Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-12-17
The Valley of Voices

Il
was bored. oh. so bored Was Il not
50. ChaFlottea,,
@Enh. emil Yeslr mumbIed the ON
way woman. who sat on q rock apart
from the two. her restless eyes sweep
Ing the scrub below them.
Charlotte Is not bored now; she's
scared 10 death" suggested Steele
with = laugh.
HAS she not reason. monsleurY'
protested Demise. ''But we have not
been here. she and I. since mldsum-
mer. And ! miss It sO.r
''You fear to come here now--be-
lieve In this thlngg' He welcomed the
opportunity to put the question a.
rectly.
The dark eyes frankly met his 'Ts
there not good reason. monsieur. Tor
fear In a woman After the fur canoe
and that nightr'
Natural as had been her reply,
Steele intnitiveiy sensed that she was
dissembling-to avoid his inevitable
questioning was willing to have him
believe that she. too. was victim
OF the general superstition. But she
had betrayed herself the morning her
father cut short her half-uttered warn
Ing. Well, the day was young and he
feared to press her then FOR an ex-
PLANTATION OF what she patiently de-
sired to avoid So with a nodded as
sent to her question. he changed the
subject.
I'VE are to have gay music today,
mademolselle. You remember, you
promised we should be merry"
yes, today the violin shall sing
Of joy; Il is too beautiful here to be
sad Even though the first gray geese
OF the year pass south. shall send
them no message"
"And this messages It a secretf'
"A secret. mOnsieur7 What secrets
can a woman cherish In these forestsfr
Her reply had been spontaneous. In
nocent OF subterfuge; then, In his
lifted eyebrows and humorous curl OF
lip. she caught the reflection OF the
double implication Of her question,
and her face flushed to the temples.
''Have you ever Ionged to journey
south with the passing geesef" be
quickly asked. CALAMITY covering her
embarrassment. "As you play them
down the skies do you not wish to
join themr
"Why. Monsieur Steele, you have
stolen my Dreams" she cried, radiant
with surprise. Always. as they pass,
I stand here calling to them 10 lend
me wings 10 foiIOw-f0Ilow into the
south. try to lure them back with /
my violin-but no. they pass SO /
send them down the wind to a mae
bon voyage, my fare
well-until spring pipes them north"
She had risen. And her eyes, shin
ng with emotion, her face. vivid with
he color OF her thoughts. strangely
stirred the man who listened. The
ines of her straight body, from
Ihoulders to trim feet. held his eyes.
Watching her. Steele asked himself
what this strange girl. tense as the
strings OF her violin, with her moods
# aloofness and silence, followed by
wifi changes to whimsical gayety and
mean to him. AS her eyes again met
lis be wondered what memories he
hould carry down to Nepigon in Octo-
'er.
And the message You send with
he geese7n he asked. There is home
Ickness in 1t for your France-your
"Ah.- she sighed. lis II not natural.
nonsieur7 / do long for the roses
nd the poppy fieIds-the warm SUN
n the white roads and the laughter
I the people. There Is no laughter at
vailing Rlver--now." She raised her
ands in eloquent gesture. The
Inter here Is 80 long-so cold. The
ternai wind In the spruee-does Il not ]
peak to you. too7 To me there are j
ways the voIces--volces OF hunger ,
nd pain--and DEATH I
~Yes. summer or winter he said, !
the voices are everywhere. In the /
,hite-waters, the spruce, the hills. r
nd often. in the breeze, the forest I
ecomes one great orchestra" I
You have heard It. t0oT she :
fed, .the sweep Of the violins. the ;
oanlng OF the cellosT,
Il always hear them in the sum /
err. from q river; with the drum
eat OF rapids as accompaniment" |
An, there IL much OF the poet
you. monsieur And for an instant
ere was light in the girls eyes /
hich set wild thoughts stirring In |
s brain. But our winter Is beauti- I
4. also. In moods" she went on.
ne quiet days with the sun on the
IOw-I love then 70 walk In the
rest. And the winding snowshoe
ssf@. 40 <how 49, ~off wors En- fol II