The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-08-10

From the beginning the task of earn
ing money by saving it was hard one
for Janet Her first months savings
were spent before the first month was
done. She spent SO in plants and
seeds for the garden; and she spent
another SO in eQuipping her one-maid
htchen-new cook books. casserOles,
double boilers, patent egg beaters and
mops and various other labor saving
devices. Besides that, Lena, the new
maid, had broken so much china and,
through ignorance, ruined so much
food, that the bill for waste which
Janet had hoped to do away with al
together was double it's usual size
One other thing bothered Janet
John Wilson, who after each OF MS
other four repulsed proposals had dog
gedly returned to try his luck again
at Janet's hands, had almost o1sap-
peared from Janet's daily life. ana
Janet realized that she missed him.
When she met him occasionally ne
quietly told her that he was working
a little harder than usual and seldom
had time for sociability.
But in spite of all her discourage
ments and trials Janet bought huge
ledger and put down in it detailed
| account Of her finances. On one page
she would put down fifteen cents for
green corn seed, and on the opposite
page she would make an entry OF THIS
sort: 81 ought to get at least ten
dozen ears of corn from this; and at
twenty cents a dozen that would be
two dollars; two dollars would pay
my fare from London to Windsor and
back, or else it would pay for drive
around Paris"
BY fall. four or five months after
she had started her scheme OF econ
omy, Janet's European trip was well
worked out on the pages OF her
ledger. But she knew that the Gov
eted trip was still long distance
ahead.
One September morning as she was
wedding in what remained Of the gar
den she was musing uncOmfortably on
the fact that she had twice raised
Lena's wages-Lena had added to her
English vocabulary the demand, More
English; more mun"-that she had
found it necessary to have gardener
a day a week in the garden and that
his wages had practically equalled the
saving she had made on vegetables
and that somehow. in spite of working
and planning necessarily, 1t did cost
money to supply food for the niue
members of the family and their nu-
merous guests.
Sis" shriI voice interrupted her
musings, what's the smoke in the
kitchen? 1 guess the house is on FIRE.
'.Oh, dear me-" said Janet, running
from the garden to the kitchen door,
that's the cake 1 put In the oven,
burned to a crisp. That's what l get
for doing two things at once. Bother
atio1," she ended GROSSLY as she open
ed the oven and pulled out the char
rsd layers.
She was sorrowfuly looking at the
ruin when she heard the voice of her
twenty-year-old brother.
Janet" it said, I've asked six OF
the fellows to come here this evening
just for a sort of roundup before we
go back to college-and I wish you'd
get up q, good feed. Your chicken
salad would be just right-and that
kind of ice cream you make with
eandied cherries and nuts-and those
bully little cakes you make with whip
ped cream in them, and
"Oh, Janet" called voice from up
stairs, isn't this great? Here's a
note from Aunt Martha saying she and
Uncle Tom and Cousin Bess are all
coming for week. Isn't that per
fectly delightful"
. Lena, hot and frustrated, worked
noisily about the kitchen. She looked
up suddenly as this last announce
ment dawned upon Ter understanding
Company" she queried. TOO mt h
I work too hard. You give me more
money!"
NO, Lena. not another cent" said
: Janet decidedly.
Then go. I now speak much Eng
fish. More English, more mum"
Janet walked deliberately to the tel
; ap&1ne First she called up the intel
lieance Office and engaged two ex
: perienced servants; then she called
L up John Wilson at his Office.
) Hello, john" she began. why
don't you come and see me?"
: I've been busy" answered John.
We'll, can you come see me to
=. day."
, YES, I think so. What luck :.
r you had with your summers work? .
: OH haven't had very good Iucl
=. at least-.Tell, have not earned the
: trip-but I have learned how to keel
l house"
e That's too bad. I've had better
luck. I've worked hard and go
. enough money together for a trip II
t Europe"
< oh" said Janet John, maybe
r you'd better not bother to come tt
a see me, after ALL
But. Janet" said John, CIV,
> planned a trip for tive VIII you b.
e home in twenty minutes? 1 want tt
d tell you who's going with me-
a Not What He Meant.
|. Suitor-'T hope my nomination t
o the curatorship of the museum of ar