The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-09-25


turssd to the spruce and accommodating
salesman. The latter, taking in the situa'
tisn At gissce With the keen eyesi an
expert ia humanity. and suppesins u
vas Of course. a question Of dollars and
cents she was propounaing TO her nntsriu'
nate deaf and dumb husband, rapidly
wrote upon bit Of paper, splendid
goods; 20 per cent below cost price, new
or get another chance like it" which pa
per he placed in the hands Of tho aston
ished Jshn Benton.
.what's thisf' he exclaimed, looking
alternately from the clerk 10 his VILE
Pears to me you're in hurry with your
bill, yousg man"
Never was there mere astosished sales
man behind counter than this And his
chasrin cquslled his surprise. withacen'
fused apology. which seemed to include
SOM sthing about "deai mute" he tried TO
make amends by renewed courtesies and as-
tsnsions to Mn. Benton, who was plunged
in misery. II is hard 10 conceive Of wo-
man 80 wrstcneo, ~ho had i..s came into
possession Of . now and handsome ontfit.
Jshn Bcnton's special business in town
was to pay q, insurance premium, and he
and his wife went together to tho paatial
Office OF the company. While waiting their
turn 10 be accommodated John and his
wife stood near the door. As he was look
ing over city directory to pass away time
his wife being seized with new idea
wrote it cut and gave him the fatal slate.
John for convenience in reading the SEN
tenoe on the slate, put the directory under
his arm, whereupsn, just at this moment,
the pompous secretary Of the insurance
company, came in from the street. and
taking in the situation with the keennsss Of
sight and astuteness that characterize the
discerning city men, from a dry goods
salesman up to big official in an insur-
anoe company. he touched the fatal John
upon the arm and pointed to card upon
the wall on which the legend ran thus:
''No beggers, peddlers or book agents al
lowed to pursue their avccations here. II
was some time before John or his wife
could comprehend the connecting link be-
tween themselves and that card; but when
TT A. -. ;i1 o.a;ataoaa nf tho oflic die.
nitary, it aawned upon them that John was
taken for book agent, Mrs. Benton turn
cd purple with rage, and in explaining
their business there did not spare the feel
ings Of the wretch who had given another
sting 10 her wounded pride. But John
was disposed TO laugh it off, and still fur
ther added to the confusion Of those pres
ent by transacting his Business in good au
diable English.
II remains to this day mystery to thu
unfortunate dry goods clerk as well as tc
the nonplussed secretary, what could in
duce couple to converse together on
slate who could use such forcible and in
telligept language to others.
| After their unfortunate experience in th'
city the unhappy pair began to weaken
little IN their resolution. Not only wer
their mutual interests suffering in variou
ways by means Of this very imperfec
means of communication, but as their low
for one another was strong and genuine, ii
spite OF the foolish embargo they had pu
upon their speech, they ,chafed under tn
restraint Of protracted silence. Will
they were both revolving in their mind
plans that might lead to way out Of th
r difficulty, fate came to their rescue an
, saved them from themselves, through a
! unexpected and painful way.
Upon tho anniversary Of their .silenc'
, John Benton and Teddy were busy in th
, hay field, and rtorn was threatening
, Mrs. Benton and Maggie came to the rel
! cue with their rakes. A large lead WI
> on the wagon, and Mrs. Benton and MAJ
J. gle volunteered 10 arrange the hay upc
+ the cart as John threw it up to them. Jsh
Z had Just started to lead the horses to anotl
= er part of the field. when on looking u
+ at the lead he saw his wife still standing
He motioned to her TO sit down but 81
!. failed to notice his signal, and the hors
started; at the same time Jobn saw b
!, lunge backward aud slide head foremo
from the lead Before he could stop u
It team and get to her, she had struck II
t. ground upon her head. With faint ga
a and with semi conscious but dazsd or
= she said "don't you speak
Of "Husbr said the scared man; II
IN Gods sake, Mary, don't talk that W
4. now"
In another moment she lay unconscio
\. in his trembling arms, pale and still
/ death.
"Ohr exclaimed the unhappy ma
70 / ha.i emily screamed to her 20 sit do'
~ ts4d OF ,'-usiing te that confunded pa
tom. me. perhst sH "'ui' n0' nA'e ~
, peneo. .,.a
Taxi sg her Up ten, 'sriy IN MS s'ro
, arms, b 0 carried her TO t.. 'ou'e '"'
/ the way nto her now deaf ca. :. ~.
/. out bis love and lamentations; b. 'oAs
was ioosensd, and be seemed TO be \. -
/ 10 make up for lost time.
And as he bsthed her head and chsle
; her hands, he tried to kiss back her col
, and 10 csax into action that long silel
voice, he moaned What would ] n
; give now to have her TO talk 10 me agail
/ II would be bliss to hear her scold eve
! Perhaps perhaps" and be shuddsrea
. hs said it. "she may never speak again
!, The sew mown hay threatened by Il
/ comiag storm was nstbing TO him mo-
us ,sither knev nor cared vhether the Al