The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-11-22
A ROMANCE OF WORK


to crouch upon the plain as If it were try
ing to escape notice, fearful lest the heavy
sky would fall upon it. Except the few
seat tered sheep corrals there was not a
break in the monotonous level of the
ground.
Ono could judge from the height of the
sun that the morning was scarcely begun.
But there was no other sign-song of
birds, sparkle of devon the Upidee ranch.
A young woman sat in the doorway with
folded hands and detected shoulders. She
was apparently as lifeless US her surround
ings. With her head leaning against the
side of the door she might have made a
pleasing picture were 1t not for the hard
lines about her mouth and the hopeless
look in her eyes-eyes which wandered
over the gray sagebrush and fingered
stolidly upon the patch where she had
tried to keep alive few green plants.
There had been time when the sight
of these withered plants cooked by the sun
would have made her cry. Not now,
though. Janet Dinscombes wondered
vaguely if she were losing her senses. She
remembered hearing centuries ago-it was
less than a year-that men lost their
minds when they were alone for months
in the desert. She had laughed at the
thought Of that when Roger Dinscomhe
had told her of his love before he came to
work out a living on a sheep ranch. She
would not delay the marriage. 81 am to
| be q hclpmeet, not hindrance, I" she said
ard urged him to take her with him. az
will keep house for you. We will be to-
gether. What more can we aslkp" she said
pleadingly. With a pretty flushed check
up against his Roger Dinscombe had not
the courage to deny Janet Moore's de-
mand. Her home was not very pleasant,
he argued to himself in justification. And
Janet had her own way.
The first two months the young wife
went singing about the little cabin, happy
enough Then her step grew less lively
and hours of Unhappiness followed. Roger
loved her. of course she knew thGs. But
he did not tell her so very often now.
Then, too, he was busy all the day, and
she had long forenoons and afternoons
when there was nothing to do. Her house
was neat as pin. She even had read all
the advertisements in the few papers which
chance brought her. Hor nearest neighbor
lived five miles away. When Roger came
home, he was too tired to talk much
There was a late supper and an early
ton.
One day Janet realized she was losing
her love for her husband. That was when
she had planted the garden. A few sickly
plants grew there, which she kept alive by
carrying water from muddy little stream.
When July came, this dried up. And now
her plants were dead She felt choked as
she looked at them, but the tears did not
come tic her eyes.
Roger Dinscombe noticed the shadow
which had settled upon his wife's face
Blaming himself he grew irritable and
moody. Instead of love making him ten
der it forced him to be distant. Often now
husband and wife avoided looking into
each others eyes That very morning he
had spoken to Janet sharply as he went
away. The words fell back on his own
heart like lash. "What brute / am, -
he muttered, and half turned to come
back. But the set look on Janet's face
came up before him and he spurrcd ON the
pony he was riding
'Am l going mad?" janet repeated to
herself until the sun had crept TO where
she sat. 81 won't go mad. l am girl
of common sense. l used to hate the work
at home of cooking for houseful of step
brothers and sisters, mending and darn
ing, with constant whining and fretting
from stepmother who was as strong as
am. Now work would be the most blessed
boon on earth. What shall do?'' The
little sitting room and kitchen were spot
less. She could not do anything there.
"rll put my trunk in order" she
thought. Not ribbon was out of place.
She took up bundle of patches idly.
"Why not make "a quilt?'' The idea pleased
her as she looked over the patches That
bit Of lilac print was her first 'grown up,
gown, and this blue and white checked
calico was the dress she had on the first
time she met Roger. She remembered now
that she had bunch of wild crab apple
blossoms in her belt when she ran into
Mrs. Dinscombe's on an errand and was
told, Janet. this is my son Roger, who
has just come home from the west"
The young Mrs. Dinscombe's face soft
ened as she seemed to live it over again
and to see honest blue eyes looking at her,
saying, Il approve of you" Piece after
piece was unfolded. This white null was
her wedding dress. Smoothing and pet
ting it with fingers which would get
jerky, Janet sat for Il long time. Then the
tears came-tears which seemed to melt
the iron band around her heart When she
EtiIltulDcFCu "uerC SLO WIS IL WAS tsllllOsI
supper time, and she jumped up with a
little start. Poor Roger" she murmured
What must you think of me-" She cooked
tle best that her kitchen afforded, and in
half ashamed way slipped into the blue
and white checked dress which she had
kept. 1t was a little out of style; but,
then, fashions do not cut much of figure
in Utah desert. II wonder if he will
notice. she said to herself. She hoped he
would, and yet the thought frightened her.
Roger stopped moment as no came up
to the door and saw her with look on
her face that sent the blood to his heart
with thud. He paled little and then,
gathering her up in his arms, carried her
to the rocking chair, dropped to the floor
ana buried his face in her lap, sobbing as
If his heart would break. Roger, Roger"
was all sho could say. Finally he grew
calm, and then he said: 81 couldn't stand
it any longer, and made up my mind to-
day to send you away where you would be
happy, and then to come home and see
you looking just as you did the first mo-
ment over saw you-and I've loved you
ever since-was more than could endure"
''Well, I'm not going, Roger" said his
little wife In an assumed practical man.
ner, to 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. 81 think
would like to make it look like the leaf of
q sagobrush, If you will draw one for me,
Roger, she said thoughtfully. Roger was
only too happy, but it took two or three
evening consultations before he could de-
sign pattern that suited. Evening after
evening the work was brought out for in
spection. Roger must see how she had fit
ted 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
left for the husband and wife to talk quiet
ly and happily together. When the quilt
was pieced came the quilting, at which
Roger tried to help with his great, awk-
ward fingers At last it was complete. 1t
was beautiful in their eyes, because they
saw reconciliation and happiness stitched