Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-05-29


don't l hear as l used to?'
Nannie's face flushed. With sud-
den impulsive gesture she threw her
arms about her mother, sobbing bitter
ly. But in her mothers eyes thu
strange expression grew into q glad
light.
Don't feel so, Mamie" she said. Il
II guess I'm almost glad. I'm going
b tell your father"
Mamie went home the next day sore
y against her will. She told her hus-
band that 1t almost broke her heart
TO think Of them 90; II 1t wasn't for lit
tie Mamie she would 30 back there
and stay. but she couldn't take the
ehild-it might hurt her throat seri-
ously to have to shout to them. She
was troubled. too. for the child had .
delicate throat and she dared not take
her often to see the old folks-and they
would miss her 80!
But II was not 30 hard; her mother
spoke Of It herself and said that she
and father had talked II over, and
they knew 1t would be best not to have
the child there often. And Mamie
mustn't worry-they could get along
oil right a long a. they could hear
each other. Indeed, It seemed a. II the
bond Of suffering drew them closer To-
gether. 1t was beautiful to see the old
mans care for bis wife and his ten
derness In speaking to her. The neigh
bors who had pitisd 1t first talked Oft
en- Of It; they said they never saw two
deaf people take such comfort In each
other. Often on summer days tho two
high-pitched voices would be heard,
and the people passing would smile at
each other and sometimes linger .
little.
"'Tis kind O. social to hear Them"
they said.
So the winter passed and the sum-
mer, and then quite suddenly, one
night when the earth was lying hushed
and silent under 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
strangely 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 she called
Mamie hesitatingly.
Tell him l don't want him to speak
SOS I can hear. lit wouldn't seem
proper, somehow. It won't make any
difference to Ezra now, and I"-she
faltered moment, and tender light
came into the faded blue eyes-"I guess
be can't say anything about my hus-
band that l don't know q hundred
times better than him."
'I'll tell him, mother" said Mamie,
gently,
That was strange funeral-ths
neighbors spoke Of 1t afterwards. The
still figure that sat dead to the words
Of tender healing spoken by the minis
ter seemed to lend an element Of mys-
try to the scene, and the contrast be-
tween the darkened room and the bril-
liant, sparkling world outside, flashed
upon their eyes like a miracle.
They spoke Of it on the way home.
and said that Ezra had been a good
husband to her, and no one would fill
bis place.
Mamie means all right" Mrs. Tar.
box said, smoothing her black dress,
"but she hasn't time to set down and
make work Of entertaining her moth
er."
"'Tis So" answered Mrs. Slocum,
"and Hester'll miss entertaining Ezra,
too. 'Tain't as though she wasn't az
ficted, either way. She's young and
spry enough yet, but 1t seems most as il
it's no use"
And Mrs. Banks, all unconscious Of
the talk, was being driven over to Nam
MES. She was so quiet that her
daughter did not disturb her
Il don't feel az II knew what
to say to her, though she Is my moth
e., she whispered to her husband.
They helped her tenderly into the
house and Mamie put her into the east
est chair. From the next room a baby
voice broke in upon them.
Mamma, can | see dran'ma Nan
ME wants to see dram MAJ"
Mamie was hurrying to the door
when a voice stopped her.
LET me have Mamie, please-it's so
long since l have!"
Mamie stopped at the door, a great
wonder In her eyes.
why mother" she exclaimed.
Her mother looked up at her with .
smile.
Eyes, I know. l meant to tell you
before, but couldn't, somsways. I've
heard all the time; l was only deaf .
day or two from cold. l thought l
really was at first, and then | kept 1t
Up, because 1t comforted-him--some-
how. He'd felt be was old and broken
Town, you know, but when did, too,
he felt better and cheered right up.
There was only one thing-I did want
he baby SOL And 1t seemed as II
twoud break my heart when she did