Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-01-16
The
Living Voice
BY LOIS MARIAN TERHUNE
Copyright. 1915, Western Newspaper unic

with peace and comfort. The old aunt
with whom orphaned Alma lived ac.
eepted her service thanklessly hut SHE
saw that the girl relative was provid
ed with respectable attire and each
month gave her little pin money for
herself.
Alma had met this stranger vii.
fred Drake, at Il town picnic They
had become acquainted. He had cali
ed upon her several times and all but
confessed his love She knew only
that he was a traveller for mercantile
house and had mother with some
means.
Il am coming back this way IN a
month" he told Alma at parting. his
hand pressing her own lingerngly.
II wish TO tell my mother what sweet
ness and hope has come into my life
Trough association with YOU"
How could she help but trace Il half
supposed promise in these few words ?
The days We're happy ones that fol-
lowed, for she counted them over and
over like beads of rosary of love and
then, when nearly two months had
passed by snd no word from him, her
soul grew faint. and then hopeless
Her aunt had grown old and help
lesa and was thinking of going into
an old woman's home. 1t would be
necessary for Alma 70 reconstruct her
life, for She had no claim upon the
bounty of this relative. There was
growing in AlmaS mind the thought
that Wilfred had forgotten her She
was inexperienced in business ways
and her prospects were those of a
friendless young girl cast upon the
merces of a cold unSympathiZing
world
Then enc morning there came Il let
ter thar opened a new wontrous chap
ter in Ama's life. The writing was
brief, but TO the point. MY son Will
fled is dead He was one of n hun
dreG who went down with a torpe-
doed steamer. You are the first wom-
ar he ever loved outside Of his moth
-er, and had he lived you would prob
ably Soen have become his wife.
As it is. | ask YOU TO share my lonely
lot can love you as IN own daugh-
te. for Wilfred loved YOU. VIII you
arrange TO come to me, to home and
mother in the true sense of the word?'
Alma Wept for hours over the sad
intelligence Of the death Of the man to
whom she had looked as friend and
lover She now understood that he
had not forgotten her. but that fate
had ended their mutual romance. The
letter from Mrs Drake touched her
deeply. She consulted with her aunt,
who was relieved TO know that her
dependent was provided for.
1t was at the end of a bright summer
day that Alma stood, timorous and I'M
certain, on the doorstep of beautiful
home in a suburb of a large city. A
cab had delivered her at the Drake
home. A beautiful house surrounded
by a lovely garden greeted her vision.
Her hand trembled as She rang the
door bell Coming down the hall was
white-haired, gentle-faced woman
who glanced once at Alma and then
reached out her arms towards her
my poor bereft love" she voiced.
any daughter! Welcome"
She led Anna into room where,
over the mantel was portrait Of
Wnfred and one Of herself enlarged
from small photograph Alma had
given her lost lover
"There will be no one in the house
but you and l except an old servant"
Mrs. Drake said 81 hope it win not
be dun and lonesome for you"
at will be infinite rest" said Alma,
and then far into the night those two
mourning souls communed one with
the other Wilfred had been all In
all to both, and they spoke of little
except hallowed memories of the past.
II was the next evening that Mrs,
Drake led Alma into a room which she
told her had been the favorite lounging
place of Wilfred when he was ut home.
On o stand was dictaphone.
81 sit here daily for hours said
Mrs Drake. MY son, when travel
ing carried a dictaphone with him and
had this one at home besides, lie
used b talk his letters into the Que
with him and send me the most ~
the ylp1ers.'
Thea those two would Sit hand IN
ham listening eurapt 70 the voicc SO
deaf 81 lnm There was one record
vhfaa sunrlsed twilight song which
had haau great fayorite witch WI.
frCu
4 Haye used II so much,' explained
Mr. nraEe. that II IS wearing out
And m brought her comfort by sug-
geSHiue get the original.
ii month went by and one evening
the aaea listening to the song when
It's tones began 10 be indistinct. They
fade H8v softly IN the middle Of the
sor Suddenly. startlingly through
an o,.n window the strain was caught
IN. IN marvelling wonder Alma and
Mr. Drake sat bewildered and then
tra, xed for through the window
there sfepped Wilfred Drake,
elothcri Alma Oh. this Is as Il
should be Y and he drew both 10 q
al. k1a "A