Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1892-11-02
A LABOR OF LOVE.


ing to advantage his tall, muscular
figure, and broad straw hat shaded
handsome face, with large, dark
eyes set beneath n forehead whose
breadth and height indicated "A pow
erful brain. The hands that guided
the pillow were strong hands, but
winter and more delicate than such
pursuits usually allow.
Daisy Hale sat watching him. Her
dress was print, but made with ilounces
ON the skirt and ruffles on the waist.
Her short, golden hair was curled into
fringe carefully over her forehead
and gathered in longer curls into
comb behind, above which was a jaunty
hat covered with puffs of white muslin
and bows of blue ribbon to match the
spots upon her dress.
The face under Daisy's hat was
gloomy, not to say cross. A very
pretty face, but not pleasant having
petted, spoiled-child frown and BROOD
Ing discomfort in the large blue eyes,
Presently the farmer drew near
her, and, taking off his hat, famed
himself with it, stopping his horse
while he leaned indolently against the
pillow.
you look delciously cool under this
great tree" he said. "And-hem!-
very much dressed for o'clock in the
morning"
an iive-penny calico" she said
contemptuously. "When are you COM
ing IMP"
"At noon, to dinner"
at Is too absurd" she broke out,
angry tears in her eyes, "for you to be
blowing and hoeing and milking cows
and doing the work of a laboring man!
l thought when you came home from
college you would do something be-
sides work on farm"
"And let the farm go to ruin? That
would be poor way to pay my debts"
"Your debts!" she said, looking as
tonished. "Do you owe debtsP"
Certainly! You and are both very
heavily in debt, Daisy. think when
Aunt Mary took us in, poor little or
phans-I her nephew, you her second
cousin"---
Third cousin" she interrupted,
"since you are so particular. know
what you mean, but | am very sure
that Aunt Mary never intended us to
drudge on the horrid old farm"
do you know that the money she
saved in life of hard work was spent
upon our educationp Do you know
that she has nothing now but the
farm, and that to take her away from
it would probably shorten her lifeP"
"She always has taken care of it her
self"
Are you blind that you can not see
how the four years she has been alone
have aged her, how feeble she is.
While we were living at ease at col
lege and school. she has toled for us
until she is weared out"
But you could send her money if
you were in the city in some gentle
manly occupation"
"Perhaps 50, ten or twelve years
from now To-day propose To work
this farm and see how many bushels
of corn can raise on it."
He took hold of the pillow handles as
he spoke, started the horses and left
her, her eyes full of angry tears.
"He might as well have said what
he meant" she thought, springing
down and starting for the house. HE
thinks | ought to cook, wash, make
butter and work like a servant, when
have studied so hard and tried tc
make myself lady, that he might no,
be ashamed of me-"
Yet, in her heart, she knew that he
was ashamed of her. and that she de-
served il. Ashamed that she could
sit in her room. selfishly engrossed in
making pretty articles of dress or read
ing, while her cousin, or as she too
har ,,,,,l-nl
kitchen, the dairy, the poultry yard,
from days dawn till night
She was not all seltishness and heart
lessness, though there had grown a
thick crust of both over her better ma
ture. Her ideas of ladies and gentle
men depended largely upon clothing
and pursuit, and she had not yet quite
realized how much more nearly Johns
standard reached the desired point
than her own.
As she drew near the house the sting
of Johns words penetrated more and
more through the crust she had drawn
over her heart, until fresh stab met
her at the door. Looking in at the
open door she saw white head bowed
in weeping, slight figure shaken by
sobs.
Quickly, through all the sellishness,
self-reproach struck at the girls heart,
and in moment she was on her knees
beside the low chair, her arms around
the weeping woman.
"Oh, Aunt Mary, what is it? Oh,
please don't cry SOP What has hap
penedP"
"Why, Daisy dear" through sobs that
would not be checked at moments
notice, "don't mind me. Pm only
tired, dear-only tired"
Could she have struck deeperp Tired!
At 70 homework does become weari-
ness! At 10 it may seem as if one
ought to rest while young hands and
active feet take up the burdens. She
was very tired, this patient old wo-
man, who had given her life work for
others; first, for her parents; then for
an invalid brother; lastly for the or
phan children; with such innumerabe
acts of neighborly kindness as only