The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-07-22
LELAND'S LOST SONG
BY ARTHUR W. PEACH.

caught opening chords of a piano. A
voice began to sing, and he stopped
suddenly, spellbound.
1t was a girls unframed voice and
stirred dim memories within him.
rs it possible?" he muttered to him
self as he hurried in the direction of
the unknown singer. That Is my
Lost Songl'"
His steps were nervous and hasty,
but before he could reach the place
where the music seemed to come from
| 1t had ceased. The houses stood dark
ly together; there were lights In most
of them. He did not know in which
one the singer had been.
He stepped to the curb to plan his
next move.
Like vision out of the night came
the moment when he had parted from
the girl who was about to sing the
song. She had been standing by the
piano; he was seated at 1t. Before
him was the music of the song he had
just written.
Then had come the quick quarrel;
his hot-headed answer to her criticism
of the song. Her surprise had amused
him; but she had been hurt at his
words and he in anger left.
1t had been a foolish quarrel. as all
quarrels are when seen in after years.
He had gone to northern city, and
had found life hard. He had met 1t
with good will; but he had never for
gotten her.
In some strange way, try as he could
he could not recall the song which he
had left on the piano. Bits of it came
back, but the theme as a whole was.
beyond him.
Now he had heard 1t. He knew there
could be no doubt about it; and If he
could find the singer, it must lead him
back-to her!
He studied the houses with eager
|earnestness. He decided that the mu-
sic he had heard farther up the street
came from the one with the light in
the front room.
He went up. and ringing the bell,
waited.
The door opened, and a girl looked
out curiously.
Il heard some one singing song l
was greatly interested in; l wonder if
you can give me an idea where the
singer vast was somewhere around
in this part?' he asked.
mo, I'm sure l can't sir. There's a
number of pianos about here" she
said, smiling little, "and a number
of people who think they can sing. I'm
afraid l can't help you, but I'll try"
She pointed out houses near by.
He went down the steps and looked
around, beginning to doubt himself
He wondered If he had dreamed 1t,
imagined the whole affair.
He could not free his mind from the
belief that he had heard the lost song.
He debated the matter, and decided to
start onward to his rooms, and had
even gone a few PAGES, when he
stopped. z
He would not give up. The neigh
borhood might get suspicious and have
him locked up, or a policeman might
be called to examine him. 1t was rath-
er unusual for young fellow to be
going from house to house asking If
some one there had been singing a
song of which he knew not the title
nor the tune, other than a strain or
two.
He determined to try 1t, however;
and SO he began. He went to four
houses, but got no response; he tried
four more.
Finally, even as he expected, a po-
liceman appeared on the scene, hav-
ing been summoned by some one who
had said the young man was intoxi-
Gated.
Leland proved that he was not, con-
WINGED the man of his sanity; and
asked the officers advice. The latter
was evidently reached by the story
and he said in his soft Irish: EFF ye
can whistle a bit O. the tune. lad, why
not? Jest the parts ye know! Walk
up an down, an If anyone says a
word, I'll say a word, provided ye
don't do 1t too long"
Leland undertook the plan. He
strolled up and down in the region
whistling the strains to the place
where he could go no further. He did
it a number of times, and both men
waited for the answer.
TRY 1t again. mon," the bluecoat
said.
He whistled it again, and this time
there was quaver in it-a-quiver of
lost hope. Leland turned away, des-
pairing.
''Hark ye, ladl"
Faint and clearly, a whistle had
caught up the strain and was carry
Ing it on to a finish.
Leland was shaking with eagerness.
TITS the song! the songl"
Don't get too sure it's your gal,
lad. 1t may be one who sang it fust-
hey, see, there's some one comingl
We didn't think o. the little house In
back! There she ISL
A shadowy figure came toward them
hesitatingly. But Leland had recog-
nized the form, and he went to meet
It. 1t came into his arms with a low,
Joyous cry, and said:
20, Lee, Is it really you? l was in
my room, asleep, when the girl at the
house-Pd taught her the song be-
cause she loved it-said some one was
it; then I heard 1t and l
knew it could be no other than you.
It seems so good to see you; and wen
forget, won't wef"
The burly policeman, looking on
with pleased eyes and comments to
himself, suddenly turned his back and
off
Copyright, 1913. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)