The Washington times., 1937-08-23


spring morning.
Margaret lived with her family
the Dixons, farther down the val.
ley. but for the last year Ben had
seen her every day.
Ben saw Margaret every day
or at least he had until last week,
when she had gone on long-de'
layed visit to her wealthy aunt
who lived in solitary splendor in
a big house in Hammerton. three
hundred miles away. Ben had
driven her with her suitcase to the
station at Steveston, and had
kissed her good-by standing on the
checkered linoleum platform OF
her railway car. 1t twisted Ben's
heart to remember that parting.
It meant that he must exist
without seeing her for days and
days, perhaps week.
'Don't stay long, darling" Ben
had pleaded at the station.
Not day longer than I must! !"
Margaret had promised, but added,
you know, dear, a trousseau
can't be assembled all at once, and
Aunt Grace likes to take her time
shopping. I mustn't hurt her feel
mig when she has been so good.
GENEROUS AUNT
Margaret's Aunt Grace had Of
fere6. had insisted, that Margaret
come to Hammerton and buy
everything she needed through
Aunt Grace'S substantial store
accounts.
Ben had first met Margaret
about two years before, when ne
had been foreman on the Tyler
ranch, and had gone to see jim
Dixon about the sale Of S o m e
horses. He and Margaret had
fallen in love almost at once. But
eager as they were to be married,
they had agreed to postpone the
wedding until Ben had worked
out his plans. He had saved some
money, almost enough to buy a
small farm. Finally the day ar
rived, about a year ago now, when
he gave up his foremanship Of the
TYLER ranch, and bought a long
strip of rich farmland near the
DiXonS.
PLAN HOME
They had planned the house
together, studied every detail OF
architecture and arrangement.
Many times, as Ben got new ideas
for the building, Margaret had
said, "Oh Ben, you mustn't put
all your money into the house.
Well both be Spoilt living in such
a place. Why not get a new mar
keting truck instead, or some
more pigs or chickenS?"
But Ben would reply, Darling,
I want you to have house where
you'll be comfortable and happy.
But I'd be happy with you in
the smallest, humbleSt cottage,
Margaret had said more than once,
and Ben knew, with a glow OF
pride, that it was true.
So Ben had added the improve
nients that occurred to him. The
kitchen he made larger than they
had first planned. Another room
had been included on the ground
floor. His last extravaganza had
been an oil burner for the kitchen
range.
whoever heard Of a farmers
house with an oil burner" Mar
garet had exclaimed.
"Wait till you use it," said Ben.
I'm only afraid I'll get too fat to
work. When you turn out the
food you do on an old wood range,
hate to think what meals will be
like after you get to using this con-
traption."
And now the house was finished.
It stood almost in the center Of
the valley, with a background OF
big pines. and the cleared strip OF
land stretching away from its
front door like giant path.
BUSINESS GOOD
The fifth evening after Mar
garet had left for Hammerton,
Ben sat at his desk in the new
house, doing accounts. 1t was
about o'clock but already getting
dark because of heavy fog that
had drifted UP the valley. Ben
reached up and switched on the
light without pausing in his reck-
oning. He had done pretty well
last week, he reflected.
The hens were laying well, and
eggs were still a fair price. He
had also been the first to market
some early vegetables. His bank
account was beginning to show
signs Of recovery from the heavy
expenses of building and getting
started on the farm.
He was about to go into the
new kitchen to prepare some din.
ner when he heard the drone of
the Midroad airplane that passed
overhead regularly every evening
at six. "Foggy weather for fly.
ing" he thought, peering out of
the window at the gathering dusk.
He pushed back his chair and
got up, wondering what to cook for
his meal, when he heard the drone
Of the approaching plane suddenly
stop, then go on again, then falter