Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-08-07
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STOLEN 20
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By MARTINA DEd,LdNGER
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, MARTHA DELLINGER


then a scale of two, a triIl. AT irst
her voice wal not clear. but as she
continued 1t emerged from its sheath
of huskiness clear and futelfke, and
liquid as the notes of the thrushes that
inhabited the wood. The pleasure of
the exercise grew, and presently,
warbling 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. 1t was
not exactly an echo, but a slowly re-
ceding resonance, faint Implications
and multiplications 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 whites, 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 1t; and then, curious, she tried
the effect Of the aerial sounding-board
with quick, brilliant rum 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
old-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 stanga through, softly,
walking up and down among the pines.
Danny, at first, walked up and down
beside her gravely, and then lay down
in the middle of the path, keeping an
eye on Agatha's movements. Her
voice, pitched at it's softest, now
seemed to be infinitely enlarged with
out being made louder. 1t carried far
in among the trees, clear and soft as
a wave-ripple. Entranced, Agatha be-
gan the second part Of the song, just
for the joy Of singing:
ooh! 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 off 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, hall
singing, half humming. 1t was a WON
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 God!"
The pine canopy spread the voices
first one and then the other, until the
wood was like a 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
presently saw a white arm and skirt
projecting from behind the trunk of
tree. Danny, wagging slowly, ap
peared to wish to make friends, anC
before Agatha had time to wonder, the
stranger emerged and came towart
her with ~outstretched hand.
"Ah, forgive mel l hid and Their
startled you; but I was tempted BY
the song. And this forest temple
isn't 1t wonderful"
Agatha looked at the stranger, sud
denly wondering If she not som'
familiar but half-forgotten acquaint
ance Of years agone. She was a beau
tiful dark woman, probably two o,
three years older than herself, mature
and self-poised as only a woman of th'
cosmopolitan world can be. 1t nigh
be that compared to her Agatha was
bit crude and unfinished, with th'
years Of her full blossoming yet t
come. She had no words at the mo
ment, and the older woman, still hold
ing Agatha's hand. explained.
II did not mean to steal in upol
you; but as l came into the grove
heard you singing Handel. and
couldn't resist listening. Your voic
Is wonderful! Especially here!" A
she looked into Agatha's face, her sir
cere eyes and voice gave the prais
that no one can resist. the tribute @
one artist to another.
This is. indeed, o beautiful hall.
found IL out Just now by accident
when I came UP here to practice an
see If / had any voice left" sal
Agatha. She paused, as 1t suddenl
occurred to her that the visitor Nigh
be James Hambleton's sister and tha
she was being delinquent Is a hostess
I"But come back to the house." sh