The Portland daily press., 1895-11-30

:" -Ae~AA eoiAoseaou why pllppou luto ono UANs
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
notlceg" she said to herself. She hoped he
would, and yet the thought frightened her.
Roger stopped moment as he 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
and buried his face in her lap, sobbing as
IL his heart would break. "Roger, Roger"
was all she could say. Finally he grew
calm, and then he said: "I couldn't stand
1t any longer, and made up my mind to-
day to send you away where you would be
happy, and then to come homo and see
you looking just as you did the first mo-
ment ever saw you-and I've loved you
ever slnce-Was more than could endure"
We'll, 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
sagebrush, 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 a 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 1t was complete. II
was beautiful in their eyes, because they
saw reconciliation and happiness stitched
into it. -Four thousand eight hundred
| and twenty-five pieces would you believe
1t, Roger?" said Janet. "Let us take 1t
to the fair when you go in with the sheep.
am sure it will get first premium"
Going to the territorial fair was their
tall outing They would do their trading
and lay in their winter supplies. Roger
fixed up the herder's wagon as cozily as
possible. There were the cook stove, the
bed, the water cask and bucket, looking
glass and washbasin and chair for Janet.
1t took four days to reach Salt Lake City,
and then Janet had the satisfaction of see-
ing her quilt with the inscription, "Four
thousand eight hundred and twenty-five
pieces" hanging on a line in the woman's
apartment Of the great red brick building
where the annual exposition is held. 1t
had red ticket the last day.
Two young women, tourists who had
SIR iy,f I, ot4 H.
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-t two pieces. 'What
do you think of that for woman's work,
Julian said the tall girl to her companion.
"Think / think tho woman was fool
who would spend her time making thing
like that She'd better be doing nothing
at ALL" "What do you know about it?''
said white faced little woman, with blaz-
ing eyes ~ mado that quilt and 1 did it
to keep from going mad. What do you
know about nothing to doa' Her anger
had burned out by this time, and she be-
gan to 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
1t would be to do without work, daily pa
pers, magazines, theaters music or church.
They must have her show them the wagon
in which she travelled. Then they must go
inside and have her tell them more about
her life as sheep herder's wife. "What
will you do now?" asked the tall young
woman as they were about to part. "You
cannot piece quilts all the time" II shall
find plenty to do. There will be sewing
and planning this winter" Janet Dins-
combe 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 bundle Of soft material which
she would fashion into tiny garments
against tie coming of little child-Ne-
vada Victoria Davis in New York Press.