The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-02
THE UNSEEN SINGER.

place when first saw the lady of whom
would tell you. 1t was only for mo
ment, as she drove past In the company
an older woman, but that moments sigh
was enough to I'll my thoughts until
saw her again upon the morrow. She wal
beautiful beyond all words; fancied sh,
could hardly have passed the ago of 30
and speech and hearing had been denied
her. She had the innocent gladness that
remains while they are yet young with
some who are afflicted. She looked upon
tho world with beautiful bright eyes and,
in despite of fate, was well pleased to be
alive. But she was talking with her fin
gers to the elder lady, her companion, In
whose eyes, as they looked on the girl, I
saw an infinite pity expressed.
That pity instantly invaded my own
heart, though its object was gone out of
my sight within few seconds of her up.
pearance, and, despite the fact that
knew not so much as her name, there was
mixed with tho pity a sense Of angry re-
belllon against tho fates that had thus
afflicted her. wantonly robblng of its value
a generosity that, through her, might
otherwise have gladdened the wide world.
l could not refrain from laughter at tho
emotions go suddenly aroused In me.
might have been her lover, and this in
ability to hear or to speak a calamity quite
newly fallen upon her.
Now, more than ever, regretted my
loneliness for bad no ono from whom l
might expect to gather any information
as to her identity, nor was there any hope
| of my gaining the privilege Of her ac-
quaintancs l made some futile inquiries
at the hotel, and only got so far as to be
almost certain she was, like myself, WIS.,
| itor.
On the next day, at about the same
hour, the carriage passed along tho length
of the promenade. She was still Innocent
ly glad to be alive, content to accept her
burden as If 1t were no burden at all. 1t
was with smiles she looked into the pity
ing eyes Of her companion, and / could
fancy that the messages she was conveying
with swiftly moving fingers We're humor-
Gus appropriations Of what she saw around
her.
My earlier questions had been addressed
to quaint, elderly waiter at the hotel o
man WHO had In some sort made 1t his
especial tusk to sec to mywell being, and
who was the nearest approach to friend
possessed within hundred miles of the
place. 1t happened that was lunching at
the open window one day when tho car
riage passed, n little earlier than usual.
"That Is the lady of whom was speak.
ing" said to him.
He looked out of the window with quick
interest "a dear little maid, If may say
so. Yes, and the poor dear is deaf and
dumb. She's talking upon her fingers.
Well thought from what you told me they
must DO strangers in these parts, and SO
they are. l don't even know the horses
nor tho carriage"
Thus passed period of several days. I
began to find myself vastly better, and
with the growth of energy to look forward
pleasurably to the time when l should re-
turn to my work In London. My good
friend tho waiter had succeeded, much to
his delight, IN getting me to go for nu-
merous drives through the lovely country
that surrounds the watering place. had
even, on divers occasions, set forth on foot
and explored the coast and the inland
lanes for myself. went alone, but new
er felt the absence of companions for my
after the hour at which she might be ex-
pceted to pass along the promenade, and
so my thoughts were always busy, whether
with anticipation or remembrance
Never once did she fail me; never once
did her afiliction seem to mar the beauti-
full gayety Of her mood. 1t appeared that
she saw and enjoyed every little thing that
cculd be seen, nor was 1t altogether
ic fh,,t i.
whether she had begun to notice the fact
that u certain sallow invalid was always
idling on the promenade at the hour when
she drove by.
had come to understand the routine of
their daily outing. They were manfostly
living somewhere to tho west of the town.
Every day they went through the inland
lanes at tho back of it until they were
mile or two to the east, and then, descend
ing seward, drove home by the promenade
and the road that skirts the sea.
Now ono day, with no set purpose that !
would have confessed even to myself, ! |
took tho western road and went into the |
country. The road lies for some distance |
betwiXt low hills and the southern sea; at |
first the suns heat was intoerablo, but |
gradually one mounted higher, and then
the sunlight was but the fit accompGni- |
mont Of the lively wind that blew from |
the sea. So went forward in the best Of |
spirits until had come to tho edge of a
great valley that runs from tho sea.
Some dozen Or so cottages and little
pier stood at the margin of tho sea. In
land fow houses were seen among their !
fruitful orchards. But at the edge Of tho
slope thoro was littlospacc of wild wood,
and this, as l looked across tho flower
grown hedge, tempted me to rest.
climbed the intervening barrier and lay
down in the shelter Of little oak tree.
Tho sunlight flooded II wealth of braclon, |
foxglovos and golden harvest weed l
lounged at ease, content TO watch stray
butterflies that went lpXily from flower to
flower
1t may be slept Certainly was long
time under the oak before became aware
that was not the only occupant of the
wood. Some one was singing softly, and
I could hcnr footsteps moving slowly
through the fern. l could tell by the sound
that the newcomer was stopping here and
there to pick flowers
Now, had enjoyed tho solitude, but
even at the first the person who was com.
ing toward Inc did not strike ms as nn in
truder, Her singing was in absolute con.
cord with my mood; 1t was us if one had
thought Of poem, and u moment later
found ones self humming the melody
that would make Of It n perfect song. l
lay and waited, and the singer came
nearer
The song ceased when sho presently up
peared. She was little startled, but not
near so much as l.
"Then you are not dumbr' cried in.
voluntarily, as started to my feet.
She hesitated, and little smile played
about the corners Of her pretty mouth.
ut Is my aunt who Is dumb" she sud
Then, with sudden recovery of her dig
nifty, II don't know why you should ask"
But that was matter had no great
difficulty in explaining ere came back to
London the happicst man on Gods Garth.
Tychnnun