The state herald., 1913-07-04

o~oASAoV 8ASWp 0Ao RAeeSesASs
warbling her songs there in the 9TH
erwise pleasant forest, Agatha became
conscious Of q strange accompaniment.
Pausing moment, she perceived that
the grove was vocal with tone long
after her /voice had ceased. It was
not exactly an echo, but = slowly re-
ceding resonance, faint applications
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 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 It; and then. curious, she tried
the effect of the aerial sounding-board
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 q 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 nrst. walked up and down
beside her gravely. and then lay down
In the middle Of tho 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. II carried far
in among the trees. clear and soft n
a 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 on to Investigate
but presently came back wagging and
begging his mistress to follow him.
In spite Of her surprise In hearing
IOother voice complete tho duet
Agatha went on with the song, hall
singtns. half humming. II was won
ans voice that Joined hers. singing
the part quite according to the book:
with our limbs at rest on the quie,
eartA's breast
And our souls at homo with God!"
The pine canopy spread the voices
firut 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 Dath, she
presently saw white arm and skir,
projecting from behind the trunk OF q
tree. Danny. wagginE slowly. ap
pearcd 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! hid and then
startled you: but was tempted by
the song. And this fores, temple
Isn't II wonderful!"
Agatha looked ~ the stranger. sud.
denly wondering II she were not some
familiar but haif.forEotten Acquaint.
ancc OF ycars axonc shc was . beau.
tifui dark woman. probably two or
three years older than herself. mature
and sell. poised - only a woman OF the
cosmopolitan world can be. II might
be that compared 10 her Agatha was n
bit crude and unfinished. with the
years OF her full blossominE yet to
come. She had no words ~ the mo
ment, and the older woman. st.'i hold.
ing Agathas hand. explained.
II did not mean TO steal In upon
YOU: but ms cnmc into the grove !
heard you singing Handel. and
couldn't resist listening. Your voice
IL wonderful Especially herci" Al
shc looked into Agatha's fnce. her sin
oere escs and voice gave tho praise
that 10 one can resist. the tribute OF
ono artist TO another.
This II, indeed. n beautiful hall !
found Il out Just now by accident
when I came up here TO practice and
sec. ~ had any voice left" said
Agatha. sho paused, M II suddenly
occurred TO her that the visitor might
DO James Hamblcton'n sister and that
rhs was being delinquent ~ hostoas.
But come back TO tho house" she
said. "Thin Ia not hospitablo place.
exactly. to receive n guest"
The stranger laughed gently. Have
you guessed who am. thcnf MOI
We'll, you rco I hnd tho advantage OF
YOU from tho frrt. You are Miss Rcd.
mond. and followed you here from
tho house whore your servant gave mo
the directions. am Mlnn hoynicr,
Meianie iteynier. and ! am staying at
the Hillside. Mr., Van Camp" and "a
hsy own great surprise. Molanie