Daily camera., 1901-02-22
LOVE is EVER YOUNG,

She had not the least shame about tell.
ing her age; on the contrary, she was
rather proud to do so, it was something
to be proud of, not that she was Ga but
that at Gl she looked not a day over AS
and q blooming As at that.
True, her hair was silver, but what
waving wealth of silver! And it was
not sent to soften wrinkles, either; she
wore as many of these ornaments as is
legitimate to'wear at AS, and no more.
Oh, she was certainly a wonderful WON.
an for her age, was Mrs. Joseph Allies.
tree!
1t did not detract from the compare.
lively youthful appearance of Mrs. All.
Cstrec that her costumes always repre-
sented the height of fashion.
Quaint, indeed, she appeared, par.
ticuiarly on 4 certain evening, standing
in the old square portco, with the sur
shining straight under the trees int
her face.
The house at her back was low anG
long. 1t stood endwise to the lazy little
river that flowed ut 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 wooden
arch overit, concealed by vines.
1t was toward this gate that Mrs
|. Allestree looked, leaned forward eager,
ly, like a girl, one hand shading her eyes
from 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 five o'clock
That was two hours ago. Joseph die
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 din.
ncr. 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.. Allcstrce, after embracing his
wife as if he had just returned from
years journey, went in with her To din.
uCr, and Mr.. Allestree was. But will
not describe him: simply, hcwas every.
thing that the husband OF Mrs. Allies.
tree should have been. Forty-two years
had gone by since their marriage, and
in all that time they had never beer
separated single day.
Dearest" said Mr.. Allestree, as they
sat down, II owe you an apology foI
my tardiness, but it couldn't be helped
got letter calling me away on an i'm
! portant matter, and l had To stop II
| attend TO some things in the village. J
must go Immediately
"Oh, that Perley affair" she said
glancing over the page. But, Joseph
can't you put it off? Remember, tn,
Kennedys are coming in the morning
| TO stay over sunday
Il cannot, 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"
Il am afraid ! must do it this time
he replied, mournfully.
| They sat in silence for some min
| utcs. Twice Mrs. Allestree wiped away
ii sly tear with her napkin. At length
braveIy assuming cheerful aspect, sht
asked: How long will you be gomez
Il can't possibly reach London, ac
complish all | want to ard get home
again in less than ten days
Joseph, it will kill us both"
"Ah. no, my dear" he laughed, ''it
won't quite do that-at least, | hope
not. 1t will be hard, very hard. But
think, my love, we were apart for tivs
| long years once on time
"Ah. Joseph''-with sob in her
yoice-"that was before we had ever
lived together We only knew eaeli
other by letter. you know"
"And a mighty comfort did we take
out of those same letters. Isn't il
strange that in two and forty years We
should never have had occasion to write
to one another? Not since you Were
| Henrietta Shower
1T is singular circumstance" she
replied. Yes, we can write. Do You
know, Joseph, the thought of it already
q 10