St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-11-22


by movement of the head. and heard
Mrs. Grey explaining in her kindly
way all about his own ailiiction-.'Dea
and dumb, poor thing. Not a bit of
trouble, but he does smoke dread
fully"
Laura was given the little room re-
jected bv him, and was as quiet
neighbor aS man could wish.
A man of Mr. Spencer's habits could
not he expected to take much interest
in ncighbor. The only thing that
struck him was that she seemed to be
that rare anomaly-a 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 a tired. worn look
that added to her twenty-four years;
but, with good food, fresh air and rest
she began in a 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-five, 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 Won any of his books if he knew
YOU wanted them" There was a reply
to this which he did not catch, for it
brought a laugh and reply from Mrs.
Grey, who said: ''Well. it may be as
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 MIR.
Spencer started for n long day on the
river, equipped with fishing-rods and
lunch basket. In the evening as he
was returning home, when yet 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. ..AFiiHi4 H yen net row home. Miss
HYDE, the rest Of the way? You look
warm and tired" She answered by
writing: II will be glad of a chance to
90 so pleasantly. l have lost my way.
/ think" With his assistance she got
in. AS she sat drawing her hand
through the water he got a good look
at her. Looks We're all he got, for not
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. y
She pointed to the sunset, nodded
her head and smiled, to which he an
swered in the same way. Various OBJ
iects 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 were 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 catalogues
| where her home was. She had moi
done so because he had never asked,
but said to herself: ''If he cared to
know he would ask. 1 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
the last of October, when he followed,
and. as the physician had said, had en-
tirelv 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 go.
After being shown to his seat he idly
looked over the house, but saw no &C
auaintances. Just behind him he
heard soft unfamiliar voice say
..Sue, it is he.'' "Who," asked Sue
sWhy, Mr.. Spencer, the deaf and dunn
gentleman who was so kind to me last
summer. But how strange he should
come to an opera when he can't hear. :
so, not at ali" said the giddy Sue-''l
should think it would be no end of fur
o see them all prancing about the
sage, rolling their eyes, wringing theil
hands, and standing on tip-toe to catcf
thehigh notes, and all the time heal
nothing" and Sue went of into gig
gle a the absurdity of it.
"Ste," said Laura. sit is heartless tc
laugh Ind talk so about ones affiic
tions. go. pshaw! he doesn't have
an air o. very deep afiiiction." Sue
answered. "He looks well fed. Hi:
chin is getting double. He must be s
!. very old baclelor. do wish he would
turn around 8, l could see him better. ,
At this point -Ir. Spencer did turr
around. and gaze Miss Sue . lool
. which made her ssk in whisper: Il:
he really deaf, aura? He looked
wonderfully knowl.g, like he nigh
. have heard me- ''tuilty conscience, =
said Laura. .'Didn't saw he never
spoke a word all sumner. and he is a.
deaf as Sphynx. l d, wonder if h,
In ,.,x,,,,bar ,,,a Ma,