a face illumined-第24章

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your　tenor　voice。　　We　must　stand　by　that　little　woman。　　The　Chints

tribe　have　incited　to　profanity　long　enough；　and　shall　make　the

night　hideous　no　more。　　If　we　could　only　drown　them　instead　of　their

voices；　what　a　mercy　it　would　be！〃　　and　the　young　men　went　around

and　stood　in　the　open　door　near　the　piano。



〃You　are　to　sing；〃　said　Miss　Burton；　with　a　decided　little　nod　at

them。



〃We　intend　to；〃　replied　Stanton；　〃since　you　are　to　accompany　us。〃



She　started　〃Coronation；〃　that　spirited　and　always　inspiriting

battle　song　of　the　churchjubilant　and　militanta　melody　that　is

also　admirably　adapted　for　blending　rough　and　inharmonious　voices。



For　a　moment　her　own　voice　was　like　that　of　a　singing　lark；　mounting

from　its　daisy　covert；　or　rather；　like　the　flow　of　a　silver　rill

whose　music　was　soon　lost；　however；　in　the　tumultuous　rush　of　other

tributary　streams　of　sound；　still；　the　general　effect　was　good；　and

the　people　enjoyed　it。　　By　the　time　the　second　stanza　was　reached

the　majority　were　singing　with　hearty　good…will；　the　children

gathering　near　and　joining　in　with　delight。



Other　familiar　and　old…fashioned　hymns　followed；　and　then　one　and

another　began　to　ask　for　their　favorites。　　Fortunately　Mrs。　Chints's

knowledge　of　sacred　music　was　limited；　and　so　she　retired　on　the

laurels　of　having　called　Miss　Burton　out；　informing　half　the　company

of　the　fact　with　an　important　nod；　and　in　remembrance　of　this　fact

they　were　inclined　to　forgive　her　the　anguish　she　had　personally

caused　them。



Mrs。　Burleigh；　who　had　stolen　into　the　parlor　for　a　little　while

that　she　might　enjoy　the　singing；　remembered　that　she　had　a　pile

of　note…books　that　had　grown　dusty　on　a　shelf　since　the　baby　had

furnished　the　music　of　the　household。　　These　were　brought；　and

higher　and　fuller　musical　themes　were　attempted；　until　the　singers

dwindled　to　a　quartet　composed　of　a　lady　who　had　a　fair　soprano

voice；　Miss　Burton；　Stanton　and　Van　Berg。　　　Their　selections；　however；

continued　truly　sacred　in　character；　thus　differing　radically　from

the　florid　style　that　Mrs。　Chints　had　introduced。



The　sweet　and　penetrating　power　of　Miss　Burton's　voice　could　now

be　distinguished。　　For　some　reason　it　thrilled　and　touched　its

hearers　in　a　way　that　they　could　not　account　for。　　The　majority

present　at　once　realized　that　she　was　not；　and　never　could　become；

a　great　singer。　　But　within　the　compass　of　her　voice；　she　could

pronounce　sacred　words　in　a　manner　that　send　them　home　to　the　hears

of　the　listeners　like　rays　that　could　both　cheer　and　melt。



At　last　she　rose　from　the　piano；　remarking　that　there　were　other

musicians　present；　and　no　amount　of　persuasion　could　induce　her　to

remain　there　any　longer。



〃Perhaps　you　gentlemen　play；〃　she　said；　turning　to　the　young　men

who　were　about　to　depart。　　〃A　man's　touch　and　leadership　is　so　much

more　decisive　and　vigorous　than　a　lady's！〃



〃Mr。　Van　Berg　plays　very　well　indeed；　considering　his　youth　and

diffidence！〃　remarked　Stanton。



〃And　he　has　been　taking　advantage　of　a　defenceless　woman　all　this

time！　　Mr。　Van　Berg；　if　you　do　not　wish　to　lose　your　character

utterly；　you　must　take　my　place　at　the　piano。〃



〃I　admit；〃　he　replied；　〃that　I　have　taken　more　pleasure　than　you

will　believe　in　your　in　your　contribution　to　our　evening's　enjoyment；

but　rather　than　lose　your　good　opinion　I　will　attempt　to　play　or

sing　anything　you　dictate；　even　though　I　put　every　one　in　the　parlor

to　flight；　with　their　fingers　in　their　ears。〃



〃And　you　fear　my　taste　will　impose　on　you　some　such　blood…curdling

combination　of　sounds？　　Thank　you。〃



〃Now；　Van；　you　have　taught　us　what　unconditional　surrender　means。

Miss　Burton；　ask　him　to　play　and　sing　some　selections　from　the

Oratorio　of　the　Messiah。〃



〃Are　you　familiar　with　that？〃　she　asked；　with　a　sudden　lighting　up

of　her　face。



〃Somewhat　so；　only　as　an　amateur　can　be；　but　I　see；　from　your

expression；　that　you　are。〃



〃I've　contributed　my　share　this　evening；〃　she　said；　decisively。

〃Please　give　us　some　selections　from　the　Oratorio。〃



〃Lay　your　command；　then；　on　Stanton　also。　　There's　a　part　that　we

have　sung　together　as　a　duet　occasionally；　although　it　is　not　'so

nominated　in　the　bond；'　or　score；　rather。〃



〃If　Mr。　Stanton　does　not　stand　by　his　friend；　then　he　should　be

left　to　stand　by　himself。〃



〃In　the　corner；　I　suppose　you　mean。　　But　do　not　leave；　Miss　Burton。

If　you　do　not　stand　by　Mr。　Van　Berg　and　sing　with　him　the　duet　that

begins　with　the　words





'O　death！　where　is　thy　sting？'





