The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-08-24

w , H'N " - Wv A'N' hhA
seemed TO hang upon the air. Then I
heard his voice. It swelled slowly and
clearly. and the very trees seemed 10 stop
their murmuring TO listen.
And yod1l remember-youH remember
mo- died away. slowly and softly.
The hoy kent on playing e. his voice
breathcd the last words. Then, as though
AN echo had caught up tho air. a woman's
voice floated upGn the breeze. taking IN
The second verse OF the song In e clear,
sweet. bell.like soprano.
] stood traushXed until the voice faded
to silence. The "Nou1l remember me" fall.
ing. failing like the sound 81 the sea. teas
INK the rocks along the shore, as VOL sa,l
away from them
The hoy kept right on playing until the
voice had ceased. Then heard him
scream. and | dashed back TO the IRE. lie
was standing looFing wildly into the dark.
ness. eyes staring wide. and an expression
ON HIS face such az I want never TO see
again on a human being. alive or dead
Her voice, Her voice." he whispered
a. ! ran up. but never turning to look al
me.
He raced into the trees, and I heard him
crashing through the brush. I'm the direc.
ton whence the voice had come.
IN the meantime. I had collected nv
thoughts. Undoubtedly q woman had sung
thit last versa woman who spoke Eng.
Itch and who was probably English: the
fact that she knew the song convinced me
Of that.
That she did not make her appearance
BODIED no good 10 Ms. what an English.
woman, or even an English .speaking wo.
man, was doing in that wild section Of
northern China was nothing 10 me. That
she was there. and probably not alone, was
enough.
quietly set about packing our traps
MY nerves were getting unstrung.
Pope returned, looking wilder than ever.
his face and hands bleeding from contact
with the bushes.
Did YOU hear II? Did YOU see herr" hs
demanded Hercoly
Hear what" 7 asked calmly enough.
although I was pretty excited myself.
The voice. the voice!" he shouted.
81 did not, and I'm not deaf J replied.
] had made mp my mind not 70 let him
know that ! had heard the singing until
We were safely out OF the country That's
whore ! made my mistake. II made him
believe he was hearing things that didn't
exist.
MY God, Am going mad" he asked.
sinking In a heap on the ground.
went on with the packing. and he lay
siill for some time. Finally arousing him
self he took note Of what | was doing. I
answered his look by saving:
We're solng back This altitude Is get.
ting on your nerves
Back Mo-" he rald quietly. We're
going on. ~ was her voice and she wag
calling mo ON. heard Il lust as heard
II tho last night on the river when aha
took up the second verse and sang u lust
nee she sang u out there. II was hcr voice.
Thoro la no other soprano in al Tho world
like q 81" was calling mo on to ioin her"
she was calling YOU back. said but
ne only looked ~ mo with q silly grin and
a queer Hnrt OF leor that | didn't notice az
the time hut which I have thought OF
many a time since. lie sat hunchrd up bv
tue dying fire ia a listening attitude while
went on with the packing
was determined To go back II I had 10
carry the boy every foot Of the way
I had almost finished my task when q
strange rush came from behind me II
sounded like the wind suddenly gathering
force and hurrying through the trees. |
was thrown violently down, and was
trussed NJ as a pig Is trussed for market.
Not a word was uttered. but could tell
from the s%cufling that Pope was being
treated Ia the same manner. Then felt
myself being carried away Apparently.
was In q litter. and my bearers were NOV.
ing At a brisk trot.
We must have gone several miles. all tho
time up an incline. when the bearers
halted. For the first time heard voices.
Finally the bandase was jerked from my
eyes. Around me stood a crowd OF big,
burly Chinese OF the northern type.
They were dressed In furs and carried
rifles OF a modern magazine type. All
stared curionsly, but none Of them spoke
TO me. Then one of them shouted In a
military tone. and the bunch brought their
guns 10 their shoulders and marched away.
was In what seemed 10 I've a big Jail.
II was a large room with stone walls,
rough hewn, and n few small windows
fully twenty feet from the floor. A few
small benches were scattered about the
room, but nothing else I'm The way OF fur
niture. POPE was not with me.
had hardly taken a good look N my
surroundings when the door opened and a
woman entered.
A thick veil dropped over her face. Her
hgure was short and dumpy and fat. She
moved slowly, rs though with difficulty.
Her feet bare but encssed IN sandals, were
so large that In Hons.Kong I would have
declared her az once low caste.
She brought with her an atmosphere Of
authority, however I could zee her eyes
cleaning through a narrow SILT in the veil
She stood looking AZ mo some moments,
and ther said In perfect English. and In
q pure sweet. bell Ike voice that I recog.
nized instantly as the one which had sung
the song
Well, sir, what have You 10 say?"
what are You going to do with me?"
asked,
II have been thinking she said quietly.
81 have about decided 20 send you back
where yo1 came from Under ordinary
circumstances ! should order YOU exc.
cuted, hui there are certain reasons why
I do not want your life"
She said this In a matter. of fact tone
That madn M blood run cold Wa mi.