Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-08-27
THIRTY YEARS LOVE

When pretty Hester Warren married
Ezra Banks, who was 20 years older than
she and "a shy, silent man out of touch
with village lie, everybody said that she
made a mistake that she would soon re-
greet.
Yet, though village eyes kept koenest
watch upon them, village prophecy was
for once at fault.
Indeed after Mamie, their only child,
married and left homo it seemed as if tho
pages of life had blown back for them and
they were once more lovers and the world
was for them alone.
That was before Ezra had typhoid fever.
Through his long illness his wife nursed
him tenderly, but he came from it a bro
ken down old man, with his ears forever
sealed to all the common sounds to which
his life had been set. In a few weeks he
was about again as well as ever apparent
ly save for the sealed ears. One afternoon
she found him sitting in the big wooden
chair in the kitchen, studying his old,
smile>as she came in.
"1m most broken up, Hester, " he said.
YOU'RE young yet-you can see and hear
just as you ulster, but lin an old man,
Hester. You've been a good girl, and
we've had a happy life together, but /
didn't calculate for you to be tied up to an
old a I've got to thinking about 1t
lately, and sometimes l think folks was
right and it hadn't orter BEEN"
Ezra, y she cried, and the appeal in her
voice carried it with clear distinctness to
him. Ezra, have l ever said or done any
thing to make you feel so?"
"God knows you haven't, Hester, " he
said earnestly.
"And, Ezra, If anything should happen
to me-if I should be sick or helpless
would you love me less9 Would youp"
A change came over the old man. 1t
seemed for an instant that the face of his
youth looked back at her. eff is wasn't
for your suffering, Hester, l wish you
could see, y he said almost pa%ssiOnately.
1t was a few weeks after this that Hes
ter caught a severe cold. She was in bed
for several days, and Mamie had her hus-
band and child to care for, and her mother
would not let her stay long. They'll be
needing you'll can get along now" she
said,
II guess they can get along without me
4 little while longer" answered Mamie.
"What did you say?"
Mamie looked alarmed. She raised her
voice and spoke with careful emphasis. 81
guess they can get along without me a
little while, " she repeated.
Her mother looked up suddenly, and a
strange expression came into her eyes.
She spoke with curious eagerness.
49,. . -l---s .lIAzll A..- l-.px
I hear as I used tor
Nannie's face flushed. With a sudden
impulsive gesture she threw her arms
about her mother, sobbing bitterly. But
in her mothers eyes the strange express
sion grew into a glad light.
Don't feel SO, Mamie" she said. Ct
l guess I'm almost glad. I'm going to
tell your father"
Indeed it seemed as if the bond Of suffer
ing drew them closer together. 1t was
beautiful to see the old mans care for his
wife and his tenderness in speaking to her.
The neighbors who had pitied at first
talked often of it. They said they never
saw two deaf people take such comfort In
each other.
So the winter passed and the summer,
and then quite suddenly one night when
the earth was lying husbed and silent I'M
der a soft fall of snow the old man passed
from the silence of his life into the greater
silence that is beyond the reach Of human
voice.
The neighbors for miles around came to
the funeral, and the house was full OF
grave, decorous whispers, broken strange
ly when any one spoke to the wife. She
was pale and silent. Only once did she
speak of anything that she wanted done
and then called Mamie hesitatingly.
"Tell him l don't want him to speak
SOS l can hear. lit wouldn't seem
proper somehow. 1t won't mike any diff
ference to Ezra now, and r. She fall
tered a moment, and tender light came
into the faded blue eyes. II guess he
can't say anything about my husband
that / don't know a hundred times better
than him."
Mrs. Banks was driven to Nannie's. She
war SO quiet that her daughter did not
disturb her. ~ don't feel as II ! knew
what to say to her, though she 10 my
mother" she whispered to hef husband.
They helped her tenderly into the house,
and Mamie put her into the easiest chair.
From the next room a baby voice broke In
upon them.
mamma, can ! sue dranmas Mamie
wants to see dranma!'
Mamie was hurrying to the door when
a voice stopped her. "Iet me have Nan
nile, pleass-it's SO long since I havef''
Mamie stopped at the door, a great
wonder in her eyes. why, motherl' she
exclaimed.
Her mother looked up at her with 9 lit
Ito tremulous smile.
"Yes, / know. meant to tell you be-
fore, but l couldn't someways. I've heard
all the time. I was only deaf o day or two
from cold. l thought l really was at first,
and then / kept it up because 1t comfort
ed-him-somehow.
"And you kept " upall these moDthsl"
said Mamie IA. a hushed tone.
II guess whsn you've loved . man more
than 80 years that isn't much 10 do" she
said.-Paci1c Rural Press.
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