The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-11-20
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TIE Sweetest
Song of
All
9wsfE1E RlMEZEgE

u u 81 - az Es sa - a s-is'
At last she Lad returned to her
childhood home. which years before
she had left at the call OF ambition,
and now that success had crowned
her efforts. she came. one of the
worlds creates: singers. to sing
again on the old Town Hall stage,
which: had been the scene OF her girl
ish triLmphs.
She HAD been able to secure accom-
modations at her own old home. and
az Sc sat n the familiar room. a
host OF memories came to ner. She
,ooked down the long vista OF years
and saw. herself asa happy child in
this same house with father, moth
e. and fr. ends. Again sne heard the
uear, ,oId songs sung in happy chorus
so much sweeter than the operas that
had brought Ter fame, and last OF a.
she saw Lerselr with parents gone,
preparing to leave her home to go
out and battle with the world. 10
wress victory from it If she could.
with her one gift. a glorious Vo CO.
ana resclutely turning away from
the earness BOY who pleaded with her
to remain in that quiet village shell
tered oy his love, safe from the trials
and temptat. Ills of the world. True.
she mad loved him. but why had her
voice been given her if not to make
the most or it. ano lured by the gilt
ter of fame and wealth she had left
him and gol.e out to prove her
:trength.
Both wealth and fame had come to
her, but the way had been very. very
hard; many of the dear illus ons OF
youth had been destroyed. and true
happiness had been> ELUSIVE fol
riches and glory mean but little
when there is no one to share them
and no. one to. rejoice when they ara
won.
Since she aad left the town nc
word lad come to her. Occas onaily
SIG TeCSiNSa i>SpSi' SA'o - S'A'
that she knew he had prospered. was
a su -cessful man. and she also kne"
that he had, never married. and Of
tentimes. she. wondered if happines!
had come to him, or had passed MIN
by as it had herself AS she sa
there she wondered if he would CONT
that n ght to hear her, and slow!
realized how intensely she desired tt
see him even though they might no.
speaE.
Absorbed in her recollections tho
minu,es went gu ck!y. and soon II
was time to go to the hall. DRIVING
SLOWLY through familiar scenes. see
ing now and:then well remembered
lace. the old tee ngs, and the ole
love seemed to crow stronger. ano
she .1ew then that she would adj!
throw ter success as de TO hear once
more that dear voice tell her the old
old story, AMI to De given again tho
same chance Of happiness. but. a as
she had let it go. and she could no.;
ask for what she had SO easily thrown
aside
AS sne' reached the hall and took
her seat on the stage. eagerly she
scaLned the fist filing house for tha'
one face, but found no one that bor'
any resLm blance to him. and - seem
ed taat in the bitterness Of her dis
appointment that it would not sbs
possible to sing at all. Still, as her
Elace on the programme was reach,
ed. the training Of years enabled her
to control ner emotions, and she ren
tered her aria IN her most fault ess
manner. receiving the loud applause
with the finished grace Of the pzms
donna accustomed to much praise.
Stepping forward to grant the re-
quests for an encore, face way
5cwn in the audience arrested her at
Iention. and once mere she saw the
old lov light in his eyes an! his pride
n her success in his face. Obl!v-
i6us to her surroundings she stretch.
ed out her hands to him and sang for
him and MIN alono a SONG Of other
days. song they had often sung to-
gether when they were all in all to
each other, and l:fe and love were
young. Just Song at Twilight" AS
she sang the loneliness and sorrow OF
the lost years melted away. and when
as of cd his voice joined hers, she
knew that fate had been kind and the
chance OF happiness was hera again
and that before h was a lifetime
flied with love, ''the sweetest song Of
all.