The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-03-23

IT WAS TO SIT IN THE DIM TWILIGHT AND
LISTEN TO MARGARET SING.
and violin trio, the first number, ended
with flourish. Then, following few
sweet bars on the piano, came voice
so pure, so rich, so clear, that an utter
quiet settled on the audience. 20 del
milo dolce ardorr' sang the girl. A
critic might have found flaws in the
execution. but it was voice that sank
into ones heart
Mrs. ST. John gave the singer her
utmost attention. She had no program
lin fact, never cared who these people
were who amused her, but some note
In that girls pure voice stirred her
profoundly Once long ago a voice
strangely like this had called to her
heart, but she was not allowed to re
spond. Her parents were too world
wise to permit any wandering fro
prearranged plans.
But in her moments of self commun-
ion Margaret st. John always hear 4
that voice call to her out Of the ST.
lence. Now 1t seemed to her almost as
If this secret of her heart was being
proclaimed to all the world.
She looked eagerly a. this girl whose
voice charmed them, slender figure
in a black gauze gown, dark eyed and
foreign looking 20 del milo dolce ar
dorl' faded into a faint minor, and
Mrs. st. John reused herself at the
sound of soft clapping Of gloved hands.
She did not applaud.
Another number or two Of instru-
mental music followed, then soft
hum of conversation everywhere as
the teacups were handed about. Mrs.
st. John moved with the rest toward
the miniature exhibit. Delighted little
peals of laughter told of the oddities
In these old pictures Of the past that
the wave Of fashion had left stranded.
Mrs. ST. John glanced over them in
her bored way. Really, except for
that solo, it was scarcely worth the
trouble of coming, she thought. Then
suddenly, face to face, her youth
looked at her. 1t was her own pic
ture. She looked at the card. Lent
by Miss Margaret Delafeld,' she read
"Who is Margaret DelafeldT' she
said aloud.
"Why. our sweet singer, Mrs. ST
John. Hasn't she a superb voiceg an
swered the president Mrs. st. John
put out her hand. Where is she
Take me to her"
The president slipped her arm around
her, for she looked as If she would
faint, and turned to the door Of the
anteroom. Here, dear" she said; II
will send her TO you" and asked one
# the ladies to see that Miss Della
Geld came to them at once.
When the ioor opened and the young
girl entered the president left them
Mrs. st. John reached out her hands
to this girl. Where did you get that
old miniature?' asked she. ut Is SO
interesting. Whose picture is it7"
"Oh, the picture was father'sl 1t
was so beautiful l offered 1t to the
ladies' for the exhibit / do not know
whose it is"
''Tell me of yourself" the worldly
woman Sdlu as uer gaze SedICueu luS
face of the girl, whom she had drawn
beside her on the divan.
"Oh. have been singing at the clubs
this winter-just the smaller ones at
first, you know. l was very fortunate
to have the opportunity of this after
noon.'
"But your childhood eagerly asked
Mrs. ST. John-"your father, your
motherT'
Bit by bit Mrs st. John got the
whole story. Margaret was the daugh-
ter of the lover of her youth, Elwood
Delafield, who had married an Italian
woman while studying abroad. Both
parents were dead, Margaret told her,
and the friends Of her father in the
American colony in Rome. had advised
her to come to America, where there
were many opportunities to add to her
slender income
Mrs. st. John said impulsively to
Margaret: "Come home with me. dear.
knew your father very well, and ]