Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-05-13


ing nho touched Guernsey, and strove to
know him too by her touch. Then eho
stood irrcsolute for n moment and then
with as plaintive a look OF entreaty as ever
came To human face, and speaking with
the language Of emotion Tat Is SILENT she
turned back 10 Pinnoy 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 agonizing imploring glance, he
was looking at them. They went TO him
and touched him.
"He's alive, and has had a shock, Tea
chum. DO you hear me, PinncyW
The silent man closed his eyelds and
| opened them. Human nature has rcspon-
/ slve instincts more potent than any speech.
They raised him and put him on the bed,
and then sent tho people away, saying that
| Pinney was alive, but smittcn with the
palsy When they came back they found
the strange girl touching Pinney's face
with impulsive Joy and then she passed
her hand over their faces. Then sho lifted
the hand of zach, and touched his eyes
with it, and perceived that he gently closed
them, and thcn, with cfrsivc, unrcstraincd
demonstration OF JOY. she .strokcd and
patted these men, and rubbed her soft
check against theirs. Their response to
these demonstrations OF gratitude were ne
silent They did not restrain their tears
and, glancing at Pinney, they saw that q
look OF insffablo gratitude shono from his
eyes.
"Blind, isn't shel" asked Jui and Pinncy
closed his eyeiids to signify assent.
Deaf and dumb, too, | thinkln asked
Teachum, and they read assent in Pinncy's
eyes
They cast quick glances around, and
judged from appearances that Ptnney,
having arisen and partially dressed, by
the light OF the lamp, had been sciaed with
the illness and fallen and that the girl,
coming down from the room above, had
thus discovered him, and had laborcd all
day with tho 20 her strange mystery 0t
his disease. They asked Pinney u IL was
not so, and he signifed assent.
The men took turns watching and nurs-
ing. They were rs gentle with the silent
man as the strange girl. She, knowing
them 10y 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 hor. and these
she foudled, and many times day would
she go 20 him aud put her check by him
and touch his cyelids. Then there were
times when a strange inquirng look came
upon her face, as though she was striving
TO get at the mystery OF IL, and IL happened
that at such times she would touch Pin
ney's eyes and sit silent thus for many
minutes(nntil u length the men became
convinced that nv some occult psyche
logic operation she had trained herself 10
read his mind, for little by little she be-
came able 20 care for him, and even 20 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 mon that these
two were in converse with each other.
To be sure il wac not ot Pinney's Illness
but OF the strange creature that people
gossipped, and many were tho things that
were surmised Of how sho came there, and
how long she had been there. The tongue
Of unpleasant suggestion was stopped one
day by Jud Guernsey. II had wagged be-
fore him, and with ono stout blow he felled
the man and stopped 10. Aud then there
came gentler conversation and the neigh
bors Wed with one another in kindness.
At longtA they left her with him much Of
the time. for they saw that she had quickly
adapted horsef 60 his needs Two or three
times day one or the other called for
such assistance as was requisite. They saw
him looking ycarningly one day az n Biblc.
They asked him II they should read. He
signifed assent, and when they opened IL
paper fell out His eyes rested on that
and they perceived be desired that read.
This was written upon II:
have brought tho child OF my lost We
here. In her is conferred the love Dor er
mother, who MARI ed n vile scoundrcl -
his name be forgotten. In her dying mo-
ments the mother sent for me and commlttOl
the child, helpless through disease, to me.
Her nutnc Is NARY ltt luintl hhh4uA luE
and near for her. ana my only safety in keep.
ing her was 10 keep her IN seclusion What
harmY Day and n Rht were the same to her.
She neither heard nor spoke. But she
learned TO know me ana her, and snc has
her mother face. and In hcr has hccn cen.
tered the love I bore her mother. II was
necessary for safety that I adopt prccau.
tions. Therefore I have never been out OF
ght OF the place where the child was.
Therefore | limited my speech so that by
acc dent | should not betray my secret
What frst was precautlOn became habit and
in my lifc have hal joy, because | have
been able 10 make her dark AMI souniless
life happy. 10 aTght should happen to mo,
pray that she may he well cared for, AM
for that have made provision.
And then followed hricf will, and the
mention Of n sum Of money that had been
saved that was large even for those days.
When they had finished reading they
asked him IL he desired it 70 be known, and
he signihed assent; and when tho people
knew il they were touched by the uuselfsh
romance OF IL and promised that whatever
happened him Mary should be gently cared
for
But nothing happened for many years.
He recovered his speech, but not his limbs,
and he set Teachum in charge of the store.
while she. she for whom he had sacriGed
his best years became his gentlest nurse
and greatest comfOrt=N D. Sun.