The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-07-22
Love Is Ever Young.

She had not the least shame about
telling her age. On the contrary, she
was rather proud to do 30. 1t was
something to be proud Of Not that
she was sixty -four, but that at sixty-four
she looked not day over forty-eight,
and a blooming forty eight at that.
True, her hair was silver, but what
waving wealth of silverl And il
was not sent to soften wrinkles either.
She wore as many of these ornaments
as it is legitimate to wear at forty-eight,
and no more. Oh, she was certainly a
wonderful woman for her age, was
Mrs. Joseph Allestreel
1t did not detract from the compare
lively youthful appearance of Mrs. Al
lestree that her costume always repre-
sented the height of the fashion.
Quaint, indeed, she appeared, par
tlcularly 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 endwse to the lazy lit
tie river that flowed at the foot of the
abruptly sloping lawn. On the other
side, at the end ola long, shady avenue,
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 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-only
a mile distant - for the post at five
o'clock. That was two hours ago. Jo-
seph did love dearly to gossip with the
old farmers and shopkeepers, but he
really ought to remember dinner-tme.
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.. Alestree was-but l
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.. Alestree as
they sat down, owe you an apology
for my hardness, but it couldn't be
helped. 1 got letter calling me away
on an important matter, and l had to
stop to attend to some things in the
village. l must 60 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 in the morning
to stay over Sunday"
81 cannot, Henrietta. It's got to be
ate nded to at once"
But, Joseph, you can't go without |
me. You know you never did such a
thing"
81 am afraid / must do it this time"
he replied mournfully.
They sat in silence for some min
utes. Twice Mrs. Allestree wiped |
away sly tear with her napkin. At
length, bravely assuming a cheerful as
pect, she asked, " How long will you be
gomez"
g l can't possibly reach London, &C.
all l 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
lot. II will be hard, very hard. But
hink, my love, we were apart for five
ong years once on time"
g. All, Joseph" with sob in her
,oice, =" that was before we had ever
ived together. We only knew each
'ther by letter, you know"
And mighty comfort did we take
ut OF those same letters. Isn't it
TRANCE that in two and forty years we
hould never have had occasion to
write to one another? Not since you
we're Henrietta Shower"
1t is singular circumstance, she
epied. "Yes, we can write. Do you
now, Joseph, the thought of ii already
onsoles me little. 1t will be such
elightful novelty"
1t was good thing for Mrs. Allies
rec that she expected visitors. But
fter the guests had departed her con.
ition was pitiable. Especially as no
etters had come.
Mr.. Allestree had gone away early on
Now it was Tuesday. She
ad managed to be patient over the