The Rice belt journal., 1913-07-25

.teT nSr VOICE NaQ CcdsSu. ~ ""S
ot exactly an echo, but slowly re- n
eding resonance. faint Implications U
nd multiplications of her voice, gent u
: floating into the thickness OF the
orest.
Charmed, like child who discovers
ONE curious phenomenon OF nature
.gatha tried her voice again ana
gain. listening, between whiles, to
he ghostly tones reverberating among
he pines. She sang the slow ma1estc
'Lascia chic pianga," which has test
ID every singers voice since Hanoei
wrote 1t; and then, curious. she trieo
he effect of the aerial sounding-board
with quick, brilliant runs up ana
down the full range Of the voice. but
the effect was more beautiful with
melodious and somewhat
slow; and there came to her MIND an
cld-fashioned song which, as 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, softiy'
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 its softest, now
seemed to be infinitely enlarged with
out being made louder. It carried far
in among the trees, clear and soft as
wave-ripple. Entranced. Agatha be-
gan the second part Of the song, just
for the 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
hut presently came back wagging and
beeging his mistress to follow him.
In spite Of her surprise in hearing
another voice complete the duet
Agatha went on with the song. hal
singing, half humming. 1t was WON
, ans voice that joined hers. singini
the mart quite according to the book
} .,W,th our limbs at rest on the quie
earth's breast
And our souls at home with God!
The pine canopy spread the voices
: erst one and then the other, until tn
y wood was like. vast cathedral nile
: with the softest music of the orga
pipes. ,. :. ers
!, hut as Agatha followed the path, So
= = nresently saw white arm and SKI
y y proiecting from behind the trunk OF
= tree Danny, wagging slowly, a
. . neared to wish to make friends, al
y y before Agatha had time to wonder, II
= stranger emerged and came to"al
y her with outstretched hand.
"Ah. forgive me! hid and tn,
..,aa vou. but / was tempted
- - 4sa song And this forert temple
n isn't II wonderful?
~ Agatha looked at the stranger ~
= deniy wondering If she were not Sol
- saniI,ar but half-forgotten acquai'
=, - ance Of years agone. She was oe'
~ ~ | ,,t,,, dark woman, probably two
70 70 three t years older than herself, mat. .
- sna 49, se,f.poised as only woman OF
~ ~ cosmopolitan world can be. II mlt
~ =. ~ that compared to her Agatha wa
nv bit crude and unfinisnea, WIN
~ uO.rs ~ of her full blossoming yet
aome She had no words at tine !
Nv ~ @ aan. and the older woman. stu DC
ne m ins n 1ratha's hand. explained.
On ~ @ 81 did not mean to steal IN W
an M von. hut as l came into the grow
Sn sal hoard @ you singing Handel ano
"a, couldn't resist listening your se
o. o. .0',c - wonderful! Especially here!
ma =. - sba looked into Agatha's face. her
Inv Inv cere eyes and voice gave 'ns ..s,,,,. -.
,ns ~ th.t @ no one can resist. the tiOu1'
ons sns one artist to another. .,..,, :,
eok on Srhis is. indeed, beautiful nan
aos nnd Il out just now by accio
'lss ~ when came up here to prac',ee rae. !"
IN sae Sa II / had any voice left, !,
- Agatha. She paused, as ,. y suou' J,
anu anu occurred to her that the VISITOR ! ~
ana he James Hambleton's sister anu q,
As a. she was being delinquent as R nos' !.
aas, sgut M come back to the mouse @ :,
IN said, "This is not hospi,aOle y
suo sso. exactly. to receive 2 guest ,.,v 90
s,s ESQ. The stranger laughed genuy. !
tner vo,, guessed who am, then!
,,ne ~. Wen, you see ! had the OI aoVsnsse Miss
',as' ,as you from the first. You are m,ss
nss, trs, mond, MOI and / followed you mere e :,
nlss asa tba house where your servant gas 8 =
aa.s s the directions. am MISS Nc. 10,
easd sad Melanie Me- Reynier, and am s'ayll !, !
.ha. snt :, The Hillside. Mr.. Van Camp .
M great SURPRISE. Me