Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-03-23
THE SINGING GIRL
BY MILDRED WHITE


time, but it's going to be mighty hard.
Not decent house in prospect, not
eompanionabe soul TO take 10. Why,
this is wilderness" further com
planned Philip. without one rose
"Oh, l dunno" said black Jake,
''restful like, il seems 10 me, with
the road bakin i'm de heat, an de
bugs out a hummn' Sides, youse
got a big work to do, mistah Lang
don, big contract to fill up, you has"
II know, THE young civil engineer
answered gravely, that's my one In
centlve. We have to bear all depri-
vation--what's thatT he stopped
sharply. Down from the direction Of
shabby old house on the hill, came
ripple of song, merry, Hitting hap
by scng, that put expectation on edge,
and Knocked at desolation.
Reckon" said Jake grinning, "dey's
song in de wilderness eben if dey
amt rose"
The song continued. II was a charm
ing voice.
"Find out" Phil said impulsiveIy
who she u.s."
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 Haskins wife"
Philip turned away in sudden, grip
ping disappointment. What differ
ence did II all make to him, he won
dered contemptuously The next morn
ing the song awakened him like a
trill OF bird music. He went up de-
iiberstely TO the house under pre-
tense of buying milk The woman
who opened the door had an old
Young face, her eyes were wistful ana
her dress was faded.
II have heard you singing" Phil
said az he slowly drank the milk.
your voice is wonderfully sweet"
The woman's face flushed with
pleasure
II used TO sing in church before I
was married." she told him, now !
only sing about my work"
The engineer smiled grimly as he
went up and down hts dusty path OF
labor.
Another Illusion gone" he thought
disappointedly
Through the busy days that fol-
came, and Influenced him to encour
Rgement, 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
lp looked upward A nymph OF a maid
sat smiling down Mt him from among
the tree branches. He stared, unbe-
Ieving. but the maid smiled on.
"Who are you7" Philip asked at
length, smiling too, "a wood f9iryY"
The girl shook her head
Far from It," she replied. I'm a
prosy school teacher, and my school
being dismissed for the summer, | am
playing at vacation. J sit up In this
tree because it is cool and II you will
20 away I'll come down. I've been
waiting In the hope that you would
go Are you stationaryT
Her sauclness charmed him, her
laughing eyes dared him, her curving
lips we're, he knew now, just made for
smiling and solg 81 will not GO" he
said decidedly until you sing for
me"
The girl considered him sidewise,
and then down to them from the hill
top came a very volley of sound, a
soprano hurnlike note that shook and
fingered.
DO not be alarmed" said the girl
In the tree, chat is merely Linda
singing. She's Lem Haskins' wife"
II, 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. | happened to come out here
with my father in hope Of benefiting
his health. When he died, l took the
school 1t was the only thing to do
at the time. | have rented cottage
across the brook" she went on bright
ly, and one Of my little school girls
viii live with me there. We are go
ing 70 have roses over the doorway
and"
The strange girl grew silently RENT
niscent Phil watched her joyously,
wonderingly Then he spoke:
I'D love cottage beside a brook
with roses over its doorway, and a
little wife TO meet me there when l
came In all tired and muddy from the
roads 4 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 we're round and
large.
Are you, she asked mischieyously,
trying 70 ask me to marry your
Il am asking you" declared Philip.
The girl laughed shakily.
1T must be June that's the matter
with both Of us" she said.
"Come down." Philip commanded
Il will" she agreed II have
watched you from the tree long
enough"
When she stood at his side Philip