The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-08-31
The VOICE
BY HELENA M. KINNEY.

platform. Nellie Windsor was fifteen
years old. Her mother and father
were dead and she had no one but
Uncle 10 and Aunt Betty. Uncle 10
had written her to come and live with
him-and here she was. It was fully
ten minutes before Uncle 10 came,
and when he did he gave her a hearty
kiss and lifted her into the buggy and
off they went. Arriving at the farm,
she found Aunt Betty waiting on the
porch for her, and such a dear old
lady she was. 1t was then 8 80 o'clock
and the rest of the afternoon was
spent in unpacking her clothes and
learning the rounds Of the house,
After supper she went directly to bed,
because she was tired from her long
journey.
The next afternoon she wandered
around, picking flowers, chasing but
terfies, and, gathering an apron full
Of. apples, she went down to the little
brook. 1t was nice and cool and she
was enjoying herself when-"Hello,"
said voice. She looked up, but saw
no one. g..
II say, hello" again came the voice
this time it seemed to come from the
tree that was across the brook.
"Hello YOURSELF" replied Nellie.
"Where are your"
"Up here in the tree" said the voice.
"Come down." she said.
"Nope," answered the voice. No
amount Of teasing would make the
voice come down. 1t was getting late,
so Nellie said: ''If I come here tomor-
row will youlet me see who you arer''
Maybe" replied the voice. So Nell
lie scampered up the hill and home.
But she was not to see the owner of
the voice tomorrow, for when she got
mp the next morning 1t was raining.
Uncle 10 came in at dinner time
with an invitation for Nellie to spend
the afternoon with the Browns, who
lived across the field. Slowly she
went upstairs to dress, sorry because
she could not go down to the brook,
but maybe it would be there some
other time; so with this happy thought
In mind she was soon ready, and
Uncle 10 took her over to the Browns.
She was rather shy, being among
strangers, but Mrs. Brown soon put
her at ease. Molly Brown was Nell
| lies age, and they took to each other
right away. While they were sitting
talking about nothing in particular the
doorbell rang and MOlly's mother went
and admitted five young people who
had come to spend the afternoon.
Soon a boy about year older than
herself came in and was introduced
as Billy Brown. What a good time
she had, and what nice girls and boys
they werel But Billy-where had
she heard that voice? The afternoon
tpassed all too quickly and when the
guests rose to go Mrs. Brown shook
hands with them all, and so did Molly
and Billy. When Nellie arrived home
she could not help thinking what q
nice boy Billy was, and she blushed
when she thought how he had given
her hand q tiny, unnecessary squeeze.
The days that followed were the
happiest ones she had ever had. Long
rambles with Molly and the Tucker
twins, picnics, and often she would 90
for long walks with Billy. She liked
Billy very much and Billy liked Nellie.
But she did not forget the voice. Ev-
cry day she would go down to the
brook and talk and talk with 1t. She
would tell it of the nice time she was
having, and went SO far as to tell it
of Billy. Thus two weeks passed on
and Nellie thought she was never go-
ing to see the voice, when one day
the voice told her that she would see
1t tomorrow, sure. To be sure Nellie
was there at the appointed time and
the voice said, "If come down will
you promise to give me one thing?"
Wondering what 1t could be, but Gu
rious to see the voice, as she had
called it, she readily said, Eyes," 1t
slid down the tree and there stood
Billy!
"You-you-T she gasped. Billy
smiled and said, "Your promise" She
was so surprised she did not know
what to say. At length she said,
what do you want?"
"a kiss" he replied.
"Oh--h!" and she turned to flee up
the hill, but Billy like a flash caught
her. 1t was useless for her to try to
get away, even if she wanted to
Copyright, 1917, Wheeler Syndicate. Inc.)