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

/
or that the postmaster had not over.
| looked it.
There were only two deliveries in the
twenty-four hours, and at evening the
same performance was repeated
On Tuesday Mrs. Allestree went her.
self to Stoneton and delivered a severe
lecture to the postmaster upon the
general indifference of government Off.
Gals, thereby greatly annoying the
| poor man.
Mr.. Framwell began to dread the
hours of delivery. Twice day. what.
ever the weather, Mrs. Allestree pre-
sented her handsome, anxious face at
the window.
When he handed out the post to her.
and she found not the letter she longed
for, an angry face it was that peered in
at him, and stern-albeit well-bred-
voice that demanded of them to hunt
through every box, lest perchance be
had made some error in distributing.
The deserted, neglected wife must
blame somebody, and she would not
blame her husband. She did not at
first even dream of blaming Joseph.
by the middle of the week her whole
mood changed. She felt hurt, deeply
hurt. There seemed to be no reason,
no excuse for such neglect. To think
that this, their first separation in
80 many years, should be unbridged by
world
She could not have the consolation
OF writing to him, for he had left no
address. there being an uncertainty
about the very part of London in
which that troublesome Perley was
living.
1t was the way of men, and he. it
seems, was no better than the rest of
them. Once out of her sight he forgot
forgot all the love and daily devotion
OF forty-two years.
BY Saturday morning Mrs. Allestree
was ill-ill enough to go to bed.
Jimmy had TO fetch both posts, and,
after delivering in person the first one,
which consisted of papers only, he
vowed to Molly that he would not ap-
proach Mrs. Allestree again while Mr.,
Allestree was away.
All day Sunday Mrs. Allestree Law
silent in dark chamber. Molly could
not get word from her, nor would she
eat.
1t was almost restful to be 80 weak.
True, she was in despair. She had
given up all expectation of seeing
Joseph again; but, compared with the
bewildering tossings of vain conjecture,
her present state was one of quietude
and peace.
But by Monday morning she was suf-
fering tormepts once more. She felt
that if Jimmy returned without either
Joseph or letter she would surely die.
And indeed she nearly died as it was.
When the wheels sounded again
upon the gravel, Mrs. Allestree sat up
in bed. She was whittier than her hair.
No voices were heard below. She
clutched her heart and gasped. But
presently door opened and a step
came up the stairs. 1t was the step of
Joseph. AS he entered the room she
fell back among the pillows.
My dear Henrietta, what's all this?"
He looked round almost accusingly
upon the two frightened women as if
he had caught them in the act of as
sassinating their mistress.
Didn't Jimmy tell your" she MUIR
INJURED.
"You know Jimmy never tells any
thing. He did say you weren't well.
But have you been very i'll, dear?"
The two women had withdrawn, and
he seated himself upon the bed.
" Joseph, you might have sent me
one little line!"
"Wh-what? l don't quite compre-
bend. A line?"
Yes; it wouldn't have hurt you to
write line"
Henrietta, 1 wrote to you every
day, and sometimes twice day."
They stared at each other.
"But never got solitary letter."
she said presently. 81 sent to every
ACHIEVEMENT myself until / became
i'll. Mr.. Framwell said there was moth
ing from you. 1t nearly killed me, Jo-
seph."
However" he muttered, "they
couldn't have all scarried-I-Henri-
eta! have it. Wait; I'll be back in
twenty minutes" and the gentleman
fairly ran out of the room.
He laughed all the way down stairs,
and she heard his ha has between his
shouts for Jimmy to bring back the
trap. In few minutes they ratified
out OF the grounds, and within the time
he mentioned they ratified back again.
Mr.. Allestree tore breathless up the
stairs, bursting boy fashion into his
Wlte's room. he carried package of
etters, which he spread out in circle
On the bed. There were fourteen of
hem, and every one was addressed to
Miss Henrietta Shower.
For short space nothing was said,
md then the two aged lovers began to
augh, and they laughed until they
,ried.
Joseph" she said, "it's very
unpy, very, but it was almost the
leath of me. How did you come to do
t?"
Why, Henrietta, when l once got
'ut of your dear, familiar presence the
I'D days came back completely. You
we're little Retta Shower, and -
Mr.. Joseph Allestree blushed; he
i'd not often quote poetry
And our two-and-forty years
Seemed mist that rolled away.
-PearsOn's Weeklv