Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-16

She in turn, through her mouth pie ce. intimated
10 MIN tnat MS company and services In driving
the family horse would be acceptable to take
her to the city to purchase her gown.
To this he readily assented as he also had
business in the city. They had agreed upon q
plan OF communication before leaving home.
through small slate such as dumb people use
among those who do not understand their Ian
guage.
On arriving at the gorgeous store they mani
tested an awkward uneasiness, and paused a few
minutes before entering. This mute business in
public was evidently not relished by either of
the parties. But finally they entered. Mrs Ben
ton was greeted by polite salesman She made
known her wishes, and soon great mass of va
rous fabrics Of all coors was spread out for her
inspection. She asked the price of piece of a
particular shade that she fancied, she priced
| another piece of different color and during all
TINS time she was vainly trying in some Indirect
way to get an expression of opinion from her
husband a to his preference. But she ignO-
miniously failed. Her face grew hot and ex-
cited. She wasnOt on speaking terms with her
husband and yet she loved him well enough
to refuse to purchase or wear dress the color
OF which he might not approve. She shrank
from the humiliation Of the slate, but finding
there was no alternative but violation Of
her VOW, she produced it, and asked him the
simple question upon which her heart was
set For answer he simply put his hand on
the piece OF her choice, and she smiled pleasantly
as she turned to the spruce and accommodating
salesman The latter, taking in the situation at
a glance with the keen eye Of an expert in hui
mainly, and suppOsing it was of course q cues
tion OF dollars and cents she was propounding
to her unfortunate deaf and dumb husband
rapidly wrote upon bit Of paper, splendid
goods; wear like iron; never fade; very cheap;
nifty per cent below cost price; never get
another chance like it," which paper he placed
in the hands of the astonished Mr.. John Benton
whats ths?" he exclaimed, looking alter
nately from the clerk to his wife. "Pears to
me you're in hurry with your bill, young man. -
Never was there more astounded salesman
behind a counter than this. And his chagrin
eqnalled his surprise. With a confused apology
which seemed to include. something about
deaf mute" he tried to make amends by
renewed cOurtesies and attentions to Mrs.
Benton, who was plunged in misery. 1t IS
hard to conceive ola woman so wretched who
had just come into pOssessian of new and
handsome outfit.
John Benton's special business in town was to
pay an insurance premium, and he and his wife
called together at the palatial office OF the COM
pany While waiting their turn to be accOmmO-
dated John and his wife stood near the door, As
he was looking over city directory to pass
away the time his wife, being seized with new
idea wrote it out, and handed him the fatal
sentence on the slate put the directory under
his arm, whereupon. just at this moment, the
pOmpOus secretary of the insurance company
came in from the street, and taking in the stu
alton with the keenness of sight and astuteness
that characterize the discerning city man. from
dry goods salesman up to high official in an
insurance company, he touched the fated John
upon the arm and pointed to a card upon the
wall on which the legend ran thus: mo beg
gars. peddlers or book agents allowed to pursue
their avOcatiOnS here" 1t was some time be-
fore John or his wife could comprehend the con-
Meeting link between themselves and that card:
but when, with the mild assistance of the off,
cial digntary, it dawned upon them that John
was taken for book agent Mrs. Benton turned
purple with rage, and in explaining their busi-
ness 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 of, and still further added to the con-
fusion OF those present by transacting his bust
ness in good audible English.
1t remains to this day mystery to the IN
fortunate dry goods clerk, as well as to the
nonplussed secretary, what could induce
couple to converse together on slate who
could use such forclble and Ineligible 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 strong and
genuine, in spite Of the foolish embargo they
had put upon their speech, they chafed under
the irksome restraint OF protracted silence
While they were both revolving in their minds
iculty, fate came to their rescue and saved them
from themselves, though in all unexpected and
painful way.
Upon the anniversary of their silence John
Benton and Teddy were busy in the hay field.
and as storm was threatening. Mrs. Benton
and Maggie came to the rescue with their rakes
large load was on the wagon, and Mrs Ben
ton 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 mo-
toned to her to sit down, but she failed to no.
tice 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 semi-conscious but dazed cry,
she said, Don't you ever speak"
''Hush!' said the scared man; ''for Gods sake,
Mary, don't talk that way nOw"
In another moment she lay unconscious in his
trembling arms, pale and still as DEATH
.'Oh!' exclaimed the unhappy man, .'if had
only screamed to her to sit down instead of
trusting to that cOnfounded pantOmime, per-
haps 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 death 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
anu tlleu 10 KISS DaCk ner 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 aaeCer 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,
VINO had shared his confidence, and Maggie,
who had been the solace of his poor wife during
the dull. blank year that had inst closed in such
tragical manner, were obnoxious to him by
their very presence. He saw in them only the
go-betweens that served to keep up this odious
silence.
'If had never brought Teddy here, perhaps
we should have spoken long ago." he muttered;
for 1t was getting to be pretty hard to keep
still any longer about that time"
He was Just thinking seriously about send
ing for doctor, when he felt pressure upOn
the hand that had all this time elapsed one
of his wife's, and looking into her face. he saw
with delight that her eyes were wide open and
bent upon him.
MY dear Nary 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 mas
culine havoc for a few moments; the wet cloths,
the blankets, the camphOr and arnica bottles,
the flooded floor, and then at the face of the
man beside her. In the latter she saw only in
tense misery and unfeigned contrition, but she