Show atal A tal 1 l bir spencer was an attorney with something of a fortuno and of tho ago of civo nud thirty tant ago when ainu is nt liis host physically and nature has tilled out his ir imo with tho necessary padding of flesh without obesity when tho wrinkle arc not in his neck nor gray hairs in his roust giclio although at that nac lo 10 is nut to lo 10 vall set in liis ways the past winter had been one oc unusually lard work lut not without pecuniary return so that when ho was seriously with paralysis of tho throat and upon consulting an eminent physician as told that rest and absolute wore his only hope he felt that bo had earned his vacation but at a rather high price iio was ordered to make no vocal sound as his worn out muscles acio to bo let entirely alono to for at least months it ho had anything to say it must bo dono in writing but not a word on pain of butiro loss of speech As abo summer vacation was at hand ho selected a homo in tho country as his cailo for when friends ono must talk tho choice was a wio one for tho farmer and his wife wore quiet intelligent people choso whoso children were all married and in homes of their own the house was pleasantly situated near a rifer so thoro baj plenty of fishing and boating to ii man so long deprived of sport of this kind was a boyish zest in ing it for difo had not had play in it fur him but had been made up of work in his struggle for a in life he had bacomo rather cynical especially ally EO about women as ho know practically nothing about them ilia theories about them were almost heathenish but flioy only theories ho disliked tho frux on what is vaguely called general principles and them ODO and all on his arrival lie was given tho choice of two rooms one large abo other somewhat Emall cr amo to his manhood ho look tho biggot moro room for boots to stand in and to scatter ames ind such like manly belongings ho had been pleasantly established willi liis books ashing rods cigars and all those things seem necessary to a man who is reaching that period of bachelorhood elo called continued liis coming all the arrangements for liis stay biad been made by letter and on liis arrival tablets presented with the roi inest written to ho to his room made the good lady of alio llio lionso suppose ho was float and dumb was just to liis mind for ho did not want to bo bored with tho comans womans curiosity if he made an explanation lio would have to answer questions it he did not it would bo natural for her to como to the conclusion alio bad As alio llio days of july became hotter and alic fishing began to pall alio most books had been read bo began to weary of his enforced silence and longed for something to break tho monotony isoford lung ho lidd it one day mr aroy broo droo up to the gate froni diio station a trunk in tho wagon and a young woman on tho scat benido him when mr spencer looked out it was not with a smiling countenance but rather a cross one for his seclusion would be intruded on nevertheless ho watched tho process of alighting and removing tho heavy trunk with interest bored people watch anything that is something new lie about scrawny as tho young woman was helped down and returned to his pipe laura hail como to mr greys to recuperate after a winter nt teaching vocal music in tho public schools of tho samo city of mr spencer was a resident and strange as it may seem for tho same thing her boico had bacomo so impaired with overwork that she was with tho total losa of it her doctor had commanded entire through alio summer plenty of fresh air and aholo boino food as the only means of cure the poor girl could seo no way to accomplish com ali but sho resolved to throw on tho ol 01 tho groag ns n s aira grey ivam n tiro of her mother explaining tho whole situation they being good charitable people took lier in for the least possible pay for sho refused to como unless she acro permitted to pay something however emall abo amount air spencer went down to tea in a frame of mind wishing that that woman had not intruded on ins domain but alica ho saw how tired worn and spiritless tho obnoxious pcr soa looked ho somewhat and went through an introduction written on the tablets willi ns much gracious ns as ho could commend lie noticed miss only answered remarks by a movement of the bead and heard mrs grey in her way all about his own aca f and dumb poor tiling not a bit of trouble but bo does dreadfully ladira was given the little room rejected by him and was as guiot a neighbor as a man could fisli A man of mr spencers could not bo expected to lako much in a neighbor the only thing eliat struck him was that ahe seemed to bo that anomaly a woman who could hold bur tongue ho aavo her but little of his thought merely bowed w hen passing on the stairway or in the ball for some time sho moved about the bodao listlessly with a tired worn look to her twenty four icara but w ith good food fresh air ami roat the began in a tow to foul tho ibo ami her slon changed to a brighter rested ono winch nt least mado her pleasant to look at tho only tiling that puzzled mr spencer was lio never beard her boico ho had heard sirs grey hold ion conversations with glicr on many subjects of domestic economy once or bo himself had bacu alio topic ot conversation but not ono word in reply did ho hear mis laydo say sho surely must havo said something for MM grey said laura you are too hard on leini ho an old man about thirty five and not so selfish as yon may think if wo only knew him and my dear lie cant