Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-02-11

senleu ner nanuSOmei anxious lace at
the window.
When he handed out the post to her
and she found not the letter she longed
for, an angry face it was that peered
IN at him, and n stern-albeit well
bred-voice that demanded of him to
hunt through every box, lest perchance
he had made somo error in distribut-
ing.
The deserted, neglected wife must
blame somebody, nad 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 thi nix
that this, their first separation in SO
many years, should be unLridged by o
word
She could not have the consolation
OF writing to him, for he had left no
address, there being an uncer tainty
about the very part of London in
which that troublesome Perley was
was living.
1t was the way of men, and he, it
seems, was not better than the
rest of them. Once out of her sight
he forgot-forgot all the love and
daily devotion OF forty-two years.
By Saturday morning Mrs. Allestree
was Ill-ill enough to go to bed.
Jimmy had to fetch both posts, and,
after delivering in person the first
one, he vowed to Molly that he would
not approach Mrs. Allestree again
while Mr.. Allestree was away.
All day Sunday Mrs. Allestree lay
silent 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 bewildering tossings of vain
conjecture, her present state was one
of quietude and peace.
suffering torments once more. She
felt that ii 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
in bed. She was whittier than her hair.
No voices were heard below. She
cIutched 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 pillows.
"My dear Henrietta, what's all
this?' He looked around almost ac
cusingly 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 we'll.
But have you been very i'll, dear?"
! The women had withdrawn, and he
seated himself upon the bed.
'Joseph, you might have sent me
one little line |"
"Wh-whatP 1 don't quite compre,
hend. A Incl"
eyes, it wouldn't have hurt you to
write line"
iehIiet'a' "rote 10 you ever
day, and sometimes twice day."
They stared at each other.
3 "But never got solitary letter, ,
she said presently. 81 sent to every
delivery-went myself until became
; ill. Mr.. Framwell said there was
| nothing from you. 1t nearly killed
me, Joseph"
o However," he muttered, "they
couldn't have all miscarried-T-Hen
r riettal have it Wait; I'll be bach
r IN twenty minutes" and the gentle
b man fairly ran out CT the room.
He laughed all the way down stairs
e aud she heard his ha, ha, has between
t his shouts for Jimmy to bring bacl
e the trap. In few minutes they rat
0 tied out OF the grounds, and withir
u the time mentioned they ratified bacl
again.
, Mr.. Allestree tore breathless up the
o stairs, bursting boy fashion into hi
t wife's room. He carried package O
/ letters, which he spread out in cir
Gle on the bed. There were fourteen
l. of them, and every one was addressed
t to Miss Henrietta Shower.
: For short space nothing was said
o and then the two aged lovers began t.
laugh, and they laughed until the.
v cried.
;. "Joseph," she said. cts very funny
r very, but was almost the death of IN c
Z, How did you come to do it?"
n "WhY, Henrietta, love, when one
}. got out OF your.dear, familiar presence