The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-12-12
;The UnsRen Singer

~ Uh US .
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
/ n WAS alone in the little seaside
81 town, the solace of work being
a. denied me because Of the illness
chat had brought me there to seek.
( for health. I was desperately tired,
and my nerves were. in state that
rendered all enjoyment impossible.
I used to lie late in the mornings.
( for there was nothing to do but wan
q der idly on the promenade. and the
triyial pleasures of the crowd vexed
me nnutterably because I could not
5 ahare them.
1t was only at night realized that
,;83ossibly this irksome time Of rest was
sbrirglng me nearer to the recovery of
1nv| health. Then used to wander un-
ail but the latest Of the visitors had
the promenade. 1t was impossible
4 not 10 be at rest. The eoolness Of the
might, the soothing murmur of the
and the shining yellow lights Of a
fishing village @across the bay, COM
6ilied to make perfect world, and as
.ss,gI matched I knew that even the garish
day might presently give ME pleasure
'Sagaln. .'i ri
4 had been perhaps fortnight in the
spiace when first saw the lady Of
whom I wAuld tell you. 1t was only
for q moment, as she drove past in the
sSeonpany Of an older woman. but that
moments sight was enough to fill my
thoughts until saw her again upon
q the morrow.
She was beautiful beyond all words;
q fancied she could hardly have passed
4 the age Of twenty; and speech and
hearfng had been denied her. She had
g the innocent gladness that remains
while theyta are yet young with some
{. who are thus afflicted. She looked
Upon the world with beautiful bright
eyes, Sand, in despite of fate, was well
& pleased TO be alive.
But she was talking with her fingers
~ ~ to the elder lady, her Sompanion, in
whose eyesNas they locked on the girl
& 4 saw an infinite pity expressed.
That pity instantly invaded my own
heart, though It's object was gone out
OF my sight within few seconds of
her appearance; and, despite the fact
z That j knew not so much as her name.
Ii there was mixed with the pity q sense
of angry rebellion against the fates
who had thus afflicted her, wantonly
rohbing Of its value. a generosity that
Sxhrpugh her, might otherwise have
b glad ddened the wide world.
Now, more than ever, i regretted my
Hone eliness, for had no one from whom
4 might expect to gather any informa.
tipn of my gaining the privilege of her
acquaintance. I made some futile in
\ quiries ut the hotel, and only; got so
II Far as to be almost certain she was,
q like myself, a visitor.
I On the next day, at about the same
y hour, the carriage passed along the
length Of the promenade. She was
gsttn innocently glad to be alive, con-
tent to, accept her: burden so if it were
no burden at all; it was with smiles
she looked into the pitying. eyes of her
sg eompanion, and i could fancy that the
messages she was conveying with
swiftly moving fingers were humorous
precautions Of what she saw around
i her. .......'. -.
ssSM My earlier questions had been ad.
dressed to a quaint, elderly waiter at
the hotel, a man who had in some sort
smadeit his especial task to see to my
wel-being, and who was the nearest
approach to q friend possessed with
in g hundred miles of the place. It
happened that I was iunching at the
open window one day when the car
rtage passed, a little earlier than usual.
That is the lady of whom I was
speakings" T said to him.
s He looked out of the window with
y quick interest. "a dear little maid, If
may say so. Yes. and the poor dear
is deaf and dumb; she's talkin' upon
her fingers. Well, thought from what
4 you told me that they must be strang.
& sers in these parts and so they are. |
p don't eyen know the horses nor the
carriage" ......e ~
# Thus passed several days. I began
: 20 find myself vastly better, and, with
: thAgrowth of energy, to look forward
pleasuEably to the time when 1 should
Nfurn to my work in London.
&#A1y good friend. the waiter, had sue
Meeded, much toshis delight, in getting
Yme to go for numerous drives through
the lovely country that surrounds the
watering place. I had even, on divers
occasions, set forth on foot and ex
plored the coast and the inland lanes
for myself.
> I went alone, but I never felt thu
absence of companions, for my expedi
/, tions always took place before OF aftel
I the hour at which she might be ex
pected to pass along the busy prom
tenade, and so my thoughts were al
ways busy, whether with anticipation
Or remembrance.
Never once did she fail me; neve
Spce did her affliction seem to ma tn
eautifuI gayety Of her mood. 1t ap
AIRED that she saw and epioYed eyar;