lako the sanni into arst in that a mail who doity coald ive no bonu ho would lend you any of his hooks if hu knew you wanted elium tharo was a coply to this which lie did not catch for it brought a laugh and reply from mrs grey who said well it may be as spend nil vou say when men chinkin g and working for them colvea forget that others may suffer for what they havo in abundance and think nothing of it not long at una conversation look place mr spencer starl cil fora long day on the river equipped with fishing rods and lunch basket in tho evening as iiii wis returning home yet two miles from st rowing leisurely lio saw miss walking along iho liver bank stopping now and to look about bior ho pulled to alio aliory ami was written will 3 not row homo miss 1 I dr alio rest of alm way you 1001 warm and tiled sho answered by writing 1 I will bo glad of a cliance to go so pleasantly I 1 leavo lost my way I 1 think with his assistance s ho got in As sho sit drawing her canil through the water ho got ft good look at her looks were all ho got for nol a word was exchanged during the ride she thinks mo deaf and dumb liCE Pid to hamid and I 1 shall not undeceive her but await further developments sho pointed to tho sunset nodded her acad and smiled to which ho answered ia the samo way various ob of interest waru discussed in chii silent manner so that when lio c ime to alio mooring place he concluded thai it was pleasant to have someone na a companion after this they acro on terms so that when camo their ac i had progressed rapidly thi oiin tho medium of tho tablets on miss returning to glicr school lie could hardly persuade himself that ho should miss ono of the obnoxious sc so much ho considered it rather strange that sho had never told him in anny of dialogues chero her homo was sho biad not done so because lie had never asked but said to herself if ho cared to know lie would ask I 1 will not boico my on any one when slie went neither know where the home of tho other was and the parted as they supposed to never sec each other again alio returned to her school rested and restored he stayed until alio last of october alien ho followed and as the physician had said had entirely recovered afternoon alio matinee was olivette and as ho was a little out of spirits the natural mcclin ol 01 men without family tica on holidays mr spencer to go after being shown to his oat ho illy looked avor tho house but saw no ac tint behind hijii lie heard a soft unfamiliar voice sav sue it is lie ahu asked sue chy mr spencer the deaf and dumb who was so kind to mo lost chit how strange ho should come to an opera when ho cant hear 0 not at all said the giddy anc 1 l should it would bo end of fun to seo thorn all prancing about iho stage rolling their wringing their hands and standing on lip too to catch the high notes and all tho timo hear nothing and suo bertt oil into a iff glo at tho absurdity of it sue said laura it is heartless to laughans laug hand talk so about ones 0 pshaw he havo an air of very deep tion suo answered lio looks well fed his ahin Is getting double ilo must be a very old bachelor I 1 do wish ho would turn around so I 1 could see him better at this point mr spencer did turn around anil aavo miss suo a look which made her ask in a whisper Is ho really deaf laura ilo looked wonderfully knowing liko ho arlit have guilty conscience said laura I 1 say ho never spoke a word all summer and ho is as acif as a sphinx I 1 do wonder if ho will remember me men of his ao and opinions do lovo to snub us and I 1 would not bo surprised that ho did not recognize mo busl then tho curtain wont up and as they could abord a treat so rarely they listened and no more was fraid of mr spencer at alio celoso mr spencer was struggling with ats overcoat the two girls mado exit but what was their dismay to find it ramm and they with no protection from it and no to hire a cab 0 what shall wo do said suo our clothes will bo ruined just then a boico behind them said miss allow me to you and our friend to a the gerh looked at each other in con but said never a word and before hoy could it seated in a carriage with mr Spon cir on posidio laura looked down in her lip feao out tho but truo tu her character she saw alic of ohp situation and after vainly struer to control herself burst into a peal af laughter which only added to kinra s distress EO much that mr spencer loaned across and said 1 I will caplain cv plain MIM if you will give mo tho opportunity after leaving suo at her beardin place mr spencer began hid explanation winch was so long eliat ho followed aura in to imah it after givin her iho facts of tho caso ho said as ow I 1 hope yon will forgive mo for any I 1 havo caused you saul laura 1 I dont know how much havo to forgive until I 1 think it over not much he fur as t may ecca I 1 heird your aico until this afternoon so you havo said nothing I 1 have hoard although I 1 knew I 1 was under discussion biorn mrs greys replies I 1 uso 1 to think it strange too that sho scorned to do all tho talking 0 that is easily ox pla ined said laura my boico wore out and I 1 was compelled to quit talking but not writing 1 am glad now you did not hear me for somo of my remarks were as I 1 bow unkind und uncharitable to say iho least 1 I attributed your silence to tho fact that vou supposed me deaf and as I 1 esver happened to bu with you and MM gruy very much nuver that wo a pair of mutes daiil mr spencer they havo sinco couo into Dart nor hip but ejot 5 silent ono cc araia |