The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1912-11-16
The Voice Of
Mary Eta
Ii Proves Safeguard In Tine
Of Need
BY cLARissA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
BY cLARissA MAcKIE
by American Press Asso-
alton. 1871.

:
Never mind. Ben" encouraged Mary
Eta as her husband shrugged into his
! overcoat 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.
urc that we have. only you've got the
best of most Of them. You've got your
trade to fall back on .
The sullen expression deepened on
Ben Madison's 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 WINGED. Il know 1t, dear.
But suppose you didn't have IA trade
and couldn't make up this winter for
your losses of last summer. Mr.. Fray
has promised you steady work mt $3.50
THAT'S SIS a 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"
Il know all the advantages" said
Ben impatiently. But you don't un-
derstand how l feel about 1t, Mary
Eta. It's sort of admitting I've fall
ed on the farm. just as your father
said would"
His wife'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 spiendidly-no one can deny
that-and who could prevent the long
drought we have suffered? ] know he'd
think 1t was splendid of you 10 pitch
In and make the farm pay by doing
everything Won 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 to tide them
over the winter and spring-in fact,
until his crops would begin to pay
along In May and June. for his mar
let garden and forcing house had
proved very paying branch Of the
Madison farm.
He Redeemed resentfully ms he re-
membered how old Peter Lloyd's
white eyebrows had lifted incredulous-
Is when his son-in-law asked for the
lean. "No. Hen." Peter had said slow
u; I'm not saying amt got the
pouey. for have. but ! guess III
ieep ii awhile longer II Mary Eta
was n widow. now. and needed my help
II would be different. You're strong
man. and you've done well SO far. 1t
would only weaken you to borrow this
Money OF me. Find way out your
self. You'll he the better or for 1t in
the end. md I wish you good luck. II
you was sick or there was an accident
or some kind I'd be the first one on
hand to help you out. As 1t is. you
md Mary Eta have started out for
yourselves. and you're both capable of
fighting 1t out TO the end-same as the
rest of US have to do"
Ben Madison thought Of this con-
yersation with increasing anger as he
trudged down the frosty road that led
to Fray's planning MILL The only Ill
Tentative left to him had been TO seek
Job ut Trays. where its owner had
told him there. were sufficient orders
ahead to keep good workman like
Ben busy all winter making saslles and
blinds for the spring building trade.
Now he was going down to tell Fray
he would take the job. There We're
others waiting for the opportunity. but
Fray had promised Ben the first
chance.
When he reached the road that turn
ed down TO the mill he hesitated and
then walked slowly on. head down.
moodily thinking. Al last he came to
the railroad station. where few
loungers awaited the passing of the
noon train. Ben looked down the shin
ing length of track that led to the city
beyond. There might be opportunities
for other work than that he had left
behind when he married Mary Eta
hve years ago He had hated the
bench work. the long hours and the
carrying Of the dinner pail. They
chafcd his Madison pride. Ben was
the last OF his family. and all the pride
Of the Mndisnns seemed concentrated
In this young man with the strong.
broad shoulders md the bitterly droop-
Ing mouth. who imagined he had made
failure of life.
As the whistle OF the approaching
train shricked from some distant cross.
ing lien Madison seemed to make up
his mind to some course Of action. He
glanced quickly Mt the loungers con-
gregated about the station stove and
stepped out OF the station house and
walked up the track to the raised plat
form where there was little heap of
baggage. He pulled his hat down over
his eyes and muttered under his
breath: 81 just can't go back to the
bench ngain. Ill get something to do
In the city and send for Mary Eta to
come. can write to her when get
there and tell her how 1t is. She'll I'M
aerstand."
When he was In the train lie tried to
persuade himself that Mary Eth
would understand just how be felt