Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1922-04-28
IANET'S REWARD
by ELIZABETH NJ, pukEs

Wy HHhNNhhi INNtl lNbh now you
waste time poclng those spuds, why
don't YOU boil them Jackets and NllT
Jnnet's brown eyes Ilnshod} then Il
hopeless look dragged down the cor
nors OF II normally sweet mouth
"Oh, Dlcltl You never think II mat.
tors how | do things, aud ali my school
lessons on making home attractive
are Just wnsted on you, for you don't
care, no mHtter how hurd Try"
'Pm no softyl Give me plenty OF
grub aud n place to sleep aud what
do | care nb0ut your folde.rols2 on,
cloth on the table, shine up the tin
plates Poslcs In II mug"
A snecr twisted his none too pleas,
ant expression still more, ps the man
swung out Of the cabin.
Janet let her busy hands hung idle
moment In utter encouragement
She had pulled her chair into the door
way, where, ms she peeled the potatoes,
her eyes could sweep over wide
range down the green mOuntnlnsidc to
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 crcsts and cool winds
came drifting over to the lonely girl
but these brought no message Of com.
fort today.
A happy gIrlhood IN the valley
school had been Jancts. The girls all
worked for their board and she had
delighted 20 put into practice the
dainty household devices the school
taught.
Was It only year ago that the
death OF her quiet, hardworlIing fatler
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 mnIds?'
Dick had never cared to know any
thing better than the squalld noun
tain ways. "batch's" round Of bis
cults, yellow with soda, meat cooked
to rags and hnttastlng canned goods
did not seem to have slckened him, At
least, he sauCed the food Janet pre-
pared most carefully with his sncers
The year as his housekeeper seemed
Ike cons TO the poor GIRL how long
had It really been since she had heard
words Of appreciation and courtesy
After all, what was the use of try.
ing any moreH Why mix the biscuits
according to rule, why sweep and
scrub and polish the tinware until 1t
shone like silver, why put mountain
pinks In tumbler for the center Of
the tablet She won only mocfery 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 n blue lake
through her bitter tears. There was n
mournful wall In the wind-it was say
ing, "No usel You are doomed to be-
come dull-eyed old slatten before
you are thirty"
The discouraged little head was still
bent beneath its burden of chestnut
braids when-what WINS that2 Hoof-
beatsi Yes and a strange voice.
"Im sorry to bother you but can't
ride farther without glass Of milk.
See you have COW pastured here, but
III be grateful for condensedw
The man, hat In hand, smiled pleas.
antly at her ms he sank down on the
doorstep with Jingle of spurs,
There's milk If you wish It," Janet
replied, with bright tinge of color
concealing the tear stains; "but It is
almost noon. Surely you will stop
here-it's long ride to the next
cabin"
~ 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 smell
baked beansT
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 meringue
light us foam and over crust that
"rumbled with laky richness.
Dick ate In silence for once; per-
h0ps the strangers compliments for
the menu twisted his mouth bit, hut
he said nothing. He did not leave UNI
til Steve Sargent, the new forest
ranger, had risen reluctantly from the
shining white ollcloth and started on
his way. Dick even grumblcd an in
vitntlon when Sargent announced he
would be 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
I'm going TO try to this summer"
IF at first you don't succeed, try,
try again - teused Janet releasing her
hand from Sargents hearty clasp-a
clasp that vet had something in 1t SO
tender and reycreut that she was TO
dream Of 1t happily.
That's a mighty good fellow IL the
tales I've heard are o. H., said Dick