Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-12-25
The Fate of Two Voices.

Having decided to spend the year
in Italy, l looked about me fer a
dwelling, to be had upon reasonable
terms. / found what / wanted in
the outskirts of the ancient city of
Lucca, one of the lovliest spots in the
peninsula. The house was quite new,
and in every way desirable, while
the rent asked for it was absurdly
low. questioned the agent in re-
gard to this circumstance. Having
my money safe, he could afford to be
truthful.
"There is nothing against the
house ITSELF" he said, "but the
grounds have the reputation of being
haunted. Strange sounds are said to
be heard near that ledge of rock in
the yard yonder. We Italians are
superstitious, "signor," he added,
with bow, "but / presume to an
American a ghost is no objection"
$50 little," l replied, laughing,
"that / am obliged to you for the OPP
portunity of making the acquaintance
of this one"
Such superstitions are common in
Italy, and the agents story made
very little impression upon me. Dur
ing a tour of inspection around the
premises I came upon the rock in
question. 1t consisted of two walls
of granite, perhaps twenty feet high,
meeting at an oblique angle, covered
over their greater extent with vines.
1t struck me as an exceedingly beau
j'tiful nook, and appropriate for hours
of outdoor Longing.
On the following morning, pro-
vided with book and cigar, | went
thither, and disposed myself COM
fortably in the shade of an olive.
had become absorbed in the volume,
when / was startled by the sound OF
a voice near me. 1t was apparently
that of a woman, wonderfully sweet,
and was singing one of the ballads OF
the country. / could distinguish the
words as perfectly as if spoken at
arms length from me. | started up
in amazement. | had no visitors
and my only servantwas an old man
Nevertheless, 1 made thorough eX.
ploration of the neighborhood, and
satisfied myself that there was no one
in the grounds. The only public roaC
was half mile distant. The nearest
dwelling was directly opposite, acros,
the level pIain-in sight, but far on
of ear-shot. In word, | could make
nothing of it.
observed that when left my
original position under the olive thu
voice became instantly silent. L
was only within the circumference o
q circle of about two yards in diane
ter that it was audible at all. 1t APP
peared to proceed from the angle be
tween the two walls of rock. TIL
minutest examination failed to re
veal anything but bare rock. Ye
it was out of this bare rock that tn,
voice issued.
VII returned to my former station il
downright bewilderment. The agent'
story occurred to me, but even nov
attached no weight to it. / am {
practical man and was firmly con
WINGED that there must be some IA
tional explanation of the mystery,
could but discover it. The vOic
was certainly that of a young girl
But where was she? Was the old ia
bic of the wood nymph a truth afte
all? Had l discovered a dryad EN-
bossomed in the rock? ! smiles
Scornfully even as these tancies RAJ
through my head. For more thai
half an hour the singing continued
The next morning at an early hou
Ireturned to the spot. After a ted
Gus interval the singing began.
went softly and dreamily throug
the verse of song and ceased. Pre-,
emily heard deep sigh, and the