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

which ceremony we slowly pulled back
to the landing.
During the remainder Of the evening
thought hard upon the problem pre-
sented by the musical miracle which
has been described. Where did the girl
get the song? Admitting that / had
sung it to my father in New York,
there was still no explanation. Though
he sings well, he is not one who
Catches a tune. readily, and he could
no more have carried such an ex-
tremaly difficult air in his. head than
he could have carried the Witherspoon
lake to Chicago in his hat. 1t could not
be he who had sung it to Sibyl. This
Is upon the supposition that Sibyl was
the girl, but / could not see that a
contrary <supposition made the puzzle
any easier. | eventually went to sleep
thinking about it. and in the course Of
nature awoke to think of it some
more. rs
The Witherspoon house next morning
seemed to be deserted by everybody ex.
cept the blue eyed girl, who was eat
ing breakfast. Her father and mother
Tor whoever they may have BEEN We're
not in evidence. Somehow l fell into
conversation with her, the only time |
ever knew such a.. thing to happen
within the borders of the estate. i
think we talked of the quality of the
Strawberries. or of books perhaps. |
really can't remember anything about
it, except wondering how could be so.
stupid in the presence Of such pretty
girl. Presently she very properly pun
lshed me by withdrawing the light of
her countenance, and | was left to
stare at a biscuit and ask 1t how the
girl had come to know that song. :.
Afterward I wandered up to the
north tree and was surprised to find
Miss Jones there alone. 1t appeared
that Trask had gone back to the house
for some sort of sketching materials.
/ made myself comfortable upon the
ground and endeavored to open con-.
yersation, but ii was even harder than
usual for me to talk with her that
morning. &
There must be certain kind of hon
esty concealed in me somewhere, be-.
cause find it unpleasant to talk with
person when / am obliged TO conceal
the principal subject of my interest.
Really, wished to ask Miss Jones a
lot of personal questions-for example,
Who are YOU? Is your name really
Jones? If you are Sibyl, why did you
select such a name as Jones for Ruf.
poses of disguise? Was it very clever
thing TO do, being the very last that /
should have expected Of you? Can you
sing?
1t seemed as IL / might put the last
query in such form as to gain Informal
ton from the answer, though II sAie
young lady were the singer of The
shore l could not expect her to con-
slider herself under any moral obliga-
ton to tell the truth to me. While i
was turning the matter over In my
mind / suddenly became aware that
was whistling softly. 1t is bad habit
Of mine, somewhat less reprehensible
on this occasion because my compan-
ion seemed in no mood for converse
ton and thus left me to my own de-
vices. But the essential point is that
found myself whistling the little Swiss
song, and in an instant there leaped
into my field OF consciousness perfect
recollection of having done precisely
the same thing before when Miss Jones
and had fallen into one Of those deep
sllences in which she seemed to find
melancholy pleasure.
The miracle of the lake stood explain.
ed, and by the knowledge Of that fact
l was so startled that got upon my
feet. Miss Jones raised her eyes to
me with a question. 81
"AIr. Trask is coming" said I, motto
ing that fact for the first time. Il
thought heard footsteps"
The man was walking on turf ut
distance OF 100 yards. but Miss Jones
did not consider II necessary to cross
examine me on the subject of my audi
tory apparatus.
When Trask came up, talked wi.h
him a few minutes and then walked
back TO the house. In my room sat
down by the window TO think the thing
out, and was making some small prog
ress when | became aware Of a gentle
humming sound which resolved itself
into a scarcely audible, grossly inaccu-
rate yet recognizable performance OF
that fated song. II was Jimmy La.
moinc who was guilty Of this dire atroc-
fly. He was standing on the strip of
grass between the window and the
driveway. and his attitude and express
sion were studiously designed 10 give
the impression that his music was
purely involuntary, a mere bodily act
uncontrolled by any purpose.
But Jimmy was a marked card TO
me. knew his back as wen as his
face. This Is a figure OF speech.
really refer to the back OF his mind.