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

them. Once out q her sig; ne forget
forgot all the love and daily devotion OF
42 years.
By Saturday morning Mrs. Allestree
was ill-ill enough to go to bed. Jimmy
had to fetch both posts, and, after dellv-
ering in person the first one, which con-
sisted of papers only, he vowed to Molly
that he would not approach Mrs. Alies-
tree again while MIR. Allestree was
away.
All day Sunday Mrs. Ailestree lay 81
lent in d,srk chamber. Molly could not
get word from her, nor wssuld she eat.
It was almost restfufJo be so weak.
True, she was in despair. She had given
up all expectation cf seeing Joseph
again; but, compared with the bewll-
dering tossings of vain conjecture, her
present state was one Of quietuce and
peace.
But b. Monday morning she was suf-
fering torments once more. She felt that
if Jimmy returned without either Joseph
or a 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 ovoices
were heard below. She clutched her
heart and gasped. But presently door
opened and step came up the stairs.
It 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 assassinating
their mistress.
Didn't Jimmy tell you?" 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The women had withdrawn. and he
seated hims> if upon the bed.
.'Jcseph, you might have sent me one
little line"'
"Wh-what? dom quite comprehend.
A l:ne?''
eyes; it wouldn't have hurt you to
write line.
Henrietta, I wrote to you every day,
and sometimes twice day. y
They stared at each other.
'sBut I never got Il solitary letter, y
she said presently. 6 sent TO every de-
ivery-wcnt myself Until I became i'll.
MI. Framwell said there was nothing
from you. It nearly killed me. Joseph. :"
However, he muttered, they
couldn't have all miscarried-I-Ren-
rietta! have it. Wait; I'll be back IN
20 minutes, and the gentleman fairly
ran cut of the room.
He laughed all the way down stairs,
and she heard his ha, has between his
shouts fer Jimmy to bring back the trap.
In few minutes they ratified out of the
grounds, and within the time he men-
toned they rattled 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 i'll i circle
on the bed. There were IA Of them, and
every one was addressd to Miss Henrietta
Shower.
For short space nothing was said,
and then the two aged lovers began to
laugh, and they laughed until they cried.
Joseph" she said, sits very funny,
very, but twas almost the death Of me.
How did you come to do it?''
''Why, Henrietta, love, when once
got out Of your dear, familiar presence
the old days came back completely. You
were little Retta Shower, and''-
Mr.. Joseph Allestree blushed; he did
not often quote poetry
And our two and forty years
Seemed mist that rolled away.
-Pearson's Weekly.