Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-04-24
hat Size dfl not care to live

!
exposure, and that it might return a
ssuddenly as it had left Here was
fainI thread of hope; but regainet
strength and health Il did not seem t.
make much difference. Her yoic,
grew stronger in speaking, but sh
Icopld not sing. ;rr, -
. One year later. f..+ -,..,zr-
: DEAREST CLAIRE: have accepted al
Invitation for you. and yen must not ,sa,
no. The Mert"ns We're here the other day
lhey are getting up party 10 spei.d The
summer in their lovely home in Long Is
land. told them they might count cI
You and1. They are delightful people
and sea-batliin@ will do you good; so pre-
pare to 90 by first of July.
Ever your own, MADGE.
The middle of July found merry
group assembled at the Merton cot
tage, tour or five ladies, among them
Mrs. ST. John, nee Lyle, who was &
niece Of the Mertons, and our friends
Madge and Claire.
The ladies were left alone much OF
the day, the gentleman taking an ear.
ly train to the city to attend 10 busi-
ness.
One evening Mr.. St John brought
another guest with him, his wife's
brother, Raymond Lyle; and, as the
young ladies had heard his praises
sounded by his sister for two weeks,
! they naturally had a desire to beholci
the paragon.
Raymond gave start Of surprise
when Madge was presented to him,
as if the name was familiar, and imme-
| diately devoted himself to the saucy
beauty, much to The disgust of The
Others.
The truth was, this young gentle
man had discovered who lived in the
farmhouse he had seen by moonlight,
and naturally concluded that Madge
was the object of his search. He was
doomed TO disappointment. 1t was
several days before he could muster
courage To osk her 10 sing, and when
she seated herself at the piano, he
could scarcely conceal his eagerness.
IL confessed q to himself that he die.
not admire Madge as much as he did
Claire Hayden but il she owned the
voice he would he compelled to love
her. ..
Madge had not sung three notes
before great change came over his
face, Much as he had hoped to lind
the object Of his dreams, he felt re
lleNed TO know that he hal been ms
taken. The song over, he turned TO
Claire and asked her if she sang.
Not at ALL She answered, @oldly,
shadow o. pain crossing her lace as
she remembered the magnificent voice
that had been silent for year.
Raymond bad months vacation
soon after this; and announced his
Intention Of passing it with them
lie seemed TO have Forgotten music
III his eagerness to study Claire Hay
deus loveiy-tace, all The more attrac-
tive for the shadow that had fallen
upon her. And she soon learned To
flush and pale beneath the glance of
his brown eyes, Fa-
1t was a clear case of love on both
sides, and The rest wi.ely let them
alone to work their own destiny. No
words had been spoken to reveal the
state OF their feelings, bat they un
derstood each other, and were conse-
quehtly vely happy.
Ii Raymond ever thought of his
dream OF winning the owner of the
voice, he also thought,
they say man never marries his
ideal IN every respect, and am quite
content with Claire as she is
rainy evening drove them all
into the parlor, aud each one tried TO
help make it pass pleasantly. Mrs.
st. John had said much about Ra,
mond's voice, and they all united in
urging him to Sing. Being in a very
happy state OF mind, lie complied.
Imagine Claire's surprise when she
heard full, sweet tenor voice take
up the air ~
when other lips and other hearts,
Their taies of love shall teltr'
How wildly it all came back to
her The beautiful moonlight night,
and the sweet tones that Aoaled in al
their window. then the horseman
climbing the hill in the moonlight 1t
also brought back her losS-tlat night
had been the last time she had sung.
Her mind was strangely excited, and
suddenly her throat felt as if hand
that had elasped it closely was re-
moved.
The last note had hardly died
away before Madge sprang up and
cried:
1T was you, then, who sang under
my window a year ago. L always
thought should hear you again
st was your window, them he
answered; then should like to hear
the voice that sag robin Adair.'
Madge looked aat her friend in
dismay- She was the OIL yone in the
room who knewo Claire's loss, for
the subject was 50 painful, that it
was never mentioned even when they
We're alone.
She was surprised no less than the
rest when Claire rose and walked to
the piano. 4 few chords, and then
the long lost voice was heard again.
The notes trembled a little at first.
then gained strength, land Claire
sang as She had never sung before !
The doctors prediction was full