Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-17

What new phrases of contempt have
coined for his approaching fault ! In thi.
manner would l treat him. Thus would
l oyerwhelm him with sarcasm. Should
1 stop the orchestra and up braid him be-
fore the whole house? Should l ruin
him past redemption ? On these oeca-
sions have observed the deformed eve
fixed upon me with watchful, scrutinizinp
patience, not unmixed with an expression
of serene contempt, that increased in in.
tensity as he became more abstrActed and
off his guard; as if that eye saw all my
arts, despised them all, and quietly
waiting for the moment of my discomR
ture. That moment would arrive. Clear
rich and sonorous, striking the note with
marvellous precision and confidence, the
peal of the First Cornet would burst il
upon the other instruments casting them
into utter insigniicance, and bearing the
music away as if of right. Then, too
the great face would roll and glover
above me, the clearing eye would seem
bursting with outrageous merriment, and
my poor brain would ache as if it were
rending.
You play too loud sir. Your noisy
Cornet browns all the other instruments
You must subdue it, or L.
The words died in my throat, as ]
started at the basilisk in the First Cor
nets head. 1t had, by degrees, assumed
a look of malignant rage and defiance.
The red veins which crossed it were dis
tended to twice their usual size, and be-
tween them blazed lurid light of SO sin
lister cast that fairly quailcd with ter
ror. This is no fancy for as turned
away distinctly traced a long, dusty ray,
like the beam of an angry sunset, stretch
ing from the eye across the entire room,
and lighting where it fell, a small round
spot upon the opposite wall.
Good heavens L groaned. My heart
sank within me. l was almost conquer
ed, A miserable, sickening fear crept
over me l felt all the hopeless agony OF
one struggling against some supernatural
power. My passions came to my aid. l
taunted myself with the name of coward ;
braced up my nerves for the encounter
and by sheer strength of will, turned my
self full on the eye. l had wasted my
energy-the look was gone.
'Signor,' said the First Cornet, bow
ing meckly, will try to please you. j
am conscious that my feeling for music
often leads me too far. am thankful that
you think so much of me as to correct my
faults
But even as he spoke, the eye put on a
look of imperial superiority, penetrating
through and beyond me, rs if formed no
obstacle to its world-cmbracing glance.
l choksd and stammered A cloud pas
sed before my vision. l motioned the
man away. He seemed to float about
the room for moment, and when re-
covered my consciousness he had depart
ed.
From that day his style of playing
changed. His tones melted into the
orchestral music, with a faint, delicious
liquid, as if the player were expiring o.
pleasure, stretching beyond the bounds ol
nature. The Englishman was transpor.
ted. His eyes half closed and humid,
floated about in listless ecstacy. Now
and then his lustreless eyes would open
to exchange vacant glance with the
First Comets odious blemish.
This will never do. You are reducing
tho people of N to Sybarities,' said
to the First COrnet.
The eye danced in jubilee, while il
posseSsor started, blushcd, and promised
reformation. His style of playing under
went another change. Now he played
with the strict mechanical correctness o.
the German school, but without one sparl
of feeling.
This will disgust your sensual En-
glishman,' said to myself. Not so. The
rolling head became erect, its lips were
severely compressed, and it jerked abou
marking the notes with wonderful activ
ity and precision, as if exact time were
the only musical quality it required. Now
too, the Comets eye was full of meaning
1t actually seemed to talk with its rolling
friend and all their conversation was 9
cunning plot to pull me down.
Suddenly my eyes were opened GOOD
Heaven I! was forcing the First Corne
to become the first performer in Italy
why do you not quit the orchestra {?
said to him one day, after long lee
ture, to which he had listened with pro
found respect. You cannot please me
play as you may. Your tones are execra
ble-eXecrable =
They shall be changed
Each change is for the worst. l bel
you will resign without further words
'Signor said he, seriously, holding
out his Cornet, this instrument is th'
only support of bedridden mother anC
a puny sister. l dare not leave the or
chestra while Heaven blesses me will
their presence
A tear overhowed his sound eye anC
dripped slowly down his cheek but th'
heartless thing which blasted his face wa
dancing merrily round the room in searcl
of amusement. 1t found employment, At
last, in sneenng at the Second Violin
who was painting. like Atlas, under til
score Of a new opera.