The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-12-16
A WORDLESS
WOOING >.
1920. Western Newspaper Union.
BY VICTOR ~REDCLIFFE

Ronald Baird to attend the monthly
dance given at the deaf mute asylum
at Leesville. He was the guest of
his old college chum, Bert Adsit, and
the latter had mentioned the function
as one likely to interest him.
"Most Of the patients are ladies'"
Bert told Ronald, land you will be
pleased to realize how quick and in
telligent they are, and how .heartsome-
ly they enter into a social enjoyment.
We will 60 together"
Adsit was the town attorney. Ron.
aid was a young man, well-to-do and
engaged in the banking business with
his brother In another town. Adsit
handed him a little w%ell-thumbed vol.
ume.
STUDY that in your odd moments"
he suggested. 1T is, as you see, a
deaf and dumb instruction book, quite
common ~hereabouts, for we come into
contact with our afflicted charges so
generally that a knowledge Of the
finger signs makes it quite easy for us
to make ourselves understood and to
understand the patients"
Two days before the dance Adsit
was called away to another town. At
first Ronald decided not to attend the
function. He got looking over the al.
phabet book, however, was enticed by
the novelty promised, found it not diff
cult to master the rudiments Of the
code, and Thursday evening found
him seated in the eapacious dining
room of the asylum which was very
prettily decorated as a dancing hall.
Ronald's attention was particularly
attracted by a young girl who seemed
friendly with everybody, and she was
welcomed with a fervor that showed
she was a general favorite. Ronald
mentally confessed that he had eve
viewed a more beautiful face. She
was a model Of neatness, and the grace
she displayed amid the giddy whirl
was something to remember. 1t vas
after he had followed her with ad-
miring gaze through several dances
that Ronald observed her seated
alone and approached her.
MAY hope for the favor of one
dancer" he translated, a mute sen
tence he had especially mastered.
The young lady responded with a
number Of rapid finger signs, her ex-
pressive eyes and gracious smile indi.
scence.
The pathos of sincere pity for this
afflicted young lady was obscured
after that as he recalled the lovely
face that had so completely captivated
him. Ronald waited impatiently for a
return Of Adsit. 1t was the third
morning after the dance that Ronald
was afflicted with a roaming fit and
took his automobile for a spin out
the country roads. He was returning
at a smart rate of speed along a rather
rutty and irregular one. At a part
of it where a sharp curve ahead
showed, from the direction Of a pretty
home sheltered by some grand old
trees, he observed a 1.-THE, girlish fig
ure hurrying towards its gateway. She
wore a blue cape and was waving her
hands in an excited manner, and Ron
aid thrilled as he recognized her-his
brief partner Of the asylum dance.
"Stop-don't 60 on! The road"
Ronald caught the token of peril in
the n Of the girl, rather than in
the words. He put on the brakes, but
not until he had turned the curve to
see ahead a great gap in the road
guarded by a plank stretched length
wise, bearing in chalk the ominous
warning:
"DANGER-look out"
A false turn of the wheel sent the
machine skidding, it struck a deep rut
and halted, but so suddenly that Ron
aid was lifted bodily from the seat and
thrown down a slight incline, at the
bottom of which he landed momenta,
rily insensihe.
to find himself PROSTATE, and un-
der his head was a pillow formed of
the blue cape, and standing pensively
owe him with a concerned face was
the beautiful girl of the dance. In
stantly her~hands were in motion.
Are you hurt much?" signaled forth
the alphabetical signs.
"But you spoke a few minutes ago."
exclaimed Ronald, sitting up.
The young girl flushed. IL had
met you BEFORE" she stammered. II
thought you were a patient at the asy-
lum, or an afflicted visitor. Many
outsiders come to those dances, just
as I do. In fact, I have some very
pleasant friends there"
II saw that" declared Ronald. II
fancy you are a friend to everybody.
See how your thoughtfulness has been
bestowed on my unworthy self" and
his hand fondly caressed the blue
cape.
Verna Tresham laughed heartily
over their mutual mistake at the asy-
lum. Ronald must come to the house
and put some cold water on his con-
fused forehead, and that was the be-
ginning Of daily visits. .