Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-06-23

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 so many
years, should be unbridged by word!
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 out of her sight he forgot
forgot all the love and daily devotion of
AZ years.
By Saturday morning Mrs. Allestree
was ill-ill 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 dark chamber. Molly could not
get 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 Devil
dering tossings of vain conjecture, her
present state was one of quietude and
peace.
But by Monday morning she was suf-
fering torments 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 i'll bed
She was whittier than her hair. No voices
were heard below. She clutched her
heart and gasped. But presently door
opened and 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 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 ill, dear?"
The women had withdrawn, and he
seated himself upon the bed.
"Joseph, you might have sent me one
little line!"
"Wh-what? I don quite comprehend.
A line?'
eyes; it wouldn't have hurt you to
write line"
Henrietta, I wrote to you every day,
and sometimes twice day. "
They stared at each other.
"But I never got solitary letter, y
she said presently. II sent to every de.
livery-went myself until became i'll.
Mr.. Framwell said there was nothing
from you. 1t nearly killed me, Joseph. y
However, he muttered, "they
couldn't have all decentralization
rietta! 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 hi
shouts for Jimmy to bring back the trap
In few minutes they ratified out of the
grounds, and within the time he men
toned they ratified back again.
Mr.. Allestree tore breathless up thu
stairs, bursting boy fashion into hi
wfe's room. He carried a package o.
letters, which he spread out in circle
on the bed. There were ID of them, anG
every one was ADDRESSED to Miss Henrietta
Shower.
For short space nothing was said,
and then the two aged lovers began tc
laugh, and they laughed until they cried
"Joseph," she said, "it's very funny
very, but it was almost the death of me-
How did you come to do it?'
"Why, Henrietta, love, when I onc'
got out of your dear, familiar presence
the old days came back completely You
were little Retta Shower, and'-
Mr.. Joseph Allestree blushed; he die
not often quote poetry
And our two. and forty years
Seemed mist that rolled away.
-Pearson's Weekly.