Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-26

She cooked the best that her kitchen
afforded, and in a half ashamed way
slipped into the blue and white check
cd dress which she had kept. 1t was
a little out of style, but then fashions
do not cut much of a figure in Utah
desert. Il wonder if he will notice.
she said to herself She hoped he
would, and yet the thought frightened
her
/ Roger stopped moment as he came
to the door, and saw her with q look
! on her face that sent the blood to his
heart with a thud. He paled little,
and then, gathering her up in his
arms, carried her to the rocking chair,
dropped to the floor, and buried his
face in her lap, sobbing as if his heart
would break. Roger, Roger, was all
that she could say. Finally he grew
calm, and then he said Il couldn't
stand it any longer, and I made up my
mind today to send you anywhere you
would be happy-and then to come
home and see you looking just as you
did the first moment I ever saw you
and I've loved you ever since-was
more than I could endure" We'll,
I'm not going, Roger" said his little
wife, in an assumed practical manner,
Ito do anything but get your supper"
Which she did when she could get out
of his arms.
Later in the evening they talked it
over. Janet got the patches, and they
planned what design she should use.
Il think I would like to make it look
like the leaf of a sagebrush, if you will
draw one for me, Roger" she said
thoughtfully. Roger was only too hap
by, but it took two or three evening
consultations before she could design
pattern that suited. Evening after
evening the work was brought out for
inspection. Roger must see how she
had fitted the pieces together, look at
the stitches, hear the history of each
tiny bit of new cloth, and when praise
had been given and suggestions made
there was always time for the husband
and wife to talk quietly and happily
together. When the quilt was pieced,
came the quilting, at which Roger
tried to help, with his great, awkward
fingers. At last it was complete It
was beautiful in their eyes, because
each saw reconciliation and happiness
stitched into it. -Four thousand eight
hundred and twenty-five pieces, would
you believe it, Roger?" said Janet.
let us take it to the fair when YOU
go IN with the sheep. l am sure it
will get first premiu.4"
Going to the territorial fair was
their fall outing. They would do their
trading and lay in their winter SUD-
plies. Roger fixed up the herder's
wagon as costly as possible. There
was the cook stove, the bed, the water
cask and bucket, a looking glass and
wash basin and chair for Janet. 1t
took four days to reach Salt Lake City,
and then Janet had the satisfaction of
seeing her quilt, with the inscription
-Four Thousand Eight Hundred and
twenty-five Pieces" hanging on line
in the wOman's apartment of the great
red brick building, where the annual
ticket on the last day
Two young women, tourists who had
stopped in the city of the saints and
who had been attracted by the people
attending the fair, stopped in front of
the quilt and read the inscription:
-Four Thousand Eight Hundred and
twenty-five Pieces" What do YOU
think of that for womans work,
Julia?" said the tall girl to her COM
panion. Think! [ think the woman
was fool who would spend her time
making thing like that She'd bet
ter be doing nothing at all" What
do you know about it?" said a white
faced little woman with blazing eyes.
Il made that quilt and [ did it to keep
from going mad. What do you know
about nothing to do?F Her anger had
burned out by this time and she began
10 stammer. Then something in the
girls faces encouraged her to go on:
Would you like to hear the story?"
She told it simply enough but it
touched her listeners and made them
her friends as they realized for once in
their lives what it would be to do
without work, daily papers, magazines,
theaters, music or church. They must
have her show them the wagon in
which she travelled. Then they must
so inside anG have her tell them more
about her life as sheep herder's
vile. What will you do now?" asked
the tall young woman as they were
about to part, you cannot piece quilts
all the time! I shall find plenty to
do. There will be sewing and plan
ming this winter" Janet Dinscombe
answered, as flush crept over her
cheek, land next summer, please God
| shall not be alone"
That night the sheep herder's wife
was very happy as she fell asleep in
the wagon with one hand touching a
package of books which had come
with the love of two girls from the
east and the other resting on a bun
die Of soft material which she would
fashion into tiny garments against the
coming of a little child.
!