The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-17
LOVE rs EVER YOUNG.

telling her age. On the contrary, she
was rather proud to do so. TWAS some
thing to be proud Of. Not that she was
81, but that at Cd she looked not day
over 48. and blooming 4S at that.
True, her hair was silver. but what
waving wealth Of silver! And it was
not sent to soften wrinkles either. She
wore as many Of these ornaments as it
is legitimate to wear at 4s, and no
more. Oh, she was certainly a wonder
full woman for her age, was Mrs Joseph
Allestreel
1t did not detraot 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 mt her back was low and
long. 1t stood endwise to the lazy littlo
river that flowed at the foot of the
abruptly sloping lawn. On the other
side. at the end Of long, shady av-
enue, was 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 q girl, one hand shielding her eyes
from the level sunbeams She wore
white-think of her daring to wear
whitel She was watching for Joseph
He had gone down to Stoneton-cnly
mile distant-for tho post ut 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
MIR. Allestree. after embracing his
wife, rs If he had Just returned from a
years journey, went In with her to din
ner, and Mr.. Allestree was-but 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
q single day.
Dearest, said Mr. Allestree as they
sat down. II owe you an apology for my
hardness, but it couldn't be helped. 1
got letter calling me away ON an i'm
portant matter, and had to stop to at
tend to some things in the village. I
must go immediately-tomo
"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"
But, Joseph, you can't go without
me. You know you never did such q
thing"
II am afraid must do it this time"
he replied mournfully.
They sat in silence for some minutes.
Twice Mrs. Allestree wiped away q sly
tear with her napkin. At length, brave
~ assuming cheerful aspect, she ask
ed, "How long will you be gomez
II can't possibly reach London, &C
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; set
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-
sether. 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 ono
another? Not since you were Henrietta
Shower
ut Is singular circumstance, p" she
replied. YES, we can write. Do you
know. Joseph, the thought Of it already
consoles me little. 1t will be such q
delightful novelty
1t was q good thing for Mrs. Allies
tree that she expected visitors. But
after the guests had departed her condi-
tion was pitiable. Especially as no let
ter had come.
Mr.. Allestree had gone away early on
Saturday. Now it was Tuesday. She
had managed to be patient over the
Sabbath, but on Monday morning, when
Jimmy came up from Stoneton empty
handed, she had refused to believe that
he had not dropped the letter or that
the postmaster had not overlooked 1t.
There were only two deliveries in
the % hours, and at evening the same
performance was repeated
On Tuesday Mrs. Allestree went her
self to Stoneton and delivered q severe
lecture to the postmaster upon the gen.
eral Indifference Of government officials,
thereby greatly annoying the poor man.
MIR. Framwell began to dread the