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


Il think II you'd take n run home,
dear. for a few weeks It would be al
right with the governor. and you'd get
your roses back" Jim gave his little
wife a gentle pinch on her pnle cheeks.
Five years ago. when he had married
her. she had possessed something Of
the evanesccnt charm OF n four petaled
dog rose, exquisite. ethereal. but tho
kind to fall IN n moment. Jim belong
ed TO 'thc profession" and Madge al
ways accompanied him upon tours, I'M
dcTgoing cheerfully the h%ardships that
q player Of conc night stands must
endure IN the interest OF art. Matters
did not go well financially, so present
" she became a walking lady," final
~ a soubrette. This was only 10 last.
however. until Jim made what the
dramatic critics describe as a "favora-
bic impression"
And now, although Eve years had
gone by, they were still waiting for
that distinct success. That II had not
~come-they were merely human-they
ascrlbcd OF course to n lack of oppor-
tupity. Meanwhile Madge's health was
beginning to fail. She was frctting for
the country. So when Jim insisted
because she was yearning for her IA
Tiers forgiveness. because she did
want her roses back for the first
time since she had left It she set out
for her childhood's home.
After she had got out Mt the little
country station unhcraldcd she wound
her way up the old farm road. Moth
ing seemed to have changed. She
heard the cows lowing far off; she in
hailed the loamy incense OF her an
cestral land. II was so sweet that 1t
panied her. The dear. familiar farm
house came In sight, and her eye grew
misty. She opened the gate which led
TO the yard path, bordered by lilacs
and hollyhocks. There, pulling up
some weeds from underneath the lilacs,
she came face to face with her father.
At FIRST he could find no words to say.
He only glared at her through his spec
tacles. Then:
"Where is he-that scoundrel, that
v%agabond. that
my husband" corrected Madge,
drawing back with u touch OF dainty
pride.
Then Numbered the old farmer
hinging down his trowel In n rage
Ego back to him-go back to your hus
bandG' The veins in his neck were
swollen like cords. That lie did no
fall with a stroke OF ~apoplexy was {
miracle indeed.
So AIadge passed out Of the gate o.
her fathers home once more. WheI
she reached New York, Jim had Jus.
been taken to the hospital. At frs.
she was conscious only Of one thing
Jim was III. terribly III. and calling FOL
her, Later the doctors sentences re
turned to her. There had been an nc
cldent-injury to the s~pine-never wall
ngaln-a cripple for life. Why. all
why. had she ever left her beloved?
When, at the beginning Of the next
season, II was time to go ION the rond''
again Madge had to start with n vari-
ETY. company alone. But while she was
doing an eccentric dance in n crimson
ballet skirt her whole heart and soul
were with a man suffering In n stuffy,
Top room i'm Eighth street.
Something like six weeks after its
departure from New York the variety
company collapsed" In Ohio. Madge
was obliged TO return east and seek an
other engagement. Each evening when
she bad come back from her weary
tour OF the theatrical agencies the ques-
tlon would come ~anxiously almost be
fore she had closed the door.
Anything today, Madge darlingr
And always the answer would como
with n brave smile as she shook hei
head in the negative:
You see, this Is the bad part of the
season. And the profession is really
Overcrowded."
Meanwhile medicine was requiring
cash and the landlady was insisting OF
having her weekly increasing lodging
bill paid.
As Madge entered the room inc even
ing. braclng her heart to meet the
customary question. she heard new
CHEEKY words instead:
Come over here, little woman. I've
something 10 show you"
Jim, who lay propped mp by pillows
had a bright flush on each cheek. ant
his eyes were like stars. lie held Ia
ward her a bundle OF manuscript. I
was a play he'd been writing unknown
to his wife or doctor. 1t was con
gtructed from incidents of his own life
Madge ana he were the leading charac
tiers. In the last act they both mad
tremendous hits" and were discover
ell" Wealth poured In upon the lon
disappointed artists. and they wer
able TO leave poverty behind them.
when we sell the play. what shall
I'VE do with all our money, dearg' sh
asked, smiling through her tears a
at last she finished reading the prize,
manuscript. He turned YEARLY.
"Ah. wen move into the country
fresh and green. Wen buy a littl
home with trailing vines 80 we ca
hear the birds sing"
She made the rounds with the PLAY
as many plays have made the round
beforehand no n wanted II. Bu
Just rs she had kept Jim's hopes allv
regarding her OWE possible theatricI