The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-05-12

father o young girls foc0, whose PRONE
they they saw. saw though % she Vas sIsrsngsly I s;mI S.:d
falling far down upon the curious garment
that she wore; and o. she bent over Pin
ney's prostrate form, the hair swept bis
face like spray. When she perceived
this, she, With touch inexpressibly tender
and soft, gathered her tresses from of his
face and tossed them back over her neck.
and then passed her hands 20 lightly over
his cheeks and forehead that 1t seemed as II
the touch must have been as gentle as an
infants breath. Then with exquisite deli
cacy she touched his eyelids, and, perceiv-
ing that they fell and opened again, she
seemed to look down into his face with
something Of hope and tenderness, yet
agony expressed in mute appeal upon her
lips. Then she placed her arms under his
to lift him to the bed. That effort being un-
availing, with mute irresoluteness she
stood, bewildered. Then she held her face
close down beside his cheek, as though to
feel his breath upon it.
the face Of child, though the figure of
woman. Its exquisite childlike beauty. i'm
pressed them hardly less than her silent,
impulsive, and strange manifestations.
Then there was commotion In the rear
room: Some one had stepped heavily. In
stantly, the girl put her hands upon the
floor; then, rising, turned toward the door,
and with arms outstretched ana her eyes
staring, her lips apart, she slowly ap.
preached the door Then her hand touched
Teachum, though she seemed not to see
him, for her eyes were set, and he saw there
was no light in them. He spoke to her, but
she made no answer; but with a touch
almost of magic passed her hands over his
ing she touched Guernsey, and strove to
know him too by her touch. Then she
stood irresolute for q moment, and then
with as plaintive a look Of entreaty as ever
came to human face, and speaking with
the language Of emotion taat is silent she
turned back to Pinney and put her hands
upon his face. -.
Teachum turned to Guernsey to speak,
but was checked by Jud, who pointed to the
face of Pinney. Then they perceived that,
with most egoni1ing imgloring glance, ne
and touched him.
Hes, alive, and has had shock, Tea
chum. Do you hear me, Pinney"
The silent man closed his eyelids and
opened them. Human nature has respon-
sive Instincts more potent than any speech.
They raised him and put him ON the bed,
and then sent the people away, saying that
Pipney was alive, but smitten with the
palsy. When they came back they found
the strange girl touching Pinneys face
with impulsive joy; and then she passed
her hand over their faces. Then she lifted
the hand of each, and touched his eyes
with it, and perceived that he gently closed
them, and then, with effusive, unrestrained
demonstration of joy, she stroked and and
cheek against theirs. Their response to
these demonstrations of gratitude were rs
silent. They did not restrain their tears,
and, glancing at Pinney. they saw that
look of ineffable gratitude shone from his
eyes.
Blind, isn't she 2" asked Jud; and Pinney
closed his eyelids to signify assent.
deaf and dumb, too, l think!" asked
Teachum, and they read assent in Pinney's
eyes.
They cast quick glances around, and
judged from appearances that Pinney,
having arisen and partially dressed, by
the light of the lamp, had been seized with
the illness and fallen, and that the girl:
coming down from the room above, had
thus discovered him, and had labored all
day with the, to her, strange mystery of
his disease. They asked Pinney il 1t was
not SO, and he signified assent.
The men took turns watching and nurs.
ing. They were as gentle with the silent
them by the touch, and being grateful,
went on in what seemed her daily way.
There were globes and cubes made OF wood,
which Pinney had carved for her. and these
she fondled, and many times day would
and touch his eyelids. Then there were
times when . strange inquiring look came
upon her face, as though she was striving
to get at the mystery OF 1t, and it happened
that at such times she would touch Pin
minutes, until at length the men became
convinced that by some occult psyche
logic operation she had trained herself to
read his mind, for little by little she be-
came able to care for him, and even 70 pre-
pare and administer his food. And she
would sit sometimes by the hour, her fingers
on his face, and the changing emotions they
saw on hers persuaded the men that these
two were in converse with each other,
To be sure it was not of Pinney's illness,
gossipped, and many were the things that
were surmised of how she came there, and
how long she had been there. The tongue
| of unpleasant suggestion was stopped one
| day by Jud Guernsey. 1t had wagged be-
fore him, and with one stout blow he felled
came gentler conversation and the neigh
bors We'd with one another in kindness.
At length they left her with him much Of
the time, for they saw that she had quickly
adapted herself to his needs Two or three
times day one or the other called for
such assistance as was requisite. They saw
him looking yearningly one day at Bible.
They asked him II they should read He
signified assent, and when they opened it q
paper fell out. His eyes rested on shat
| and they perceived he desired that read.
This was written upon IL: aa. Hl :
Ihave brought the child of my lost love
here. In her IL centered the love bore her
mother, who married vile scOundrel Let
his name be forgotten. In her dying mo.
ments the mother sent for me and committed
the child, helpless through disease, to me.
Her name is Mary. Her father sought far
and near for her. and nv only safety In keep
ing FER was to keep her In seclusiOn. What
harm? Day and night were the same TO her
She neither heard nor spoke. But she
\ learned to know me and her, and she has
her mother face. and in her has been cen
tered the love ! bore her mother. i wa.
tions. Therefor have never been out OF
sight of the place where the child was
Therefore ! limited my speech SO that bJ
acc dent ! should not betrsy my secret
in my life have had Joy, because l have
been able to make her dark and soundesl
life happy. If aught should happen to me
pray that she may be we'll cared for, anC
for tina, I kove made provision.
And tiien followed brief will, and tn,
mention of a sum OF money that had beel
saved that was large even for those days.
When they had finished reading they
asked him il he desired it to be known, AM
he signified assent; and when the peopl
knew it they were touched by the unselAsl
romance of it and promised that whsteve
happened him Mary should be gently care
for.
But nothing happened. for many years
and he set Teachum In charge of the store
while she, she for whom he had sacriAe,
his best years, became his gentlest nuEs
|, and greatest comfort.--N. y Sus. q l.u
NOT A ROOSTER.
Colorad Ind viduul Who NaA Nh.