Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-07-09

- Sue was Idlucl pLOuu " w SO' -
was something to be proud Of Not that
she was "a, but that at GA she looked
not day over 4S, and blooming IS
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 4S, and no more.
Oh, she was certainly a wonderful
woman for her age, was Mrs. Joseph
Alestree.
Quaint, indeed, she appeared, partic-
ularly on a certain evening, standing in
the old square pOrtlco, 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 ave-
nue., was a gate with an old-fashioned
wooden arch over 1t, concealed by
vines.
1t was toward this gate that Mrs.
Allestree looked, leaning forward eag-
eny, 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 farmers 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 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 marriage
and in 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 tardiness, but it couldn't be helped.
/ got letter calling me away on an
important matter, and had to stop to
attend to some things in the village. /
must go immedlately-to-morrow."
"Oh, that Perley affair" she said,
Slancing 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
attended to at once"
But, Joseph, yon can't go without |
ME. You know you never did such a
thing"
81 am afraid l must do so this time"
he replied mournfully.
They sat in silence for some minutes.
Iwlce Mrs. Allestree wiped away sly
tear with her napkin. At length, brave
ly assuming cheerful aspect, she ask
I'd: How long will you be gomez"
81 can't possibly reach London. ac-
all | want to and get home
again in less than ten days"
Joseph, 1t will kill lis both"
"Ah, no, my dear" he laughed: lit
won't quite do that. At least, hope
not. 1t will be very, 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
letter, you know"
"And a mighty comfort did we take |
out of those same letters Isn't II |
strange that in two and forty years we
should never have had occasion to
write to one another? Not since you
were Henrietta Shower"
at Is singular circumstance, she |
replied. "Yes, we can write. Do YOU
know, Joseph, the thought Of It already |
consoles me little. 1t will be such |
4 delightful novelty"
IL was good thing for Mrs. Allcstree |
that she expected visitors. But after
the guests had departed her condition
was pitiable. Especially as no letter
had come.
Mr.. Allestree had gone away early on
Saturday. Now 1t 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 Il.
There We're only two deliveries in the
twenty hours, and at the evening
the same performance was repeated.
On Tuesday Mrs. Allcstree went her
self to Stoneton and delivered severe
lecture to the postmaster upon the gen.
eral Indifference OF government OIL.