Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-01
An Unseen Singer---A Story of Ta11u1ah.
BY HARRY sTILLwELL EDWARDS.

story. In one of her APPROPRIATIONS the
overtone arose and lived a moment for
the poetess, never again to be found, try
as she might. The sympathetic Sullivan,
recognizing the phenomenon, put music
TO her words so well that his strains may
be called the overtone of the poem. Born
of these conditions and the very scenes we
are now contemplating sprung a short sto-
~ so complete that there is no art needed
in the telling"
"A story! A story!'
There will never be a finer environ
ment." said the professor. smiling. down
on the rocks. all of you. 1t shall be a
recitation given as were the Greek trag-
edies TO the accompaniment of natures
minors and her melodies. Only the deep
voiced river below us lends finer note
for tragedy than the Aegean scar
''Yonder low lying strips of clouds,
said Ethel, dreamily lifting her face to
the moonlit skies, "are the far shores OF
Attica with spaces of placid sea between;
and there is a fleck OF white adrlIt, an
argosy from Syria, on whose deck DOUBT
less a lythe Cyprian maiden writhes TO the
strummed rhythms of lutte and tamoou-
rine. while her brothers crouch and chant
a monotone"
Twenty years ago 1 sought this place
for rest and recreation, and would nave
found time heavy on my hands but that
soon aIleE ARRIVAL lAGAG NaAAS eNAsac ANNA
gentlemen, affable and accomplished, with
whom I established bonds of friendship.
They were men younger than I, but grad
yates of the best universities OF Europe
delightful associates. / was familiar with
Tallulah. and this fact enabled me to con-
tribute somewhat to their comfort and d.
version. Shy and reserved with most peo-
pie. they soon became frankly open and
cordial with me; and many were the long
rambles over mountains and valleys We
enjoyed together.
Three Of these gentlemen were broth
ers; the fourth was their cousin. OF the
four he alone never lost the air of melan-
choly which noticeably dwelt with them
all at times-a fact that was the source
of but half disguised anxiety with the
others. He was not a depressing com
panion though, and did not intrude his
mood on his associates. Indeed, he made
FREQUENT efforts TO throw off his glooms
and to emerge from the shadow, but never
with more than momentary success. II
he smiled his face wassblankly grave the
next instant. II he spoke with animation
he sank at once into silence. 1t was no
ticed by me that he was never at any time
left alone or suffered TO wander away
from the party. One or another OF the
brothers was always within speaking DIS
lance. while at the same time concealing
the fact that a surveillance was being
this silent drama, but of course l could
ask no question and no explanation was
offered.
have said these gentlemen were accom-
plished. I think one Of their most de-
lightful accomplishments was their sing
ing Nature had endowed them with
voices of rare power and sweetness, ana
these had been perfectly trained. In their
room, abroad in our walks or idling
among these rocks, as fancy inclined
them. they were wont to blend their voices
i'm Fatherland songs. rendering with equal
taste lullabies, folk songs, love songs, bal
lads and gems from great operas.
Many, indeed most of these, were new to
ne and the perfection Of the quartet
music was itself a revelation. had never
until then appreciated so thoroughly the
saying that the voice is the finest must
cal instrument. 1t seemed to me then,
as IT does now that these four men could
powerfully express without effort, every
emotion of the heart, every sublime fancy
every vagary of the Imagination.
In these singings the cousin was at his
best Music made a new man of him. His
voice was the second bass, rich, deep,
broad and resonant. a voice that thrilled
me like a great thought and made me
love him. indeed, his silent soul broke
through all bounds in song and told its
story.
/ felt myself drawn to him even as one
is drawn to the helpless and Unfortunate.
Not one word Of his story had ever
heard. nor had he a story as far as 1 act
ually knew. yet 1 supposed that he had,
and would almost have sworn to my fan
cy as a fact.
Weeks passed and we were all the
warnest of friends, when one day the
Germans declined all offers of association
ana amusement. excused themselves and
spent the day alone. l was greatly dis
turbed and anxiOusly over and over re-
viewed my conduct of the day previous.
searching for some word or deed of mine
sufficient to have produced this change. !
think my trouble must have been appa-
rent for the eldest brother approached