The Marshall republican., 1911-05-19
TWO DEAF
MUTES
By NOBLE K. wETHERElL
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

Bh's seaeeu themselves tnan tue young
men begun to work their fingers In the
sign language Of deaf mutes. They
were well dressed. gentlemanllke Eel.
lows, and It was evident from the rap
idity with which they talked with their
hands that they could neither hear nor
speak.
isn't II a pity. Grace7" said one. of
the girls to the other. shat these
young men are deaf mutesT'
SAnd so handsome. too!"
The words were spoken In too low q
tome for their vis-a-vis to hear, even IL
they had been endowed with hearing,
f4r the girls could not quite feel sure
~ their condition. As the train got
uhder way. making more and more of
q rattle. the girls gained confidence
md raised their voice.. Since no heed
Mas paid to them by the young men.
20 matter what they said. they finally
ecamc used to speaking in their natu.
voices.
isn't Il funny. Belle" said Grace,
10 be talking about people before their
aces and they not being able to hear
Q word7'
"There's a fascination about it. re.
piled the other. do you know. I am
Possessed with a desire to say some.
thing ! wouldn't have them hear for
the universe"
"Why so?''
"Oh. on account OF the novelty Of the
thing. Didn't you ever say all sorts Of
things to some deaf person7"
Eyes, indeed My aunt Margaret In
deaf ns n post. I delight 10 call her
names right under her nose"
(which do you think the handsomer
of the two mcn7'
The one with the blue eyes and
light hair"
"He hasn't n mustache. You know
what they say about kissing q man
without n mustache-like eating an
egg without salt"
II wouldn't mind n kiss from him
even if he has no mustache."
At that moment the we young men
ceased their silent communication. and
che one with blue eyes. light hnlr and
III tVVAtt titohAh Nv wa
dow. His companion was seized with
slight coughing and put his handker.
chief to his mouth. But In a few
minutes they were wriggiing their I'm.
gers again.
"For my part" said Grace. II pre-.
fer the one with that soft black beard
think q beard that has not long
grown IL very becoming to a young
man"
"why don't you tell him so loud
enough for him 10 hear you-that In. II
he wasn't deaf as a manikinY'
"Do you dare met"
''Dare your There's nothing to dare.
Don't you know that the reason these
people can't talk Is that they are born
without the slightest ability to hear1
Not being able to hear. they can't learn
how 10 talk"
els That III"
Eyes"
swell. Mr.. Man. your black beard Is
very becoming. and you with blue eyes
my friend wouldn't mind your kissing
her"
Then the girls looked ut each other
and laughed. II wal great fun to be
able to talk this way to W nice look.
ing young men who couldn't hear n
: word they were saying. Nor could
\ they help looking ut the subjects Of
their remarks to note the absolutely
I unconscious look on their faces.
Then the conductor came around TO
take up ticketa. and the girls saw
that the young mems were for the
same station as their own. When the
conductor had passed Grace said to
Belle:
"Bow would II do to ask them to
come and see us tonight?"
"You can ask them what you like. II
won't make any difference. Indeed.
you might screech In their ears and
they wouldn't hear you"
swell. then. I'm going to do II just
Cor fun"
Don't"
~Why notf"
~Oh. It seems as II they ought TO
hear US, even IL they don't"
"Do you suppose II they had heard
what we had said about them they
could help showing 1T"
-Of course not"
-Weli, then. what are you afraid Off
I'm not afraid. Young gentlemen.
I've are very much pleased with your
appearance. We live at 81 North
Adams street We would be very glad
20 have you call upon us this evening"
She said all this looking straight at
her friend. The young mems fingers
were going like lightning. They seemed
70 have found q new subject OF mutual
interest.
/ "what would be the use or their
coming to see u.s." said Belle. They
couldn't talk to n nor we to them"
Perhaps they snrry states TO write
messaScr on"
When the train stopped mt the station
where all were to alight one OF the