Charlevoix county herald., 1915-09-18
FIRST STORY

Prof Carl de Retsky flung a regret
ful glance at the hills, hurting their
rugged battlements against the twi
light that marked q 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
tured 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, LAYING his throat
with the clear air, drinking In great
drafts Of 1t as though trying to store
away reserve fund Of that silence
for the future. And then
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.
Hight, the singing master followed the
against farm house fence, staring at
young man upon the porch. his hand
some face pressed against the bars of
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. 81 have never heard the song
BEFORE" he continued inquiringly.
"Song!" The young chap laughed.
II was just teasing the bird-that's
ALL"
Teasing the bird!" the singing
teacher repeated the words in bewil-
derment. He drew card from his
pocket as the youth smiled. He did
not care to be laughed at-De Retsky.
The young man caught his displeasure
instantly.
Thank you," he murmured CRATE.
fully. II was smiling because my ia
Their just told me that my voice didn't
go very far when 1t came to killing
weeds"
you should cultivate that voice
such voices belong to the world and
not to the individual" De Retsky
frowned.
He stopped as he noticed the change
Of expression that had come over the
singers face as he studied the card
with evident recognition.
Cultivate my voice?" His voice
was husky, hoarse. Cultivate 1t! 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, faint smile upon
his lips. For he knew the ultimate
payment would not be found within so
small space; would not be taken
from wealth or that which went to
make wealth, but from the human
heart. Whose heart?
u.
and for long time, my dear
Bella, could not keep that voice from
my ears. Everything was there ex-
cept the training. AS you know,
have heard then all and have not
been rated the worst myself, but for
natural singing quality I have never
heard this young Henry Merwin's
superior"
ut merely shows" he continued,
"how possible 1t Is to dodge duty.
That voice belonged to the world. But
as l recalled what the struggle meant,
what must be gone through before the
summit is attained, did not have the
courage. Like a coward, traitor to
my art, fed" He smiled whimsi-
cally. "But It was to be. returned
to my work, to the horrible grind.
listened to the sounds that could never
be made into song and always wa
hearing the voice of the farmer boy
who teased the bird"
And my little words of encourage
ment had fallen upon soul worthy
of that divine voice. Henry Merwin
fought his way to the wagon seat OF
a milk wagon. That was what he did
when he found me. that Is what he is
doing now-driving a milk wagon"
II 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 saw him
with that evening as returned to my
hotel-the little country girl he ran to
with the news"
And suppose she was happy in his
Joy, happy at the encouragement you
had given him!" A lurking bitterness
was in the singers tones, a note that
caused the professor to look at her
aharnlv