Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-10-24
CHAPTER XIV.

bark.
take care,' he said, aloud, then in
an undertone, he added: Il shall see
you at Richmond"
Are you going to row the outrigger
down, Savage?" said Dalrymple, eying
the first boat enviously.
Jack turned to him eagerly.
mo, I'll take your place in this
boat; | can see you are longing for
mine. Here, get in" and before Dairy
mple could refuse, Jack had almost
lifted him into the outrigger, and leap
ed into his place in Lady Bells boat.
All the darkness vanished from his
brow. He was sitting opposite Una;
so near, that when he leaned forward
to make the stroke, his hand almost
touched her dress.
care you coming with us?" said
Lady Bell; 81 am SO glad"
$50 am - said Jack; but his eyes
went to Unas face.
''Now them" said Jack, as he bent
forward.
Steady, old man." said Sir Arkroyd;
I'VE haven't all got blacksmith's
muscles!"
But Jack was wild, delirious with
joy, and he pulled, heart and soul, his
great, strong arms bare to the elbows.
What a lovely night" said Lady
Bell Wont anybody sing?"
Of course no one replied.
Sing something, my dear child
she said to Una. "You have a singing
face. You have no idea how beauti-
full it sounds on the water
ooh, no, no." said Una, shrinking
modestly.
Jack looked up.
'Sing," he murmured, pleadingly.
AS if he had uttered a command, she
looked at him with meek obedience,
and began the song he had heard her
singing in the forest.
Is there anything more exquisite on
earth than the voice of a young girl?
Una knew nothing of the science of
song; she had had no master, no in
struction of any sort; but her voice
was clear and musical as a young
thrush's and she sang straight from
her heart.
No need to tell Jack to pull slower!
He ceased rowing, and rested on his
oar, his eyes fixed ON her face, his lips
half apart.
The other boats stopped also as the
music of the sweet, young voice
fioated down the stream, and one and
all felt the spell.
Lady Bell sat with lowered lids and
pale face, and when the last note died
away and she looked up, her eyes were
moist.
my DEAR she said, in low voice,
where did you learn to sing like
that?'
Una, half frightened at the effect
she had produced, flushed and sank
back into her seat.
81 have never learned" she said,
quietly.
There was a murmur, and Lady
Clarence turned and looked at her
curiously.
"You have a beautiful voice." she
said land exquisite taste, or you could
not sing as you do. 1t is a pity you
have not been thoroughly trained
You should have MASTER
''She SHALL" said Lady Bell, impul-
sively ''She shall have the best. 1t
would be criminal to let such a gift
be wasted!"
Jack looked up with flush OF
pleased gratitude, and Lady Bell hap
pened to catch that glance.
With a slight start she turned pale,
and looked from his face all aglow
with the fervor of loving admiration
to Una's downcast one, and then, with
something like a shudder, she, too,
sank back into the seat.
'Tsn't-isn't it co1d?" she said, in a
strangely changed voice.
''Is it?" said Jack, musing. We'll
row on" and he bent to the oar again.
A peculiar silence fell upon them
all; it seemed as if they were still
listening to the sweet voice. Lady
Bell closed her eyes and remained
motionless, and Jack pulled as if he
had undertaken to reach Richmond
within a given time.
At Richmond tea was brought to
them on the terrace while the horses
were put to, and very soon they were
dashing toward London.
Dalrymple declared that his arms
were too stiff to allow him to handle
the four grays properly, and Jack was
unanimously voted to the box.
He looked rather inclined to refuse,
but seeing that Una had been seated
close behind him, he climbed up and
took the reins without a word.
For the first mile or two he had
quite enough to do to keep the nags
in hand; but he could feel that Una
was close behind him, could feel her
breath on his cheek, and hear every
word of the clear, low-pitched voice,
and he was deliriously happy.
Presently, when he had got the
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