River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-04-15

L VI Allt ia : Dl MS NuuAA-
I Following its sound he reached the
I edifice, which stood in the midst of a
neglected graveyard full of grave
/ stones. many of which were fallen or
broken IN pieces. Tangles of bush and
I Lrier were on every hand.
Catering the house of worship. which
be found TO be already filled. he mod
4 rstly took a seat near the door and IN
der the gallery of the choir.
The day was Easter. and the plain
oakcn altar bore large vases of sweet
. flowers, whose fragrance had stolen all
over the audience room and made the
air of the April morning grateful with
+ lis presence.
Soon the little organ sent forth a
I peal announcing a prelude, aud the
I young man looked bored. But i'm mo-
/ EIent he assumed an attentive. rapt at
I titude, and ripples of glad sunshine
played over his features.
\ voice Of marvellous sweetness rang
out within the narrow walls of the
sanctuary. IL was fun. rich. clear. di-
vine almost. in its expression.
Braduor thought of the angel song
on the plain Of Bethlehem, ana closed
his eyes, rs though to shut out all sis ht
lest the glorious harmonies be lost to
him.
I lie did not think Of the singer, wheth-
eG Old or young. nor of the triumphant
T words of the hymn she sang. 1t was
her voice. so intense in its edrnestncSs
ST. tiutelike in its sOftness, vet so human
withal. that had entered his soul.
Thenceforth he had no heart for the
prayers, nor the words that were read
nor the sermon that was spoken. lie
sat as one in a deep sleep. from which
he only reused when the inclTahlc voice
rang out in its rich cadences. Other.
mingled with il. bat these Ec did not
hear.
When the serN ices were ended he
slowly made his way to the village inn
where he had been stopping during the
7 past week. There he inquired Of a.,
landlord concerning the owner of the
I voice.
Boniface was a tat. wheezy fellow
whose Thoughts came slow and whose
speech was slower. Bradnor found ii
necessary to repeat the question.
shes Mrs Kitty Travis" slowly
came the reply. wife OF Tim Travis
+ who"
-. the deuce!" CALCULATED the young
man. as he turned disappointedly away.
The landlord stared at him with his
. great google eyes IN establishment and
attempted movement to call him
Lack. hut Braduor had disappea rcd
from the room. Several times during
. The afternoon and evening tile host es.
sayed speech with his guest. but wa-
- haltilg in purpose that he never sue
ceedcd
Eraduor took an early rsurning train
for his home in baltimore. and when
+ gne sun rose tnc hills around the little
+ Nir mia village were lar behind him
+ l;ut he took with him memory of that
I place, fresher and swecter and purcr
F than the white lilies that grew in lux
uriance upon either side OF The roadway
+ IL was the yuice of woman in the ivy
+ Inautled village church.
~CorTouud it he muttercd. "anu the
owner Of il is married, Nes. and doubt
Y less gray and old and wrinkled. What
have you TO do with the voice Of a mar
I ried woman, or ANYTHING else that be
long, To her. Victor Bradmor:H
StiH, though he sueered and reproyed
hnlsrlf. the voice quickened and sent
out repeated melodies in the great cham.
Der Of his thoughts.
White sulphur Springs was filed with
people from al over the country and
among the thrungs WIS Victor Braduor.
who had gone thither not so much for
E,s health as to get away from, the hel'
Of the city and the ennui that at times
oppressed him.
The evening MAS delightful one I'm
August. and Braduor was seated upon
the verauda or his hotel. holding high
=. converse vita an old acquaintance be
bad first met ii Florence. and. later. az
London.
This friend was lancuidly telling OF
misaiventure he had on a goudoIa a,
Venice, M which a fair Venetian maid
figured. punctuated by an i..yoil1tary
hath in the blue waters. wien. suddenly.
Hraduor Irancd his head 20 ooe side.
b l.se a dog when atteutiyely regarding
his master
lie no longer heard his friend. The
firing OF cannon would not have d.
verified him from the object OF hi in
tcreSt.
Again the tender chords OF memory
were touched and his big chest asaved
like a huge bellows PUMPED by 4 smith.
The voice OF the village church
poured out Us richness in a sfream Of
glory. Overwhelming yet inspiring him
with its refreshing The woman was
singing the "LaSt Rose Of sun l4er." A
touch OF sadness pervaded her voice.
which no-' and then nearly qui- cred
VITA emCjioB as s1e declared the soli-
fairness of the flop er aud the death of
Its fellows She Wls singing in the
great hail and the liquid tones poured
through fhe open windows.
I Whea she had done be sighed heav-
w, arose and STROBE abruptly away
fro.c his friend. who. with mild sur
prise upon his couEtenanee. likewise
stood upon his feet and slowly followed
afte- Bradnor.