The boy reached out a white, slender hand and touched the girl caressingly on the cheek, at the same time making a sound indicative of pleasure and admiration, but uttering no intelligible word.
It was evident that he was not only simple-minded, but that there must be some paralysis of the vocal organs as well, that prevented his talking.
A flush sprang to the young girl’s face, and a strange thrill pervaded her at the touch of those delicate fingers.
“He is the most beautiful boy I ever saw,” she said, “but, oh! how dreadful for him not to know anything! I wonder who he is, John!”
“I’m sure I can’t say, miss,” replied the man, looking perplexed and somewhat annoyed.
“How old do you think he can be?”
John gave a long look at the young stranger.
“He’s small of his age, miss, but I reckon he must be older than yourself.”
“Older than I! Oh! I do not think that can be possible,” Gladys exclaimed, attentively studying the strangely attractive yet vacant countenance before her.
“What shall we do with him, John?” she inquired, after a moment of thoughtful silence.