Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1906-08-24

wastcbaszet. and the boy burned II
with the waste paper. I'm sorry. but
the truth Is. dear girl. Il never would
have done ia the world-neverl It was
amateurish. II had no action. 1t was
defective all through. Tell him TO try
again" lie wished the woman would
not stare nc him IN that bewildercd,
helpless way. lie wasn't a ghost.
Come, now. Don't look so white.
I'll take you out to lunch. and then
we'll call Il square. won't wet" But
she did not hear him. She had already
started for home. Homef Before her
Jim. wasted and %expoctant; behind her
blank faIlurel
.
Old Farmer Gray and his elder Sis
ter were having some sort OF discus
sion over the rightful age OF a man
whose death was published among tho
country newspaper notices. The paper
stated It Incorrectly. they were sure OF
that But they couldn't quite agree on
what was his proper age.
lies pretty nigh Brother Hrs age"
said Farmer Gray finally. "Leastwlse
no was born the same yoar-mebbe not
to the month. / recollcct a story
mother used to tell about-but I'll just
go an look up Hi's age in the Bible
The air OF the "best parlor," which
he entered, was n bit close. The sun
never was allowed to shine In this
room more than nee n tvelvemonth-
1t might fade the carpet On u mar
BILE topped table. resting on u wOrsted
mat. was the family Bible. The last
tlmo Farmer Gray had looked into this
book he'd registered the baptism Of his
baby daughter, Madge. For his daily
readings he used q little New Tesla
ment
As he undld the heavy clasps Of the
big Bible the pages opened themselves
at a place whore there vas some
pressed yellow sweet clover. The mere
sight OF It somehow recalled faroif
memories. It recalled q certain sum
mer day so long ago. 1t was on his
honeymoon. and his young wife had
just plucked these sprays of yellow
clover. Think you % love me as
long as this keeps swcet?' she had
asked archly. How pretty she had
looked, laughing up into his face! How
precious she had been to him! After
ten years of happy married life their
long wished for child had come. When
the young mother died be had chung to
the baby daughter with double tender
ness, lie simply w%Orshiped her grow.
ing glrlhood. But she had run away
from him and with an actor, and he
had forbidden her ever to cross his
doorslll again.
The old farmer scarcely knew what
he was about. his head swan so
Doubtless 1t was that strong, sweet
odor of the clover. Somehow 1t seem.
oil to him to be suddenly flooding the
whole ROOM. filling his stubborn hear
with something very like pardon and
mercy.
. .
Madge dragged wenrily down Broad.
way in a dazed sort of fashion after
she had left the unctuous little man
ager. Almost directly in front of q
theater she found herself walking into
a small group of boys. They were jeer
ing n man who stood close to the the
ater's entrance, tlmld and self distrust
full. But Madge moved mechanically
toward the street curb In order to pass
on. She did not observe him.
Wants to know where you go tc
find out where the play actors llve-dld
you ever?" sarcastlcally jeered one OF
the urchlns. II say, Reuben, hadn't you
better tend to the hay crop?"
"Wot he wants t. do is ter go on dc
stage hlsself an find out" suggested
another urchin. A "cop" came up the
street at this moment, and the old mar
who had been anordlng the boys
amusement took n few steps toward
him. In doing so his eyes fell upon the
slight, girlish figure who had Just sue
ceedod I'm passing the group of urchins
"Madge! Madgc" he gasped.
"Fatherr' Regardless of everything
like n very little child she threw her
self into his outstretched arms.
""Twas the yellow sweet clover dom
II, darlln'," said he, a bit mysteriously
while he patted her checks as of old.