Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-08-28
A CONFUSION or TONGUES.
BY EDGAR FAwCETT.
THE WOMAN NARRATEs.

of breakfasttables right opposite her dear
old briehteyed face, almost as blooming
under its gray waves OF hair as the plump
mink peach / am about to excoriate.
"The idea" l rebuke, "of your fancy
ing that shall be bored here in this love-
~ spot for the next six weeks to come!
indeed, / enjoy every moment"
.But Whitebeach isn't Newport" cpl
prammatizes my hostess, with doubling
Smile. cit certainly was very good OF
YOU, Gladys, to give up Newport, and let
Eva 90 in your stead"
"Not at ALL" contradict, with sharp
stress. Aunt Ellen could only take one
of us: why should it not have been Eva?
had gone for two summers; Eva never.
Poor girl she deserves to see the whole
Inhabited globe from end to end If we
were rich, Mrs. Ramsay, how | would
make them feast her eyes for her with
every inch of Europe that she cared to
look at. throwing in as much of Asia and
Africa as she wanted, too"
"But she is never the least saddened by
her affliction," muses. Mrs. Ramsay.
"Last summer when she stayed with me,
her slim white fingers were never weary
of telegraphing to me her gay thoughts"
am about to answer, when one Of Mrs.
Ramsays maids enters the room with the
morning mail Each of us has letter.
Mine is from Eva. She is enjoying her
self unspeakably, and would be quite
happy but for the thought that l have
given up my Newport trip at the very last
moment. Just because | fancied that she
would relish going.
AS soon as I have read my letter, |
glance toward Mrs. Ramsay, and discover
that her face is wreathed in smiles, while
she levels fixed looks at her own letter
through the gold EYEGLASSES she has late
ly donned.
amusement" remark.
She promptly lays down her letter and
accomplishes the mellowest little trill of
laughter.
"And so will you be, Gladys, when you
hear 1t is from my nephew, Eric Pal
mer." Then she takes up the letter and
losses it toward me, with another mirth-
full roulade Read for yourself Iasked
him here, you know, never dreaming that
he would come"
Immediately read aloud the following
communication from Mrs. Ramsays rela-
tive:
New YORK. August g. 49,
MY DEAR AUNT EDITH: Rumor has for once
proved herself not to be an exceptional falsi-
fer. If YOU have heard that my engagement
is broken of, you have heard correctly. Last
week. Miss Brooke and declared dissolu-
ton of partnership, having previously OBJ
tanned the full consent of the contracting par
ties
''Don't scream with surprise when you read
that am coming to Whitebeach. Mother
declares that you will. But, believe me, your
invitation has set before me, so to speak, the
most aluring social prospectus of any plan
which can hit upon for spending the next
fortnight had meditated Maine; had pom
dered the Adirondacks; had considered Lake
Superior; but Whitebeach offers me, just at
present, greater charm than all. Viewed
from purely social point, perhaps / shall
prove about as enlivening to you as skull
on the parlor table would be, or chronic
weeper on the door-bell. Nevertheless, you
have brought me upon yourself; you have
caught me like cold; you shall have me like
the measles. / shall take you at your word,
and come.
"While my resolution was forming, mother
suddenly recollected that you have the poor
deaf and dumb Miss Garthe at present staying
with you, during her sisters absence. Mother
mentioned this fact, as though it might prove
an obstacle to my coming. Obstacle, for
sooth! Had she told me that the articulate-
speaking Miss Garthe was there, matters
would have reached an abrupt settlement
u
and a cynic, that consider, Just now land
don't know whether have not always con-
sidered likewise), the attributes Of deafness
and dumbness in youthful woman to be two
of Natures most engaging possible gifts
am sure that Miss Garthe and will be the
best Of friends. don't talk with my fingers,
but perhaps you will teach me how to make
digital request for the butter, or signalize cor
daily that it is q nice day. Let me beg OF
you, by-the-by, to prevent the young lady
from poking any tablets at me; don't want
to be impolite, and don't want to be cruel
hearted, but-well, had best pause here, or
you will rapidly denounce me as BOTH Ionly
mean that your nephew is no more scribe than
Pharisee, and that, il he has to be literary on
the subject of whether it is going to rain or
not, and make little essays about the pleasures
of saltwater bathing, his stay at Whitebeach
will narrowly miss being stupid.
"Pardon these condolences, and don't be
traitress enough to let Miss Garthe read them
can't help them; i am too permeated with
the sweet hope Of meeting dear, gentle,
pretty (mother says she is pretty fellow-visit-
or, tabletless as well as tongueless. A creature
who will come downstairs looking fresh and
happy in the morning, and not require to be
told that she looks either; beautiful, silent
enemy of nonsensical small-talk; q fair flesh
and blood exterminator of trivial firtations; a
divine veto upon reckless scandals; chaste
Jewel of womanhood set in golden silence.
What a glorious, gossipless, earthly paradise
this world would be were we all dcaf-mutes,
no more wordy than the trees, the flowers, the
birds, and the sunshine.
81 shall probably arrive at Whitebeach be-
tween five and six on Wednesday evening.
Till then, please believe me,
"Your nephew and friend.
"ERIc."
I finish my reading with flushed
cheeks and curled lip. "Really, Mrs.
Ramsay" / make prompt comment,
''your nephew has an elevated way Of re-
garding eur sex"
ibid you ever know such ludicrous
mistaken" ripples my hostess, each word
separate little laugh. II wrote to his
mother last week, you see, before your
plans were changed, that Eva was COM
ing"
stare at my peach, smileless as sphinx.
at is quite narrowing to think what a
weight of disappointment is is store for
Mn Palmer" / jerk forth, with frigid
irony. "There would truly be nothing
more than common mercy in telegraphing
him that your present visitor is cursed
with human speech"
"Pshaw, Gladys!' Mrs. Ramsay briskly
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