New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22
had left me. and / was treading joyously Tor


As we came near Rachel Cobb's house tnat
person was visible behind the screen door II
was ono of her DAYS at home She stepped out
side and came forward shading her eyes Win
her hand. blinking at us and looking more IKE
pig than usual.
II was watchin' for ye" she said. without any
preliminary greeting. THE young feller. your
nephew.' nodding at Miss Runciman "came
back TO tell me to tell you that they might stay
all night after all. Billy. where you goin
answered briefly. / had not much patience
with Rachel Cobb this morning. She looked at
me intently so intently that thought, perhaps
her errand was really to me. When we started
she followed on behind me- After moment she
touched my arm. and az l looked around she
made gesture toward the woman In 'front.' ana
shook her head with such violence that her eye
glasses fell off. She stopped to pick up the
glasses. and l did not linger. She called after
lis that she guessed her hens would lay more
eggs by to-morrer.
For the first time entered the house carriage
which stood among the brches and hackma-
tacks close by the falls.
was trying not t. be excited wlshed 10
look about me calmly 1t was little ROOM ana
things were az compact in it as in ships cabin.
Mating was on the floor bamboo folding chairs
that could be leaned against the wall. taole
that folded up and was also now close 10
the wall; no pictures, no bric-a-brac, sugges-
ton Of nomadic life, as If the place were kind
Of tent that could, like the other articles, be
folded.
Miss Runciman spread out one Of the chairs
and placed herself in It. She told me to sit down
and rest.
She did not speak again for full half-hour.
sat still and looked about me. There was pie
OF music on the floor in one corner. On the Wa"
hung a guitar and banjo. The dog nad come
in and was lying stretched out on his side near
me. on the mating. The windows. when were
large, were open and protected by screens
Through them came the sounds OF the country
and of the falls cstbird sat on birch close
by and sang his lovely notes
"Well" at last said Miss Runcman
When turned toward her knew that she had
been watching me, and blushed painfully
Yes said.
Now I'm going to put you through the scale"
I braced myself.
"Stand up"
did so. She continued looking at M.
81 once knew" che said. "a woman vno couio
sing the scale in way to draw your soul out
Of your body. Begin"
/ began; now i Went Oh tui bi'S.'~N 'N-'
know. But the high notes ALWAYS We're sort of
inspiration and challenge TO me- liked 70 se'2e
them as II were their conqueror
stood there with my hands clasped b.find
me. singing.
Again" said Miss Runciman.
I did better the second time When had m
ished she sat upright in her cAa'r. l"e'e WIS
slight flush on her cheeks
,to III
same kind of voice that have. That's why
| wanted you. In you l may renew my own
youth. my triumphs But they will be your own
triumpbs. lust the same. Still. it all depends
upon you-aII. You may have the voice of an
angel but It will not avail Il yod haven't work
In YOU. Can you work-wo-k ike mad-"oik
dov and night. harder than any man ever ioi'cd
in the fields? Can you? For that's what II
means TO be a good singer. Tell me, can you do
II? Do you want to do it,
was on fire. Her questions were like stlmu-
lating draught to me. But could nor find any
words IN which to tell her was trembling PHI
ably. My companion was looking at me with
nrob,ne ewes. eyes that nad no compassion,
fancied and that were searching ME as ;nty
wou,d have searched into 5,r,e musical mech
anism of which their owner would avail hcTseH
Answer me: do you want to do it?" she re-
peated.
I took step forward.
"yos vas'" / cried out II want to do It.
NV face and eyes were burning; FURIOUS pulses
beat all through me- ~ 49,, ho
"Ah. she said, IN half-voice' 'nen s"G
laughed softly. as II at some thought which
had suggested.
Come nearer.
went to the side Of her chair.
do / look like wicked woman! she III
quired. ,,a
not speak. She did not wait for my answer.
II wonder If people expect that a person can a..
sing out of a blank past. 1t can't be done VI
course. musical sounds can be made on any
musical instrument. To be able TO sing you
must be able TO live. The fulness OF HE!
Do YOU think that means a sheet OF paper
With nothing written on 1t? Bah! Some
folks make me sick! Those were pretty para
graphs in the paper that woman sho"eo you
that little pig woman, mean
From flaming heat began TO go down toward
"The thought of them makes you shrink away
from me?"
"Retter go back to your home now. You have
the chance now Give up the hope Of singing"
NO" said again.
She contemplated me through half-shut eyes.
| as she had done once before. AT last she asked;
Have you ever heard the phrase. a woman
with 4 past'?" . .,
ooh n ALWAYS means something bad always
She offered no explanation Of the remark. and
| I did not dare to ask for an explanation.
"People like to say things you know. she
went on For instance, writer has just put
| this ine thing into his book: The basis OF the
musical temperament is sensuality and egotism
| What do you think Of that?"
Gift frightens me-" answered in low tone
| "Oh" carelessly. his assertion doesn't make II
| a fact. Though he may be right, after all,-only
| why didn't he make 1t a still more sweeping
| thing by saying the artistic temperament Ihat
now would have covered wide ground"
| She rose and went to the pile of music. She
| selected a sheet and turned toward me with II
| In her hand.
| quickly.
"Of Mrs. Drew Hollander."
deep red rose over the womans race. Sho
| waited an instant before she put her second