The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-06-06

the tamaracks in the corner of my lot,
came the elfin clarion. The singer
was a good one; his attack was flaw
less, and he scattered his triplets with
MOzartian ease and precision. Still we
waited, in silence. but he did not sing
again. Then in a kind of wonder the
girl turned her face to mine, and in a
kind of wonder | realized that | was
still holding her arm She appeared as
unconscious of it as 1, till l let my
hand fall Then she colored a little.
smiled a little, and said, "What was
it? | never heard anything so beauti-
full
"A hermit thrush" I answ cred.
''Thoreau once described his song as
cool bars of melody from the ever
lasting morning or evening" l think
that expresses it as well as words
can
Il have always wanted to hear a
hermit" she said wistfully. "And, oh,
it is lovelier than | dreamed, | am
going now before I get too jealous of
you for having one all your own
Don't go.' l said impulsively. "The
hermit has never sung for me- That
song must have been in your honor"
The moment when | stood holding
her arm, the moment when she had
turned her wondering eager face to
mine, had been very pleasant 1t was
dusk now in the pines, and. looking
westward, the low sun was making
daggerS Of light between the trees. My
ghost that l had brought up from the
pump suddenly walked again, but
walked in flesh and blood, with blue
eyes and tilted nose. | was undeni-
ably affected. My voice must have
betrayed it as | repeated, Don't gor'
"But l fear it is time for my sup
per-. she said, with a little nervous
laugh. "The thrush has evidently
gone for his
Birds eat early" said l. "They
have to, because they get up so early.
after that worm
Her laugh was once more an m
! gushing gurgle. The tenseness was
broken. | found myself walking by
her side through the naples, and point
Ing out my mouse.
She clapped her hands ecstatically.
'Oh," she cried, they made the front
door out of a highboy. How jolly.
| Is it as nice inside?"
Its going to be nicer" said |.
''I'll peep through the windows" she
smiled
l led her to my new south door.
| proudly showing my new lawn and the
terrace. and telling her where the roses
| were to be. and the sundial. and di-
| lating on the work my own hands had
done With a silly, boyish enthusiasm,
l even displayed the calluseS and in
] vited her to feel of them, which she
| did as one humorS a child while
| thrilled quite as childishy at the touch
OF her finger tips Then we peeped
/ through the glass doors. The low sun
was streaming in through the west
| window and disclosed the old oak
beam across the ceiling. Hard Cider
had erected the frame of the bookcase
and double settle. which would per-
/ fectly match the mantels as soon as
| the molding was on. One side OF the
| settle faced toward one smoky old fire
place, the other toward the second.
Two fireplaces. What luxury"
| You See," said |. when | get tired
of reading philosophy at the east fire
place. I'll just come around the corner
and read Alice in Wonderland at the
west chimney nook"
Double fireplaces-twin freplaces-
twin fires, That's it, Twin Fires,
! That ought TO be the name of your
house"
! you're rightw l cried, delighted.
| "I've never been able to think of a
| name. That's the inevitable one
that's Flaubert's one right word. You
must come to my christening party
and break bottle of wine on the
hearth
| She smiled wistfully, as she turned
away from the window. Il must sure
| ly go to supper" she said. "Goodby,
and thank you for your wonderful con-
cert"