The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-06-16
JANET'S REWARD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BY ELIZABETH M. DUKES

Eo&nrg ceceoaa3
g. 1922. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
my heavens, Janet Look how you
waste time peeling those spuds; why
don't you boil them, jackets and all2'
Janet's brown eyes flashed; then a
hopeless look dragged down the cor
ners Of normally sweet mouth.
"Oh, Dick You never think 1t mat
tiers how do things, and all my school
lessons on making home attractive
are just wasted on you, for you don't
care, no matter how hard l try"
'Tm no softly! Give me plenty of
grub and a place to sleep, and what
do / care about your fol-de-rols? Oil
cloth on the table Shine up the tin
plates Posies In a mugW
A sneer twisted his none too pleas
ant expression still more, as the man
swung out Of the cabin.
Janet let her busy hands hang Idle
a moment in utter encouragement.
She had pulled her chair into the door
way, where as she peeled the potatoes,
her eyes could sweep over wide
range down the green mountalnside to
a valley threaded with the silver cob
webs of rivers. The great peaks tow
cred again on the farther side, blue,
green and wonderful. The clouds
rested on their crests and cool winds
came drifting over to the lonely girl;
but these brought no message of com
fort today.
A happy glrlhood in the valley
school had been Janet's. The girls all
worked for their board and she had
delighted to put Into practice the
dainty household devices the school
taught.
Was It only a year ago that the
death of her quiet, Woodworking father
had brought her back to the cabin of
the brother who refused to provide
more money for schooling taught by
a pack of tom-fool old maids?'
Dick had never cared to know any
thing better than the squalid noun
tain ways A "batch's" round OF bis
cults, yellow with soda, meat cooked
to rags and flat-tasting canned goods
did not seem TO have sickened him. At
least, he sauced the food Janet pre-
pared most carefully with his sneers.
The year as his housekeeper seemed
like cons to the poor girl; how long
had II really been since she had heard
words Of appreciation and courtesy?
After all, what was the use Of try
ing any more? Why mix the biscuits
according TO rule, why sweep and
scrub and polish the tlnware until II
shone like silver, why put mountain
pinks In a tumbler for the center OF
the table? She won only mociery and
scorn, even before the rough strangers
who sometimes shared bed and board
at their cabin.
The blue of the distant peaks
seemed to swim like blue lai.e
through her bitter tears. There was a
mournful wall in the wlnd-it was say
Ing, mo use! You are doomed TO be-
come dull-eyed old s!attern before
you are thirty"
The discouraged little head was still
bent beneath its burden Of chestnut
bralds when-what was that? Hoof-
beats Yes, and strange voice.
I'm sorry to bother you, but can't
ride farther without glass OF milk. l
see you have a COW pastured here, but
III be grateful for condensed!'
The man, hat In hand, smiled pleas
antly at her as he sank down on the
doorstep with a jingle Of spurs.
There's milk If you wish It," Janet
replied. with bright tInge Of color
concealing the tear stains; but II Is
almost noon. Surely you will stop
here-it's u long ride to the next
cabin"
'"I didn't intend to-" was the laugh
ing confession, "for I'd rather ride
empty than swim in grease as at most
of these shacks. But yours is real
picture place; and can 1t be l smell
baked beans?"
"You smell my regular Saturday
dinner" said Janet.
He did full justice TO Janet's food
symphony in brown and gold; the
fluffy mashed potatoes, yellow with
cream, the smoking beans topped with
crisp pork, the steamed brown bread
succeed with plump raisins, and the
custard pie whose thick and golden
filling quivered under a merlngue
light az foam and over crust that
crumbled with faky richness.
Dick ate in silence for once; per-
haps the strangers compliments for
the menu twisted his mouth bit, but
he said nothing He did not leave UNI
/ Ill Steve Sargent, the new forest
ranger had risen reluctantly from the
shining white ollcloth and started on
his way. Dick even grumbled an In
vltatlon when Sargent announced he
would he back that way next week.
"This is a place to ride fasting seven
days to get to at last hope | shant
wear out my welcome, but I'm afraid
| TIN going TO try to this summer"
III at first you don't succeed, try,
try again !" teased Janet, releasing her
hand from Sargent's hearty clasp-a
clasp that yet had something In u so
tender and reverent that she was to
dream OF II happily.
That's a mighty good fellow II the