Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-03-07

pii IL |SDlilS W llulIN nun, Vi
course, . answered Bell. 81 advise you
to fall to and begin to consider the
matter, rs Unc'e lothian requested
Think it over prayerfully and we'll, and
let the argument of the late 'Missus
Finch's gravestone' weigh in Mr..
Finch's favor
ITS all well enough for you to
laugh" said |, Indignantly; "but if
you were in my place, you'd think diff
ferently of it. How am | going to get
rid of the wretch ? What under the sun
possessed Uncle lothian to send him off
down here? l never was so provoked
in all my life, never p
"Ill tell you what I'll do, said Bell,
after a silence of minute or two.
:" He doesn't know how you look, and if
| were to pass myself off for you, he'd
never know the mistake. I'll be Susan
if you'll be Bell, and I'll get rid of Mr..
Finch for you"
" If You only would ~ cried |.
$" WILL" answered Bell, her eyes
sparkling with anticipated pleasure !;
I'm going to make Mr.. Finch think
that I'm deaf-deaf as post. Oh, my!
won't it be Jolly, though 2"
Bell leaned back in her chair, and
laughed till her sides ached.
/, Monday morning Mr.. Finch came.
We took good look at him from the
window as he came up the path He
was a little man, with red hair, and no
had evidently got on his best Sunday
clothes, and looked i'll at ease in conse-
quence. Perhaps his mission helped to
make him nervous.
From this time forth, as long as he
stays, I'm deaf, remember" said
Bell, warningly. I" shant be able to
hear anything short of a respectable
scream.
| went to the door.
'' Is this Miss Susan Spencer?" asked
Mr.. Finch, as he entered
Susan is in the sitting-room, I
answered "I'll introduce you. You
are Mr.. Finch, aren't you ?"
Yes m; Caleb Finch he respond
ed, so solemnly that l wanted to giggle.
We took him into the sitting-room
where Bell was
Susan said 1, in a loud voice,
g this is Mr.. Finch
81 don't hear what you say" said
Susan, turning her ear toward me.
"Speak a little louder, if you please.
"This is Mr.. Finch - screamed |. in
her ear. thought | must laugh, to see
how Mortified Mr. Finch looked.
"lm glad to see you, Mr. Finch, "
said Susan" with beaming smile.
Take chair-bring it close if you
please, because I'm slightly affected
with deafness. How are the children O.
taking a seat beside her.
Louder, if you please, said
Susan, presenting her ear.
Pretty well, y answered Mr.. Finch,
in fair war-whoop.
managed to keep my face turned the
other way, and had hard work to keep
from screaming.
6 was much touched at what Uncle
lothian wrote about your kindness to
your late wife, said "Srsan," with a
fond glance into Mr.. Finch's face.
What did she die of 2"
Congestion of the brain, answered
MIR. Finch, his voice about two octaves
higher than it's usual pitch.
81 didn't hear. said "Susan.' "a
tritie louder, Mr.. Finch.
Mr.. Finch repeated his reply in so
loud a tone that he got red in the face
with the exertion its utterance caused
him.
"Ah!"
"Susan comprehended at last.
els she ARRAYS SOP he asked, turn
ing to me, and wiping his face vigor-
ously with Il big red and yellow hand.
kcrchief.
"She isn't quite as deaf all the time"
| answered, demurely.
Pretty soon Mr.. Finch made another
attempt at conversation.
You have very pretty place here, "
he shouted.
Yes: groceries arc pretty dear, re-
sponded "Susan. '' You re right about
that, Mr.. Finch"
Pretty place, explained Mr.. Finch,
getting desperate. " Pretty place hcre!"
and he waved his hand toward the gar
den and grounds.
Yes, | know" answered ''Susan,"
mournfully " but it couldn't be helped,
| suppose
Mr.. Finch cast a despairing glance at
me. | had to leave the room. [ could
stand it no longer.
When | was safely outside the door l
laughed till ! could laugh no more l
could only chuckle in kind of faint imi-
tation of laugh. hadn't strength
enough lett for the genuine article.
AS | sat there | heard Mr.. Finch
shouting in his highest tones to
Susan" who always had to have
everything repeated to her. 1t wasn't
long before he began to get hoarse, for
she kept him busy. A dozen times,
while we We're eating dinner, / thought
L m"st laugh it was so comical to
see Susan, not muscle of her face
relaxing from its dignitied look, holding
out her ear for Mr.. Finch to repeat his
remarks in it. He couldn't have eaten
his dinner, if he had had the best of APP
petitcs.
All the afternoon "Susan kept him
sitting by her. | could see the poor
man, half tired out, casting furtive
glances at the clock.
At last he got up, and beckoned me
to come out into the hail.
g think I'll be goin' back" he
said, with sigh that indicated how
great his disappointment was. q come
down, ON your uncle's recommend, to
make some kind of a bargain with your
sister Susan he never told me a word
about her bein' so deaf.
cts an unfortunate atfiiction," l
said, feeling that he expected me to say