Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-13
By OWEN OLIVER

' not hear
 "I am blind!" shouted. Blind! And deaf! Hold me, some one-Some- one!"
 I heard no call, and no answer. groped wildly in the darkness, and met other hands that were groping too. seized some one by the shoulder, and others seized me. Their hands twitched convulsively. They were crying out as was. l knew by touching their open mouths and faces contorted with fright.
 It Is possible that tainted, but was held up on my feet by the pressure of the crowd. for seemed to lose myself for time and to come back to myself in swaying. clutching mass of un- seen, unheard people. felt sick and almost suffocated, and tried vainly to push my way out, till the crowd was scattered by plunging horse which brushed against me >as 1t passed. I took a few hurried steps and found myself somewhere-alone! I was more afraid of the loneliness than had been of the crowd.
 Presently when had gone some way two hands ciutched my legs. They were such small hands that ! did not fear them greatly I stopped down, and felt small child lying on the lap of a woman. The woman's hair was loose and hanging over her face. l thought she was young. She shivered at my touch. but sat down beside her. She laid my hand on the child as if she appealed to me for help. 1 felt it's mouth moving, as if it cried for some thing. invented an alphabet and spelt out message with taps upon her shoulder; one tap for A, two for B, and so on, but she put my hand to her head to feel that she shook 1t. could tell by the way she held my hand that she did not mean to refuse my friend ship, but to show that she could not understand my signs. s.
 I plucked at her sieeve tosrise and come with me, and she came. She was scarcely able to stand. so took the child from her and carried 1t.
 She felt the texture of my clothing carefully and my scarf and watch chain and even my hankerchief. She evidently wanted to know what man. ner of man was. Apparently she was satisfied, for she held gently to my sleeve when she had finished her in- spection.
 After a few minutes I took her hand and tried my alphabet again; and this time she understood and answered. This was the conversation, spelt out slowly, letter for letter:
 I. Friend.
 She. Friend. Nj
 I. John Carter. F-r-i-e-n-d.
 She. Yes. Friend. A-l-i-c-e Thorn. What i-s 1t?
 I. Don't know. ..
 She. Shall We die?
 l. Don't know.
 She. What s-h-a-l-l We d-o?
 l. Find y-o-u-r- home.
 We were very hungry, and at last we met some policemen who under stood our new language. One of them took us to an eating-house. I offered him money, but he refused.
 Mousse" he tapped. End o-f world"
 We had a good meal and lay down to sleep in an inner room.
 In the morning-if 1t were morning when we awoke we found a basket, filled 1t with food and bottles of water, and started again.
 q am happy now" Alice spell ed out. I began to spell out an answer, but the letters would not come quick ly enough for her and suddenly she caught at me and wrote with her in- ger on my cheek. could read the writing easily, and 1t was much quick CT than the taps. We were so pleased with our quicker conversation that we stood still writing on one another's faces as fast as our fingers would move we always used this way after ward)
 We discussed at length the calamity which had come upon the world, and perhaps I concluded. "it is a sort ot fog over New York. Shall we try to reach the country?"
 ''I will do whatever you tell me-" she wrote back.
 Tell me just what you are like" I wrote. What is the color of your hair! How old are your
 'I shall not tell you" she wrote, because if you like me now. per hsps you would not then. If the sun never rises again can look just as you like me 10 look. and be just as old as you visa Now shall we go ony
 We walked on for long time, and at last ve came to some railings As ve felt our way by them we met a woman coming along In the other a. rection- We felt one another with cur hanis and accepted acqnai-tzace- sss was a veTy intelligent lady and unie-. stood our writing
 -it Is UEsoa Square" shs wrote; T am looking f0- my son He ws1- out for some provisions and h.s ret come back Have yoa net himz~
 No I aazvere5- Can ve s,esp sny-scre.-
 Ny Loase.- she e=eTsd. and took us there
 ; Wa ssayed v5sA neu tor txp 1NA
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