The herald., 1917-12-20


itself was incapable Of wagging. She
was pretty and she was young. hut her
dumbneSs and her very Somber and
demure mode of dressing were pro-
lection against SANDER or less mali
cious gossip.
More than if Mardy had expressed
herself in words, did the congressman
make a habit of studying her face,
and before many months had passed
there was need for very little tablet
writing in their conversation. He
could detect in the most minute varia-
ton of expression her meaning, and
this constant studying of her face
came to be as much Il pleasure TO him
as anything else that made up his
busy days.
Then, as spring came on, the con-
gresham became more tEan ordinarily
pensive. Even ut the capitol ii was
commented on that Pragg had some
cause to worry, and Mardy's most in
During and sympathetic look of en-
treaty did not draw his secret from
his lips.
One day when Mardy arrived in the
morning, she found the congressman
already at his desk-something entire
ly unprecedented-and Mardy seemed
TO know when she first caught his
glance, that at last the time had come
for her to know his secret care.
II have something to tell YOU" he
began, abruptly, not looking at her
though he usually studied her face
with such keen interest. II have Sc.
cured the services of one of the great
est of throat specialists-Doctor Spig-
genheim-perhapS you have heard OF
him. He is coming down to Washing
ton as special concession. He'll be
here this morning. / want him TO eX-
anime your vocal cords, and see if
something cannot be done for them.
your dumbness hasn't affected your
hearing or any of your other senses"
Had the congressman been watch
ing Mardy's face then he might have
seen that she started and then turned
perceptibly paler. She made no writ
ten reply or acknowledgment of her
gratitude to her would-be benefactor,
and they were both uncommunicative
for the rest of the morning.
At Mardy's written request she saw
the great specialist alone, and then
the specialist saw the congressman
alone, and then the congressman, hav-
ing handed the specialist his thousand
dollar fee, saw Mardy alone.
The congressman looked pensive
and grave. Very tenderly and, trying
to conceal his own disappointment. he
told Mardy of the specialists verdict
that, strangely enough, Mardy's
| speechlessness was ipcurable. This
| time the congressman studied Mardy's
face, but it showed nothing save q
studied immobility.
They both tried to 60 back to the
work of the day, but unsuccessfully
and then the congressman broke the
silence. "Fll have to tell you what is
worrying me-ahd torturing me-" he
said. "Tll tell you, and then you can
decide what we ought to do. Mardy,
| want to marry you. l had never
thought of marrying before, and
don't want to make you my wife un-
less 1t is going to make you happier
l am tortured with the doubt wheth.
er your infrmity wouldn't be such q
handicap in your life as my wife, with
all the social duties that it would be
bound to bring you, that we would
both be unhappy because Of II. l had
hoped Spiggenheim would be able to
hold out hope, but he tells me there
is none. Mardy, what shall l do?"
There was short pause, and then
in a soft, low voice, Mardy answered
his question. Forgive me- TheI
she went on talking rapidly and fluent
ly, and the congressman hung upon
each word as If hearing woman tall
had always been the Joy of his life
81 came to Washington, hoping to get
q position in one of the departments
but others more influential crowded
me out. Then / saw your advertise
ment. My funds were exhausted. and
1 couldn't 60 home and tell the family
/ had lost out. / had promised to SEND
home part of my salary-and-well.
pretended / was dumb, and everyone
In Washington thinks / am. ! have
never spoken to anyone, though / d.
TALK, to myself in my room at night
SOS not to forget how. Then wher
you spoke Of Spiggenheim. thought
you suspected me, and would despist
me for the deception and would dis
miss me If you thought i really cOuli
talk. So-well, told Spiggenhem the
truth and promised him hundred dol
lars-all my savings-if he would tel
you the case was hopeless"
The congressman sat back In hi.
chair and let out a hearty laugh tina
showed his melancholy had been for
ever dispelled, and for the first tim,
he heard the contagious tones o.
Mardy's laugh, which she had beer
suppressing for months.
zone thousand, one hundred dol
lars" he reflected; "well IT was worth
that ten times overland q hundred
times over If had II. never though