Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-10-10
A PAIR OF NJ UTES.

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 physically
and nature has filled out his frame with
the nece5say 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
"well set" in his ways.
The past winter had been one of un-
usually hard work, but not without pc
tuniary returns, so that when he was seri-
ously threatened with paralysis of the
throat, and upon consulting an eminent
physici n was told that rest and abso-
lutte silence were his only hope he felt
that he had earned his vacation, but at
rather high price. He was ordered to
make no vocal sound, as his wornout
muscles were to be left entirely 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 a 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, intel
ligent people, whose children were all
married and in homes of their own.
The house was pleasantly situated near
river, so there was plenty of fishing and
boating. TO man so long deprived of
fSF Ind Inttfch no
in renewing 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, espec-
tally so about women, as he knew practi-
cally nothing about them. His theories
about them were almost heathenish, but
they were only theories. He disliked the
sex on what is vaguely called general
principles, and Stunned them, one and
all. On his arrival he was given the
choice of two rooms, one large, the Other
somewhat smaller; true to his manhood
he took the biggest. More room fol
boots to stand round in and to scatter
pipes and such like manly belongings
He had been pleasantly established witt
his books, fshing-rods, cigars and all
those things which seem necessary to {
man who is reaching that period of bach
elorhood called confirmed.
Before his coming all the arrangement
for his stay had been made by letter, ant
on his arrival, tablets presented with tn,
request written to be shown to his room
made the good lady of the house suppos
he was deaf and dumb, which was jus
to his mind for he did no
want "to be bored with tn
woman's curiosity" If he made an ex
PLANTATION he would have to answer in
Vulnerable questions; if he did not
would be natural for her to come to tn
conclusion she had.
AS the days of July became hotter an
the fishing began to pail the most inter
esting books had been read, he began
weary of his enforced silence, and longe
for something to break the monoton,
Before long he had it. One day NJ
Grey drove up to the gate from the ST.
tion with trunk in the wagon benin
and young woman on the seat beSit
him. When Mr.. Spencer looked out
was not with a smiling countenance, b.
rather cross one, for his seclusic
h would be intruded on Nevertheless,
Il watched the process of alighting and +
moving the heavy trunk with that i
terest bored people watch anything tn
y ir something new. He muttered som
thing about scrawny, faded,n as Il
young women was helped down, and I
N turned to his pipe.
A Laura Hyde had come to Mr.. GTey's
recuperate after severe winter of tcac
ing vocal music in the public schools
the same city of which Mr.. Spencer W
. aresidentan strange as it may seem, f
the same thing Her voice had becor
30 impaired with overwork that she W
threatened with the total loss of it. II
doctor had commanded entire silen
through the summer, plenty of fresh
- and wholesome food as the only mea
~ of cure. The poor gill could see
way to accomplish this, but she resolv
to throw herself on the generosity of
Greys, as Mrs. Grey was relative of |
mother, explaining the whole situate
They being good, charitable people, to
her in for the least possible pay, for s
lie refused to come unless she were perm
tie ted to pay something, however small
" amount.
Mr.. Spencer went down to tea in Sc
ish frame of mind, wishing Il
that woman had not intruded on his
main. but when he saw how tired, W,
and spiritless the obnoxious per'
looked he relented somewhat and W
,Iv through an introduction (written on
tablets) with as much graciousness as
could command. He noticed Miss H.
only answered remarks by movem
raj of the head, and heard Mrs. Grey
nu- planning in her kindly way all about
own affiiction Deaf and dumb, ?
thing. Not bit of trouble, but he
4 smoke dreadfully."
laura u,ae e,ivan the little room