Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-09-29
CHAPTER K.
A Resurrection.

TT might have been n week or 80
/ later that Stella mnde discov-
cry which profoundly affected tho
whole current Of her thought Tho
long twilight was just beginning. She
was curled on the living room floor,
playing with the baby. Fyfe and Char
lie Benton sat by Il window, smoking,
conversing, as they frequently. did,
upon certain phases Of tho timber in
dustry. A draft from an olen window
nuttered some sheet musk down off
the piano rack, and Stella rescued 1t
from Jack juniors tiny, clawing hands
Some of the Abbeys had been there
tho evening before. One bit OF music
was a song Linda had tried to sing
and given up because 1t scared above
her vocal range Stella rose to nut
up tho music. Without any premedi-
!ated idea Of playing, sho sat down at
the piano and cbegan to run over tho
accompaniment. She could play pnssa-
bly,.
'That doesn't seem so very hard"
she thought aloud. Benton turned at
sound Of her words.
Say, did you neyer get any part Of
your voice back, Stell?" he asked. II
never hear you try to sing"
NO" she answered. IT tried and
tried long after you left home, but 1t
was always the same old story.
haven't sung note In five years"
Linda fell down hard OH that song
last night" he went OH. There was
a time when that wouldn't have been
starter for you. CHI? Did you know
Stella used to MARBLE like prima dom
ma, JackT'
Fyfe shook his head.
"Fact. The governor spent a Dot Of
money cultivating her voice.. 1t was
some voice too. She
He broke Off to listen. Stella was
hnmming the words Of the song, her
fingers picking at the melody instead
of the accompaniment.
"Why, you cant" Benton cried.
Can what?" She turned on the
stool.
Sing. of course. You got that high
trill that Linda had to scrccch through
You got it perfectly without effort"
81 didn't" she returned. "Why, I
wasn't singing: just humming 1t over"
You let out link or two Oh those
high notes just the same, whether you
knew you were doing 1t or not" her
brother returned impatiently. GO on.
Turn yourself loose. Sing that song"
ooh, couldn't" Stella said ruefully.
Il haven't tried for so long It's no
use. My voice always cracks, and I
want to cry"
tTronly aIIlactlol,otSp
ed. II know what 1t used to be. Be.
lieve me, it sounded natural, oven II
you We're just lifting. Here"
He came over to tho plano and play
fully edged her off tho stool
"Im pretty rusty" he said, "but l
can fake what I can't play of this,
It's simple enough. You stand up
there and sing"
She only stood looking at him.
go on" he commanded. II believe
you can sing anything. You have to
show me IL you can't"
Stella fingered the sheets reluctantly
then she drew deep breath and be-
gan.
1t was not difficult selection, mere
ly bit from a current light opera
with closing passage that ranged q
trife too high for the ordinary un
trained voice to take with ease. Stella
sang 1t effortlessly, the last high. trill
Ing notes pouring out as sweet and
clear as the carol of a lark. Benton
struck the closing chord and looked ul
Mt her. Fyfe leaned forward In his
chair. Jack junior, among the pillows
on the floor, waved his arms, kicking
and gurgling.
"You did pretty well on that" Char
lie remarked complacently. "Now sing
something. Got any of your old
pieces?"
u wonder If could7' Stella muir
INJURED. "pm almost afraid to try"
She hurried away to some outlying
part Of the house, reappearing In few
minutes with a dog cared bundle OF
sheets in her hand. From among these