The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-04-06
(Continued.)
Copyright. 1901. by Charlie. W. Hooks


I was at a loss to explain the cessa-
tion of the music and the sudden ex-
tinguishing of the fire. It could not
be due to any transgression of mine.
I would have wished to proIong the
scene until midnight, for all those in
duenceS that arise no man knows
whence and work upon hitherto IN
known possibilities of the soul were
strong with me- l would not know
how TO give the feeling a name.
man cannot love a voice nor give his
heart to a woman who is to him only
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 it makes
no difference what l felt, nor for
whom The point is that l felt it. My
eyes were fixed upon the faint glow of
the embers in the vain hope that the
goddess of the place might rekindle
the flame upon the sacred tripod.
little whispering breeze, cold as
from the shore, and Immediately the
boats bow began to swing outward. l
took up the oar to keep her head up
but before I could dip it l was looking
straight out into the lake. And then
the moon touched the edge of cloud,
and 1 perceived a gray shadow which
| knew to be boat. Beyond a doubt
the girl had seen it 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 pirate. l 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 1 was almost alongside. The
moon frightened, and l recognized
ScoveI.
What he cried, ceasing to row. rs
it you? l thought it was Derringer."
My friend" said l, this isn't mat
ter to think about at all. Far less is it
a matter to talk about"
The pirate promptly surrendered.
upon delicate matters" said he, 4
have long had a habit of conversing
exclusively with myself. And in the
present instance 1 won't even do that
if you don't wish me to. But had no
idea You've seen her, then?'
mo more than you have" 1 replied.
"And let me repeat
Now, see here he said, with ludi-
crous earnestness, you were nearer the
shore than l was. And you were max
ing a blasted noise, while 1 was quiet
as the night over our heads. If there
was any intrusion
''Why did the fire go out?" 1 inter
rupted.
He put the handle of an oar under his
knee and rubbed his head with the
freed hand.
"Wasn't that curious?'' he said. 81
was just getting near enough to see it
clearly, when, puff, the whole thlng
went up into the air! Terry, there's
magic about this whole business. Now,
why" he continued, pointing forensic
finger at me, why are you here? Why
am 1 here? What subtle influence radi-
ates from an unknown, unseen
''Stick to the point said L. "Why
are you here? AS for my own case, it
is plain and entirely conventional.
was trying to entertain the lady with
song in a manner as old as the world"
"And 1 was here" he rejoined, ito
hnd out what presumptuous, roaring
rascal was destroying the 1ady's peace,
In violation of the statute in such cases
made and provided, by jingor
My captive had rebelled.
'Scovel," said 1, when fellow can
talk that way to another fellow who
weighs near a nundred pounds more
than ne does he is all right. VIII you
have a fresh cigar?"
We sculled the two boats together |
and shared tobacco and matches, after |
which ceremony we slowly pulled back |
to the landing.
During the remainder of the evening |
I thought hard upon the problem pre-
scented by the musical miracle which |
has been described. Where did the girl |
get the song? Admitting that l 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 |
tremely difficult air III 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 l could not see that a |
contrary supposition made the puzzle |
any easier. l eventually went to sleep |
thinking about it, and in the course of |
nature I awoke to think of it some |
more.
The Witherspoon house next morning |
seemed to he deserted hv ayerVhOdV ex-
cept the blue eyed girl, who was eat |