Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-10-03
performance was repeated.


lecture to the postmaster upon the gen
eral indifference of government officials,
thereby greatly annoying the poor nan.
Mr.. Framwell began to dread the
hours Of delivery. Twice a 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 ii was that peered in
at him, and a stern-albeit well bred
voice that demanded Of them to hunt
through every box, lest p%erchance he
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, nc
excuse for such neglect. To think that
this, their first separation in 50 many
years, should be unbridged by a world
She could not have the consolation of
writing TO him, for he had left no adj
dress, 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 ont Of her sight he forgot
forgot all the love and daily devotion Of
AZ years.
By Saturday morning Mrs. Allestree
was Hill enough to go to bed. Jimmy
had to fetch both posts, and, after deliv-
ering in person the first one, which con-
sisted Of papers only, he vowed to Molly
that he would not approach Mrs. Allies
tree again while Mr.. Allestree was
away.
All day Sunday Mrs. Allestree lay ST.
lent in a dark chamber. Molly could not
get d word from her, nor would she eat.
1t was almost restful to be so weak.
True, she was in despair. She had given
up all expectation Of seeing Joseph
again; but, compared with the bcwil-
dering tossings of vain conjecture, her
present state was one Of quietude and
peace.
But by Monday morning she was gaf-
/ IpIAlA AplAit4ltD UNIV IiOiAs gil0 Wv hAtAt
if Jimmy returned without either Joseph
or q 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 III bed.
She was whittier than her hair. No voices
were heard below. She clutched her
heart and gasped. But presently a 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 pill
lows.
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 ass~assinating
their mistress.
Didn't Jimmy tell youF' she muir
INJURED.
you know Jimmy eve tells any
thing. He did say you weren't well.
But have you been very i'll, dear?"
The women had V .thdrawn, and he
seated himself upon the bed.
Joseph, you might have sent me one
little Incl"
"Wh-what? I don't quite comprehend.
A liner"
"Yes; it wouldn't have hurt you to
write n line"
Henrietta, I wrote to you every day,
and sometimes twice a day"
They stared at each other.
"But l never got a solitary letter."
she said presently. II sent to every de-
livery-went myself until I became i'll.
Mr.. Framwell said there was nothing
from you. 1t nearly killed me, Joseph"
However" he muttered, ''they
couldn't have all decentralization
riettal I have it. Wait; I'll be back in
20 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 q few minutes they ratified out of the
grounds, and within the time he men
} toned they ratified back again.
Mr.. Allestree tore breathless up the
stairs, bursting boy fashion into his
wfe's room. He carried a package of
letters, which he spread out in a circle
on the bed. There were IA of them, and
every one WAS auurcSsu 10 MISS denrletld
Shower.
For a short space nothing was said,
D and then the two aged lovers began to
laugh, and they laughed until they cried.
l Joseph" she said, Its very funny,
Q very, but twas almost the death of me.
a How did you come to do it?"
"Why, Henrietta, love, when ] once
Q got out Of your dear, familiar presence
the old days came back completely. You
y We're little Retta Shower, and"-
Mr.. Joseph Allestree blushed; he die
not often quote poetry
= And our two-and- forty years
+ Seemed a mist that rolled away.
-Pearson's Weekly.
Bryan and the Farmers.
Philippe Republican.
AAAh