accustomed
to being disobeyed.
where's, Beulah?'' he demanded.
II guess she's in her room"
Harris laced up his boot Then he
started upstairs.
Don't be too hard on her, john"
urged his wife, with a little catch in
her voice.
Il won't be too hard on anybody"
he replied CURLY. Its strange thing
you wouldn't see that she did as she
was told. suppose have to plug
away in the field until dark and then
come in and do another half-day's
work because my women folk are too
lazy or stubborn to do it themselves. /"
II this outburst was intended to
crush Mary Harris it had very diff
ferent effect She seemed to straighten
up under the attack; the color came
back to her cheeks. and her eyes were
bright and defiant.
"John Harris, She said. "Yeu know
better than to say that your women
folk are either lazy or stubborn, but
there's point where imposition. even
fho inonocifiop ne a husband hoS ~
stop, and you've reached that point.
You didn't have to stay in the field
until dark. There's another day com
ing and the plowing'll keep. It isn't
like the harvest 1t was just your own
contrariness that kept you there You
fired the best man you ever had today,
in fit Of temper, and now you're try
ing to take it out on us"
Harris looked at her for moment !;
then, without speaking, he continued
up the stairs. He felt that he was
being very unfairly used, but he had
no intention of shrinking from his
duty as a husband and father, even If
its discharge should bring pain to all
Of them.
He found Beulah in her room. os-
tensibly reading.
why are the cows not milked?' he
demanded.
Il thought / made it clear to you at
noon that they wouldn't be MIXED by
me" she answered, "and there didn't
seem to be anybody else laundering for
the job"
"Beulah," he said, trying to speak
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