The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-08
THE DAILY
81 HORT STORY
Songs Of the Soul.
BY Raw Baker
tcopyright, 1913, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndlcatel

NeHSpdPer oynulcate)
n oREE on clear night breeze a
n weird melody rose and fell, some
times breaking out In a crash
ing crescendo and again dwindling
away TO a scGbbing whIsDer that seem
ed TO rustic the leaves of the sullen
woods.
The occupants of the motor car,
N5sing and humping its way along
the dark, narrow corduroy road.
heard the music that came from
among the trees, and one, a girl OF
eighteen, was enthralled by the charm
OF 1T and had the driver stop.
What a strange harmony" she
said, eagerly, leaning out OF the car.
mo tune to It; just series OF wild
but beautiful sounds-a song of lone
lineas-from the soul. But 1t has
stopped now"
straining their ears, the girl and
the elderly lady In the tonneau and
the two boys who occupied the front
seat were unable to detect any sound
save the faint rustling Of the century
old oaks that comprised the force:
tend the subdued hum OF the motor.
II Hes real musician, Ell AlIce?"
remarked the driver.
III s"What is #. spook? asked his
Seal companion.
Tho youth at the steering wheel
laughed.
Hardly. You're noe afraid, are
you, Joe? That's the hermit Of View
land woods. / have never seen the
hermit and 1 don't know that any
body else has but there's story that
he suffered great sorrow and for
that reason shut himself off from the
world"
"He is. as you say, a wonderful
master Of the violin" said the girl,
tinge Of the wistful in her tone. "If
could play half as well-but / never
cesid, no matter how long studied.
no one can learn to play that way
rom books"
The auto stood few minutes lorg-
er, for It was hoped the serenade OF
the woods would be resumed.
HE has probably gone to bed" the
girl finally said. 1--WE might as we'll
move on.
4 S0uring the rest of the Journey to
I, Xeeanton City Alice took small part
tn the conversation. She leaned
back IN the seat and allowed her
\ thoughts to roam to Viewland woods
and the strange harmony carried by
the night air. The magic of the mol
ody from the hermits violin lad
fripDcd her queerly, seemed some
how to become interviewer with her
own life and ambitions, which was
not strange considering the fact that
she herself was studying on the same
instrument.
Alice had arrived on the train at
HMeadow Falls and was being taken
to Stanton City to be the guest of
Mrs. Colby. who occupied the tonneau
with her. The driver of the car was
Merrill, her con, while the ether
youth was Joe Prescott, another guest
OF tho celby's.
Two weeks later, when the time
, approached Sor Alice to end her WIS.,
1t and resume her studies at o semi
harry In a distant city, It was decided
40 hold farewell picnic. Alice bo-
ling ksl:ed to cheoso tho site for the
: festivities chose that part OF View
lind %9eds which was supposed to be
the abode Of tho mysterious hermit.
The picnic party included Merrill
Hnd Joseph. tho formers mother ana
another girl named Dorothy Pangborn.
When tho remnants CT tho Toast were
cleared away. tho pickners seated
themselves IN eircIs on the ground
for "taik foEt" rs Mrs. Colby do
serthea Il, but this part OF the pro-
gram was interrupted by shr4ii,
piercing sound, something like a
SYAistie, only baftor End finer, that
broke through the woods, II rescm-
blea the trefnulous, vibrating notes
OF O canary, and yet Il was louder and
stronger ana moro sustained.
Tho wfisle group was thrilled, but
none so deeply as Alice. Tho first
burst Of shrili. palpitatina notes grad
Tally modified until they resenbied
the deep sdbbins OF cello. Then the
listeners wore treated to MASTER
ftfl rendition of'soul-stirring harmony.
Il went up ana down now and then
lending Itself q touch of sparkling
inerrtment, like the tiny bells, but
mostly giving off deep-throated, re-
penetrating peals that were wonder
ktul elsdi sweet but which seemed I'LL
I'd With O feeling OF sadness and de-.
bpair.
aThe. song Of the soul,"s breathed
lliice, y half aloud while the others
speech by the. powers OF. the unseen
player.
The music ceased SO suddenly that
Il was startling. As the last note,
melancholy and nournful, died away
hrlorgith swhispering trees, human
voice gwas raised in a cry that was
other ofsfear:cr pain. Then all was
attn.
None Of the rptcnfceers spoke for
full ninnte. Then Mrs. Colby at
tempted conversation, which was not
much Off q esuccess. The SPELL was
brokont bysan exclamation from Mer-
I'll who sprans to his fest, and point
cd IN the sair IN gthe idirectlons from
which tho music had come. The
company doohed' ana fsnw a cioud ioi
dense. black smoke, I'm which were
slngesfef:red land yellow. rolling sky
ward.
nit,ssthe hermtt's tower,", said Mer-
! riii, eze!tedly. TITS On flre!"
Heistarted on b. run In the direc-
fysnfot tthess1noke. Joe was close, on
hissho6ls when he ! disappeared into