Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-05-06

ed very tired this fall. Indeed. there
was a faded look about her usually
blooming face that Ben did not I'M
derstand and secretly worried about.
And yet his anxiety was not so great
as his pride. lie could support his
wife, but he would do 1t in his own
way. They would board all winter In
the city where he could get fine wages,
and in the spring they would return to
the farm.
Once In the city streets he did moi
know which way to turn to look fol
work BY the time he had bought a
morning newspaper and hunted its col
umns in vain for advertisements re-
curing the especial services he had
to offer he was ravenously hungry.
When he had appeased his healthy ap-
petite he was troubled ut the inroads
made upon his little store OF money,
and this money had been sum that
Mary Eta had produced from some
secret hiding place, for their money in
the savings bank had been drawn upon
to meet necessary expenses.
Mary Eta was n wonderful man
ager he thought rs he left the eating
place and walked aimlessly down the
street. she had planned and contrived
all through the autumn months while
the dread OF going back TO the bench
still hung like dark cloud over him.
He paused In front of n gaudily
painted doorway and read the posters
OF moving picture show. In few
moments he had yielded to the temp
tation to enter and found himself seat
ed well down In front In the long. mar
row theater. At the moment there
were being produced the pictures Of
thrilling rescue from flames as n tall
tenement house burned
Ben watched breathlessly and cheer
ed as heartily rs the rest when the
last picture faded away. He did not
look Mt the card announcing the next
production. The theater was warm.
and he was removing his overcoat.
When he looked up he heard the
family familiar sounds Of an organ re-
produced from large photograph on
the stage. and there flashed into view
breath away and left him sitting in
stunned silence while 1t lasted.
Before him was the interior of the
village church at home. rows and rows
of familiar heads. while up in the pull
pit the thin, angular form of the new
minister sat stifily on the red velvet
sofa. while the choir grouped on his
left were singing.
He saw his own grave face beside
young Harry Fray. the tenor He saw
Mrs. Phillips. the pastors wife, and
Mary Eta. Mary Eta. looking very
sweet and glrlish. was singing, and
the others should have been joining In
the refrain. for their mouths were
opened But II was only Mary Eta
who sang. her sweet. high voice rising
like that of an angel to the very roof
of the church even now as II was re-
produced from the photograph and
fioated above the heads of the mixed
audience. who hung breathlessly upon
every word she sang. Now and then
there was strangled sob as the mean
ing Of the song was borne to the
hearts of the hearers and touched
some tender chord
Ben listened. seeming to hear the
broken trlll of n robin from the church
yard outside. as had happened the last
time Mary Eta had sung that old
Scotch hymn "My Ain Countrie:"
I am far frae my hame. an I'm weary
aftenwhiles
~. -.
Fathers welcome smiles,
An I'll ne'er be fu' content until mine cen
| do see
The gowden gates o. heav'n an my ain
countrie.
When the last note had died away
amid a silence that was more eloquent
than the noisiest applause Ben found
his way 10 the management of the the
alter and was sent to the people from
whom the picture films had been pur.
chased There. after many explana-
tions and some delay he was Informed
that the pastor had granted permission
for the picture to be taken from the
back gallery the spring before and that
Mary Eta had been approached and
asked to sing the song into phono-
graph. This she had ut first refused
to do. and then. tempted by the money
offered. she had consented and had
made several trips to the city to sing
many other well known songs to be
reproduced for the entertainment of
the public.
That explained TO Ben Madison how
It was that In spite OF the scant re-
turns from the farm that summer there
had always been plenty on his table,
while his store bills had been prompt
~ met The shadow In Mary Etta's
face was probably the reflection of her
troubled conscience. for her gentle
heart must have suffered at deceiving
her proud Young husband.
Thrilled with self contempt. Ben
Madison hurried home on the last train
that night and awoke the astonished
Mr.. Fray from his early sleep. Then
he went on to his home. where Mary
Eta was waiting anxiously for his re.
turn.
| sTIurrnvV' criad Ron fnvnuoIv az