Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-06-09
LOVE rs EVER YOUNG.

liz II LIZ II LII Il " O4t0s
She had not tho least shame about
telling her age. On the contrary, she
was rather proud to doso. Itwas some
thing to be proud of. Not that she was
81, but that at 81 she looked not day
over 4s, and blooming 4S at that.
True, her hair was silver, but what a
waving wealth of siIverl 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 wonder
full woman for her age, was Mrs Joseph
Allestreel
1t did not detract from the compare
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. 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 a long. shady av-
enue, was a gate with an old fashioned
wooden arch over it, concealed by vines.
1t 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.
L. Il n
mile distant-for the post at 8 O'Clock.
That was two hours ago. Joseph did
love dearly TO gossip with the old farm
ers 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 din
ner, and Mr.. Allestree was-but 1 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
a single day.
dearest, " said Mr.. Allestree as they
sat down, "I 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 1 had to stop to at
tend to some things in the village.
must go Immediately
''Oh, that Perley affair."" she said,
glancing over the page. s'But, Joseph,
can't you put it of? Remember the
Kennedys are coming in the morning to
stay over Sunday"
''I 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 a
thing.
''I am afraid I must do it this time. !"
he replied mournfully.
They sat in silence for some minutes.
Twice Mrs. Allestree wiped away sly
tear with her napkin. At length, brave
ly assuming cheerful aspect, she ask
ed, "How long viii you be gone?"
ST can't possibly reach London, ac-
complish all 1 want to and get home
again in less than ten days.
''Joseph, it will kill us BOTH
t'Ah, no, my DEAR" he laughed; SIT
won't quite do that-at least hope not.
1t will be hard, very hard But think,
my love, we were apart for five long
years once on time. I"
'.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"
''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"
cit Is singular circumstance, she
replied eyes, we can write. Do you
know, Joseph, the thought Of it already
consoles me a little. 1t will be such a
delightful novelty"
Ifwas good thing for Mrs Allies
tree that she expected visitors. But
after the guests had departed her condi-
tion was pitiable. Especially as no let
ter had come.
MIR. 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 it
There were only two deliveries in
the "a hours. and at evening the same
performance was repeated.
On Tuesday Mrs. AIlestree went her
self TO Stoneton and delivered a severe
lecture to the postmaster upon the gem
eral indifference of government officials,
thereby greatly annoying the poor man
Mr.. FramweH 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 h1er.
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 he
had made some error in distributing.