Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-01-26
TWO DEAF MUTES.

OSSdi W "Oih liiSu iIISSiS III lllS Sisi
language OF deaf mutes. They were well
dressed. gentlemanlike fellows, and it was
evident from the rapldity with which they
talked with their hands that they could
neither hear nor speak.
''Isn't it pity, Grace ?" said one Of
the girls TO the other, "that these young
men are deaf muteS ?"
"And so handsome too 70
The words were spoken in too low a
tone for their vis-a-vis to hear, even il
they had been endowed with hearing, for
the girls could not quite feel sure OF their
condition. AS the train got under way,
making more and more of a rattle, the
girls gained confidence and raised their
voice. Since no heed was paid to them
by the young men, no matter what they
said, they finally became used to speak
ing IN their natural voices.
"lsn't it funny, Belle" said Grace, "to
be talking about people before their faces
and they not being able to hear word p
There's fascination about it," re
piled the other. "Do you know, am
possessed with desire to say something
wouldn't have them hear for the uni
verse;"
"Why so ?"
"Oh, on account OF the novelty of the
thing Didn't you ever say all sorts o
things to some deaf person ?"
eyes, indeed. My aunt Margaret is
deaf as post. delightto call her names
right under her nose"
(Which do you think the handsomer OF
the two men ?"
THE one with the blue eyes and light
hair"
"iie hasn't a mustache. You know
what they say about kissing man with
out muStache-like eating an egg with
out salt"
81 wouldn't mind kiss from him even
il he has no mustache."
AT that moment the two young men
ceased their silent communication, and
the one with blue eyes, light hair and no
mustache looked through the window.
His companion was seized with slight
coughing and put his handkerchief to his
mouth. But in few minutes they were
wriggling their fingers again.
"For my par" SAID Grace, al prefer
the one with that soft black beard. !
think beard that has not long grown is
very becoming TO young man."
"Why don't you tell him so loud enough
for him to hear ou-that is, if he wasn't
deaf as a manikin ?"
"Do you dare me ?"
"Dare YOU? 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 hear Not
being able to hear, they can't learn how
to talk
as that it ?"
Eyes"
"Well, 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 at each other and
laughed. II was great fun to be able TO
talk this way TO two nice-looking young
men who couldn'thear a word they were
saying. Nor could they help looking at
the subjects OF their remarks TO note the
absolutely unconscious look on their faces.
Then the conductor came around TO
take up tickets, 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:
"How would it 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
WoutuIl near you.
"Well, then, Pm going to do il just for
fIn."
Don't"
"Why not ?"
ooh, it seems as if they ought TO hear
us, even if they doa't."
"Do you suppose if they had heard
what we had said about them they could
help showing it ?"
"Of course not"
"WelI, then, what are you afraid of ?"
'l'm not afraid. Young gentlemen, we
are very much pleased with your appear
ance. We live at 81 North Adams street.
We would be very glad 10 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 TO
have found new subject of mutual in
tereSt.
"What would be the use of their COM
ing TO see us?" said Belle. "They
couldn't talk TO us nor we to them"
"Perhaps they carry states TO write
messages on"
When the train stopped at the station
where all were TO alight one of the young
men said TO the other in sonorous bass
voice:
"Goodby, Redmond. III meet YOU at
5 at your room."
The girls went home in carriage, US
ing smelling salts by the way.
The time came when the young men
made the girls acquaintance and the call
as well, but il was all done without refer
ence to their first meeting.
Willie's mother took him down to Dux-
bury TO stay over the holidays. On the
eacond nioht che said t0 him CHOW