Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-06-23
LOVE is EVER YOUNG.

She had not the least shame about
telling her age. On the contrary, she
was rather proud to dose. TWAS some
thing to be proud Of. Not that she was
81, but that at 81 she looked not a day
over 4S, and blooming 48 at that
True, her hair was silver, but what a
waving wealth of silverl And it was
not sent to soften wrinkles either. She
wore as many of these ornaments as it
is legitimate to wear at 48, and no
more. Oh, she was certainly wonder
full woman for her age, was Mrs. Joseph
Allestree!
1t did not detract from the compare
lively youthful appearance Of Mrs. AL
lestree that her costumes always repre-
sented the height Of the fashion.
Quaint, indeed, she appeared, partic-
ularly on certain evening, standing in
the old square portico, with the sun
shining straight under the trees into
her face.
The house at her back was low and
long. 1t stood endwise to the lazy little
river that flowed at the foot Of the
abruptly sloping lawn. On the other
side, at the end Of long, shady av-
enue, was a gate with an old fashioned
wooden arch over it, concealed by vines
1t was toward this gate that Mrs. AL
lestree looked, leaning forward eagerly,
like girl, one hand shielding her eyes
from the level sunbeams. She wore
white-think of her daring to wear
white! She was watching for Joseph.
He had gone down to Stoneton-only a
mile distant-for the post at O'Clock.
That was two hours ago. Joseph did
love dearly to gossip with the old farm
ers and shopkeepers, but he really ought
to remember dinner time.
But Joseph had not forgotten his
dinner. At this very minute the gate
opened and his little gig rolled in, fol.
lowed by three enthusiastic dogs-a st.
Bernard and two red settlers.
Mr.. Allestree. after embracing his
wife, as if he had just returned from q
years journey, went in with her to din
ner, and Mr.. Allestree was-but I will
not describe him; simply he was every
thing that the husband Of Mrs. Allestree
should have been. Forty-two years had
gone by since their marriage, and in all
that time they had never been separated
single day.
dearest, said Mr.. Allestree as they
sat down, IT owe you an apology for my
hardness, but it couldn't be helped. I
got letter calling me away on an i'm
portant matter, and I'had to stop to at
tend to some things in the village. I
must go Immediately
"Oh, that Perley affair."" she said,
glancing over the page "But, Joseph,
can't you put it off? Remember the
Kennedys are coming in the morning to
stay over Sunday"
II cannot, Henrietta. It's got to be
attended to at once. I"
"But, Joseph, you can't 60 without
me. You know you never did such a
thing"
IT am afraid I must do it this time, ="
he replied mournfully.
They sat in silence for some minutes.
Twice Mrs. Allestree wiped away a sly
tear with her napkin. At length, brave
ly assuming cheerful aspect, she ask
ed, "How long will you be gomez"
II can't possibly reach London, ac-
complish all want to and get home
again in less than ten days."
Joseph, it will kill us BOTH"
"Ah, no, my DEAR" he laughed; sit
won't quite do that-at least hope not.
1t will be hard, very hard. But think,
my love, we were apart for five long
years once on time.
''Ah, Joseph, with sob in her voice,
"that was before we had ever lived to-
gether. We only knew each other by let
ter, you know"
''And a mighty comfort did we take
out Of those same letters. Isn't it strange
that in two and forty years we should
never have had occasion to write to one
another? Not since you were Henrietts
Shower
"It is singular circumstance, she
replied. "Yes, we can write. Do yor
know, Joseph, the thought of it already
consoles me little. 1t will be such ;
delightful novelty"
It was good thing for Mrs Allies
tree that she expected visitors. Blu
after the guests had departed her condi
ton was pitiable. Especially as no let
ter had come.
Mr.. Allestree had gone away early OF
Saturday. Now it was Tuesday. Sh'
had managed to be patient over tn,
Sabbath, but on Monday morning, whel
Jimmy came up from Stoneton empt,
handed, she had refused to believe tina
he had not dropped the letter or tina
the postmaster had not overlooked it.
There were only two deliveries il
the "a hours, and at evening the sam,
performance was repeated.
On Tuesday Mrs. Allestree went her
self to Stoneton and delivered sever.
lecture to the postmaster upon the gen
eral indifference Of government officials
thereby greatly annoying the poor man
Mr.. Framwell began to dread tn,
hours Of delivery. Twice day, what
ever the weather, Mrs. Allestree pre-
sented her handsome, anxious face a
| the window.
When he handed out the post to her
and she found not the letter she longet
for, an angry face it was that peered il
at him, and stern-albeit we'll bred
voice that demanded Of them to hun
through every box, lest perchance h,
had made some error III distributing.