The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-05-01

of a man on the premises. | suppose
my face showed my surprise, for
the old lady went on:
MY husband was obliged to go
to London for some business, but /
expect him back tomorrow-indeed
! am quite sure he will come that
day, for it is my birthday. OF
course / miss him so much when he
is away
You have no children to keep
you company" l said.
A slight blush rose to the old la
dy's cheek as she said NO with
little hesitancy of manner and
then walked into her house.
Perhaps her family has given
her trouble / thought to myself,
now driven to construct a fresh ro-
nance to account for the lines of
former care on my neighbor's brow.
A daughter who had left her home,
son who had disgraced his name
was some such domestic tragedy
locked in my neighbours heart3
Despite the threatening sunset,
the next day proved bright and
cloudless, and / set off on foot to
meet my expected guest, instead of
rumbling both to and from the sta
tion in the one decrepit fly which
the village boasted, and which duly
awaited the arrival of possible
fares at the station. AS l walked
down the lane heard steps behind
me and turned to see my neighbor.
She looked ten years younger, with
a bright light in her eyes and a pret-
ty faint color in her cheeks. Hap
piness beamed on her generally quiet
face.
II am going to the station to meet
the 3 o'clock train" she explained.
Edward will be sure to come by
that"
My sisters always say am "ab-
surdly romantic. " Certainly, though
l am an old maid myself, l still take
much interest in other folks love
stories-perhaps long ago l had one
of my own. And there is always
something inexpressibly touching,
to my way of thinking, in the faith
full love of an elderly pair, the abid-
ing affection between a Darby and
Joan which has withstood the chill
ing effects of age and time. looked
at my dear old lady, as flushed and
eager at the idea of meeting her
presumably elder) husband as any
young bride might have been to
greet a newly welded bridegroom
and reflected that hearts can keel
young if faces grow older.
II suppose you have been married
a long timer" hazarded. But Mrs.
Fraser's replies seemed fated to sur
prise me, for, to my great amaze
ment, she answered promptly:
Not very long ago only-about a
year"
About year, And surely my
neighbor must be so at least. Well,
one sometimes hears of elderly low
ers, sundered in youth, coming to-
gether in later life, and it has been
truly said, "The tenderest thing in
the world is an old love revived.
Assuredly this old lady was still
in love with the husband whom
she was now hurrying to meet,
checking herself, indeed, as she
noted that I could hardly keep pace
with her rapid steps and saying half
laughingly:
II ann walking too fast for you,
and | know we have plenty of time.
1t is very silly of me, but am SO
anxious to see my husband again,
although, of course, he cannot ar
rive before his train comes in.
Has he been away long2" asked.
A sudden shadow fell on my com
panion's face.
II scarcely know" she said
slowly. Il am never very good ut
counting time exactly. But he is
sure to be here this afternoon, she
continued, frightening again, for
he promised to be with me on my
birthday = today - without fail, "
and she walked on again so rapidly
that l could scarcely keep pace with
her.
The little local train duly dawdled
into the station somewhile after the
appointed time, and a few passen-
gers, among them my expected
guest, alighted cn the platform. But
Twas sorry to observe that my COM
panion was still standing solitary,
with the tears rising to her eyes. !
was busy collecting my niece's par
GELS or would have spoken to her,
and before ] could do so her old
servant entered the station.
Your master has never arrived,
Sarah, and he promised, said Mrs.
Fraser in a piteous tone.
We'll, it is no use waiting here
any longer now, ma am, said the
woman in a soothing tone, as one
would address a child. There's no
other train till tomorrow. have
the pony chaise outside, and you d
best drive home now and rest, be-
cause you know"-here she whis
pered something in Mrs. Fraser's
ear-and the old lady blushed again
opH co;l with a Iitf1a lo,1oh.