The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-02-09
MELODY
DIVINE
BY BELLE MANIATCS
Copyright, 1901. by Belle Mantdtes

Edith Nilmot looked into the open
fire, whose soft glow intensified her
clear cut features and softened the
meditative restraint In her beautiful
eyes. 1t was the night Of her return
home after an enforced absence abroad
of six years, which time had been de-
voted to the care Of an invalid father.
Since his death had occurred. two years
before, she had aimlessly travelled and
visited, until now she had decided to
open her old home, so long closed.
On Arnold Graves. organist Of st.
Paul's and teacher Of piano. her young
The two hours spent weekly under his
tutelage before she had gone abroad
had been very happy ones to her. She
had met her teacher Of music socially,
and their friendship had been fast
merging into q closer relation when
fate had intefvened In the shape OF the
family physician, who had ordered Mr..
Wilmot to Switzerland, where their so
journ had been prolonged beyond their
original plans.
Edith had carried on spasmodic
correspondence with Arnold Graves;
but, owing to his sensitlveness, her nat
ural restraint and the lack Of propin-
guilty. their relations had not changed.
Constantly on her Journey home had
come the question to her mind whether
be would find In the woman Of twenty.
six what had seemed to please him il
the girl Of twenty She had written to
him en- route and asked him to call
that evening. He had done SO. and
| now, after his departure. she sat before
the fire musing on their meeting.
She had in these years sometimes
feared lest her girilsh ineXperience had
read him wrong and Invested him with
qualities that lived only In her own
| fancy. She thought she would almost
| prefer not to meet him again than to
| suffer the loss Of her Illusions But
| now her broadened nature and wider
thought him-and more. She knew. too,
that her youthful feeling for him had
| quickly and suddenly become some
thing else-something that was stron-
ger for Its long duration. She never
had felt quite sure Of the place she oc-
| cupied In his thoughts and feelings,
but tonight she had seen strange
light in his eyes when he looked at
her. Perchance the expression had
been there in the days long ago and
she had been too ignorant to translate
It,
I She had pursued her musical studies
while abroad. and Arnold had asked
her to come to hts studio the next
morning and play to him. She went
at the appointed hour, and after play
ing few selections there suddenly en-
tered most beautiful young girl.
Miss Wilmot." introduced Graves,
"let me present my ward and pupil
Miss Beth Forbes. I want you to hear
her sing" he explained to Edith.
Then. turning to the girl, he asked
her to go into the adjoining room and
look for certain aria.
He had written casually of distant
cousin who had been left to his guard
ianship. but she had supposed his ward
to be q mere child. Beth returned will
the music So charmingly did she ren
der the aria that Edith felt her hear,
going out to her. though with conflict
ing sensations. Riding home she sanh
listlessly back In the carriage with s
dull throb Of pain In her heart. Shs
passed a most wretched day, full o1
sharpened doubts. 1t seemed to he'
that Beth lacked no charm and that NJ
man could Withstand such ioveliness
Arnold's ruling passion was music, ant
he must love the girl for her voic,
alone.
She wondered IL Beth cared for him
She had seen nothing In the girls man
ner to indicate that she had anythin,
more than an ordinary affection Of .
pupil for her teacher. but then she wa
young, and her innocent heart hat
probably not yet awakened. Edit
found herself consumed with an in
tense curiosity to know more OF Ar
nold's young protegee. Yielding to
sudden impulse. she sent Beth not
asking her to spend the following da,
with her.
Beth accepted eagerly. and, f1attere,
by having aroused the interest Of al
older. more accomplished woman, sh
was responsive In the highest degre
Z to Edith's advances.
In discussing a popular novel Bet
naively asserted that the woman di,
not love the man.
What do you know about love
! Beth 2" demanded Edith.
Nothing: only from looking on. Al
mold says that when sing love song
tear passion to tatters and that
never can express the song of the hear
until have been in love"
They say pupil never learn, t
sing until she falls in love with he
teacher. Mr.. Graves has taught yo
to sing. hasn't hep
"Yes; he understands voice training
But I'll never learn to sing love song
If have to fall in love with him first!
"Do you think him SO impossibl
them"