The Irish standard., 1908-03-28

nazel-eVed child seemed of another
face. AS foreign to them, too, were
her air OF delicate refinement, her
soft voice and her gentle movements,
inheritances from a father bred out
of his proper environment. She held
wild buttercups and violets. which she
carried to her grandmother.
The old face flooded with a sudden
glory. She took the flowers in both
hands. gently pressed them to lip and
cheek, drew long whiffs of their
fragrance, turned them from side to
side. peered questioningly into their
sun filled hearts--it was pitiful the
ecstasy flower could bring to this
shut-in soul.
"Where'd you git EN-, honey?" she
asked in the thick voice of the deaf.
Instantly Viola caught up her grand
mothers crutch, bent back her foot,
and. for step or two, initiated Alvin
Carter.
"The telegrafter's boy?" the old
woman asked, with an odd light in her
eye.
VlUld uOUuGu.
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 l 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 there'll be more'n
one fly; and all fellers is sweethearts
at 15."
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 pesky cut up. 1t came after
paw died. laid awake O. nights study
in how I could talk with her like the
deaf an dumb does. One day she
asked me how Bill-that's my hus-
handsome by scar on his hand;
an drew picture of horse kickin'
q man."
Il wish you'd seen grandma ANS
face" Viola broke in. 1T was just like
today with the flowers"
after that l pictured out things
whenever I 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 a heap O. time to hunt 'em over,
an I 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 fggers 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 tho
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 'em. too, if We have to break her
head a-doin' 1t. Think O. NAV just a
settin' there, piecin' risin' sun quilts,
an settin' moon quilts. an bridal
wreath qnilts-same ole patterns
over'n over agin. Good Lord! One
risin' suns nough for the hull airth,
amt it? Well, she's made DOZEN
makes EN- for me. too. God love her!
Jest think what her life'd be If she
could read!" Sally B. almost sobbed
the last word.
A shadow fell across the doorsill
and Vic Wah appeared. mo spuds,
no licey, no salelatus fo' suppeh. You
catchee him quick"
Sally B. whirled, her eyes blazing.
Gosh dang it, Vic! Why you no tellee
me last week."
you callee me Vic Wah. Sabe"
The Chinaman's voice was as placid
as pond in July. He turned without
another look at the group and left
the room.
May go to the store for you?"
Stella asked.
"No. There's two reasons: One, I
ba1