The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-02-13
When Love Was Young
and Grew Not Old.
d HE HAp no. the least ghame aboat

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~ HE HAD not the least shame about
telling her age On the contrary,
she was rather proud to do so.
1t was something TO be proud of.
Not that she was GA, but that at ga she
looked not a day over 4S, and a blooming
4S at that.
True, her hair was silver, but what a
waving wealth of silver! And 1t was not
sent to soften wrinkles either. She wore
as many of those ornaments as it is legit-
innate to wear at As, and no more. Oh, she
was certainly a wonderful woman for her
age, was Mrs. Josephine Allestree!
Quaint, indeed, she appeared, particu-
larly on a certain evening, standing in the
old square portico, with the sun shin
ing straight under the trees into her face.
The house ait her back was low and
Icing. 1t stood endwise to the lazy little
river that flowed at the foot of the alb
ruptly sloping lawn. On the other side.
at the end of a long, shady avenue, was
gate with an old-fashioned arch over it.
concealed by Wines.
1t was toward this gate that Mrs. Allies
tree looked leaning forward eagerly, like
the level sunbeams. She wore white
think of her daring to wear white! She
was watching for Joseph. He had gone
down to Stoneton-only mile distant-for
the post at 5 o'clock. That was two hours
ago, Joseph did love dearly to gossip
with the old farmers and shopkeepers, but
he really ought to remember dinner time.
But Joseph had not forgotten his dinner.
IL. An a,,1
his little gig rolled in, followed by three
enthusiastic dogs-a St. Bernard and Two
red settlers.
Mr.. Allestree, after embracing his wife
as If he had just returned from years
journey, went in with her to dinner, and
Mr.. Allestree was-but 1 will not describe
him; simply he was everything that the
husband of Mrs. AIlestree should have
been. Forty-two years had gone since
their marriage and in all that time they
had never been separated single day.
Dearest" said Mr.. Allestree as they
sat down, "I owe you am apology for my
hardness but it couldn't be helped. I sot
letter calling me away ON an important
matter, and 1 had to stop to attend TO
some things in the village must go inn
mediately-tomorrow.
"Oh, that Perley affair." she said, glanc-
ing over the page. But, Joseph, can't
you put it off? Remember, the Kennedys
are coming in the morning to stay over
Sunday"
Il can not, Henrietta, It's got to be at
tended to at once"
| But, Joseph, you can't go without me.
You know you never did such thing"
| 81 am afraid must do it this time"
ne replied, mournfully.
| They sat in silence for some minutes.
Twice Mrs Allestree wiped away a sly
tear with her napkin. At length, braYely
assuming a cheerful aspect she asked:
How long will you be gone?'
| II can't possibly reach London, accom-
pdsh all 1 want to and get home again
in less than 10 days"
Joseph, it will kill us both"
| "Oh, no, my DEAR" he laughed; 'It wont
quite do that At least, I hope not. 1t
will be very, very hard. But think, my
love, we were apart for five long years
once ON a time"
| "Ah, Joseph" with a sob in her voice,
''that was before we had ever lived to-
Egether. We only knew each other by
Eletter, you know"
And "a mighty comfort did we take out
of those same letters. Isn't 1t strange that
in two and forty years we should never
have had occasion to write to one an
bother? Not since you were Henrietta
EShower."
'It is a singular circumstance, - she re-
tplied. Yes, we can write. Do you know,
Joseph, the Thought of it already con-
soles me a little. 1t will be such a de-
ligIhtful novelty"
1t was a good thing for Mrs. Allestree
that she expected visitors. But after the
guests had departed her condition was pit
liable. Especially as no letter had come.
Mr.. Allestree had gone away early on
Saturday. Now it 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 the evening the same per-
formance was repeated.
On Tuesday Mrs. Allestree went herself
to Stonebon and delivered a severe Ice
ture to the postmaster upon the general
indifference of government officials, there
by greatly annoying the poor man.
Mr. Framwell began to dread the hours
of delivery. Twice a day, whatever the
weather, Mrs. Allestree presented keI
handsome, anxious face at the window.
When he handed out the post to hel
and she found not the letter she longed
for, an angry face it was that peered