mutual wish to visit St. Maryâs Church, where she especially wanted to place flowers on her fatherâs grave. âArthur wished to sit on the bench under the old yew tree where we fell in love.â She then opened her handbag to show me a sprig of lavender which she said Arthur had picked just as he had done all those years ago. She said she was so pleased that I had accepted the silver tray with all the memories contained in it and listened to her story. At that moment the doorbell rang. Looking at her watch, she said, âRight on time that will be Arthur, you must meet him.â Arthur was just as she had described him. He warmly shook my hand telling me how pleased Amelia had been when I said I would be pleased to accept the silver tray.
âDo you realise how long weâve been sitting here?â She asked. âYes,â I replied, âmost of the day; but I feel privileged and moved listening to your storyâ. As I took my leave of them I said, âMay I thank you, Mrs. Arthur Halfpenny, for the silver trayâ. I could see the delight in her face by addressing her as Mrs. Arthur Halfpenny. We shook hands and I wished them well. We were never to meet again but about a year later I received a letter from her with the sad news that Arthur had died. She said it was not unexpected and that she was getting wonderful support from her daughter. She made the observation in the letter that, in most relationships, people meet and get engaged, usually for a short period, then marry for the rest of their lives. In her case she felt that it was different, her marriage, although of short duration in this world, would restart when she was together again with Arthur in the next life. She quoted with some license the words that Shakespeare gave Cleopatra, âI have immortal longings in me; methinks I hear my Husband callâ.
Some months later I received a letter from Arthurâs daughter Amelia giving me the sad news of the death of her step-mother. She also told me that they rest together in consecrated ground, this being the last wish of her father. She also enclosed a newspaper cutting from The Daily Telegraph. Recording the passing of: âMrs. Arthur Halfpenny née Stevenson, loving wife and Motherâ.
âDo you realise how long weâve been sitting here?â She asked. âYes,â I replied, âmost of the day; but I feel privileged and moved listening to your storyâ. As I took my leave of them I said, âMay I thank you, Mrs. Arthur Halfpenny, for the silver trayâ. I could see the delight in her face by addressing her as Mrs. Arthur Halfpenny. We shook hands and I wished them well. We were never to meet again but about a year later I received a letter from her with the sad news that Arthur had died. She said it was not unexpected and that she was getting wonderful support from her daughter. She made the observation in the letter that, in most relationships, people meet and get engaged, usually for a short period, then marry for the rest of their lives. In her case she felt that it was different, her marriage, although of short duration in this world, would restart when she was together again with Arthur in the next life. She quoted with some license the words that Shakespeare gave Cleopatra, âI have immortal longings in me; methinks I hear my Husband callâ.
Some months later I received a letter from Arthurâs daughter Amelia giving me the sad news of the death of her step-mother. She also told me that they rest together in consecrated ground, this being the last wish of her father. She also enclosed a newspaper cutting from The Daily Telegraph. Recording the passing of: âMrs. Arthur Halfpenny née Stevenson, loving wife and Motherâ.
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