Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-07-08
Calls aud Sketfhes.
AFTER MANY DAYS.

Alice Crawford steps on the stair and
listens. She hears the sound of singing
in the parlor, and one of the voices thrills
her as no other voice has ever done
Kingsley Dunham's voice.
He is singing with her," she saws. and
a shadow crosses her face and settles in
her ewes. making them look as if tears are
not tar away. She puts out hand with a
gesture OF repulsion, as if to put away
fate. ..She does not need his love as
do" she cries, with bitter, rebellious
feeling at her heart II more than halt
believe she does not care fer it. But he
thinks she does And she will accept it,
while |. who would value it more than all
the world. or a thousand worlds. am lett
to remember and regard that the only
mans love | ever cared for was not for
me-"
Then the outstretched. rebellious hand
drops heavily at her side. and tears come.
Hot. passionate tears. fresh from the heart
that is full of the dumb ache that comes
to those who believe that their love Is
valued as lightly as wayside flower
would be by the man to whom it is given.
Then she listens again. She hears
Mary Grayle's voice. clear and fute-like
in its sweetness. but it makes no such
music in her heart as that other voice
does. Years may come and 60, but the
sound OF that voice will linger there for
ever. Her heart will be haunted by it as
life is haunted by the ghost OF dead
but unforgotten love. Hers will be
haunted heart and haunted life, she
thinks, as she hears Kingsley Dunham's
voice ring out in silver melody in the song
he is singing with Mary Grayle.
II am foolish creature" she says.
presently Aren't you ashamed of YOUR
self, Alice Crawford? To love man
who cares nothing for you, and behave in
this silly way about it Haven't you any
pride? II you have. it's time you began
to make use of 1t. A woman is fool to
give her heart to any man unasked. and
yet"
And vet Alice Crawford knows, as
many other women do, that many wo-
mans heart is given without the asking.
A feeling of shame comes over her to
think it is so in her case. but she knows it
is useless to deny the truth.
She brushes away her tears and forces
herself to be calm. She then goes down
the stairs and enters the parlor.
Miss Grayle looks around from the piano
as she comes into the room, and says:
kingsley has Just been wondering why
YOU did not come. We want your help,
he has brought us some new music"
Alice Crawford hardly dares trust her.
self to look at the man who stands by the
piano. But she feels his eyes upon her,
and it is as if he compelled her to look at
him. In the look she gives him there is
neutrality-suspicious. knowing it, perhaps
and she will not let him see how her
heart responds to his slightest touch, if
she can help it. She has resolved to con-
auer her heart. Pride shall help her to
do it.
All but it is easier to talk of conquer
inc hearts than to do it. She will find ii
so.
Kingsley Durham bows, with a smile
Frightening his eyes as sunshine bright
ems spring that has been in shadow.
I'VE have missed your voice sadly in
our singing" he says. "Shall we go over
the music again. now that you are here to
try it with us?"
"If you please, she answers, and goes
to the piano and puts Miss Grayle between
the man she loves and herself. 1t is /. fit
ting action. Had not Miss Grayle come
between their lives?
Then they sing.
Alice Crawford has never sung more
brilliantly. but there is something in her
singing that Kingsley Durham has never
noticed before-something that jars like a
discord. They are out of tune, as many
other voices and lives have been.
Once she looked toward him and catches
bit, Watching hpr with n
zled look in his face. He seems to be try
ing to comprehend her or her mood.
A flush of color comes to her cheeks and
she turns away abruptly. Does he guess
her secret? The thought brings with it
kind of fierce anger. 1t is hard enough to
know that she loves him; she cannot bear
Anything but that.
By-andby they tire of singing. They
sit down together and talk of this and that.
She feels that Kingsley Durham is watch
ing her. and she is on guard over her
heart. Her mood is changeable. One
moment she is gay and her conversation
sparkles with wit and Jest. Then, sudden
", she seems to shrink back into cold
reserve.
II has never felt that he understood
her. and less tonight than ever before.
She is puzzle to him. 1t perplexes and
fasclnates and battles him.
Miss Grayle gets up and goes out of the
room. An awkward silence follows her
going. He breaking it by saying:
81 missed your face at church last Sab
BATH"
II am not going any more" she an
swered; "at least not to your church.
do not like DR.. Canfields sermons"
She does not tell the truth. For the
truth is she is not going there because she
has made up her mind to conquer her
heart. and the work. which will be diff
cult at best, will be more difficult if she
sees him often. She must keep away
from him as much as possible.
Il am sorry" he says. 81 have grown
accustomed to seeing your face there. and
| always find it hard to give up familiar
faces-when | care for them"
His voice is low, almost tender. She
feels his eyes upon her face, though she
does not look at him.
II must 90 back to my work soon,n she
SAYS. irving to make her words sound
quiet and commonplace. Il have had a
long and pleasant rest. and begin to tire
of doing nothing. /"
Then Miss Gravle comes back and she