The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-05

nldsJ, the men cOuId not nave peen moro
startled. more electrified They stood
stock still gazing &C her. But she gave no
heed 60 them, but sang louder and clearer
until her voice seemed to ill the afr, max
ing it pulsate with enchantment. For
what was she singing! All, for what was
she not singingl For life, for help, for free
dop. and, though she knew it not. for love-
Her song went soaring to the skies, and
prayed to be saved from these cruel men,
and it came back to earth, and begged
them to be human. and not to be as the
beasts, hungry for prey.
She sang like one inspired, and her whole
heart went out in the cry, ANGELS ever
bright and fair, take, oh, take me TO your
care" and the song seemed born Of the
night and Of peril! And then, behold,
from one of the huts there was a great cry,
and out there rushed man, torn, weak,
bandaged, and he looked wildly about him,
and seeing her he ran TO her and fell prone
on the ground at her side And she lifted
him up and held him in her arms, and /
/ came out from my hiding place and hur-
RED to them, and took Jack from her and
laid him down, thinking be was dead, but
he opened his eyes and feebly smiled. So
] sat down on the grass and held him, and
Margaret Enelt by him, and they looked
each into the eyes Of the other.
But around US there was a hubbub of
confusion and guarding and knives
flashed and the leader pushed back one
and threatened another, and the noise
grew greater and more fierce, but Mar
garet and Jack were like people safe in a
lagoon, careless Of the raging storm out
side. But the leader turned, holding one
man by the throat, and he cried: "Sing
If you value your lives let the girl singI'
For a moment Margaret fRltered. She
feared for us as she never had for herself,
and she gasped as though her breath was
gone, putting her hand to her throat
Then she sprang to her feet and she sang.
1t was wild, fierce song like a battle CRY,
and she now and then clapped her hands
together with a ringing sound and she
flung out her arms, looking like prophet
ess calling Der people to follow her 70 war
And then all these men struck in with
solemn slow measure that was like the
tramp of feet, and their ewes flashed as
they drew close together and nearer TO her.
When she ended they came crowding
around her, and the little man dropped on
his knees and kissed the benz Of her gown,
and from that moment we were safe For
the song was one of their own, and an out
cry against the oppressors of their country;
and Margaret, who studied the songs Of
the peoples of the earth rs others DO the
language, knew it, and knew how to singit
And so she sang through the night, sit
ting on the log with Der hand in Jacks as
he rested against me. She sang everything
gay songs and doleful, ballads, opera
arias, hymns and dances. The men sat
around the blazing fire, and their eyes
were soft and sometimes they laughed, and
every now and then they would burst into
a chorus Of their own. Aud the leader lay
close 60 the fire and slept Never in their
lives had these men, fancy, been more in
nocently happy, and never had they heard
singing that 50 delighted them. When the
morning dawned we stood up, we men
wondering in our hearts whether, now that
the spell was broken, we would be allowed
to 60, but Margaret smiled and held out
her hand, and they each kissed Il and then
went through the woods with us
When we parted the little man plucked
bunch Of goldenrod, and giving il to |
Margaret, said with a friendly smile, !
Push ahead. F."
was an early train away, although it was |
going in the wrong direction, we went at /
once to the station, and when It came we
took it, and all went into the baggage car, |
because Jack looked not only like "A hero |
Of the prize ring, but a most forlorn and |
neglected one.
And now need l tell how we stopped at |
the first town, and rested and made Jack |
presentable, and then Travelled homo in /
bliss and content, but that Jack and / did |
all the talking, while Margaret smiled at
usi She was not TOO hoarse for that. And |
need say how got my son and lost my /
assistant editor and my niece. bat had a |
daughter instead2 And how Margaret paid /
for our lives with her singing voice, which /
bad mob yet come back TO herr As for this |
story-bow often Hale had heard IL? Ask |
himl
THE Ind.