Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-07-08
Continued.

drank it off, while Duprez, with half
plaintive half-eC mical shrug OF reslg-
nation to Guldmar's verdict on his
personal appearance, asked Ihelma II
she would favor them with song.
She rose from her seat instantly, with
out any affected hesitation, and went
to the piano. She had a delicate touch,
and accompanied herself with great
taste,-but her voice, full penetrating,
rich and true,-was one of the pl rest
and most unspoilt by any of the
varied systems" of torture invented
by singing masters for the ingenious
destruction of the delicate vocal organ.
She sang a Norwegian love-song in
the original tongue, which might be
roughly translated as follows:
Lowest thou me for my beauty's sake?
Love me not then!
Love the victorious, glittering Sun,
The fadeless, deathless, marvellous
One!
Lowest thou me for my youths sake?
Love mo not then!
Love the triumphant, dnperishing
Spring,
Who every year new charms doth
bring!
Lowest thou me for teasurer's sake?
Oh, love me not then!
Love the deep, the wondering Sea,
Its jewels are worthier love than me!
Lowest thou me for Lov9's own sake?
All sweet, then love mel
More than the Sun and the Spring and
the Sea,
Is the faithful heart l will yield to
thee!"
A silence greeted the close of her
song. Though the young men were
ignorant of the meaning OF the words
till old Guldmar translated them for
their benefit, they could feel the in
tensity of the passion vibrating
through her ringing tones,-and Err
rington sighed involuntarily. She
beard the sigh, and turued round on
the musc-stool laughing
Are you SO tired or sad, or what
is it?' she asked merrily 1t is too
melancholy a tune? And l was foolish
to sing it,-because you cannot under
stand the meaning of it, 1t is all
about love,-and of course love is al
ways sorrowful.'
"Always?' asked Lorimer, with
hall-smile.
Il dc not know" she said frankly,
with pretty deprecatory gesture of
he, hards,-"but all books say so! 1t
must be great pain and also a great
happiness. Let me think what | can
sing tC you Dow,-but perhaps you will
yourself siIg?'
Not one of us have voice, Miss
Gulomar," said Errngton. Il used to
think l had, but Lorimer discouraged
my efforts.
Men shouldn't sing" observed Lori
mer; "if they only knew how awfully
ridiculous they look, standing up in
cress-cot is and white ties, pouring
forth inane love-ditties that nobody
warts to hear, they wouldn't do it.
Only woman looks pretty while sing
ing"
"Ah, that is very niee!" said Thelma,
with a demure smile. Then / am
agreeable to you when | sing?"
Agreeable? This was far too tame
word-they all rose from the table
and came toward her, with many as
surGl ces of their delight and admira-
ton; but she put all their compliments
aside with little gesture that was
both incl eGulcus and peremptory.
you must lot say so many things
il, praise of me-" she said, with a swift
upward glance at Errington, where he
leaned on the piano regarding he.
at is nothing to he able to sing. 1t is
only like the birds, but we cannot
urCersts nc the words they say, just
as yc' call OF understand Norwegian.
en,-here is little ballad you will
all know and she played soft pre-
Jude, while her voice, subdued to 4
plaintive murmur, rippled out in the
dainty verses of Sainte-Beuve-
Sur ma Tyre, lautre fols
Dams un bois,
Ma main preludait peine;
Une colombo descend
En- passent,
Blanche sur lie luth d'ebene.
"Mais at lieu d'accords touchants,
De QCuX c1anLS,
Id cclo mbe gemissante
Me demande par pitie
Sa noitie loin dele absentee"
She sang this seriously and sweetly
till she came to the last three lines,
when, catching Erri lgton's earnest
gaze, her voice quivered and her
cheeks flushed She rose from the
PIANO as soon as she had finished, and
said to the bonde who had been watch
ing her with proud and gratified
Looks
1T is growing late, father. We must
say goodbye to our friends and re-
turn home"
Not vet! eagerly implored Sir
Philip. Come up on deck,-we will
have coffee there. and afterwards you
.hnI 10,