The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-08-28
JAMES CRAZY QUILT.
BY ELEANOR SIMMONS


ton. a young army officer en- route
home, stepped off at Glenn Centre to
visit friend at whose home, quite &C
cidentally, he met Betty, and when she
invited him over that evening for the
sole purpose of writing his name on
Aunt James crazy quilt, the swift
mental vision he had of Aunt Jane did
not do justice to that most engaging
young lady.
ITS like this" Iisped Betty. "When
our boys went to war they left va
cancies that were hard TO fill in this
small town, so Aunt Jane-well, she
just filled in wherever she was need
ed most, and they kept her busy. The
postmaster didn't have anyone to drive
the mail when his son, Billy, went so
Aunt Jane took the job until he found
a man and then she helped out at the
corner grocery for q while, and the
minute she was through there they
sent word from the shoe store, Would
she please come over and help them
out| So while the rest of us kept
house and sewed for the Red Cross she
went from one mans job to another
until she declared she would just have
to do something feminine. So TO re-
lieve her feelings she started crazy
quilt We call it n crazy quilt" went
on Betty, "but, really, it is a beautiful
thing-so soft and silky and CHEEKY
looking All the neighbOrS brought in
their odd silk and velvet pieces as soon
as they found out she was making one
Maybe you think she might have used
her spare time to better advantage but
no one who knows how hard she
worked 10 help win the war would
begrudge her the only pleasure she
allowed herself through 1t all. 1t will
be sort of n war relic, too, when it Is
finished, for in the center of each
square there will be a soldiers name in
his own handwriting. Won't it be in
teresting? When the boys come home
they'll all ha~. the honor of enrolling
on Aunt James quilt; but she'll feel
proud to have a real captains name on
1t the first thing, and you'll probably
be instructed to write on the most con-
spicuOus square of all. No We'll expect
you this evening so don't diSappOlnt
u.s." concluded Betty, with her prettiest
accent, and Captain Burton smilingly
assured her that he would be there at
the appointed hour.
AT home, Betty's mother was busfly
preparing supper, while her sister Jane
sat by the window embroidering a
beautiful sil1en square. Seems good
to have you home early, Jennie" said
the elder woman. Better put that
work up now, though this lights get
ting dim. Isn't that a piece of the
dress you had that winter you taught
school up in Maine?" EYES," softly
replied Jane as she folded her work
and gazed dreamily out of the window,
for that small piece of silk had
awakened memories both pleasant and
painful. 1t had taken her back to the
little town where, six years before, she
had taught the village school, and in
cidentally learned lesson so we'll her
self that she had never been able to
forget, although she gladly would have
done so.
Many changes had occurred since
then. The old home had been broken
up. and she had come to this distant
town to live with her sister; but
through it all she had remembered.
Once again her heart pictured the
tall young principal and listened to his
earnest words of love. 1t was the pro-
verbal lovers quarrel that had come
between them. She knew now that she
had been to blame, but that realization
came too late, and no doubt another
shared the heart and home which
might have been hers but for her own
foolish pride.
Betty's entrance into the room put
an end to these reminiscent thoughts.
"Oh, Aunt Jane" she began breath
1essly; 81 met an army captain this
afternoOn-the most splendid-lOOking
fellow-and he's coming over tonight
to write his name on your quilt"
''WeIl, of all things % broke in Bet
tvs mother. isn't that just like
Betty?"
why" said Jane, "she knows 1
want soldiers names for my quilt,
don't you? That's fineI Let's hurry
supper, and afterward Wen make
fudge. I'll bet he likes it,
HE couldn't help liking the kind you
make" said Betty as she threw off her
hat and furs and gave her aunt low
ing little squeeze.
That evening, promptly at eight,
Captain Burton rang the bell, and Bet
ty flew to greet him. Ushering him
into the cosey little parlor, she had
just finished presenting him to her ia
Their and mother when Jane came in
from the kitchen. "And this" began
Betty, when to her complete surprise
. Burton darted across the room and
seized both hands of her aunt, who
was blushing furiOusly.
"Jennier' he exclaimed, and "How-
ard" said she, rather weakly; then re
covering herself she turned to her as
tonished niece and said Betty, your
captain and are old friends I met
him six years ago up in Maine"
"And to think" said Betty to her
self just before the wedding, as she
patted something delightfully."- soft and
silky, and gorgeous-looking with here
and there a scrawling signature on its
bright beauty, elf it hadn't been fol
this dear old crazy quilt Aunt Jane
might never have seen her lover
again ~