The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-05-29
HER SACRIFICE
BY PEARL 8. MEYER.

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 Gttractively arranged in neat
plots and so gayly bordered by nodding
flowers that the eye could not help
hut 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 fitting background for the
broad-shouldered figure Of John. Shirt
sloeved. with arms comfortably crossed
and supporting his fayorite briar in
one hand, he leaned against the gram
tie gatepost and thought things out.
AS If 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 grayely, her hands
hanging idly in the cooling water. He
could never solve his problem alone
Mabel wiped her hands deliberately,
stil gazing fiXedly from the window.
She felt that the moment for her to
act mad come. Leaving the dishes UNI
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
vanly for speech. The tumultuous
thoughts that had flooded her mind so
recently had ebbed as completely as II
they had never been. At length:
"John, your pipes gone out again."
"Bless me-" CALCULATED John, in an
amused tone Us that what you ran
all the way from the house to tell
me?'
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 it, grille" 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 min
gled emotions. He slowly shook his
head.
"You know as well as I do that my
duty is here on the farm since ! can
find no one to take over the manage
ment l can't leave and allow my
crops to waste in the fields. What is
the use of rehashiug these arguments?
I've gone over them a thousand times
every day"
81 have a secret" commenced Ma
bel abruptly. Last year when ! Wis
tied Della, we both took the summer
course in farming. Naturally, John"
her eyes twinkled-'I don't know quite
as much as you; but ! have been all
ears and eyes ever since | returned,
Haven't you noticed how many ques-
lions I've asked"
John did not reply. He stood look
ing over her head far off toward the
eastern horizon.
Mabel felt a catch in her throat, but
went brayely on.
81 know all about farm accounting,
and testing seed and-and-eyery-
thing" she concluded comprehensiyely.
Really, John, dear, | studied awfully
hard and I've been at it ever since.
| shall never again want to leave the
farm to live In a city. Why, every
time turn round outdoors now | learn
something new. ! think IL 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
sional and grow so healthy working
with their husbands ont in Gods fresh
air. l have grown to love outdoors
in such a wonderful seeing way that
l 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-
pored.
John, dear, I honestly feel con
WINGED that with what advice our good
ueighbors would give pe il l needed
it, ana what can always receive from
the university for the asking, could
And with the whole depart
mcnt Of agriculture fairly dancing up
and down with eagerncss to answer all
my questlons-how could | fail?
never dreamed how many friends the
farmer has until l began to study and
to poke through your files Of compiled
She looked anxlously
into his face. "You believe me?"
"Mabel-yes," he calculated. But,
dear, it isn't easy-eyen tor a man."
She slipped her arms around his
neck.
"Women are doing a thousand things
today that are not easy-even for men.
Shall I do less for others? There Is
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 to him, her dark
head against his heart. For a long
time they gazed deeply into each
others eyes; then, their faces turned