The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-10-18

| A man OF DIT. spencer ndDltS could
not be expected to take much interest
in neighbor. The only thing that
| struck him was that she seemed to be
| that rare anomaly woman who
could hold her tongue. He gave her
but little of his thought; merely bowed
when passing on the stairway or in the
hall.
For some time she moved about the
house listlessly, with tired, worn look
that added to her twenty-fOur years;
| but, with good food, fresh air and rest
| she began in few weeks to feel the
influence of the place, and her express
sion changed to a brighter, rested one,
which at least made her pleasant to
look at.
The only thing that puzzled Mr..
Spencer was he never heard her voice.
He had heard Mrs. Grey hold long con-
versations with her on many subjects
of domestic economy. Once or twice
he himself had been the topic of con-
versation, but not one word in reply
did he hear Miss Hyde say. She surely
must have said something, for Mrs.
| Grey said, Laura, you are too hard
on him. He isn't an old man, about
| thirty-fve, and not so selfish as you
may think, if we only knew him. And,
my dear, he can't take the same inte-
| rest in things that man who isn't
deaf could. I've no doubt he would
| lend you any of his books if he knew
you wanted them" There was reply
to this which he did not catch, for it
| brought laugh and reply from Mrs.
| xryhA Ill - l.,
| you say, when men spend all their
time thinking and working for them
selves they forget that others may suf-
fer for what they have in abundance
and think nothing of it" Not long af-
ter this conversation took place Mr.,
Spencer started for long day on the
river, equipped with lishing-rods and
lunch basket. In the evening as he
was returning home, when vet two
miles from it, rowing leisurely, he saw
Miss Hyde walking along the river
bank, stopping now and then to look
about her. He pulled to the shore, and
presenting his tablets, on which was
written: "Will you not row home, Miss
Hyde, the rest of the way? You look
warm and tired. - She answered by
writing: Il will be glad of chance to
go so pleasantly. | have lost my way,
| think. With his assistance she got
in. As she sat drawing her hand
through the water he got q good look
at her Looks were all he got for not
a word was exchanged during the ride.
"She thinks me deaf and dumb, he said
to himself, land | shall not undeceive
her, but await further developments. ."
She pointed to the sunset, nodded
her head and smiled to which he an
swered in the same way. Various OBJ
jects Of interest were discussed in this
silent manner, so that when he came
to the moOring place he concluded that
it was rather pleasant to have some one
as companion.
After this they We're on friendlier
terms, so that when September came
their acquaintance had progressed
rapidly through the medium of the
tablets. On Miss Hyde's returning to
her school, he could hardly persuade
himself that he should miss one of the
obnoxious sex so much. He considered
it rather strange that she had never
told him in any of their 'dialogues''
where her home was. She had not
done so because he had never asked,
but said to herself: "If he cared to
know he would ask. l will not force
my confidence on any one" When
she went neither knew where the home
of the other was, and they parted as
they supposed, to never see each other
again. She returned to her school,
rested and restored. He stayed until
tho Lost Of (1p+Al,a,. ,vha,, hn fO1l 4
and, as the physician had said, had en-
tirely recovered.
Thanksgiving afternoon the matinee
was "Olivette," and as he was little
out of spirits, the natural feeling of
men without family ties on holidays,
Mr.. Spencer concluded to 90.
After being shown to his seat he idly
looked over the house, but saw no ac-
quaintances. Just behind him he
heard soft unfamiliar voice say:
''Sue, it is he" "Who," asked Sue.
"Why, Mr.. Spencer, the deaf and dumb
gentleman who was so kind to me last
summer. But how strange he should
come to an opera when he can't hear"
go, not at all" said the giddy Sue-"I
should think it would be no end of fun
to see them all prancing about the
stage, rolling their eyes, wringing their
hands, and standing on tip-toe to catch
the high notes, and all the time hear
nothing" and Sue went off into q gig
gle at the absurdity of it.
"Sue, said Laura, ''itis heartless to
laugh and talk so about ones afllic-
tions." go, pshaw he doesn't have
an air of very deep allliction," Sue
answered. ''He looks well fed. His
chin is getting double. He must be a
very old bachelor. | do wish he would
turn around so l could see him better"
At this point Mr.. Spencer did turn
around, and gave Miss Sue look
which made her ask in a whisper: SIS
he really deaf, Laura? He looked
wonderfully knowing, like he might
have heard me-" Guilty conscience"
said Laura. ''Didn'tI say he never
spoke word all summer, and he is as
deaf as q Sphynx., do wonder if he
will remember me. Men of his are
and opinions do love to snub us. and
would not be surprised that he did not
recognize me-"
Just then the curtain went up, and,
as they could afford treat so rarely,
they listened, and no more was said of