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

Mr.. John Spencer was an attorney
with something of fortune, and of
: uncomfortable 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 ''well 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 emil
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
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 q river, so there was
plenty of fishing and 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
Stunned them, one and all. On his ar
rival he was given the choice of two
r99ms, one large, the other somewhat
smarter 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, tishingrods, 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 arrange
ments for his stay had been made by
letter, and on his arrival, tablets pre-
scented with the request Written to be
shown to his room made the good lady
of the house suppose he was deaf and
dumb, which was just to his mind, for
he did not want ''to be bored with the
woman's curiosity" If he made an
explanation he would have to answer
innumerable questions. If he did not
it would be natural for her to come to
the conclusion she had.
As the days OF July became hotter
and the fishing began to pail, the most
interesting books had been read he
began to weary of his enforced silence,
and longed for something to break the
monotony. Before long he had it.
One day Mr.. Grey drove up to the gate
from the station with trunk in the
wagon behind and young woman on
the seat beside him. When Mr.. Spen-
Ger looked out it was not with a smiling
countenance, but rather q cross one,
for his seclusion would be intruded on.
Nevertheless, he watched the process
of alighting and removing the heavy
trunk with that interest bored people
watch anything that is something new.
emuttered something about ''scrawny,
faded" as the young woman was
helped down, and returned to his pipe.
Laura Hyde had come to Mr.. Crews
to recuperate after q severe winter of
teaching vocal music in the public
schools of the same city of which Mr..
Spencer was a resident, and, strange as
it may seem, for the same thing. Her
voice had become so impaired with
overwork that she was threatened with
the total loss of it. Her doctor had
commanded entire silence through the
summer, plenty of fresh air and whole
some food as the only means of cure.
The poor girl could see no way to ac-
complish this, but she resolved to throw
herself on the generosity of the Greys,
as Mrs. Grey was relative of her
mother, explaining the whole situation.
They, being good, charitable people,
took her in for the least possible pay,
for she refused to come unless she were
permitted to pay something, however
small the amount.
Mr.. Spencer went down to tea in
selfish frame of mind, wishing that
that woman had not intruded on his
domain, but when he saw how tired,
worn and spiritless the obnoxious per-
son looked he relented somewhat and
went through an introduction written
on the tablets with as much gracious
ness as he could command. He no.
ticed Miss Hyde only answered remarks
by n movement of the head and heard
Mrs. Grey explaining in her kindly
way all about his own ailiiction deaf
and dumb, poor thing. Not bit of
trouble, but he does smoke dread
fully"
Laura was given the little room re-