Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-08-08
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BIZ MARTHA BLl,LINGER
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~ MARTHA BELLdNGER.

QeT voice was not ClSdiB bub 90 oA~
continued 1t emerged from its sheath
of huskiness clear and futelike, 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. IL was
not exactly an echo, but 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 il; 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
old-fashioned song which. as girl,
she had often sung with her mother:
"Ohi 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
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 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:
"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. 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 Godl"
The pine canopy spread the voices,
first one and then the other, until the
wood was like a vast cathedral filed
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 a
tree. 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! hid and then
startled you; but l was tempted by
the song. And this forest temple
isn't 1t wonderful"
Agatha looked at the stranger, sud
denly wondering II she were not some
familiar but half-forgotten acquaint-
ance OF years agone. She was beau
tiful dark woman, probably two or
three years older than herself, mature
and selfpoised as only a woman of the
cosmopolitan world can be. 1t might
be that compared to her Agatha was a
bit crude and unfinished. with the
years of her full blossoming yet to
come. She had no words at the mo-
ment, and the older woman, still hold
ing Agatha's hand, explained.
81 did not mean to steal in upon
you; but as l came into the grove ]
heard you singing Handel and
couldn't resist listening. Your voice
is wonderful Especially here!" AS
she looked into Agatha's face, her sin.
cere eyes and voice gave the praise
that no one can resist. the tribute Of
one artist to another.
This is, indeed. beautiful hall.
found 1t out Just now by accident,
when / came up here to practice and
see II l had any voice left" said
Agatha. She paused. as it suddenly
occurred to her that the visitor might
be James Hambleton,s sister and that
she was being delinquent as hostess.
But come back to the house" she