Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-08-03

floor and buried his face in her lap,
sobbing as if his heart would break.
"Roger. Roger!" was all she could
say. Finally he grew calm, and
then he said: 81 couldn't stand it
any longer, and | made up my mind
today to send you away where you
would be happy, and then to come
home and see You looking just as
you did the first moment | ever saw
you-and I've loved you ever since
was more than | could endure"
"Well, Pm not going, Roger" said
his little wife in an assumed prac-
tical 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. 81 think | 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 happy, but it took two or
three evening consultations before
he could design pattern that suit
ed. 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 sugges-
tons made there was always time
left 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 fin
gers. AT last it was complete. 1t
was beautiful in their eyes, because
they saw reconciliation and happi-
ness stitched into it. -Four thou
sand eight hundred and twenty-five
pieces, would you believe it, Roger"
said Janet. LET us take it to the
fair when you 90 in with the sheep.
l am sure it will get first premium.
Going to the territorial fair was
their fall outing. They would do
their trading and lay in their VIM
ter supplies. Roger fixed up the
herder's wagon as cozily as possible.
There were the cook stove, the bed,
the water cask and bucket, IA looking
glass and washbasin 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 thou
sand eight hundred and twenty-five
pieces" hanging on a line in the
woman's department of the great red
brick building where the annual ex-
position is held. 1t had rcd ticket
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
woman's work, Julia 2" said the tall
girl to her companion. "Think! |
think the woman was fool who
would spend her time making a
thing like that. She'd better be do
ing nothing at ALL "What do you
know about t." said white faced
little woman, with blazing eyes. 81
made that quilt, and | did it to keep
from going mad. What do you
know about nothing to do?" Her
anger had burned out by this time,
and she began to Stammer. Then
something in the girls faces en-
couraged her to 90 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, thea
tiers, music or church. They must
have her show them the wagon in
which she travelled. Then they must
90 inside and have her tell them
more about her life as sheep herd
er's wife.
"What will you do now" asked
the tall young woman as they were
about to part. "lou cannot piece
quilts all the time" 81 shall find
plenty to do. There will be sewing
and planning this winter" Janet
Dinscombe answered as flush
crept over her cheek, "and next
summer, please God. | shall not b'
alone"
That night the sheep herder''
wife was very happy as she fel
asleep in the wagon, with one hant
touching package Of books which
had come with the love of two
girls from the east" and the Other
resting on bundle of soft materia
which she would fashion into tiny
garments against the coming of {
little child.-Ncvada Victoria Da
Wis in New York Press.
SatisfRetory Reason.
.I've inst been making my Will