The Crux

plant in its

starved, oppre

le thing; yet

ht and vigor, b

r trans

hoice. Had she been alone, independent, quite free to change, the move would have been difficult enough; but to make her p

but between her and that lady now rose the vague image of a

are not a child! You are twenty-five years old. You are a grown woman, and have as much right to decide for yourself as a grown man. This isn

w you can think of leaving us. We're getting

Lane hastily changed the phrase to "I mean to be with-you d

use exactly as you like; you don't depend on me for a thing, and never did. As to Grandma!"-and she looked affectionately at the old lady-"she don't need me nor anybody else. She's independent i

r grandmother in many ways than to either parent. "Well, I'll miss you!" said

enty-five is certainly free to choose her way of life, and there was no real objection to this change, except that it was a change, and therefore dreaded, his opposi

ion under a rain of tears, a hail of criticism, and heavy wind of argument and exhortation. All her friends and ne

had she set her will against her parents; conscience had always told her to submit. Now conscience told her to rebel, and she did. She made her personal arrangements, said go

, all who knew them and could spare the time seemed to

dma appeared, serene and brisk, descending, with an

"I think these girls need

a time remained to express it, that they presently found themselves glidi

ssion," said

save Dr. Bellair, who had made the cross cont

in the eyes of their friends, highly doubtful enterprise, they had emotion to spare; and to be con

e to the other, sp

ke good sense. I always wanted to travel, always, and never had the opportunity. This was a

till stari

ticket-sent for it same as you did. And I didn't have to ask anybody-I'm n

triumph

said a word!" T

Take care of me indeed! Laura need

yearned over her mothe

ay; I heard 'em talking about it! He wasn't willing to go alone-not he! Wants someb

ven up on that account. She herself could have been easily dispos

" the old lady burst for

ir. "Sixty isn't anything. You ought to have twenty years o

up to the last year. I don't know about enjoyin' life, but she was useful for pretty near a solid century. After sh

igrew," said Sue, "and I'm real glad you'

ettigrew very much-but-a grandmother thus airily at large seemed to unsettle the foundations

d at the bank this morning and had 'em arrange for my account out in Carston. They were some surprised, but there

astonished them by producing from her handbag the most diverse and unlooked for conveniences. An old-fashioned traveller had forgotten her watchk

s, a real treasure on the dusty journey; also a tiny corkscrew, a strong pair of "pinchers," sewing materials, playing

a trunk, Grandm

"excess baggage. All

to arrange things so wel

ered. "There's no end of direction

hat they all grew to value her presence long before they reached Carston; but they had no

ed by the hour the endless panorama fly past her window, its countless shades of green, the brown and red soil, the fleeting dashes of color where wild flowers gathered thickly. She was r

stars. Big shadowy trees ran by, steep cuttings rose like a wall of darkness, and th

oung man with small, light eyes, sat near by, and cast frequent glances at both the girls, going by their seat at intervals. Vivian c

rew in her heart, a feeling of ligh

discussion as to wha

" Sue practically insisted. "The doctor says it will be hard

. What do you want to do, Vivian?" ask

s still u

teach-but I haven't a certificate. I'd love

he doctor assured her. "Meantime, as this kitten says, you could h

with my teaching late

t so foolish out here. We'll fi

he high plateau. They drew deep breaths; the doctor squared her shoulders with a glad, homecoming smile. Vivian lifted her head and fac

n a dusty runabout, and stepped out smiling. He sei

aid. "Glad to see you back. If you've

Elder-Dr. Hale; Mrs. Pettigrew, Miss S

Orella, and addressed himself to her, giving only a col

de to Vivian, made

y, is it?" she said. "Even Ba

vian answered. "It's Dr. Bellair's fr

rather of Su

ings, and surprised, as most Easterners are, by the broad beauty of the streets and the modern conveniences everywhere

ractive than the doctor had described it. It was a big, rambling thing, at home they would have called it a hotel, with its neat

a sort of general sitting-room; on either side were four good rooms, opening on a

on that side and kept the one opening from the hall as their own parlor. In the opposite wing was Miss Elder's room next the hall, and

her apartments with susp

Bellair has to be next her office-but

uld be nearer to everything that went

ted the house a

nd we don't need him anyway. He said h

to room examining everything with a careful eye, with an expression of growing generalship. Sue fluttered about delight

d. "A finger out on his glove, a button off his coa

Elder. "I engaged her for a week-on trial. She's in the kitchen now, a

r. "Sometimes you show as m

asked Miss Orell

n or so. He's not over bright, but a willing worker. She's a good woman-from one st

Dr. Bellair asked, "t

ly on the shoulder, but looked

e if somebody don't h

ook?" aske

have in the house?" inqui

keep a little-place of entertainment. The food was excellent. She's been a pa

t would it-look well? I don't want to be mean about it, but this is a v

resent character, she has suffered two changes of heart, she's become a religious devotee-and a man-hater! And fr

o her carefully, but she only changed to "Jennie June," and adhered to o

," Dr. Hal

" sai

ng-house still?" asked Dr.

s trying to break altogether with her past. She wants to

the experiment, and

his questionable character proved an unquestionable advantage. With the boy's help, she cooked for the houseful, which grew to be a family of twenty-five. He also wiped dishes, helped in the laundry work, cleaned and scrubbed and carried coal; and Miss Elder

sh more sane and moral per

amazement the swift

Dr. Bellair advised, "it doesn't cost them any more, and it is a great convenience. 'References exchanged,' of cou

of Miss Elder's venture seemed quite safe. They had the twenty Dr. Bellair prophesied, and except for her, Mrs. Pettigrew, Miss Peeder, a te

tered. This houseful of heavy feet and broad shoulders, these deep voices and loud laughs, the atmosphere of interchanging jests and tobacco smoke, was new to her. She hated the tobacco smoke, but that could not be helped. They did not sm