The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-12-27
A PAIR OF MUTEs.

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Mr. John Spencer was an attorney |
with something of fortune, and OF
the comfortable age of five and thirty;
that age when man is at his best physi-
cally and nature has filled out his frame
with the necessary padding OF flesh
without obesity-when the wrinkles are
not in his neck nor gray hairs in his
mustache, although at that age he is
apt to be sswell set in his ways.
The past winter had been one OF I'M
usually hard work, but not without pc
cuniary returns, so that when he was
seriously threatened with paralysis of
the throat. and upon consulting an emf
nent physician was told that rest and
absolute silence were his only hope. he
felt that he had earned his vacation,
but at rather high price. He was or
dered to make no vocal sound, as his
WORKOUT muscles were to be let en-
tirely alone to recuperate for at least
three months. If he had anything to
say it must be done in writing, but not
, a word on pain of entire loss of speech.
As the summer vacation was at hand
he selected home in the country as his
/ place of exile, for when one has friends
one must talk. The choice was a wise
one, for the farmer and his wife were
quiet, intelligent people, whose chill
dren were all married and in homes of
their own. The house was pleasantly
situated near river, so there was
plenty of fishing aud boating. To a
man so long deprived of sport Of this
Kind there was boyish zest in renew
ing it. for life. had not had much play
in it for him, but had been made up of
work. In his struggle for place in
life he had become rather cynical, es-
pecially so about women, as he knew
practically nothing about them: His
theories about them were almost heath
enish. but they were only theories. He
disliked the sex on what is vaguely
called general principles" and
summed them, one and all. On his ar
rival he was given the choice of two
rooms, one large, the other somewhat
smaller; true to his manhood, he took
the biggest. More room for boots to
stand round in and to scatter pipes and
such like manly belongings. He had
been pleasantly established with his
books, fshing-rods, cigars and all those
things which seem necessary to :. mar
who is reaching that period of bach,
elorhOod called confirmed.
Before his coming all the arrange
ments for his stay had been made by
letter, and on his arrival, tablets pre-
sented with the request written to bt
shown to his room made the good lady
of the house suppose he was deaf ano
dumb, which was just to his mind, fol
he did not want ''to be bored with thu
woman's curiosity" If he made al
explanation he would have to answe
innumcrable questions. If he did no
it would be natural for her to come II
the conclusion she had.
: As the days of July became hottie
and the fishing began to pail, the mos
interesting books had been read, h
began to weary of his enforced silence
and longed for something to break thu
monotony. Before long he had il
One day Mr.. Grey drove up to the gait
from the station with trunk in tn
wagon behind and a young woman Of
the seat beside him. When Mr.. Spen
Ger looked out it was not with a smilin
countenance, but rather q cross one
for his seclusion would be intruded on
Nevertheless, he watched the process
of alighting and removing the heav
trunk with that interest bored peopl
watch anything that is something new
He muttered something about '.scrawny
faded" as the young woman Wa
helped down, and returned to his pip,
Laura Hyde had come to Mr.. Grey
to recuperate after q severe winter
teaching vocal music in the publ
schools of the same city of which M
Spencer was a resident, and, strange ,
it may seem, for the same thing. III,
voice had become so impaired wit
overwork that she was threatened wit
the total loss of it. Her doctor hs
commanded entire silence through Il
summer, plenty of fresh air and Who'll
some food as the only means of cur
The poor girl could see no way to a
complish this, but she resolved to thro
herself on the generosity of the Grey
as Mrs. Grey was q relative of b.
mother, explaining the whole situatio
They, being good, charitable peopl
took her in for the least possible pa
for she refused to come unless she we
permitted to pay something, howev
small the amount. IS
MIR. Spencer went down to tea in
selfish frame of mind, wishing tn
that woman had not intruded on b
domain, but when he saw how tire
worn and spiritless the obnoxious pc
son looked he relented somewhat al
went through an introduction (writt'
on the tablets) with as much graciou
ness as he could command. He n
ticed Miss Hyde only answered remar
by movement of the head, and hea
Mrs. Grey explaining in her kind
way all about his own affection Ode
and dumb, poor thing. Not bit
trouble, but he does smoke drea
fuly. 'ssx .zzsi .ss a.
Laura vas given the little room /