The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-07-26

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she looked as one transformed. The or
chestra engaged for the occasion was
magnificent one; the music swelled out
nightly in wonderful. soul-stirring
waves. Marcia leaned her voice on its
beauty and grandeur and sang as one
sings only once or twice in life
time. Something. she knew not what,
took possession of her that evening and
glorified every note. The faithful old
singing teacher, who had prayed for
her to fall madly in love and suffer.
sharply in order that the power might
be brought out and fullest expression
made possible, would have wept with
joy to hear her. Three times did the
enraptured audience insist upon her re-
turning. Thrice did she repeat her in
itial triumph, with no shadow of fall
ing off or failure. And Philip Derwent,
listening and watching, felt something
awake within him which was different
from any feeling or experience he had
previously known.
song from her number, and while it
lasted he looked at her dumbly, unable
to say a word of all that he longed to
utter. When, just as the last strong
chord vibrated, he opened his lips to ex-
press his admiration, she slipped from
the waiting-room and out into the side
of the hall-to listen to him, as he real
lied with a thrill.
At first this knowledge threatened to
hamper and hold back his powers of eX-
preston. His heart beat like that of a
child expecting to be chidden, or of a
novice facing an audience for the first
time. He would not look in Marcia 5
direction: he dared not. Then suddenly
IA thrill of shame swept through him
to be afraid of a girl who had stead
tasty refused to consider him as any
thing more than the merest of ac-
quaintancesl Shame! He faced her
daringly, his heart beating faster than
ever, and almost lost his breath over
the great surprise which followed his
movement. She was watching him
anXiously, eagerly, her eyes dilating
with something like fear as he stood
there, hesitating. The orchestra rum
bled out the prelude to his song again,
and this time he lifted up his voice and
sang.
Something stirred in the back of his
throat. and it seemed as though bands,
hitherto unrecognized, were loosened;
a
he felt like a god rather than a man.
The marvellous burst of song that fol
lowed was but the natural expression
of this new joy and freedom. And all
the "chilliness" had vanished from
those wonderful top notes.
He too, was recalled three times, and
he reached the waitingroom again, the
last recall over, in a state bordering
on what would have been exhaustion
had he not been so uplifted and happy.
Marcia met him, cheeks flaming, eyes
sparkling, yet moist and dewy, lips
parted in generous commendation and
sincerest praise. And Philip, still un-
der the spell of that wonderful eXalta-
ton, caught her in his arms and drew
her head down to his breast.
My darling! My dearestw The
stage employee, waiting a call in the
corner. smiled. sighed. and considerable
ly departed. My sweetest girl, know
you love meas you know that 1 wor
ship you. We have told each other al
tonight in our singing"
And the friend who knew most oil
Marcia. coming to the waiting-room t
congratulate and accompany her home
ward. was treated to the greatest sur
prise of her life. For Marcia lay il
Philips arms quite meekly, and tn,
light of a newborn gentleness and af
lection almost TRANSPORTED her face
Chicago Tribune.