Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-07-13
Out of the Dark
Shadows
By DUFoRD JENNIE
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(CopyrightD
uER fathers eyes were dark with
1 pain as he looked at her in her
hospital chair But, Jill, couldn't
you just want to live-for my sake"
She gazed at him with compassion,
but her voice was firm. Dad, l have
suffered SOL just don't care; and
you know what Doctor Ferguson told
me when l begged him to be honest
with me-that ! can walk only with
crutches-the rest OF my days"
He fumbled with his hat. You
know you can have every wish"
Except what l want the most"
When he had left the room, going
Up what she knew was utter despair
that no longer touched her broken
spirit, she looked out of the window
beside which the nurse had wheeled
her. From her room In the private
hospital she could see the back of
a row OF apartment houses and their
back pOrches. Then she saw some
thing that made her raise her head
for better view.
Onto the porch of one Of the apart
ments a man in chair similar to hers
had been wheeled The distance
across the hospital grounds was too
far to see L,S features clearly. but
she noted that his hair was dark and
his face evenly formed, that they
brought books to him. and that a lit.
tie girl hung about him adoringly
She watched him with dull atten-
ton that afternoon, but after thai
with interest The stray cats that
walked the fence back of the apart.
ment house were often blown off by
the ianitOr who stole ont of the base
ment with his hose. The young man
In the chair, a few days later evil
IDENTITY discovered the situation, for
with bits of food east from his tray
he lured the hungry cats within reach
OF the irate janitor's stream OF angry
water.
He has streak of mischief In
him, and how that youngster loves
him! Wonder who he is?' she asked
herself; and the next day surprised
her father by urging him to bring
her Opera-glasses.
When alone, she used the glasses
and smiled TO herself. 81 just knew
that black head Of his was curly"
she told herself. He's suffered. too,
but he has a fine face just the same -
The next afternoon, as she lay
watching him, her glasses 10 her lap,
he suddenly looked up. Her heart
and she waved hers. Then she saw
he was motiOning with his hands-the
deaf and dumb alphabet.
"Hello," he spelled, and she an.
swered with her fingers. Then he sent
| the yOungster for a pair of glasses
and the conversation picked up.
What is your nameT he asked
"Jill," she answered, using the pei
name her father gave her. "Ant
| yOurs?"
Jack" he replied. ~ broke my
crown, you remember"
Yes, | tumbled after" she added
1t was many minutes later that
her nurse came In to spoil the fun
for fun # was She pIeeled Mt hi,
comments. admired through he,
glasses the play Of his capable fin
gers and LET her eyes ,Inqer on hi,
face.
In the precious afternoons that fol
lowed they became adept at their 81
lent speech. Her father was nnzzle,
over tbe change I'm her but she ken
her secret TO herself
She LEARNED moro ahort him "Stov
ing with nv sister-bless herr" h,
said once. One afternoon while oh,
looked on with a strange breatbIess
ness. she saw him trv some crutches
and his nassaqe strnck m hor vor,
soul. SCOT 70 walk on tbasa to tb,
end OF NV dsvs-nohodv now Oil
have the nerve 70 ask me to RIM ar
rands anyveyw
That week she asked tn tr,
crutches She laughed as she saw
the tears of banpjness In her father,
ewes and she mode the crutchas sorry,
har
'Tu trim YOU in a race the nex
time we meet" he told her
pooh ~ she retorted
Thai night she Law awake man,
hours Did hIs crutcbes moan fare
wellp Would no 90 ont NJ bar I,ta
Father" she said the next dav
"do somatbing for mo " Che ,old hin
Of Jack. 81 want 70 90 TO the conn
try place. Bring him ont II he will
come. II can't bear TO lose him 70
good"
So IT came about that as she waite,
one gorgeous afternoon on the for
race of the beautiful estate Sh,