The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-03

arral, shipping OF Il leaf, bending to
pluck a wild flower. pausing to admire
the glossy green of a manzanita bush.
Under the shadow of the pines she halt
ed by a rugged trunk, Il point Of vantage
she had early discovered and leaning
her hand on the bark, surveyed the wild
prospect.
The sense of expectancy in the air
seemed intensified Tile quiverfng radi-
ance of pink ana gold pulsed up the sky
from a point of concentration which
every moment frightened. The blue
shadows in the camp grew thinner, the
little wiSpS of mist that hung over the
river more, threadlike and phantasmal.
A throw-back to unrememDered days
came suddenly upon her with a mysteri-
Gus sense of familiarity. She seemed to
be repeating a dear, long dead expert
ence. The vision and the dream of days
of exquisite welI-being, care-free, cher
ished. were with her again. Faint re-
strong of balsam of pine and fir. musical
with the sleepy murmur of river. Sc
rene and sweet with an Unfolding passion
or love In which she rested secure, rose
out of the dim places of memory. The
perfect content of her girlhood spoke to
ner across the gulf of years, finding it.
old JOY in living, the old thrill of wonder
and mystery. the old sense OF safety in a
surrounding, watchful love were hers
once more.
The song on her lips passed from it's
absent undertone to notes gradually full
and fuller. 1t was the aria from Mig
hand the
tree trunk, looking down into the swim
ming shadows of the camp, it swelIed
outward in tones strong and rich, vibrat-
ing with their lost force.
Pervaded by a sense of dreamy happi-
ness. she at first failed to notice the un-
expected volume of sound. Then, as note
rose upon note. yelling from her chest
with the old-time, vibrant facility as
she felt once again the uplifting sense
of triumph possess her she realized
what it meant; Dropping her hand from
the tree trunk she stood upright, and
facing the dawn, with squared shoulders
and raised chin, let her voice roll out
into the void before her.
The song swelled triumphant like
hymn of some pagan goddess to the ris-
ing sun. In the stiffness of the dawn
hush. with the columns of the monumen-
and the glowing sky in front, she might
have been the spirit of youth and love
chanting her JOY in prineval world.
When the last note had died away
she stood for a moment staring be-
fore her. Then suddenly she wheeled,
and. catching up her skirts with one
hand, ran back toward the house, brush
ing between the tree trunks and through
the chaparral with breathless haste. As
she emerged from the thicket she saw
her husband, in his rough mining clothes,
standing on the top step of the balcony.
Cant" she cried, CAM"
He started, saw her, and then waited
smiling as she came running up the gar
den path toward him, the blaze Of the
why. dearest, didn't know what had
happened to YOU" he cried. Where did
you go?''
Her unslackened speed carried her up
the stairs and into his arms. Standing
on the step below him she flung hers
round his shoulders and, holding him
tight, said breathlessly:
What do you think .t has happened"
My voice has come back.
The two pairs of eyes, the woman's
looking up, the mans down, gazed deep
of silence. the silence of people who are
still unused to and little overawed by
their happiness.
You did? From herer
Yes. L heard some one singing and
stood here listening. watching the light
coming up"
Was it good?' she asked. anxiously.
Very. had never heard you sing be-
fore You're prima donna
That's what | was going to be You
remember hearing us talking about IL at
the Garcias?
He nodded, looking down at the face
where health was coming back in deli
cate degrees of coral to lips and cheeks.
And it really did sound good?" she
queried again
with all the sound of music gone out
mot bit 1t was fine"
She continued to hold him round the
shoulders, but her eyes dropped away
from his which regarded her with i'm
movable earnestness, touched by slight,
tender Eumor. She appeared to- become
suddenly thoughtful.
You can be a prima donna STILL" he
said
Yes" she answered. nodding slightly.
II suppose / cam.
And it's a great career.
Yes, splendid career.
You travel everywhere and make
fortune"
"Oh. you'd be success all right"
She drew away from him, letting one
hand rest on his shoulder Her face had
grown serious. tihe looked disappointed.
We'll, do you want me to be prima
donna?" she asked, looking at her hand
He continued to regard her without
answering. the CLEAN of amusement dy-
sof course" She added in a small
voice, If you've set your heart on it.
WILL
she gave him swift side look just
raising and dropping of the lashes
Say what you think. first, she coaxed-
We'll. then, I will"
He put his two hands suddenly on her
shoulders. big. bronzed hands, hard and
delicate flesh with a masters grip.
Look at me-" he commanded.
She obeyed. The gray eyes held hers
Il think no. You don't belong to the
public: you belong to me-"
The color ran up into her face to the
edge of her hair.
'-Oh, Gam" she whispered on rising
breath. I'm so relieved.
He dropped his hands from her shout
ders and drew her close to him. With
his cheek against hers he said softly:
You didn't think l was that kind OF
fool, did your?
The sun had risen as they talked, at
first slowly peering with radiant eye
over the mountains shoulder. then shak-
ing itself free of tree-top and rock-point.
ard swimming up into the blue. The top
of the range stood all glowing and gold
en-, with here and there a white peak.
snowily enameled. The rows of pines
were overlaid with a rosy brflliance.
their long shadows slantipg down the
slopes as if scurrying away from the
flood of heat and light. The clear blues
and amethysts that yelled the hollow OF
the camp were dispersed; the films OF
mist melted: quivering silvery sparkle
played over the river shadows
In the clearing beams the life of the
hive below seemed to swarm and MI the
air with the clamor of it's awakening
The man and woman. looking down. saw
the toiling world turning TO its days