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

The sun hung like copper disk
in an indigo sky. Heat danced,
whirled and eddied Il few feet above
the alkali dust in the trail. Over
the great patches Of sagebrush the
air hung like the breath Of the dead.
Not even the wing of bird set it
in motion.
A young woman sat in the door
way with folded hands and detected
shoulders. She was apparently as
lifeless as her surroundings.
There had been ii time when the
sight Of these withercd plants cook
ed by the sun would have made her
cry-not now, though. Janet DinS-
combe wondered vaguely if she were
losing her senses. She remembered
hearing centuries ago-it was less
than 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 Dinscombe had told
her of his love before he came to
work out a living on sheep ranch.
She would not delay the marriage.
81 am to be helpmeet, not a him
drance," she said, and urged him to
take her with him. 81 will keep
house for you. We will be together.
What more can we ask" she said
pleadingly. With a pretty flushed
cheek up against his, Roger Dins-
combe had not the courage to deny
Janet Moore's demand. 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 UNI
happiness followed. Roger loved
her. Of course she knew that. But
he did not tell her so very often
now. Then, too, he was busy all
day, and she had long forenoons
and afternoons when there was
nothing to do. Her house was neat
as a pin. She even had read all
the advertisements in the few pa
pers which chance brought her. Her
nearest neighbor lived five miles
away. When Roger came home, he
was too tired to talk much. There
was late supper and an early
breakfast-and then silence and
desolation.
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 car
rying water from muddy little
stream. When July came, this
dried up. And now her plants were
dead. She felt choked as she look
ed at them, but the tears did not
come to her eyes,
Roger Dinscombe noticed the
shadow which had settled upon his
wifes face. Blaming himself, he
grew irritable and moody. Instead
of love making him tender it forced
him to be distant. Often now hus-
band and wife avoided looking into
each Others eyes. That very morn
ing he had spoken to Janet sharply
as he went away. The words fell
back on his own heart like a lash
"What brute | ann he muttered,
and half turned to come back. But
the set look on Janet's face came
up before him, and he spurred on
the pony he was riding.
Gam l going mad?" Janet re.
peated to herself until the sun had
crept to where she sat. 81 won't
90 mad. | am a girl Of common
sense. | used to hate the work al
home of cooking for a houseful oil
stepbrothers and sisters, mendlne
and darning, with constant whining
and frctting from a stepmother who
was as strong as | am. Now work
would be the most blessed boon or
earth. What shall l do?" The lit
tie sitting room and kitchen were
spotless, She could not do anything
there.
T'll put my trunk in ORDER" she
thought. Not a ribbon was out o.
place. She took up bundle o.
patches idly. "Why not make
quilt?" The idea pleased her as sh'
looked over the patches. That bi
of lilac print was her first grown
up gown" and this blue and Whit
| checked calico was the dress SIT
had on the first time she met Roger
She remembered now that she hat
bunch of wild crab apple bios
SONS in her belt when she ran int
Mrs. Dinscombe's on an errand ant
was told, "Janet, this is my sol
Roger, who has just come hom
from the west"
The young Mrs. Dinscombe's fac
softened as she seemed to live
ever again and to see honest biz
eyes looking at her, saying, 81 ap
prove of YOU" Piece after picc
was unfolded. This white null WA
| +, - - 1 L.. 1,o,, Snooi binO mn