you　will　deprive　us　all　of　the　chief　pleasure　of　the　evening；　and

it's　not　in　your　nature　to　do　that。〃



〃Please；　please　do；　Miss　Burton；〃　cried　a　score　of　voices。



〃You　know　nothing　about　my　nature；　sir。　　I　assure　you　that　I　can

be　a　veritable　dragon。　　But　out　of　regard　for　Mr。　Van　Berg's　'youth

and　diffidence'　I　will　sustain　him。〃



Van　Berg's　voice　was　not　strong；　but　he　sang　with　taste　and　good

expression。　　It　suggested　refinement　and　culture　rather　than　deep；

repressed　feeling；　as　had　been　the　case　in　Miss　Burton's　singing。

His　style　would　be　admired；　and　would　not　give　much　occasion　for

criticism；　but；　as　a　general　thing；　it　would　not　stir　and　move　the

heart。　　Still；　the　audience　gave　close　and　pleased　attention。



Ida　Mayhew；　who　all　this　time　had　been　out　on　the　piazza　and　but

half　listening　to　Mr。　Sibley's　compliments　in　her　attention　to　the

scenes　at　the　piano；　now　rose　and　came　to　one　of　the　open　windows；

where；　while　hidden　from　the　singer；　she　could　hear　more　distinctly。

Her　features　did　not　indicate　that　she　shared　in　the　pleasure

expressed　on　the　other　faces　within；　and　her　gathering　frown　was

deepened　by　the　shadow　of　the　window　frame。



〃You　do　not　enjoy　it！〃　said　Mr。　Sibley；　complacently。



〃No；〃　she　answered；　laconically；　but　for　reasons　he　little　understood。



〃Now　you　show　your　taste；　Miss　Mayhew。〃



〃I　fear　I　do。　　Hush！〃　　But　when　Van　Berg's　solo　ended；　she　breathed

a　deep　sigh。



Then　Stanton's　rich；　but　uncultivated　bass　voice　joined　in　the

melody。　　Still　the　effect　was　better　tahn　would　have　been　expected

from　amateurs。　　After　a　few　moments；　Stanton　stood　back　and　Miss

Burton　and　Van　Berg　sang　together；　then　every　one　leaned　forward

and　listened　with　a　breathless　hush。　　Her　voice　seemed　to　pervade

his　with　sould　and　feeling　that　had　been　lacking　hitherto。



As　the　last　rich　chords　died　away；　the　strongest　expression　of

pleasure　were　heard　on　every　side；　but　Ida　Mayhew　stepped　abruptly

out　into　the　dusk　of　the　piazza　with　clenched　hands　and　compressed

lips。



〃'Peste！'〃　she　exclaimed　under　her　breath。　　〃What　a　contrast　between

Sibley　and　myself　last　evening　and　these　two　people　to…night！　　What

a　worse　contrast　there　might　have　been　if　Ik　had　not　interfered　in

time！　　I　have　a　good　voice；　but　the　guests　of　the　house　have　not

even　thought　of　me　in　connection　with　this　evening's　entertainment。

I　am　associated　only　with　the　Sibley　style　of　amusements。〃











Chapter　XVII。　　New　Forces　Developing。









After　Mr。　Van　Berg　and　Miss　Burton　finished　the　selection　from　the

Oratorio　mentioned　in　the　previous　chapter；　the　old　white…haired

gentleman　at　whose　side　the　latter　had　been　sitting　in　the　earlier

part　of　the　evening　rose　and　said：



〃I　want　to　thank　all　the　singers；　and　especially　the　young　lady

and　gentleman　now　at　the　piano；　not　only　for　the　pleasure　they　have

given　us　all；　but　also　for　the　comforting　and　sustaining　thoughts

that　the　sacred　words　have　suggested。　　My　enjoyments　in　this　world

are　but　few；　and　are　fast　diminishing；　and　I　know　that　they　will

not　refuse　an　old　man's　request　that　they　close　this　service　of　song

