The Red Cloud chief., 1900-12-14
Tie Unseen Singer /:
Observation-Disclosures
WAS alone in the little seaside

Il WAS alone in the little seaside
town. the solace of work being
denied me because OF the Illness
that had brought me there to seek
for health. l was desperately tired,
and my nerves were In a state that
rendered all enjoyment impossible.
I used to lie late In the mornings,
for there was nothing to do but wan
der idly on the promenade, and the
trivial pleasures of the crowd vexed
me unuttcrably because l could not
share them.
1t was only at night I realized that
possibly this irksome time of rest was
bringing me nearer to the recovery Of
my health. Then l used to wander I'M
till all but the latest Of the visitors had
loft the promenade. 1t was impossible
not to be Mt rest. The GOODNESS Of the
night, the soothing murmur of the
sea, and the shining yellow lights of a
fishing village across the bay. COM
bined to make n perfect world. and as
I watched l knew that even the garish
day might presently give me pleasure
again.
l had been perhaps a fortnight In the
place when first l saw the lady of
whom I would tell you. 1t was only
FOR a moment, as she drove past In the
company OF An older woman. but that
moments sight was enough to Ill my
thoughts until I saw her again upon
the morrow.
She was beautiful beyond all words;
I fancied she could hardly have passed
the age Of twenty; and speech and
hearing had been denied her. She had
the Innocent gladness that remains
while they are yet young with some
who are thus afflicted. She looked
upon the world with beautiful bright
eyes. and, In despite of fate. was well
pleased to be alive.
But she vas talking with her fingers
to the elder lady. her companion, In
whose eyes as they looked on the girl
l saw an Infinite pity expressed.
That pity instantly invaded my W
heart. though Its object was gone out
OF my sight within a few seconds of
her appearance; and. despite the fact
that i knew not so much as her name,
there was mixed with the pity IA sense
Of angry rebellion against the fates
who had thus afflicted her, wantonly
robbing OF Its value a generosity that,
through her, might otherwise have
gladdened the wide world.
NOW. more than ever, l regretted my
loneliness, for l had no one from whom
i might expect to gather any informa.
iion or my gaining the privilege of her
acquaintance. l made some futile In.
quiries at the hotel, and only got so
far as to be almost certain she was,
like myself, "A visitor.
On the next day. mt about the same
hour' the carriage passed along the
length of the promenade. She was
still innocently glad to be alive. con.
rent to accept her burden so II II We're
no burden ut all; II was with smiles
h looked into the plying eyes of her
companion. and l could fancy thai the
messages h was conveying with
swiftly moving fingers were humorous
appropriations of what she saw around
My earlier questions had been al.
dressed to Il quaint. elderly waiter al
the hotel, a man who had In some Sol;
made II his especial task to see to my
well-being, and who was the nearest
approach to a friend l possessed with
In a hundred miles OF the place. Il
happened that i was lunching at tn,
open window one day when the car
riage passed, n little earlier than usual
THAT Is the lady OF whom l wa,
speaking" l said to him.
He looked out of the window will
quick interest, "a dear little maid.
1 may say so. Yes, and the poor dea
Is deaf and dumb; she's talkin' upoi
her fingers. Well, l thought from wha
you told me that they must be stranp
ers In these parts and so they are.
don't even know the horses nor tn
carriage"
Thus passed several days. I bega
TO find myself vastly better, and, wit
the growth Of energy, TO look forwar
pleasurably TO the time when | shout
return TO my work in London.
My good friend, the waiter, had SUI,
ceeded, much to his delight, In gettin
me to go for numerous drives throug
the lovely country that surrounds Il