Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-09-17

the eyes of the girls, and each poor
starved heart took up the sweet burden
of the song and swelled with nameless
yournings. There was something in the
quality Of Hulda's voice-a certain
warm cadence that went straight to the
heart. The wasted, ~objectless tenderness
in their bosoms was vaguely stirred, and
with a palpitating eagerness they hug
ged each other and sighed and writhed
with an uncomprehended uneasiness.
+ was 20 mere moonshiny sentimental
ity that found utterance in this song.
but there beat in it the pulse Of a strcng
and living passion. And as she sat
there in all the beauty of her noble Ger
manic womanhood, with the lovely am
plitude wAeich nature lent to her type,
she looked indeed like a rose among
nettles, like a queen among chamber
maids. The Rev. DR.. Trump, dull and
obtuse though he was, rs he regarded
her stately heck and the great coil OF
golden hair on the back Of her head,
could not help noting the splendid shape
Of her figure and the richness Of the
| personality she presented amid all these
inferior soul crippled waits, rescued
from among the vast heap Of human
wreckage. DR.. Trump, as all these
things dawned upon him, became con-
scious of al uneasy stirring of his phil
anthropic instinct, which was perhaps
not unmixed with q purely personal at
traction.
"Ah, love Of my life. thou hast kindled my soul
With q Joy that is deep and abiding
she sang, and though the words were
Norwegian the sentiment which insplr-
ed them is universal and needed no in
terpreter. AS her voice trembled and
shook under the strain Of the over
! charged feeling there was that kind OF
thrill in it which ripples with delicious
shivers down your spine. She heard
again the other voice-a smooth, rich
baritone-mingling with hers, which
rocked blissfully on its heavier tide and
rose in Joyous companionship and scared
in harmonious fight. She was back III
the old parsonage again, singing this
same song with Olaf. She saw the dear
face Of her father trying to be stern.
but the musical pleasure breaking
through the paternal disapprobation.
The sense of her loss returned to her
with such terrible vividness that her
emotion came near overmastering her.
A huskincss gathered for a moment III
her throat, and the lines,
sob, leave me not, love, to pine for thy face
In the night that no dawn can illumine,'
sounded like q cry Of q wounded and
despairing spirit left in utter desolation.
She managed to finish the verse, but
then rose hastily and excused herself. A
murmur Of wonder, admiration and de
light broke from all present the moment
the door had closed behind her. DR..
Trump was especially enthusiastic, ant
tho matron, who distrusted herself ant
needed clerical sanction for all her sen
timents, echoed him effusively.
"Why, I assure you, madam ne OK
claimed, ''this girl is q great artist.
never heard so beautiful a voice in al
my life. If she wants an engagement II
any Of our churches I IAN easily pro
cure hsr q very profitable one. Think O
Nearer, My God, to Thee sung by sucl
o magnificent voice.
Hattie Halloran, who had constitutes
herself a sort Of guardian over Hulda
made haste to report this remark to he
and was rather disappointed at the list
lessness with which she received it. Sh
found her lying on her bed in the darl
i, with her face turned to the wall. Haiti
lighted a m%alodorous kerosene lamp
which she placed upon the toilet stand
: and seated herself with beautiful OF
tuscness preparatory to a long cont
dence.