by　each　singing　along　some　hymn　that　will　strengthen　our　faith　in

the　unseen　Friend　who　watches　over　us　all。〃



Van　Berg　looked　at　Miss　Burton。



〃We　cannot　refuse　such　an　appeal；〃　she　said。



〃I　fear　that　I　shall　seem　a　hypocrite　in　complying；〃　Van　Berg

answered；　in　a　low　tone。　　〃How　can　I　make　a　distinctly　recognized

effort　to　strengthen　faith　in　others　when　lacking　faith　myself。〃



Her　eyes　flashed　up　to　his；　in　sudden　and　strong　approval。　　〃I

like　that；〃　she　said。　　〃It　always　gives　me　a　sense　of　security　and

safety　when　I　meet　downright　honesty。　　In　no　way　can　you　better

strengthen　our　faith　than　by　being　perfectly　true。　　You　give　me　a

good　example　of　sincerity；〃　she　added　slowly；　〃and　perhaps　my　hymn

will　teach　submission　more　than　faith。　　While　I　am　singing　it　you

may　find　something　that　will　not　express　more　than　you　feel。〃



In　her　sweet；　low；　yet　penetrating　voice；　that　now　had　a　pathos　which

melted　every　heart；　she　sang　the　following　words；　which；　like　the

perfume　of　crushed　violets；　have　risen　in　prayer　from　many　bruised

and　broken　sprits：





〃My　God；　my　father；　while　I　stray

　Far　from　my　home　on　life's　rough　way；

　Oh　teach　me　from　my　heart　to　say；

　Thy　will　be　done。



　What　though　in　lonely　grief　I　sigh

　For　friends　beloved　no　longer　nigh；

　Submissive　still　would　I　reply；

　Thy　will　be　done。



　Renew　my　will　from　day　to　day；

　Blend　it　with　Thine；　and　take　away

　Whate'er　now　makes　it　hard　to　say；

　Thy　will　be　done。



　Then　when　on　earth　I　breathe　no　more；

　The　prayer　oft　mixed　with　tears　before；

　I'll　sing　upon　a　happier　shore；

　Thy　will　be　done。〃





Stanton；　warm…hearted　and　genuine　with　all　his　faults；　retired　well

into　the　shadow　of　the　hallway　and　looked　at　the　singer　through

the　lenses　of　sympathetic　tears。



〃Poor　orphan　girl；〃　he　muttered。　　〃What　a　villain　a　man　would　be

who　could　purpose　harm　to　you！〃



Van　Berg；　in　accordance　with　his　cooler　and　less　demonstrative

nature；　kept　his　position　at　her　side；　but　he　regarded　her　with

an　expression　of　respect　and　interest　that　caused　Ida　Mayhew；　who

was　watching　from　her　covert　near；　a　sense　of　pain　and　envy　that

surprised　her　by　its　keenness。



With　a　sudden　longing　which　indicated　that　the　wish　came　direct

from　from　her　heart；　she　sighed：



〃What　would　I　not　give　to　see　him　look　at　me　with　that　expression

on　his　face！〃



Then；　startled　by　her　own　thought；　so　vivid　had　it　been；　she　looked

around　as　if　in　fear　it　was　apparent　to　her　companion。



His　eyes　were　in　truth　bent　upon　her；　and　in　the　dusk　they　seemed

like　livid　coals。　　A　moment　later；　as　with　a　shrinking　sense　of

fear　she　furtively　looked　at　him　again；　his　eyes　suggested　those　of

some　animal　of　prey　that　is　possessed　only　with　the　wolfish　desire

to　devour；　caring　for　the　victim　only　as　it　may　gratify　the　ravenous

appetite。



He　leaned　forward　and　whispered　in　her　ear：



〃Miss　Ida；　you　do　not　know　how　strangely；　how　temptingly　beautiful

you　are　to…night。　　One　might　well　peril　his　soul　for　such　beauty

as　yours。〃



〃Hush；〃　she　said　imperiously；　and　with　a　repelling　gesture；　she

stepped　further