Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-11-10
FIRST STORY
1915, by Pathe Exchange, Inc.
eiRn COpvriphts

Prot. Carl de Retsky flung a regret.
full glance at the hills, hurting their
rugged battlements against the twi.
light that@marked a definite end to
his vacation. Vacation-rest from
the weary grind, the loathsome task
OF training voices that could never be
other than mediocre, voices that tor.
tdred his finely tuned nerves so ex.
quisitely he had been forced to these
same hills that the vast %silences might
perform their healing function. He
opened his mouth, having his throat
with the clear air, drinking in great
drafts of 1t as though trying to store
away a reserve fund of that silence
for the future. And then n
Then the voice reached out to him.
Family, at first, but steadily increas'
ing in volume until the silence was
put to utter rout.
\, Such a voice! Rivaling in purity,
clarity and sweetness the voices OF
nature. Dazed by his incredulous de.
light, the singing master followed the
sounds till he found himself, leaning
against a farm house fence, staring at
a young man upon the porch. his hand.
some face pressed against the bars of
a canary's cage, his eyes glistening
with delight as he held vocal contest
with the fluffy little creature. A rich,
warm red came from beneath the
heavy coat Of tan as he caught sight
Of the stranger, hating his song alb.
ruptly as he inquiringly approached.
Such a voice! Such an organ"
De Retsky stopped abruptly as he
found his enthusiasm carrying him
away. II. have never heard the song
BEFORE" he continued inquiringly.
Song" The young chap laughed.
Il was just teasing the bi~rd-that's
ALL y i. -, s,a i.ag5 MIR.
Teasing the bird" the singing
teacher repeated the words in Devil.
ndernent. He drew a card from his
! pocket as the youth smiled. He did
not care to be laughed aide Retsky.
The young man caught his %displeasure
Instantly. .asr
THANK you," he murmured crate.
fully. ~ IA smiling because my ia
Their just told me that my voice didn't
90 very far when it camerto killing
weeds
You should cultivate that voice
such voices belong to the world and
til no the individual" De Retsky
ftywned.
ale stoppedas he noticed the change
81 expressionjthA had come over the
slhger'ss face" as he. studied the card
With evident recognition.
THCultivate my 'voice?"" His voice
was husky, hoarse. cultivate It.! But
who will pay for the job-who pays?"
He looked about him, at the tiny farm
house, the small farm, the shabby out
houses, all indicative Of small means.
"Yes-that's it.. Who pays?" De
Retsky muttered, a faint smile upon
his lips. For he knew the ultimate
payment would not be found within so
small a space; would not be taken
from wealth or that which went to
make wealth, but from the human
heart. Whose heart?
u. - "a u.
and for a long time, my dear
Bella, I could not keep that voiceffrom
my earS.SsEverything was there ex-
cept the training. AS you know,
have heard them all and have not
been rated the worst myself, but for
natural singing quality / have never
heard this young Henry Merwin's
superior" .
at merely shows" he continued,
chow possible 1t is to dodge duty.
That voice belonged to the world. But
as I recalled what the struggle meant,
what must be gone through before the
summit is attained. I did not have the
courage. Like a coward, a traitor to
my art, I fed" He smiled whimsi-
cally. "But 1t was to be. l returned
to my work. to the horrible grind. l
listened to the sounds that could
be made into song and always l was
hearing the voice of the farmer boy
who teased the bird"
And my little words Of encourage
ment had fallen upon a soul worthy
of that divine voice. Henry Merwin
fought his way to the wagon seat OF
4 milk wagon. That vas what he did
when he found me, that is what he Is
doing now-driving a milk wagon"
Il was in a laundry" the great so.
prano murmured softly, as though to
herself.
De Retsky started to speak, but the
expression on her face deferred him.
HE is married." she queried
abruptly.
married the little beauty I saw him
with that evening as l returned to my
hotel-the little country girl he ran to
with the news"
And I suppose she was happy in his
joy, happy at tie encouragement you
had given hint" A lurking bitterness
was in the singers tones, a note that
caused the professor to look at her
sharply.