Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-09-12

the keeneSS OF sight AMI aStuteness that
| characterizes the discerning city nraiA,
| from dry goods salesman up To n high
| official Of an insurance company, he
touched the fated John upon the arm auS
pointed TO card upon the'wali on which
the legend ran thus, "No beggsrs, ped
dlers or book agents allowed to pursue
! their. r.avocations here" II was some time
! before John or his wife could comprehend
! the connecting link between themselves
and that card; but when, with the mild
assistance OF the official dignitary, il
! dawned upon them that John was taken,
| for n book agent, Mrs. Benton turned,
purple with rage, and in explaining their
business there lid not spare the feelings
! OF the wretch who had given another
! sting to her wounded pride. But John
was disposed 10 laugh II on, and still fur
ther added to the confusion OF those pres
ent by transacting his business in gooi
audible English.
1t remains 10 this day a mystery 10 the
unfortunate dry goods clerk rs we'll as Ia
llt pAu>Ntd stNItNaIl NHdN tV"N
ducc couple 10 converse together on y
slate who could use such forciblo and ia
telligbie language to others.
After their unfortunate experience in
the city the unhappy pair began Ia
weaken little in their resolution. Not
only were their mutual interests suffering
in various ways by reason of this very
! imperfect means of communication, but ~
| their love for one another was so strong
and genuine, in spite of the foolish em'
barge they had put upon their speech,
they chafcd under tho irksome restraint
| of protracicd silence. While they were
both revolving Ia their minds plans that
might lead 10 a way ont of the difficulty,
fate came to their rescue aud saved them
| from themselves, though in an uncXpect-
cd and painful way. ID I'd
Upon the anniversary ot their silence
John Benton and Teddy were busy in the
| hay field aud Is a storm was threatening.
Mrs. Benton aud Maggie came 10 the res
cue with their rakes. \ large load was
4 bu bIN NAnbll, si1N hilS.
! gle volunteered to arrange the hay upon
the cart rs John threw, it up 10 them.
| John had Just started TO lead the horses Ia
another part OF tho field, when, on look
ing up at tile load, he saw his wife still
standing. lie motioneJ TO her TO sit down.
but she failed to notice his signal nhd the
| horses started; at the same time john
saw her lunge backward and slide, head
! foremost. from the load. Before lac could
| stop the team and get To her she had
struck the ground upon her head. With
a faint gasp, and with n semi-conscious
but daxod cry, she said: "Don't you ever
speak,"
"IIush." said the scared man; "for
Gods sake, Mary, don't talk that way
now" ...
In another moment She lay unconscious
in his trembling arms, pale aud still az
death.
"Oh" exclaimed tho unhappy man,
III had only scrcame,: TO her TO sit down
instead of trusting Ia that conionndcd
pantomime. pcrhap. ii would not have
Happened"
Taking her mp tendcrly in his strong
arms, he carries. her to the house, aud all
the way into her now deaf ears hc poured
out his love and lamentations; his tongue
was lOoseneJ, aud seemed 10 be trying 10
make mp for lost time. And rs lac bathcd
her head, and chafcd her hands, and tried
to kiss back her color and 10 coax into
action that loug-slcnt voice, Ic moancd:
"What would. not give now to hear her
talk TO me again! II would DO bliss Ia
hear her scold even. Perhaps perhaps,
and he shuddcrrd NJ bc said u, "sho nlay
never speak again"
The new-mown hay threatened by the
coming storm was nothing to him now.
lie neither knew nor cared whether tho
sky was black or blue. All was black
about him, anil there was only one object
that he could see. Eyeu Teddy, who had
shared his confidence, and Maggie, who
had been the solace OF his poor wife dur
ing the dull, blank year that liad Just
closed in such tragical manner, were
obnoxious to him by their very presence.
lie saw IN them only the go-betwccns that
served 10 keep up this odi0as silence.
ar had not brought Teddy here, per-
haps We should have spoken long ago."
he muttercd; "for IL was getting to bc
pretty hard 10 keep siiIi any longer about
that time" .a ~ h.lea..s .. ...
lie was just thinking seriously about
sending for q doctor, when lie felt a pfes-
sure upon the hand that had all this time
clasped one OF his wife, and looking into
her face lie saw witli delight that her eye,
were wide open and bent upon him.
"JIy dear Mary. thank God.'' he said,
as lc bent down aud kissed her pale face
while the tears dropped from his cheeks
upon hers. "Speak 10 me, Mary"
She gazed around her upon tic scene
OF masculine havoc for a few moments;
the wet cloths, the blankets, the camphor
and aTnica bottles, the aoode,l loor, AMI
then at the face OF the nIan reside her. IN
tho latter shc saw only iateii.e mi,ery
and unfeignc,l contritiop, bat she c0niL
not resist the impulse, in spite OF the ar
cident, in spite Of the surroundings, jn
spite Of Johns sufferings Of mind, to test
him still farther. She slowly raised her
limp hands, aad with the lorcGngcr OF
he right she began TO trace upon the
palm OF the left, at the same time direct