The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-02-20

lOld ilOuuVu'
Here they be, child. You mustn't
give away yer sweetheart's posy gift"
Viola's cheek tint deepened; but
she laughed, pushing back the old
hand that offered the blossoms.
Cit tumbler of water vi, SOS
they won't wilt her mother com
manded.
As soon as Viola vanished, Sally B.
began the most remarkable gesture
speech Stella had ever seen. 1t was
meaningless to her, yet the old dame
evidently understood it,
mo sweethearts? That pretty gal?"
The old eyes cleaned young again.
Another series of gyrations.
/ TOO young ter marry? She's older'n
you was; though do low she's pow
erful little"
Sally BIS movements were more en-
phatic.
"Sho, Sally; she mustn't marry that
leetle cripple, to be shore. But
where there's honey therell be more'n
one fly; and all fellers is sweethearts
at IS"
Viola came in with the water and
pushed up "lightstand," leaving
| grandma am with her flowers.
do tell me- Mrs. Sally, how you
make her understand. It's wonderful"
Yes; folks thinks it's right peart.
| Poor grandma'am she can't read!
Sally B. paused and gazed sorrowfully
! at the old woman. They want no
chance O. learnin to read in Oregon in
the twenties SO when she got stun deaf
l was pesliy cut up. 1t came after
paw died. | laid awake o. nights study
in how | could talk with her like the
deaf an dumb does. One day she
| asked me how Bill-that's my hus-
band-come by a scar on his hand
( an drew a picture of a horse kickin'
a man"
Il wish you'd seen grandma ANS
face, Viola broke in. 1T was just like
/ to-day with the flowers"
After that l pictured out things
whenever l could git the time-rough
| o course; can't draw none-but sort
| of one-line things she'd see the mean
in OF. Bime-by they got so many it
took heap O. time to hunt 'em over,
| an hit on the idee of putin numbers
on EN-. She larned the numbers; an
now when we want to tell her any
thing we just call off the figgers on
our fingers. One wave OF both hands
is ten, two waves is 20 an so on; an
the one, two, threes we do with our
fingers"
How astonishing! May | see your
picture alphabet" Stella asked
Certain" Sally B. brought out the
crude drawing. "Of course, all the
easy things, sech as eatin sleepin'
laughin cryin', we just act out" The
lightning panorama on Sally BIS face
showed that her mother had some
things to be thankful for.
Stella you make Viola read them
kind o books you have read, an under
stand EN-, too, if ye have to break her
head a-doin' it, Think O NAV just a
settin there piecin risin' sun quilts,
an settin moon quilts, an bridal
wreath quilts-same ole patterns
over'n over agin. Good Lord One
risin' suns nough for the huh airth,
amt it? Well she's MADE a dozen
makes EN- for me, too, God love her!
Jest think what her lifed be If she
could read" Sally b. almost sobbed
the last word.
A shadow fell across the doorsill
and Vic Wah appeared. No spuds
no licey, no salelatus 70 suppeh. You
catchee him quick"
Sally B. whired, her eyes blazing
Gosh dang it, Vie! Why you no tellee
me last week."
You ca!lee me Vic Wah. Sabe?'
The Chinaman's voice was as placid
as a pond in July. He turned without
another look at the group and LEFT
the room,
May 1 go to the store for your
Stella asked,
NO, There's two reasons: One,
cant have WIS teacher doin common
crrants; the other, that Gid'll be leay
in his wurk an runnin' after YOU
She parted the drapery at the bach
of a barrel chair and drew her hal
and Jacket from under the seat
Though it was warm, Sally b. dressed
for business as carefully as she played
every other part in life.
I'm have to give Gideon some les
sons, too, | think" Stella said hal
aside.
You've give him too many already
say, Stella, I'm right sorry | tuck hin
on at the bar He's goin tC mai'
trouble for ye, specially if ye git par
tia to any other feller | think-"
Some fellee likee see Missee Stel
la" interrupted Vic Wah, poling hii
yellow face through the doorway
"Stlange man-me no sabe."
Stella followed him into the marrow
hall and out on the porch
"Oh. Uncle Billy I'm so glad!"
1t was almost as if her father stoor
before her, She threw her arms aroun'
his neck and kissed him or eacl
cheek
The old driver was speeehless Will
delight. II he could only have beeI
her father Yet this was the next bes
thing She loved him! She had klsse'
him!
Stella dew him into the hall, looke'
him up and down, patted his har-
! took OF his hat and peered into hi
face, trying to see ii he was quit
: well, the same Uncle Billy she ha
known so long, ever since that woE
7 derful Journey across the mountains