The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-10-08


peddlers or book agents allowed to pur-
sue their avocations here" 1t 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, it dawned upon them that
John was taken for book agent, Mrs
Benton turned purple with rage, and in
explaining their business there did not
spare the feelings of the wretch who
had given another sting to her wounded
pride. But John was disposed to laugh
it off, and still further add to the con
fusion of those present by transacting
his business in good audible Alglish
1t remains to this day a mystery to the
unfortunate drygoods clerk as well as to
the non -plussed secretary what could in
duce a couple to converse together on
slate who could use such forcible and in
telligible language to others.
After their unfortunate experience in
the city the unhappy pair began to
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
as their love for one another was so
strong and genuine, in spite of the fool
ish embargo they had put upon their
speech, they chafed under the irksome
restraint of a protracted silence While
they were both revolving in their minds
plans that might lead to way out of the
difficulty, fate came to their rescue, and
saved them from themselves, though in
an unexpected and painful way.
IInnn tho anniversary Of THAR oilnpoa
John Benton and Teddy were busy in
the hay field, and as a storm was threat
ening, Mrs. Benton and Maggie came to
the rescue with their rakes. A large load
was on the wagon, and Mrs. Benton and
Maggie volunteered to arrange the hay
upon the cart as John threw it up to
them. John had just started to lead the
horses to another part of the field, when,
on looking up at the load, he saw his
wife still standing He motioned to her
to sit down, but she failed to notice his
signal, and the horses started; at the
same time John saw her lunge backward
and slide, head foremost, from the load.
Before he could stop the team and get to
her she had struck the ground upon her
head. With faint gasp, and with a
semi-conscious but dazed cry, she said ::
"Don't you ever speak"
"Hushl" said the scared man; "for
Gods sake, Mary, don't talk that way
nowp
In another moment she lay unconscious
in his trembling arms, pale and still as
death.
"Ohw exclaimed the unhappy man,
'if had only screamed to her to sit
down Instead of trusting to that con-
founded pantomime, perhaps it would
not have happened"
Taking her up tenderly in his strong
arms, he carried her to the house, and all
the way into her now deaf ears he poured
out his love and lamentations; his tongue
was loosened, and seemed to be trying to
make up for lost time. And as he
bathed her head, and chafed her hands,
and tried to kiss back her color and to
coax into action that long-silent voice,
he moaned: ''What would not give now
to hear her talk to me again! 1t would
be bliss to hear her scold even. Perhaps
perhaps" and he shuddered as he said
it, ''she may never speak again"
The new-mown hay threatened by the
coming storm was nothing to him now
He neither knew nor cared whether the
sky was black or blue. All was black
about him, and there was only one object
that he could see. Even Teddy, who
had shared his confidence, and Maggie,
who had been the solace of his poor wife
during the dull, blank year that had just
closed in such tragicsl manner, were
obnoxious to him by their very presence.
He saw in them only the go-betweens
tina. served to keep up this odious silence.
''If l had not brought Teddy here, per-
haps we should have spoken long ago, 4"
he muttered; for it was getting to be
pretty hard to keep still any longer about
that time.n
He was Just thinking seriously about
sending for a doctor, when he felt pres
sure upon the hand that had all this time
clasped one of his wifes, and looking
into her face, he saw with delight that
her eyes were wide open and bent upon
him.
"My dear Mary thank God !'' he said,
as he bent down and kissed her pale face
while the tears dropped from his cheeks
upon hers, "Speak to me, Mary"
She gaZed around her upon the scene
of masculine havoc for a few moments /;
the wet cloths, the blankets, the camphor
anu MIA DObblNo, illO IOO0Gu uOOI, anu
then at the face of the man beside her.
In the latter she saw only intense misery
and unfeigned contrition, but she could
not resist the impulse, in spite of the ac-
cident, in spite of the surroundings, in
spite of Johns sufferings of mind, to test
him still farther. She slowly raised her
limp hands, and with the forehnger of the
right she began to trace upon the palm of
the left, at the same time directing a
questioning look of her husband Good
heavensW thought he, 'can it be posi-
BILE that she has been paralyzed by her
fall, and is now truly and in earnest
dumb2" But glance at her face dis
PEELED that horrible thought. Bhe was
smiling. but she still continued to Vrite
with her finger, Simple honest John
Benton caught her meaning then, and
exclaimed, almost petulently, "The
] oil Aavrro