The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-15
ONLY A DEAF WOMAN.

The train stopped at Bue Station on
time this Wednesday afternoon. 1t was
not particularly punctuAl train,
ntither did it especially matter whether
it was or not, as Blue Station was ono
Of those "lodges in the vast Wilderness
where time was not reckoned according
to the Wall street standard and where
people took things easy.
The stage for Hemlock Hill was
waiting there-a clumsy cOnglomeration
Of musty leather, faded paint, and an
cient wood, drawn by two sleepy
horses, and driven by a Jehu so old
that one instiIctiveIy wondered how he
ever got up and down from his aerial
perch on the box seat. Mr. Richmond
and his friend Col. Jones took their
seats, packed th-ir valises snugly under
their feet, and fastened their natty sill
umbrellas in the rack overhead. There
was only one other passenger-a woman
in a brown waterproof cloak and o
green veil, with a Idded market basket
in her lap and tremendous ear trum-
pet in her hand.
"Only deaf woman" said Colone Ell
Jones, gla2ci1g toward her.
Il Sec" observed Mr. Richmond.
I'VE need put particular restraint IN
our conversation"
"Are we all ready. drivers" shouted
Colonel Jones, who was unused to the
leisurely methods OF life in place like
Blue Station. The driver appeared to
rouse himself from a sort of doze.
II be if you be!' eaid he. "Git up,
Kate! Look out, thar, you Sorrei!'
Aud away they rolled.
Yes" said Colonel Jones, rubbing
his neatly gloved hands, cit will lie a
genuine surprise. And I meant it to
be. want to sec for myself how things
are"
"Certainly," said Mr.. Richmond,
lurching from one end of the seat to the
other, as the wheels took big stone oa
their way.
"The lad is over head and ears in
love-" said Colonel Jones.
young men will be FOOLS" observed
Mr.. Richmond, cynically.
'But a school teacher; a district
school teacher!" sighed the colonel, who
was tall and portly aud clean-shaven,
with very black eyebrows ana hair just
dashed with silver.
ga good many nice girls take to that
business" remarked Mr.. Richmond.
Mr.. Richmond was gaunt gentleman,
with hollow eyes, parchment-coIoreI
skin, and general dyspeptic air.
'Gt isn't that l desplse the trade
said Col. Jore7. You know that a.
we'll as do, r chmoEd. If the girl l:
good and pretty, Ia as soon she shou d
be school teacher as anything else.
But want my boy to lave real home
like home. My wife gave me one, and
solemnly believe it was the making O.
me. And Victor's wife must be no mere
book mac hine or wearer of fine clothes
If she can't sew, and sweep and cool
she's no fit mate for my son. Well, yol
see, have been studying the mat,
over"
Il see, said Mr.. Richmond, holdine
desperately on to the leather strap abov
his head, as tho driver guided th
wheels over a succession of stumps OF
the side of the road.
81 give them no time for prepare
tion," said the Colonel, Chuckling. "
drop down upon Miss Allen like a vol
on the fold. see just exactly what sh
is. l judge for myself. wouldn't Civ
fig for all the Latin and guitar musi
and china painting in the world if
woman can't make loaf of light
sweet bread and cook o steak. Eh2
am sure 1 beg a thousand pardOns
ma'am, "as a sudden swing of the coacl
precipitated his head against tho baske
and sent the ear trumpet rolling to tn
floor.
"Allow mel Did you want to &c
out9"
For the woman with the green vel
was making vehement gestures with he
hand to the driver. She Put up tn
trumpet with an inquiring expression Q
face.
"Did-you-want - to - get out 2
roared Col. Jones into its convolute'