Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-17

struck the keys.
1t seemed to Stella nothing short of
a miracle. She had been mute so long.
She had almost forgotten what traS
cdy losing her voice had been. And to
find it again, to hear 1t ring like a
trumpct-it did! 1t was too big for
the room. She felt herself caught up
in triumphant ecstasy as she sang
She found herself blinking as the last
note died away. Her brother twisted
about on the. piano stool, fumbling for
a cigarette.
"Aud still they say they cant come
back" he remarked at last. why.
you're better than YOU ever were. Stel-
In. You've got the old sweetness aud
flexlbiity that dad used to rave about,
but your voice Is bigger, somehow diff
ferent 1t gets under n mans skin"
She picked mp the baby from the
floor began to play with linn. She
didn't want to talk, She wanted to
think, to gloat over and hug TO he rseir
this miracle Of her restored voice. She
was very quiet, very much absorbed in
her own reflections until it was time,
very shortly, to put Jack junior in his
bed. That was a function she made
wholly her own. The nurse might greet
his waking whimper in the morning
and minister to his wants throughout
the day, but Stella tucked him in"
his crib every night. And after the
blue eyes were closed she sat there
very still, thinking. In detached
way she was conscious of hearing
Charlie leave
Later, when she was sitting beside
her dressing table brushing her hais,
Fyfe came In. He perched himself on
the foot rail Of the bed, looking silently
at her. She had long grown used to
that. 1t was familiar trick of his.
How did it happen that you've new
or tried your voice lately?' he asked
after time.
II gave 1t up long ago" she said.
Didn't | ever tell you that l used to
sing and lost my voice?'
NO" he answered. Charlie did Just
now. You rather took my breath
away. It's wonderful. You'd be a
sensation in opera
II might have BEEN she corrected.
THAT was one Of my little dreams.
You don't know what grief it was
to me when l got over that throat
trouble and found l couldn't sing.
used to try and try, and my voice
would break every time lost all
heart to try after awhile. That was
when wanted to take up nursing, and
they wouldn't let me. l haven't thought
about singing for an age. I've crooned
lullabies to Jacky without remember
ing that once had volume enough to
drown out an accompanist. Dad was
awfully proud of my voice.
you've reason to be proud of 1t
now" Fyfe said slowly. Its voice
In ten thousand. What are you going
to do with it?''
Nothing" she said trifle tartly.
How can 1? Granting that my voice
is worth the trouble, would you like me
to go and study in the east or abroad
Would you be willing to bear the ex-
pense Of such an undertaking? To have
me leave Jack to nursemaids and you
/ to your logs?"
/ $50 that in the fullness Of time I
might secure little reflected glory as
the husband Of Nine Fyfe, the famous
soprano" he replied slowly. "Well.
can't say that's n particularly pleasing
prospect"
"Then why ask me what I'm going to
do with it, she flung back Impatient
ly. eth be an asset-like my looks -
and-and"-
She dropped her face in her hands
choking back an involuntary sob. Feft
crossed the room ut a bound and put
his arms around her.
"Stella, Stella" he cried sharply
Don't be fool"
DIDN'T be cross, Jack" she whis
pered. please Tn sorry. l simpl,
can't help It. You don't understand
"Oh, don't To- he said savagely. 81
understand too well; that's the devi
Of 1t. But l suppose that's woman'
way-to feed her soul with illusions
and let the realities 90 hang. Lool
here"
He caught her by the shoulders ant
pulled her to her feet, facing him
There was fire in his eye, a hard shut
ting together Of his lips that fright
ened her little.
Look here he said roughly. "Tak
brace, Stella. Do you realize wha
sort of state OF mind you're drifting
into? You married me under more o
less compulsion-compulsion Of circunl
stances--and gradually you're begin
ming to get dissatisfied, to pity yourself
You'll precipitate things you mayb
don't dream Of now IL you keep OF
Hang 1t, l didn't create the circun
stances! only showed you way ou'
You took it. 1t satisfied you for awhile
YOU can't deny It did. But II doesn
any more. You're nursing lot Of illr
sions, Stella, that are going to max
your life full Of misery"
I'm not" she sobbed. ITS becaus
haven't any illusions that--that-
on, what's the use of'.Aalking, Jack
I'm not COMPLAIN s1sNon't even kno,