Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-05-06
The Voice Of
Mary Eta
Il Proves a Safeguard In Time
Of Need
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
alton. 1911.

ovcrcoat and picked up his hat. "ev-
erything will come out all right In the
end All the other farmers In the
county have met with the same fail.
ure that we have. only you've got the
best OF most Of them. You've got your
trade 10 fall back on"
The sullcn expression deepened on
Ben Madisons handsome face. 1T
isn't so easy going back to work under
foreman after being my own boss
for five years" he said bitterly.
Mary Eta w.lced. Il know It, dear.
But suppose you didn't have trade
and couldn't make up this winter for
your losses OF last summer. Mr.. Fray
has promised you steady work at $3.50
that's $i5 n week. Why. 1t will pay
the interest and taxes for year. be-
sides paying all our living expenses
and giving you a splendid start for
the spring. You might be able to buy
another cow"
II know all the advantages" said
Ben impatiently. But you don't I'M
derstand how feel about II. Mary
Eta. It's sort OF admitting I've fail
cd on the farm. just as your father
said would"
His wlfe's eyes flashed strangely.
you don't understand father. dear.
He has already admitted he was mis-
taken in his estimate of you. for you
have done splendidly-no one can deny
that-and who could prevent the long
drought we have suffered? know he'd
think II was splendid OF you TO pitch
In and make the farm pay by doing
everything you could this winter"
Ben turned away. discouraged
droop TO his shoulders. OF course Mary
Eta didn't know that he had gone to
her father the night before and asked
him for loan OF $500 10 tide them
over the winter aud spring-in fact.
until his crops would begin TO pay
along in May and June. for his mar
ket garden and forcing house had
proved very paying branch OF the
Madison farm.
lie REDEEMED resentfully as he re-
membered. how old Peter Lloyd's
white eyebrows had lifted incredulous-
~ when his son-in-law asked for the
loan. mo. Ben" Peter had said slow
ly: I'm not saying amt got the
money, for have. but guess I'll
keep II awhile longer. II Mary Eta
was widow. now. and needed my help
II would lie different. You're strong
man, and you've done well so far II
would only weaken you to borrow this
money Of me. Find way out your
self. You'll he the better Off for II in
the end. and wish you good luck. II
you was sick or there was an accident
OF some kind I'd be the first one on
hand TO help you out AS II Is. you
and Mary Eta have started out for
yourselves. and you're both capable of
fighting It out to the end-same ms the
rest Of us have 10 do"
Ben Madison thought of this con
versation with increasing anger rs he
trudged down the frosty road that led
10 Trays planning mill. The only al
tentative left TO him had been TO seek
a job at Fray's. where its owner had
told him there were sufficient orders
ahead TO keep n good workman like
Ben busy all winter making sashes and
blinds for the spring building trade.
Now he was going down TO tell Fray
he would take the job There were
others waiting for the opportunity. but
Fray had promised Ben the first
chance
Whea he reached the road that turn
ed down 10 the mill he hesitated and
then walked slowly on. head down,
modify thinking At last he came Ia
the railrnad station. where few
loungers awaited the passing Of the
noon train. Fen looked down the shin
ing length OF track that led 10 the city
beyond. There might he opportunities
for other work than that he had left
behind when he married Mary Eta
five years ago. lie had hated the
bench work. the long hours and the
carrying OF the dinner pail. They
chafed his Madison pride. Ben was
the last Of his family, and NIL the pride
Of the Madisons seemed concentrated
In this young man with the strong
broad shoulders and the bitterly droop
ing mouth. who imagined lie had made
failure Of life.
As the whistle Of the approaching
train shrleked from some distant cross
ing Zen Madison seemed 10 MAKE M
his mind to some course Of action. lie
glanced quickly at the loungers con
gregated about the station stove and
stepped out Of the station house and
walked ny the track 10 the raised plat
form where there was little heap OF
baggage He pulled his hat down over
his eyes and muttercd under his
breath; ~ just cant go back to the
bench again I'll get something To de
In the city and send for Mary Eta "a
come. can write 10 her when ! Get
there and tell her how II Is She'll un
derstand'
When he was In the train he tried "a
persuade himself thar Mary Eta
would understand just how he fell
and look on his decision IN exactly the
same manner that he did. Mary Eta
had pride too. He had taken her from
a.