The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1903-12-17

land, where the melody itself was born.
| had sung it very little abroad, prob
ably not more than half a dozen times,
except when alone. The manuscript
was nailed up in a box with various
documents, papers and books contain
ing records of laboratory work which
| had shipped from Germany. had
seen that box unopened In oar house
since my return. @e
In New York had not sung except
In my room at the hotel when my
father was there, and once afterward
to Gushing. If l had favored either Of
them with that particular composition,
beyond doubt should have told the
story of 1t, and could not remember
to have done 80. In, fact, / would
have staked my head that the song had
never been heard in this country until
the girl gave voice to it there upon the
rocks behind her veil of tame.
1t seemed that she did not know 1t
all, for she broke off in the middle Of
a phrase and went back to the begin.
ming. This must be by way of sug-
gestion to me, and so l sang the
strange little song, being inspired to a
fairly creditable performance by the
fitness of the theme. When / had fin
ished, there came faint sound across
the water like the clapping of hands.
Then the fire was scattered suddenly,
almost as If there had been an explo-
sion in the midst of it, and l saw for a
moment dark figure. whether of man
or woman ! could not tell, but it
seemed not to be hers. Darkness and
silence followed. The r,]on that had
shone in the earlier part IF tile evening
was now obscured by a Eeavy cloud,
though most Of the sky ,,''s clear. -
was at loss to e%a,a-I the cessa-
tion of the music and lac sudden ex-
tinguishing of the fire. 1t could not
be due to any transgresslon of mine.
would have wished to rfolong the
scene until midnight. for all those in
fuences that arise no man knows
whence and work upon hitherto un-
known possibilities of the soul were
strong with me. would not know
how 20 give the feeling name. A
man cannot love voice nor give his
heart to a woman who is to him only a
gown seen at a distance and gesture
of the hand. Indeed, in my case there
was no certainty that the voice, the
gown and the hand belonged to the
same woman. She who sang upon the
rocks in the evenings might not be she
who sketched in the shadow of the big
umbrella by day. Perhaps 1t makes
no difference what felt, nor for
whom. The point is that felt 1t. My
eyes were fixed upon the faint glow Of
the embers In the vain hope that the
goddess Of the place might rekindle
the fame upon the sacred tripod.
A little whispering breeze, cold as a
dead hand. touched my face. 1t came
from the shore, and Immediately the
boats bow began 10 swing outward. ]
took up the oar to keep her head up.
but before could dip 1t was looking
straight out into the lake. And then
the moon touched the edge of cloud,
and / perceived a gray shadow which
l knew TO be boat. Beyond a doubt
the girl had seen 1t and had resented
an intrusion.
She was the queen Of that land, and
I was her navy. The fellow in the
other boat was worse than an enemy
he was a pirate. put my paddle into
the water with great force. The pirate
bent TO his oars with haste, but before
he could swing around and gather
Roadway I was almost alongside. The
moon frightened. and / recognized
Scoyel.
what" he cried, ceasing TO row. SIS
Il you? ! thought Il was Derringer."
my friend" said I, this isn't mat
ter to think about at all. Far less is II
a matter TO talk about"
The pirate promptly surrendered.
Upon delicate Matters" said he, Il
have long had n habit Of conversing
exclusively with myself. And in the
present instance I won't even do that
II you don't wish me to. But I had no
idea You've seen her. thenT
mo more than you have" I replied.
"And let me repeat
Now. see here" he said, with ludl.
crous earnestness, you were nearer the
shore than was. And you were max.
Ing blasted noise, while was quiet
as the night over our heads. II there
was any intrusion
"why did the fire go outY' l inter
rupted.
lie put the handle Of an oar under bis
knee and rubbed his head with the
freed hand.
Wasn't that curlousT' he said. 81
was just getting near enough TO see II
clearly, when, pun. the whole thlnE
went up into the air! Terry, there's
.ysa s.fs s,t..,tt tt,t. x,yt,,ta Ixs,wtVua. Nnyy