Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-07-31

looking very big and handsome in his
holiday dress, and a murmur ran
through the cabin at sight of his broad
shoulders and tall form. SO he stood
before the piper, with the muscles
tense and his nostrils dilated, like a
horse that has entered the race course.
Then he began to sing, and his voice
filled the cabin, and outside mingled
with the sound of the waves; but his
eyes looked down into the face of
Eileen O'Connor. Never had he sung
like this, for as he looked at the face
of the girl a new passion rose in his
heart and poured itself forth from his
lips in a stream of melody. Redder
and redder grew the girls face as she
listened, and quicker and quicker her
heart beat, for there was love in Phe-
Inns song as well as battle. Then
with face full of pride and triumph
he ceased, and a cry OF admiration
broke out, for Phelim's cheeks were no
less flushed than the singers and all
felt that Con had won the prize and
was without a rival. But the piper
raised a trembling hand and called
for Phil Martin. So he came in with
a smile on his face and in his blue
eyes, and pushing back the yellow
locks from his forehead, began to sing.
Then the silence of midnight fell upon
them all, for his voice was sweeter
than the murmur of the seashell. Out
side the voice Of the sea blended with
his, no longer loud and deep, but soft
and murmurous, as thought the singer
had laid a spell upon it.
At last the song was finished and
there was silence, for none had ever
heard singing like this, and in the
heart of everyone the song still echoed
sweetly, so that none dared speak.
Then Phelim rose to his feet, and the
tears ran down the burrows of his
cheeks.
''I was young once,'' he said, and his
voice trembled, "and now I am old, yet
neither in youth nor in age have l
heard so sweet a song, nor ever hope
again to hear a song of music so
sweetly sung
Then he put his hand on the young
mans shoulder and kissed him on
DOCn Cn00KS. axe IU0 prize, lie
said, ''for Con Heffernan has the voice
of a hero, but to you the gods them
selves have given the sweet gift of
song"
The heart of Con Heffernan was
filled with hatred and bitterness. That
he, who had been SO long the hero of
the village, and without rival in
|
and that, too, by an interloper was
agony to his passionate heart, for he
saw that the judgment of all who heard
the singing was against him, and, bit
terest of all, that Eileen had listened
to the victor with heaving bosom and
parted lips.
He would sing no more, but if the
fair-haired stranger had a mind to
wrestle, then Con was his man. So
thinking, the desire to be avenged on
his rival became passion with him.
When he had stretched his enemy up
on the ground folk would forget that
he had been beaten in the song in re-
mem bering his strength and skill in
the wrestling.
the fishermen of Malbay sat upon the
beach mending their nets, Con saw
the chance that he looked for, since
near to him sat Phil Martin, painting
line of white upon his boat.
"Sing us a song, Con-" said one, "and
maybe it will bring us the wind we
wait for"
''I sing no more" Con answered,
"for it is but mean occupation for
man, though it is good enough for wo-
men and boys" and he looked at
Martin.
Phil returned the glance, smiling.
ct lightens the heart, anyway, and I
know nothing better in the sunshine
when the wind is STILL" said he.
"Tis no credit to a man, anyhow"
Con returned, "and I'd rather have
squeeze in the wrestling than all the
songs that ever were sung"
"Then have your wrestling, CON-
the others cried cut, for it was lazy
day with them.
Con rose to his feet, shaking his
shoulders to free the muscles from
stiffness.
"I'll stake pair of new oars against
any man. he cried, looking at Martin.
81 have bit of frieze at home, and
will lay it against your oars, if you
are willing" said Phil.
'I'll need a coat for the winter" Con
returned.
"a pair of oars would be useful,
said Phil land so I am ready. Is it
the fairgreen you're for?"
'"Tis too far away" Con returned,
for his heart was full of fury, and the
harder the ground was the better he
liked it, since he was minded to throw
him heavily.
I'm agreeable" said Phil, taking
off his coat and smiling very pleasant
ly.
So the fishermen gathered round to
make a ring, and having little doubt |
of the issue-fOr Con had never yet
!, - +o1, Il