The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-06-15
JANeT'S REWARD

BY gLlzAserH N. DUKES

boooooooooooo ooooooooocsoSa
8. Ig4I. b. MecIsrs Ns~spaper sSha'e.'e
MY heavens. Janet Look how you
waste time peeling those spuds, why
don't you boil them. Jackets aud all O.
Janets brown eyes flashed then
hopeless look dragged down the COG
ncrs Of a normally sweet mouth
''Oh. Dick You never think g ma.
tiers how do things. and all my sc..H.f
lessons on making a home attr ..,.t
are just wasted ON you. for you I..,f
care no matter how hard ny.
I'm no softly Give me plenty Oh
grub aud a place to sleep unI ui.t
do care about your fol-de.rp.si ,...
cloth on the table Shine ~ The uu
plates Posles In a mug T.
A sheer twisted his none tou peas
ant expression stlll more. a. the man
swung out of the cabin.
Janet let her busy hands ham 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 20
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 "a 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 10 put into practice the
dainty household devices the school
taught.
Was Il only n year age that the
death Of her quiet. hardw orklng father
had brought her back 90 the cabin u
the brother who refused 10 provide
more money for schooling taught by
a pack Of tom-fool old maidsT
Dick had never cared 20 know any
thing better than the squalld noun
tain ways. A "batch's" round OF bis
cults. yellow with soda. meat cooked
20 rags and fiat-tasting canned goods
did not seem 20 have sickened him. A.
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 u really been since she had heard
words OF appreciation and courtesy
After all. what was the use of try
isg any morei Why mix the biscuits
according 20 rule. why sweep and
scrub and polish the tlnware until Il
shole like silver, why put mountain
pinks In a tumbler for the center Of
the tablet She won only mocsery and
tcorn. even before the rough strangers
who sometimes shared bed and board
Of their cabin.
The blue OF the distant peaks
seemed 20 swim like blue lake
through her bitter tears. There was
mournful wall IN the wind-lt was say
ing. mo use You are doomed 90 be-
come n dull-eyed old slattern before
you are thirty"
The discouraged little head was still
bent beneath It's burden Of chestnut
bralds when-what was thatf IIos
beats! Yes. and a strange voice.
I'm sorry TO bother YOU, but can't
ride farther without glass ~ milk.
See you have n COW pastured here. but
I'll be grateful for condensed -
The man. hat In hand smiled pleas
antly nj her as BE- sank down on the
doorstep with "a jingle 81 spurs.
There's milk II you wish H." Janet
replied. with a bright tinge ~ color
conceallng the tear stains: ''but II i
almost noon. Surely you will stop
hen-its long ride 90 the next
cabin"
II didn't intend to-" was the laugh
Ing confession. "for III rather ride
empty than swim In grease as at most
OF these shacks. but yours IL real
picture place; and cnn II be | smell
baked beansf'
you smell my regular Saturday
dinner" said Janet.
lie did full justice 10 Janet's food
symphony In brown aud gold; the
fluny mashed potatoes, yellow with
cream. the smoking beans topped with
crisp pork. the steamed brown bread
succeed with plump raislns. and the
custard pie whose thick and golden
nlling qulvered unisr merlngue
Hight as foam and over u crust that
crumbled with haky richness
Dick ate In silence for once; per
haps the strangers compliments for
the menu twisted his mouth a biz. hut
he said nothing n. did not leave un-
III Steve Sargent, the new forest
ranger. had risen reluctantly from the
shining white uilcloth and started uu
is way. Dick even srumbled AN no
citation when Sargent announced De
would be back that way next week
This Is place to ride fasting seven
DAYS 90 get 90 at last ! hope ! shani
wear out my welcome but I'm nfrnii
I'm going 10 try Ia this summer.
M at first you don't succeed. try
try again 2" leased janet. releasing Der
hand from Shrgents hearty clasp
clasp that yet had something IN u 80
tender and rcyerrnt that she was o.
dream of II happily.
That's a mighty good fellow n tie
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