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198 Guie Leo Deliglio The Test of the Heart AS MRS. RAMSEY came out of her daughter’s room she was met by her son-in-law, Keith Kendell. “How is Gloria?” he asked in signs, and pointed to his wife’s room. “She is doing finely,” signed back Mrs. Ramsey, with the slowness of a hearing person unaccustomed to conversing with the deaf. “The doctor thinks she will soon be able to hear perfectly.” “For her sake I will be glad.” “It is wonderful to think she will have her chance in life again! I hope you understand what her hearing will mean to her.” The young man nodded. “I understand. She will, of course, desire to be with hearing people more. I will not keep her from them.” “I knew you would be sensible. If possible I shall try to cut her entirely off from her former associates. She will have nothing in common with them now, and her social duties among the hearing will leave her no time to tolerate deaf companions.” A look of dismay passed over Keith’s face. “I don’t believe Gloria will want to give up all her old friends.” Mrs. Ramsey’s usually calm features became stern. She knew it would be hard to tell the young man what she had decided days ago to say to him. But now that her daughter’s whole future was at stake, she would make it plain to Keith Kendell that it was impossible for him to remain Gloria’s husband. “I have something very serious to talk over with you, and if you are sensible and really love my daughter, you will do as I desire. “You know Gloria’s early history. When she was about thirteen she lost her hearing through sickness. This blow nearly killed me. I loved her dearly, and she was my sole comfort after my husband died. When I found there was very little hope of her recovering her hearing, I immediately had her taught lip-reading so she could understand me without the use of signs. I do not know when she first started to learn the signs, but I found out that she was an expert signer at sixteen. Although it grieved me deeply, I let her associate with the deaf. You also know I looked upon her marriage to you with disfavor, for I wanted her to marry a man who could support her in luxury. But she would not hear of giving you up, and as I thought she would always be deaf, I finally consented to let her marry a deaf man. I believe up to this time you have made her a good husband.” “The Test of the Heart” is from The Silent Worker 34, no. 3 (December 1921). The Test of the Heart 199 “I have tried to be good to her, for I love her.” Keith wondered what Mrs. Ramsey had on her mind. Surely she wasn’t trying to part Gloria from him. Why, Gloria was his wife! “Gloria has her hearing back now,” went on Mrs. Ramsey quickly. “We both know what a difference it will make to her. It has always been my wish for her to take her proper place in society, and now there is only one thing to interfere.” “What will interfere?” but Keith guessed without asking the question. “To put it plainly, I think if Gloria is handicapped with a deaf husband her whole glorious future will be spoiled.” “I am sorry, but what can I do? I love Gloria and believe she loves me.” “Then if you love Gloria, why don’t you prove it? Go away to some place for a year and let her get a divorce.” “A divorce! Gloria will not consent. It would be impossible.” “Gloria will consent. Do you think her love will last if she continues to live with you, a deaf-mute? Will she like to slave her life away in a little cottage when she can get far better things if she leaves you. Surely you cannot expect the utterly impossible. If Gloria went back to you it would be only from a sense of duty, not because she desires to live with you. If you love her, as you profess, you will let her get a divorce as soon as possible.” Keith bowed his head in his hands. Was she right? Would he be a handicap to Gloria’s future? Would Gloria’s...

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