The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-12-05
The Deaf Musician.

The foregoing title was the inscrip-
tion read in antique characters upon
the tarnished door-plate as / rang the
bell.
simultaneously with the faint tiukle
III the basement there arose a weird
noise, half shrek, half laugh, that
never could have proceeded from any
human Ips-almost fiendish in its first
wild fierceness, and then gradually dying
away in accents of despairing piteous-
ness.
! started back myoluntarily, and was
still standing confused and bewildered
when young girl opened the door, and
as l asked to see Mr.. Ballendrant [
could not keep my eyes from scanning
her countenanee, which struck me as
being the fairest and most expressive /
had ever seen.
Not of the fiorid type of beauty. No
golden hair and melting azure eyes.
Hair of rich dark brown, around q
broad white brow; eyes of a deep, darl
gray true womanly eyes, eloquent t.
those who could read them Alright, with
story of mingled strength OF mind AMI
faithful love.
Her form small and delicate, yet with
a suppleness that told of health while
all her features were regular and her
teeth pearly white. Yet there was some.
thing in her face, with all its delicate
beauty, that told roses had not always
bloomed through the summer of her
youth.
I could not help noticing the troubled
expression, almost losk of pain, that
swept over hor features as | spoke, ana
/ fastened to explain that [ had letter
of introduction from professor of the
college where | had studied, stating |
wished to take some lessons in music,
and thinking he might be disposed to
instruct me.
Again the troubled look intensified if
anything. She did not reply, however,
but led the way into desolate little par
lor, and asking me to be seated, went
out, closing the door after her.
/ looked around the dreary, cheerless
room, and out of the window on the not
enlivening prospect of backyard closed
around by the rear of dingy brick build
ings, and thought what joyless place
for one so young and fair to have to live
in. Then my mind reverted to the weird
noise I had heard, and wondered what
it could be.
As was thinking the door opened,
and toll man with, long, gray hair and
flowing beard entered, accompanied by
his daughter. His figure was much
stopped at the shoulders, and his once
strikingly handsome face was crossed by
many wrinkle, and, moreover, bore
most peculiar expression, as though he
constantly strove to catch some far-off
sound.
Miss Ballendrant's words explained
il.
"Papa has lately had the bitter mis-
fortune to lose his powers Of hearing"
she said. "Indeed, he has become to-
tally deaf, and You will have to COM
your thoughts to him in writ
ing"
He seemed to know what she was say
ing.
YES" he said, "my hearing is be-
coming weakened, and I shall trouble
you to write anything you wish to say,
or let my little girl do it for you"
Miss Ballendrant turned her eyes upon
him with fond expression, and, through
the medium of small slate which hung
at her waist, let her father know That as
I had studied before it was principally
practice upon the piano usder a COM
petent instructor I wished, and he fixed
the time for the first lesson on the fol-
lowing day.
was on my way to the door when
Miss Ballendrant very nervously spoke
"I should have-indeed | meant to
have told you that--papa is often unwell
and, perhaps, il you do not object
shall have sometimes to take his place.
boya M douht NV face showed the