Queen of the Lincoln Highway

IF HER HUSBAND had been with her, Madge's life on the farm would of been her ideal of home. Her work in the almost modern farm house was a pleasure. She loved to sew and would spend her afternoons on the porch looking out over the fields of grain or to the plain beyond where the well kept herds were grazing. She dressed the children and herself in inexpensive but becoming frocks and often persuaded Mrs. Sawyer to allow her to make her dresses for which she received extra pay as well as making herself more useful to Mrs. Sawyer. Mrs. Sawyer at first objected to the late styles saying, "No, my dear, such things are not for me. I am an old woman now and have always worn an apron even when I was dressed up."

"Now," laughed Madge," if you believe in woman's rights you must live up to the ways of the modern woman. Grandmothers no longer sit in the corner knitting the family stockings but are putting their years of experience to useful work for the coming generations. So if you want to please me let me dress you up to suit my fancy and if you feel equal to the ride we will take in the dance over at Walkers Ranch. Knowing how Madge loved to dance, Mrs. Sawyer consented.

She was soon dressed in a soft lavender silk. Madge arranged her hair so as to soften the tired lines of her face. Sitting before her mirror Mrs. Sawyer watched with surprise the changes Madge brought about and exclaiming, "Child everything you do is lovely. Ever since I because a farmers wife I have worn my hair in a knot on the back of my head. It was the quickest way to put it up and I was too busy to think of my looks in those days."

Madge laughed, "That's before you joined the ranks of modern women. One woman can't change things but every woman can do her share. I believe the time is coming when every woman will learn the value of systems and rest. Men have. A farmer takes a rest at noon to digest his dinner, smokes a pipe to quiet his nerves. A woman waits on the farm hands, eats a hasty bite after the others have eaten and jumps up to clear away the dishes and flies from one thing to another until every one else is in bed."

"There now, you do look lovely. I'll run over to the other house and see if Scott is ready to take us. The cook will stay with the children."

Madge was in a happy mood. Her white dress gleamed in the moonlight, her dark hair blew about her face as she ran over to the cook house. Bob Scott thought her the prettiest picture of real womanhood he had ever seen and was glad of the chance to take her to the dance.

Arriving at the dance, the crowd had gathered from miles around. Some came on horseback, some in rigs of various styles, from the pretty little rubber-tired buggy which conveyed the red-headed school teacher, to the accommodating farm wagon which seated the largest family in the district, a few ford cars dotted the front. Inside was joyous confusion but all stopped to admire as Bob Scott appeared escorting Madge and Mrs. Sawyer. His handsome face aglow as he noticed the glances of everyone at the beautiful creature on his left arm. Mrs. Sawyer greeted old friends as she passed. It was the first country dance she had attended for years, but all knew it was her health and not her wealth that kept her away. Since Madge's entrance into her life, some of Madge's surplus energy seemed to have brought new life to Mrs. Sawyer's shattered nerves. Everyone remarked at her changed appearance.

When the music started Madge was radiant, her programme was full and she had the handsomest partner in the room, his look of admiration, the pressure of his hand on hers, the touch of his cheek as he bent his head against hers sent strange thrills through her body.

A cowboy whirled past with the red-headed school teacher on his arm and shouted, "This is the life!" Everybody laughed for all knew of his almost hopeless devotion to the schoolteacher before Madge's arrival and Bob's attentions had been transferred from the fickle minded school teacher to her.

The dance went gaily on with only a pause at midnight for refreshments. The lively strains of Tipperary brought them hurrying back to the floor and the dance kept up until morning.

Mrs. Sawyer had been persuaded to stay for a visit at the ranch and had gone to bed some time before. Madge and Bob set out for home, each in a happy mood. They had left the main highway for the ranch road when a sound like a pistol shot rang out. Bob stopped. The rear tire had burst.

"Well, we are in a nice fix. I was in such a hurry I did not bring an extra tire. This one is beyond repair," said Bob.

"How far are we from the ranch? After dancing all night I don't feel like walking, but suppose it is the only way to get home. No one else comes this way."

Bob laughed. "It's nearly four miles to the ranch. If you walk it will be daylight before you get there. Suppose we stay until morning when someone will pass on the highway and give us a lift."

Madge agreed and seated herself in the auto. Bob stretched in beside her. They talked of the dance, Bob, his boyhood and of Mrs. Sawyer's kindness to him when both parents had died and left him alone on the homestead. Then little by little he led Madge to talk of her life. Of her childhood she spoke freely, but never of her married life. Bob supposed her husband was dead and casually tried to find out.

"Please, let's not talk of that," relied Madge. "It means, it means nothing but pain for me." A sob caught her breath. Heavy sobs shook her shoulders. Bob could hold in no longer but took her in his arms and held her close. He laid his face against hers, a strong thrill ran through her body. He felt her tremble and drew her closer, raining kisses on her hair, her lips, her eyelids, beside himself with love for her. Madge regained control of herself and pushed him away.

"I am — please don't — I don't deserve anyone's love. I have deceived you. I never thought of this or I would have gone away. Of my past I cannot tell you. or I would have gone away. Of my past I cannot tell you now. Someday perhaps it will turn out for the better and I will tell you, but not now. "Why did you tell me. I gave you no cause to make you think I loved you! I never intended to tell you, much less do as I have done. All I know is you were going to cry, I loved you, your presence and the moonlight drove me mad. I am sorry. Your forgiveness is all I ask.

With that he walked away. Madge fell asleep on the back seat and woke with a start to hear the chug-chug of a motor somewhere behind. Bob was nowhere in sight but she knew he had come back while she was asleep for a robe was spread over her and a note pinned on top.

"Have gone out to the Lincoln highway to watch for someone. Wait for me. Bob"

He had evidently found someone and Madge hurriedly pinned up her loosened locks of hairs.

The auto stopped behind and Madge went forward to meet it. Bob jumped out of the strange car. "I stopped these good people and asked them to take us to the ranch as they have an extra tire we will put it on our machine and all go to the branch for breakfast. Allow me to present Mr. Ross and family who are on their way to the San Francisco fair.

The party was a merry one and spent the forenoon at the ranch leaving immediately after lunch. Bob accompanied them as far as the ranch where was to bring her home.

Shortly after they had gone a telegram came for Madge from Mrs. Sawyer's husband in Chicago. Madge hastily opened it. It read "John burnt in Eastland disaster. Break news gently to Mrs. Sawyer. John may not recover. Joe Sawyer"