The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-02-17
THE SINGING GIRL
BY MILDRED WHITE


''Oh, l dunno" said black Jake,
''restful like, it seems to me, with
the road bakin' in de heat, an de
bugs out a hummin' Sides, youse
got a big work TO do, mistah Lang
don, big contract to fill up, you has"
Il know, 1.-THE young civil engineer
answered gravely, that's my one in
centive. We have to bear all depri-
vation-what's that?" he stopped
sharply Down from the direction of
a shabby old house on the hill, came
a ripple of song, merry, lifting hap
ply song, that put expectation on edge,
and Knocked at desOlation.
Reckon" said Jake grinning, 'dey's
a song in de- wilderness, eben if dey
amt rose"
The song continued. 1t was charm
ing voice.
Find out" Phil said impulsively,
''whO she is"
Jake returned at evening with his
information. the engineer was busy
in his shack.
Jake showed his white teeth.
Dat lady singer" he announced,
'she's Lem Haskin's wife,"
Philip turned away in sudden, grip
ping disappointment. What differ
ence did it all make to him, he won
dered contemporary. The next morn
ing the song awakened him like
trill of bird music. He went up de-
liberately to the house under a pre-
tense of buying milk. The woman
who opened the door, had an old
young face, her eyes were wistful and
her dress was faded.
Il have heard you singing" Phil
said as he slowly drank the milk.
Your voice is wonderfully sweet"
The woman's face flushed with
pleasure.
81 used to sing in church before I
was married. she told him, now 1
only sing about my work"
The engineer smiled grimly as he
went up and down his dusty path of
labor.
Another illusion gone" he thought
diSappOintedly.
Through the busy days that fol-
lowed. snatcheS of song came TO him;
came, and influenced him to encour-
agement, or TO sadness. He sat up
abruptly in his musings. From the
bough over his head came a low mel
ody, a love song in actual words. Phil
ip looked upward. A nymph of maid
sat smiling down at him from among
the tree branches. He stared. unbe
lieving. but the maid smiled on.
''Who are you?" Philip asked at
length. smiling too. "a wood f9iry?"
The girl shook her head.
Far from it" she replied. I'm a
prosy school teacher and my school
being dismissed for the summer, l am
playing at vacation. ] sit up in this
tree because it is cool, and if you will
go away I'll come down. I've been
waiting in the hope that you would
go. Are you stationary"
Her sauciness charmed him, her
laughing eyes dared him. her curving
lips were. he knew now, just made for
smiling and song. 81 will not 60" he
said decidedly. until you sing for
me-"
The girl considered him sidewise,
and then down TO them from the hill
top came veIy volley of sound,
soprano hornlike note that shook and
fingered.
DO not be alarmed" said the girl
in the tree, that is merely Linda
60
81" added the girl. board there"
Philip forgot his own surprise.
why, that's an awful place to
board" he said, ''desolate, barren"
Il know it." the girl answered cheer
fully, Il am not going TO stay there
long. 1 happened to come out here
with my father in hope of benefting
his health. When he died, l took the
school. 1t was the only thing TO do
at the time. l have rented a cottage
across the brook" she went on bright
ly. land one of my little school girls
will live with me there. We are GO
ing TO have roses over the doorway
and"
The strange girl grew silently remi-
niscent. Phil watched her joyously.
wonderingly. Then he spoke:
I'D love a cottage beside a brook
with roses over its doorway, and
little wife to meet me there when /
came in all tired and muddy from the
roads A wife who could sing and
swing on the bough of tree and teach
Stupid children, and be happy in her
exile as WE'LL
The girls eyes were round and
large.
Are you" she asked mischieyously
trying to ask me to marry your
Il am asking you." declared Philip.
The girl laughed shakily.
'.It must be June that's the matter
with both of us" she said.
Come down." Philip commanded
4 will" she agreed. Il have
watched you from the tree long
enough"
When she stood at his side, Philip
leaned toward her.
''Yon are my song in the wilder
ness" he said.
But the girl ran swiftly toward the
hill. Presently. as he waited lifting.
JOYOUS measure came 20 him. Philip
bad his answer.
Cow in a China Shop.