Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1906-06-29
Oid Tarmer Groy md ia eIder Ala.

Old Farmer Gray and his elder SIS
ter were having some sort OF discus
sion over the rlghtful age OF man
whose death was published among the
country newspaper notices The paper
stated 1t Incorrectly, they were sure Of
that. But they couldn't quite agree on
what was his proper age
Hes pretty nigh Brother HIS age"
said Farmer Gray finally. "Leastwse
he was born the same year-mebbe not
to the month, recoilect story
mother used TO tell about-but I'll Just
go an look up HIS age In the Bible"
The air OF tho best parlor," which
he entered was a bit close. The sun
never WAS allowed to shine In this
room more than once a twelvemonth-
1t miekt fade the carpet On a mar
BILE topped table, resting on worsted
mat. was the family Bible. The last
time Ihrmer Gray had looked into this
book Nd registered the baptism OF his
baby j. lighter, MadGe For his daily
reGdings he used little New Testa-
ment
As he undid the heavy clasps of the
big Bible the pages opened themselves
at Il place where there was some
pressed yellow sweet clover The mere
sight of 1t somehow recalled faroff
memories. 1t recalled n certain sum
mer day SO long ago. 1t wasS on his
honeymoon, and his young wife had
Just plucked these sprays Of yellow
clover. "Think you can love me- as
long as this keeps sweetf' she had
asked archly How pretty she had
looked, laughing up into his face! How
precious she had been to him! AfteI
ten years of happy married life theil
long wished for child had come. Wher
the young mother died he had chung t
the baby daughter with double tender
ness. He simply worshiped her grow
ing glrlhood. But she had run away
| from him And with an actor and he
had forbidden her ever to cross his
doorsill again.
The old farmer scarcely knew whai
he was about, his head swan so
Doubtless II was that strong, sweet
odor of the clover. Somehow 1t seem
cd to him to be suddenly flooding the
whole room, filling his stubborn hear
with something very like pardon and
mercy.
| Madge dragged YEARLY down Broad
way IN u dazed sort of fashion after
she had left tho unctuous little man
ager. Almost directly In front of Q
theater she found herself walking into
| n ANAL uro,ip of boya They were jeer
ing a man who stood close to the the
ater's entrance, tlmid and self distrust
full. But Mndge moved mechanically
toward the street curb In order TO pass
on. She did not observe him.
wants to know where you go t.
find out where the play actors live-dit
you ever2" sarcastically Jeered one Of
the urchins. 81 say, Reuben. hadn't yo'
better tend to the hay crop|
"Wot he wants t do is ter go on d.
stage hisself an ind out" suggested
another urchin. A cop" came up the
street at this moment. and the old mai
who had been affording the boy
amusement took few steps TOWARD
him. In doing no his eyes fell upon thu
slight, girllsh figure who had Just sue
ceeded In passing the group Of urchins
"Madge Madge" he gasped.
"FatherI' Regardless Of everything
like very little child she threw her
self into his outstretched arms
"'Twas the yellow sweet clover done
II, darlin'," said he, n bit mysteriously
while he patted her checks as Of old.