The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-13

rather a young girls face, whose profile
they saw, though she was strangely clad,
with hair most luxuriant and wonderful,
falling far down upon the curious garment
that she wore; and as she bent over Pin
ney's PROSTATE form, the hair swept his
face like spray. When she perceived
this, she, with touch ineIpressibly tender
and soft, gathered her tresSes from off his
face and tossed them back over her neck,
and then passed her hands so lightly over
his cheeks and forehead that it seemed as if
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
shoulders and with desperate energy tried
to lift him to the bed. That effort being I'M
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 people saw her profile only. 1t was
the face of child, though the figure of a
woman. Its exquisite childlike beauty i'm
pressed them hardly less than her silent,
lmpulslve, and strange manifestations.
Then there was comnotion in the rear
room. Some one had stepped heavily. In
stanUly the girl put her hands upon the
floor; then, rising, turned toward the door,
and with arms outstretched and her eyes
staring, her lips apart, she slowly APP
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 touch
almost of magic passed her hands over his
face, his body, even his feet. Then in arts
ing she touched Guernsey, and strove to
know him too by her touch. Then she
stood iTTesOlute for q moment, and then
with as plaintive look Of entreaty as ever
came to human face, and speaking with
the language of emotion t2at 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 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. 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
Pinney was alive, but smitten 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 she lifted
the hand of each and touched his eyes
with it, and perceived that he gently closed
them, and then, with ELUSIVE, unreStrained
demonstration of joy, she stroked and
patted these men, and rubbed her soft
cheek against theirs. Their response to
these demonstrations of gratitude were as
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?" asked Jud; and Pinney
closed his eyelids to signify assent.
deaf and dumb, too, l thinks" asked
Teachum, and they read assent il Pinney'S
eyes.
They cast quick glances around, and
judged from appearances that Plnney,
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 if it was
not so, and he signi6ed assent.
The men took turns watching and nurs-
ing. They were as gentle with the silent
man as the strange girl. She, knowing
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 a day would
she go to him and put her cheek by him
and touch his eyelids. Then there were
times when a strange inquiring look came
upon her face, as though she was striving
to get at the mystery of it, and it happened
that at such times she would touch Pin
ney's eyes and sit silent thus for many
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 to 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,
but of the strange creature that people
yOSsipped, and many were the things that !
we're suTmised of how she came there, and
now long she had been there. The tongue
Of unpleasant suggestion was stopped one
Law by Jud Guernsey. 1t had wagged be
fore him, and with one stout blow he felied !
the man and stopped it. And then there
came gentler conversation and the neigh |
oors Wed 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
lm looking yearningly one day at a Bible. |
They asked him if they should read. He |
Signified assent, and when they opened it |
paper fell out His eyes rested on that |
and they perceived he desired that read. |
This was written upon it:
have brought the child of my lost love |
lere. In her is centered the love | bore her |
MOTHER who married vile scoundrei. Let |
lis name be forgotten. In her dying mo- |
nents the mother sent for me and committed |
he child, helpless through disease, to me. |
Her name is Mary. Her father sought far |
md near for her. and myOnly safety in keep |
ng her was to keep her in seclusiOn. What |
harm? Day and night were the same to her. |
She neither heard nor spoke. But she |
earned to know me and her, and she has |
Ter mothers face and in her has been cen |
cred the love l bore her mother. 1t was |
for safety that adopt precau- |
ions. Therefore have never been out of |
ight of the place where the child was. |
Therefore | limited my speech so that BY |
accident | should not betray my secret. |
What first was precautiOn became habit, and |
n my life have had JOY, because | have |
,een able to make her dark and soundless |
ife happy. If aught should happen TO me,
pray that she may be well cared for and |
or that have made provision.
And then followed a brief will and the
mention of a sum of money that had been |
aved that was large even for those days.
When thew had finished reading thew
Lsked him if he desired is to be known, and |
lie signified assent: and when the people
new it they were touched by the unselfsh
omance of it and promised that whatever
him Mary should be gently cared
or.
But nothing happened for many years.
lie recovered his speech. but not his limbs,
nd he set Teachum in charge of the store,
While she, she for whom he had sacrificed
Is best years, became his gentlest nurse
nd greatest comfort.-N Y. Sun.
MOT A DnnCrED