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


sitting on divan idly turning over some
loose sheets of music. The large, sparse
ly furnished room--it was in reality the
back drawing-room of the house-looked
curiously gray and cold in the drear aft
ernoon light 1t was only slightly fur
nished-hs bed and toilet articles being
in curtained alcove. In the center of its
unadorned. occupied baroness, the grand
piano. cleaning richly, stood open, the
stool in front Of it.
Miss Moreau," he said, starting to
his feet. Il thought you were sick in bed.
How are you2 You've had a dreadful
experience. I've been sending away my
pupils because l was told you were
asleep"
"oh. I'm quite we'll now" she said.
only my head aches a little. Yes. l was
frightened last night-a burglar came
in. crept up the bough of the pepper
tree. | was dreadfully frightened then,
but I'm all right now. I've come to sing
TO sing for mer' he exclaimed but
you're not well enough to sing. You've
had a bad fright and you look-excuse
me'--he took her hand-'you're burning
up with fever. Take my advice and go
upstairs. and as soon as Mrs. Garcia
''No-no," she said almost violently;
I'm quite well now. My hands hot and
so is my head. but that's natural after
the fright / had last night | want to
sing tor you now and see what you say
about my voice.
But. you know. you can't do yourself
L
Why do you want to sing this afternoon
when you wouldn't all winterT
We'll" she said, Il don't mind telling
you. I'm going to Europe to study. I've
just made up my mind.
Going to Europe. Isn't that very
sudden? But IT will be splendid! When
are you going?'
'Soon--in day or two-as socn as
can get my things packed in my trunks.
He looked at her curiously Her man
ner. which was usually calm and delib-
t1ee-c
ness. She spoke rapidly and like one Ia
boring under suppressed excitement.
Come" she said. going to the piano
stool and pushing it nearer the keyboard,
TN be. very busy now and don't want
to waste any time.
He moved reluctantly to the piano and
seated himself.
NO, but / can sing what some of your
pupils do. ! can sing 'KnoWest Thou the
Land?' and Mrs. Burrell sings that.
Her feversh haste and nervousness
impressed him more than ever as her
hands tossed aside the sheets of piled-up
music. throwing them about the piano
and snatching at them as they slipped
to the floor. From there he picked up
the Mignon aria which she had over
looked and spreading 1t on the rack
struck the first opening notes: She lean
ed over him to see the first line and ne
felt that she was trembling violently. He
raised his hands and wheeled round on
the stool.
Miss Moreau" he said, Il truly don't
think you're we'll enough to sing. Don't
you think we'd better put it off till to-
No no-Tm going te,now. I'm ready.
I'm anxious to. I must. Begin again,
please"
He turned obediently and began again
to play the chords of accompaniment. He
had been for a long time Intensely anx-
ious to hear her voice. of which he had
heard so much. It irritated him now to
lot rlO6 IN & rlp w
was obviously i'll and still suffering from
the effects of her fright.
The accompaniment reached the point
where the voice joins it. He played soft
w. alert for the first rich note Maripo-
sa's chest rose with an imitation of air
and she began to sing.
a sound, harsh. yelled and thin, filled
the room There was no volume, nor
resonance, nor beauty in 1t. 1t was the
ghost of q voice.
The teacher was so shocked that for
Compartment Then he went on. bend
ing his head low over the keys. Fearful OF
her seeing his face. Sounds unmusical,
rasping and discordant came from her
lips Everything that had once made it
rich and splendid was now gone. the very
volume of 1T had dwindled to thin, m1f-
fed thread, the color had flown from
every tone.
For a bar or two she went on then
she stopped Pierpont dared not turn at
first But he heard her behind him say
hoarsely:
s.What-vhat-is it?"
Then he wheeled round and saw her
with wild eyes and white lips.
For moment he could say nothing
Her appearance struck him with alarm
and he sat dumb on the stool staring at
''what is it?" she cried. What has
happened TO it? Where Is my voice?"
ton" he stammered.
TITS gone" she answered in a vail of
agony: its gone. My voice has gone!
What shall do? It's gone"
your fright of last night has affected
it," he said. speaking as kindly as he
could, and you're not we'll I told you
Fo@ will will probably re restore it.
sLet me try II again" she said wildly.
"It may be better. Play again"
He PLAYED over the opening bars again,
and once more she drew the deep breath
that in the past had always brought with
it so much of exultation and began to
sing The same feeble sounds, obscured
as though passing through a thick. muf-
fling medium, hoarse fiat. unlovely, came
with labor from her parted lips.
They broke suddenly into wild animal
cry of despair. Pierpont rose from the
stool and went toward her. where she
sides. pallid and terrible.
Don't look like that he said. taking
her hand; there's no doubt the voice
has been injured. But rest does great
She tore herself from him and ran to
the door crying:
''Oh. my voicei My voice, 1t was all
1 had.
He followed her into the hall, not know
ing what to say in the face of such ca
lamity, only anxious to offer her some
consolation But she ran from him, up
the stairs with a frantic speed. As he
put his foot the lower step he heard
her door.
He turned round and went back slowly
to his room. He was shocked and
amazed. and a little relieved that he
had failed to catch her. for he had
no words ready for such a misfortune.
Her voice was completely gone. She
was unquestionably i'll and nervous-but-
He sat down on the divan. shaking his
head. He had never heard voice
more utterly lost and wrecked.
Barron's business engagement de-
tanned him longer than he had expected.
The heavy rain was shortening the al
ready short February day with a
premature dusk when he opened the
gate of the Garcia house and mounted
the steps.
He had made cursory investigation
of the ground under the pepper tree
when he went out in the early morning
Now before the light died. he again
STEPPED under it's branches for a more
H. ~ -.