The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1922-04-20
sims quite a hero, all right. IRIS


Harris. by the way Benlah talks
things have gone far enough. I don't
want my daughter marrying farmer
Her grandmother's daughter did,"
said Mrs. Harris.
yes, know, but things are differ
ent now. l look for something better
for Beulah."
It was characteristic of Harris, as
of thousands of others, that, although
farmer himself, he looked for some
thing better for his daughter. He
was resigned to Allan being farmer;
his intimate, daily relationship with
his son shrank from any possibility
of separation. But for his daughter
no. He had mapped out no career
for her; she might marry a doctor,
lawyer, merchant. tradesman, even
minister, but not farmer. It Is
popularity Of the agriculturist that,
among all professions, he holds his
own in the worst repute. In later
years has come gradually broaden
ing conception that farming, after all,
calls for brain as well as muscle, and
that the man who can wrestle sue
cessful living from nature has as much
right to hold up his head in the world
as the experimenter in medicine or
the lawyer playing hide-and-seek with
justice through the cracks in the Grim
inal code. Herein Is a germ of the
cityward migration: the farmer him.
self is looking for something better"
for his children.
"Jim was good man." persisted
his wife. Don't you think you were
well, perhaps, a little hasty with
him?"
Harris sat back. It was his wife's
business to agree For twenty years
and more she had been faithful in the
discharge Of that duty. That she
should suggest an opinion out Of har-
,mony with his indicated lack Of dis
cipline, not very serious, perhaps, but
seed which, If permitted to flourish,
might develop to dangerous proper
lions.
so you're goin' to take his part,
too? It's a strange thing If I can't
handle my hired help without advice
from the house."
Mary flushed at the remark. Any
open quarrel with her husband. espe
cially before the children-for she
still thought of the man and woman
to her left and right as "the children"
was more painful to her than any
submission could have been. It would
be SO much easier to change the sub
ject, to follow the line of least resist
ance, and forgot the incident as quick
" as possible. But Of late the convic-
ton had been coming home to her
that some time. somewhere, she must
make stand. And. quite unbidden,
a strange surge Of defiance welled in
her when her husband so frankly told
her to mind her own business.
II was under the impression we
were managing this farm together,
you and |, john" she said, very calm
", but with strange ring in her
voice. when we came West under
stood 1t was to build our home. I
didn't know it was just to be your
home"
The look OF surprise with which
Harris greeted her words was absO-
Iutely genuine. A hot, singing retort
sprang to his lips, but by a sudden
effort he suppressed it. I'VE will talk
about that some other time, Mary. he
said. IF Jim had answered my ques-
ton -airly, as he had right to. in
stead of beatin' around the bush. /
might We let him off. But when I
wanted to know what kept him he
simply parted me, maxim fool of
me and rubbin' it In with that infer
nal smile OF his"
$50 that's what started It'll" ex-
claimed Beulah 'Well, I'll tell you
what kept him, II he wouldn't. The
cattle got into the oats through a
break in the fence, and couldn't get
them out, and the dog went ki-yi-ing
over the prairie after a rabbit, and
just as was beginning TOTO con-
dense over it Jim came up and saved
the situation. What If he did keep
your old engine waiting? There are
more important things than blowing"
Aha T. said Harris, knowingly.
''Well, ! guess it's just as well it hap
| pened as it did. Jim was gettin' al
together too good at runnin' at your
heels"
That's all the thanks he gets for
working late and early. like no other
hired man in the district. All right.
You and Allan can milk the cows to-
night. for won't seer
Harris, was accustomed to his
daughters frankness. and as a rule
paid little regard to it. He was willing
enough to be flayed, in moderation, by
ler keen tongue; in fact, he took
secret delight in her unrestrained sal
lies. but that was different from de-
fiance.
Wen talk about that some other
tine. too" he said "And you'll milk
the cows tonight as usual"
Benlah opened her lips as though to
answer, but closed them again, arose.
and walked out Of the kitchen, For.
4 Z