The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-12-29
AN AUTUMN EPISODE
loriglnai.l

ham inn, located I'm a lovely country
dotted here and there with handsome
summer cottages. 1 did not arrive till
October was half spent and the regu-
lar summer boarders had gone back to
town and were doubtless hard Mt work
again. Morning and evening there
were blazing logs in the great fireplace
In the main hall, where the hotel Office
was located, but during the middle Of
the day artificial heat was unneces-
sary.
l was very indolent. 1 sat most of
the day at the window in this office
room. looking out on the white hard
road over which occasionally bowled
a carriage. Beyond the road were
woods looking for all the world as IL q
painter had dabbed them with different
colors. Above the woods was the blue
Sky. 1 say the blue sky because dur
Ing my stay it was seldom hidden by
clouds. In a leather covered easy chair
1 sat and looked at the road, the car
riages, the variegated wood and the
blue sky.
One day carriage passed in which
sat an old gentleman and IL young girl.
The girls was one of those serious
faces that are seldom seen in young
people--thc face of one who cndures or
has endured some great grief The
eyes were large, and in them one
might see in connection With other fea-
lures of tho face II marvellous depth of
feeling, an unusual strength Of char
I hn,.
pairing her with one who lives under a
physical blight. such as being deaf and
dumb or blind. However, the carriage
quickly passed, and these impressions
which 1 have given at length were but
mOmentary.
The next day at the same hour
about o'clock in the afternoon-the
same carriage with the same occupants
drove by again. This time revelation
was given me. The girl ana tie old
gentleman were speaking the sign Ian
guTge for deaf mutes with their fingers.
/ was surprised ut how hard hit / was
by the discovery. had felt sure some
physical blight was on the poor girl,
but hoped that 1t might be something
less than this-a lamencss, a withered
arm.S But not to hear the sound of
voices, to be deprived of all sweet
sounds, especially those conveying
sympathy--it is terrible.
After that used to take my seat ut
the window every day shortly before 3
o'clock, and the carriage with the old
gentleman and my sad faced deaf mute
usually went 10y. asked the clerk of
the hotel IL he knew who they were.
He gave me name and said they
drove every day to the house cf n rela-
tive-an old woman. This is all the
information he could give me. AS the
season progressed and It grew colder
the driving became less frequent and
before the LIST of November ceased.
One day, buttOning light overcoat
about me, 1 went out for a walk. I
kept the road for awhile, then struck
Into the woods. The summer was long
dying. Usually at the time in that 10
cality there is nothing green left ex-
cept the cedars and some vines. Now
the naples were yellow and red, the
oaks were a faded green, the chestnuts
were withered, but the leaves still
hung to the trees. The ground was
strcwn with acorns, hickory nuts and
chestnut burs. Most Of the burs had
been opened, but by hunting about,
pushing the dead leaves aside. would
come upon n fat nut. On
coming to an opening l looked out on
an expansive view lying below. The
trees through which 1 gazed, their yel-
low leaves gilded by the afternoon
sun, We're II fitting frame for the pic
ture. The landscape itself was bathed
In the same autumn light, and was
screened by thin mist-a garment
finer than the finest lace that nature
puts on when about to retirc for her
winter nap.
Vaulting :. stone wall, descended
slope, kicking the leaves-as l love to
my way toward rustic
bridge. but seeing traces Of nuts under
trees I was passing / yielded to
a childish propensity to gather few.
was busy at this when heard voices
behind me and, turning. saw my girl
of the carriage with several children.
She WAS looking at me with those ex-
eyes as much rs to ask, "What
are you doing here?" realized that /
was in private grounds and wished
apologize, but, alas, did not know
the sign language.
Are you finding any nuts"
The words came like an angels voice
out of the sky. Gould it he possible
that they had been spoken by my deaf
mute? I was too surprised, too de-
lighted, to take any notice OF what had
been said I me, though my hat came
Off instinctively.
Can 1t be possible that I am tres
passing" i said ut last.
"These are private group1s, but you
are quite welcome. In summer, when
the country Is full of peop.n, we put up
sign, but now it's little lonely here,
n MI tIr<