Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-03-28

HER SACRIFICE

discerning will understand that Ma
bel was mistress Of the house, not
maid.
Her gaze wandered often from her
task to the view framed by the long
window John had put In above the sink
for this very purpose. And the view
the garden-kitchen garden, OF course,
but so attractIvely arranged In neat
plots and so gayly bordered by noddiug
flowers that the eye could not help
but reap joy and qualification with
every casual glance-the low hedge
and the fruitful, John-tilled fields be-
yond.
In Mabel's opinion, the whole view
was there for only one purpose-to
form a fitting background for the
broad-shouldered figure Of John. Shirt
sleeved, with arms comfortably crossed
and supporting his favorite hriar in
one hand, he leaned against the gran
ite gatepost and thought things u
As II she could read through that
thick mop OF hair into his head, she
knew his thoughts. She also knew they
had been the same for weeks.
She watched him gravely, her n
hanging idly in the cooling water. He
could never solve his problem alone.
Mabel wiped her hands deliberately,
still gazing fxedly from the window.
She felt that the moment for her to
act mad come. Leaving the dishes IN.
washed In the pan. she sped through
the door. down the path and halted,
painting at Johns side.
She felt his gaze resting On her but
she could not lift her eyes. Staring
hard at the pipe In his hand. she sought
vainly for speech. Tbs tumultuous
thoughts that had flooded her mind SO
recently had ebbed as completely as *
they had never been. At length:
John, your pipes gone out again"
BLESS me-" calculated John, In an
amused tone. "Ts that what you rnn
all the way from the house to tell
met"
Angry with herself that she should
be so cowardly. torn by emotions she
could not express, Mabel hid a tear
wet face against her husbands sun.
burnt arm.
"out with II. girlts." he said en-.
couragingly.
Mabel raised her head and smiled
into HIS eyes. Then she plunged into
the very heart of her subject.
"You can enlist. John"
Her husbands face expressed mia
gled emotions. He slowly shook his
head.
"You know as well as | do that my
duty IL here on the farm since 1 can
End no one to take over the manage
ment. I can't leave and allow my
crops tn waste ID the fields. What 10
the use Of reha hing these argumentsI
I've gone over them q thousand times
every day"
81 have a secfet," commenced Ma.
bel abruptly. Last year when I Wis
tied Della. We both took the summer
course in farming. II rally. John
her eyes twinkled-"I don't know quite
as much as you AK I have beea-S1l
ears and eyes ever since l returned.
Haven't you noticed how many ques-
lions I've nsked?'
John did not reply. He stood look.
ing over her head far of toward the
eastern horizon.
Mabel felt a catch In her throat, but
went braveiy IN.
az know ell about farm accounting.
and testing seed and-and-every'
thing" she concluded comprehensiveiy.
Really, John. dear, | studied awfully
hard, and I've beer at II ever since.
I shall never again want to leave the
farm to live in a city. Why, every
time / turn round outdoors now learn
something new. ! think II farmers
wives would all hire women TO do
their homework, and only had to think
Of meals to eat them, they could be
SO contented. and would feel so profess
slonal and grow so healthy working
with their husbands out In Gods fresh
air. have grown TO love outdoors
in such a wonderful seeing way that
sometimes ! can't stand the thought OF
a roof over my head"
As she talked, Johns hands were
tenderly smoothing her soft hair back
from her eager. flushed face.
Little wife. little wife," he whis-
pered.
John, dear. l honestly feel con.
vinced that. with what advice our good
usighbors would give me IL needed
II. and what I can always receive from
the university for the asking. | could
manage. And with the whole depart
ment Of agriculture fairly dancing up
and down with easeruess to answer all
ms questions-how could I fall /
never dreamed how many friends the
farmer has until I began to study and
TO poke through your nles OF complied
Information" she looked nnxiously
into his face. you believe mef'
"~biabel-yes." + calculated. "But,
dear. II isn't essy--eyen for a man"
She slipped her arms around his
neck.
Women are doing n thousand things
today that are not easy-even Tor men.
Shall 7 do less FOR others? There IL
nothing TO keep you. You can go-
John" His name had never seemed
sweeter from her lips than at this mo-
ment.
He drew her closer 70 him her dark
head against his heart. For a lcng
time they ghzed deeply into each
others eyes. then, their faces turned