The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-02-28
~ MARTHA BELLINGERs


her voice was not clear, but as sac
continued Il emerged from It's sheath
Of hushness clear and flutelike, and
liquid as the notes Of the thrushes that
inhabited the wood. The pleasure OF
the exercise grew. and presently,
warbllng her songs there In the 9th
erwise pleasant forest. Agatha became
conscious of a strange accompaniment.
Pausing a moment, she perceived that
the grove was vocal with tone long
after her voice had ceased II was
not exactly an echo, but a slowly re-
cedlng resonance, faint Implications
and muluplications Of her voice gent
ly floating into the thickness Of the
forest.
Charmed. like a child who discovers
some curious phenomenon of nature
Agatha tried her voice again and
again, listening. between whiles, to
the ghostly tones reverberating among
The pines She sang the slow majestic
"Lascia chic pianga," which has test
ed every singers voice since Handel
wrote Il; and then, curious, she tried
the effect OF the aerial sounding.
with quick. brilliant runs up and
down the full range Of the voice. But
the effect was more beautiful with
something melodious and somewhat
slow; and there came to her mind an
cld.fashioned song which, as a girl,
she had often sung with her mother
oh! that we two were maying
Down the stream of the soft spring
breeze"
She sang the stanza through, softly,
walking up and down among the pines.
Danny, at first, walked up and down
beside her gravely, and then lay down
the middle of the path, keeping an
1ye on Agatha's movements. Her
fcice. pitched at its softest, now
seemed to be infinitely enlarged with
,ut being made louder. 1t carried far
among the trees, clear and soft as
a wave-ripple Entranced, Agatha be-
gan the second part OF the song, just
for tho joy Of singing:
"Oh, that we two sat dreaming
On the sward of some sheep-trimmed
down"
when suddenly, from the distance, an
other voice took up the strain, Danny
was instantly up and of to investigate,
but presently came back wagging and
begging his mistress to follow him.
In spite of her surprise in hearing
another voice complete the duet,
Agatha went on with the song, half
singing, half humminG. It was a wom-
ans voice that joined hers, singing
the part quite according to the book;
with our limbs at rest on the quiet
earth's breast
And our souls at home with Cod"
Tho pine canopy spread the voices,
first one and then the other, until the
wood was like vast cathedral filled
with the softest music of the organ
pipes.
There was nobody in sight at first,
but as Agatha followed the path, she
saw white arm and skirt
from behind the trunk of a
tree4 Danny, wagging slowly, ap-
peared to wish to make friends, and
before Agatha had time to wonder, the
stranger emerged and came toward
her with outstretched hand
"Ah, forgive me- l hid and then
startled you; but l was tempted by
he song And this forest temple
sn't It wonderful
Agatha looked at the stranger, sud
lenly wondering if she were not some
amiiar but half-forgotten acquaint-
lnce of years agone. She was a beau
iful dark woman, probably two or
hree years older than herself, mature |
md selfpoised as only woman Of the
world can be. 1t might
,e that compared to her Agatha was a
lit crude and unfinished, with the J
ears of her full blossoming yet to
ome. She had no words at the mo-
nent, and the older woman, still hold
ng Agatha's hand, explained
Il did not mean to steal in upon
ou; but as | came into the grove ]
card you singing Handel, and
ouldn't resist listening. Your voice
J wonderful! Especially here!" AS
he looked into Agatha's face, her sin
ere eyes and voice gave the praise
nat no one can resist, the tribute of
ne artist to another.
This is, indeed, beautiful hall. /
1und it out just now by accident,
hen l came up here to practice and
ee if | had any voice left" said
gatha She paused, as it suddenly
ccurred to her that the visitor might
> James Hambleton's sister and that
le was being delinquent as hostess.
But come back to the house." she