Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-04-04

building there WAS n mystery about it
that Srew as the building grew. h
artisans had simply followed the blue
prints. and those plans did not state
to what use the edificc would be put.
The contractor knew no more than
what the blueprints told him. The
architect was unknown. When the
building was completed it proved to
be one story in height. circular i'm form.
~windowless. but of chaste beauty. 1t
stood apart Just without the city limits
on AN acre of walled ground. Not far
from 1T We're other nandsom" struc-
lures. for several art and music clubs,
acting in harmony while land prices
We're not Yet cXoroitstnt. had erected
Their halls in the r~eighborhood. in an
tlclpatlon of the ci,.y's growth.
NO lettering appeared on the caiiice
and no date. nor amy visible sign or
figure that Offered Il clue to what use
the building would or might be ap-
plicd.
When IT was completed and the last
artillcer had taken his leave, a gem
tleman carefully inspected the interior
OF inc structure, then locked it's hand
some doors. and with ono backward
prophetic o of sorrow. vert his WAY.
ana the building stood ana
unentered. in mysterious silence and
beauty. Neither life nor death passed
through its doors; and the curious
wondered in vain.
1t was an evening I'm June. a year
lt1ef, g this gentleman who had
oeen the l;,sl 10 leave the building ~
turned. He unlocked and opened tho
aeaNy bronzc doors. and one by one.
perhaps three or -four minutes apart.
~ men ollowed him into the precincts
OF the hall. Each bore i'm his hand n
k fl O. ~ .1fff ,,,H $3.50
and moved in silence, as toward soma.
solemn rite.
These II men We're seated in a body
NJ the upper end of the building, dis
tinsuishable by no light save the glow
cast by on" rose colorod chandelier
suspended high above. and the faint,
far gleam of the moon that came
through the sSmbo!ically designed sky
light OF stained blass o%vergrilled with
a splendid golden Tyre.
"A carriage now drove up through the
grounds to the marble steps, and a
Young woman was tendcrly lifted out
and carried within. and the doors were
locked East.
The placed the beautiful girl upon a
coach awaiting her dropping. pallid
form, and the gentlemen who was the
moving spirit of the occasion seated
himself close beside.
A few moments passed. then a flash
'A-N' S'it vi Il MI NJ
wave OF lisht-for sc strange and beau
ilfli the harmony was-arose from
that part of The hall where the ~ mu-
slclans We're gathered. and grew and
spread in ind soribablc sweetness
throughout The r%esonan space.
The yes of the Young girl now
opened. and through their purple
depths she seemed TO drink in the rich
harmony. and her lips fell apart AS
II her soul would escape and take
tight on tho wings OF the ever ascend
ms spirit of sound.
Awhile this continued. then. at a sign
from the gentleman seated by tho
couch. the music ceased. and silently
each musician bent forward and lighted
a little waXen taper affixed to his mu-
sic rack, and at the same moment
the rose colored light above faded and
wen out.
In the faint crimson moonlight that
came through the stained glass and
golden Tyre the IL tapers shone like
IN tiny, fitful spirits. and now began
to stir with the pulsing of such music
as the ears ii the dying had never be-
fore heard. Under the guidance of the
gifted leader the notes rose and fell
as to the beat of a seraphic wand;
they seemed to open like flowers. eX-
pandlng and giving fragrance. and died
away as softly and exquisitely as II
rose closing back to a bud again.
~ e''s Coileilue0, Ine girl Slnll-
ing family unde the spell of the per
rect as If she felt on her
forehead the palpable touch nf "a
seraDhic hand. Then one of the ~
musicians ~extinguished his taper.
arose, and stole away from his COM
panions %treading softly, as if he feared
to wake ONE sleeper.
"A cmen later another taner ,ras
blowout, and another musician silent
lE stole away TO the rear of the or
chcstra.
Then. n by one. nine of the remain
ing ,apers We're distinguished by "a
breath. n one by one nin OF the re-
aii.,'ihs musicians arose and 'softl:-
stole away, and there remained but
one lighted taper and one musician.
playing on a violin that seemed strung
"!tn the living heart strings U. a
lover.
Now the eyes of the rccumbent
Young girl opened wide and locke up
ls at a face bending over her. and Tho.
sweet. pallid lips parted with an UNI
spoken word; then the soft fringed
eyelids closed. the golden head sanl,
back deeper on the pillow and moved
no more, and as a sigh Of poignant an
suish broke from tho heart of the man
endin over tho couch, the last mt
tician leaned forward and blow out the
IL taper n stole away, and the mn
sic ceased, Il drifting cloud ohscurcd
the moon. and the wide hall was loft
to arkne and death and grief unut-
tcrable.
She seemed another Saint Cecilia. so
lovely In person and so musical i'm sni--
IL, ana while still a child the foremost
'oastcr5 OF Europe prophesicd for her
= career az n of the worlds greatest
musicians. Her powers mAt,lre.. Hit,,
Ger mind, and a: II her genius was.