The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-12-02
LOVE IS EVER YOUNG.

was rather proud to doso. ltwas some
thing to be proud Of. Not that she was
81, but that at "a 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 48, and no
more. Oh, she was certainly wonder
full woman for her age, was Mrs. Joseph
Allesree!
1t did not detract from the compara-
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 at her back was low and
long. It stood endwise to the lazy little
river that flowed at the foot of tie
abruptly sloping lawn On the other
side, at the end Of a long, shady av-
enue, was gate with an old fashioned
wooden arch over it, concealed by vines
It 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 gene 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 cid farm
ers and shcpkeepers, but he really ought
to remember dinner time.
But Joseph had not forgotten his
dinner. At this very minute the gate
>epened and his little gig rolled in fcl.
lowed by three enthusiastic dcgs-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 IN all
that time they had never been separated
q single day.
Dearest, said Mr.. Allestree as they
sat down, 81 owe you an apology for my
tardiness, but it couldn't be helped. ]
GOT 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.' -
s.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
attended to at once
'.But, Joseph, you can't go without
me. You know you never did such
thing"
ssI am afraid I 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 a cheerful aspect, she ask
ed, ''How long will you be gomez"
ST can't possibly reach London, &C
complish all want to and get home
again in less than ten days. T"
"Joseph, it will kill Us BOTH
9'Ah, no, my DEAR" he laughed; sit
won't quite do that-at least hope not.
It will be hard, very hard. But think,
my love, we were apart for five long
years once on time. -
s'Ah, Joseph, with sob in her voice,
''that was before we had ever lived to-.
gether. We only knew each other by let
ter, you know
s'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
another? Not since you were Henrietta
Shower"
ssIt is singular circumstance, she
replied eyes, we can write. Do you
know, Joseph, the thought of it already
consoles me a little It will be such u
delightful novelty"
It was a good thing for Mrs. Allies
tree that she expected visitors. But
after the guests had departed her condi-
ton 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 it.
There were only two deliveries il
the "a hours, and at evening the same
performance was repeated.
On Tuesday Mrs. Allestree went her
self to Stoneton and delivered severe
lecture to the postmaster upon the gen
eral Indifference Of. government officials.
The deserted, neglected wife must
blame somebody, and she would not
blame her husband. She did not at first