Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-10-03
LOVE is EVER YOUNG.

- 49,
She had not the least shame about
telling her age. On the contrary, she
was rather proud to do {. 1t was some
thing to be proud of. Not that she was
Ga, but that at Ga she looked not a day
over AS, and a blooming AS 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 As, and no
more. Oh, she was certainly a wonder
full woman for her age, was Mrs. Joseph
Allestreei
1t did not detract from the compare
lively youthful appearance Of Mrs. Al
lestree that her costumes always repre-
scented the height Of the fashion.
~zQuaint, indeed, she appeared, partic-
ularly on a certain evening, standing in
the old square portioo, 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 q long, shady ay-
enue, was a gate with IN old fashioned
wooden arch over it, concealed by vines.
1t was toward this gate that Mrs. AL
lestree looked, leaning forward eagerly,
like a girl, II hand shielding her eyes
from the level sunbeams. She wore
white-think Of her daring to wear
whitei She was watching for Joseph.
He had gone down to Stoneton-only u
mile distant-for the post at 5 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 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 i'll all
that time they had never been separated
a single day.
dearest" said Mr.. Allestree as they
sat down, II owe you an apology for my
hardness, but it couldn't be helped. /
got a letter calling me away on an i'm
portant matter, and I had to stop to at
tend to some things in the village. !
must go immediately-tomorrow."
"Oh, that Perley affair, p" she said.
glancing yer the page. but, Joseph,
can't you put it off? Remember the
Kennedys are coming in the morning to
stay over Sunday"
"I 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 a
thing"
81 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
~ assuming a cheerful aspect, she ask
ed, GLOW 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; "it
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 a time"
"Ah, Joseph, " with a 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
put of those same letters. Isn't it strange
hat in two and forty years we should
never have had occasion to write to ont
another? Not since you were Henriett;
Shower"
cit is q singular circumstance, " shl
replied. Eyes, we can write. Do yol
know, Joseph, the thought of it alread.
consoles me a little. 1t will be such
delightful novelty"
1t was a good thing for Mrs. Allies
Tree that she expected visitors. Blu
lfter the guests had departed her condi
ion was pitiable. Especially as no let
Ter had come.
Mr.. Allestree had gone away early o.
Saturday. Now it was Tuesday. Sh
lad managed to be patient over tn
sabbath, but on Monday morning, wheI
Jimmy came up from Stoneton empt
landed, she had refused to believe tina
ne had not dropped the letter or tina
The postmaster had not overlooked it.
There were only two deliveries i
he "a hours. and at evening the sam
w N n