Smyrna times., 1896-07-29
LOVE is EVER YOUNG.

LOVE IS EVER YOUNG.
She had not the least shame about
telling her age. On the contrary, she
was rather proud to do so. It was
something to be proud of. Not that
she was Ga, but that at Ga she looked
not day over 48, and blooming 48 at
that.
True, her hair was silver, but what a
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 49, and no
more. Oh, she was certainly a wonder
full woman for her age, was Mrs.
Joseph Allestree!
1t did not detract from the compara-
lively youthful appearance of Mrs.
Allestree that her costumes always
represented the height of the fashion.
Quaint, indeed, she appeared, parti-
cularly on a 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 lit
tie river that flowed at the foot of the
abruptly slOping lawn. On the other
side, at the end of long, shady
avenue, was gate with an old-fash-
ioned 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
mile distant-for the post at clock.
This was two hours ago. Joseph did
love dearly to gossip with the old far
mers 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
dinner, and Mr.. Allestree was-but [
will not describe him; simply he was
everything that the husband of Mrs.
Allestree should have been. Forty
two years had gone by since their mar
riage, and in all that time they had
never been separated single day.
Dearest" said Mr.. Allestree, as
they sat down. ''I owe you an apology
for my tardiness, but it couldn't be
helped. 1 got letter calling me away
on an important matter, and 1 had to
stop to attend to some things in the
village. 1 must go immediately-to-
morrow" "
"Oh, that Perley affair."" she said,
glancing over the page. ''But, Joseph.
can't you put it off? Remember the
Kennedys are coming n the morning
to stay over Sunday"
81 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
thing"
Il am afraid I must do it this time"
he replied, mournfully.
They sat in silence for some minutes.
Twice Mrs. Allestree wiped away
sly tear with her napkin. At length,
bravely assuming a cheerful aspect, she
asked: "How long will you be gomez"
81 can't possibly reach London, ac-
complish all I 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, I hope
not. 1t will be hard. But think, my
love, we. were apart for five long years
once on time"
'Ah, Joseph" with a sob in her
voice, ''that was before we had ever
lived together. We only knew each
other by letter, you know"
"And 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 anotherP Not since Won
were Henrietta Shower"
''It is a singular circumstance. she |
replied, eyes, we can write. Do YOU
know, Joseph, the thought of it al
ready consoles me little. It will be
such delightful novelty.
1t was good thing for Mrs. Allies
tree that she expected visitors. But
after the guests had departed her CON
dition was pitiable. Especially as no
letter 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 be-
lieye that he had not dropped the let- 7
ter or that the Postmaster had not
overlooked it.
There were only two deliveries in
the "a hours, and at the evening the !
same performance was repeated.
On Tuesday, Mrs. Allestree went
herself to Stoneton and delivered a
severe lecture to the Postmaster upon
the general indifference of Govern