The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-07-06

years ago, the counsellor came to this
town, he took up his abode in the dark
house in s. street. where he lived
alone with the exception of all old house
keeper. His eccentricities soon excited
the notice and curiosity of his neighbors
but as they became used to him, they
ceased to regard the roughness of his cx-
terror and the singularity Of his manner;
and as he made himself useful and al
most il dispcnsable TO every one. he was
snou generally beloved even by children
You have yourself witnessed to-day how
he has won tic aft ctions of my owl
children. We all cons dercd him a
bachelor, and lie said nothing to dispute
this belief After he had stayed here
for some time, he suddenly departed, 10
one knew whether and he did not return
until several months had elapsed. The
evening succeeding KrespcPs return, the
windows of his parlor were unusually IL
Illuminated and what most aroused the
curiosity Of the neighbors, was the sound
Of the wonderful voice Of lady, singing
to the accompaniment Of piano Every
one listened with the greatest attention.
Then arose the sounds of a violin, CON
tending in its 81 yigorous notes with the
rich sonorious voice of the singer There
could be no mistake about the person
who was playing the violin; every one
felt it must be Krcspel But who was
the lady ! l myself had mixed in the
crowd which this wonderful concert had
attracted before the house Of Krcspel.
and | may declare that, compared to the
voice of the unknown, whose notes en-
tered so completely into the hearts ofall,
the song of the most celebrated cantat-
rice appeared quite dull and soundless
You cannot imagine what this voice was,
now swelling Into louder and louder
notes, and rising TO the most powerful
tones of an organ-then sinking gradu-
ally lower and lower until it expired in
u breath. The crowd below was enchan-
ted and it was only in the intervals Of
silence that their suppressed desperation
O escaped in sighs About midnight the
counsellor was heard to speak loudly.
The voice of another man was
heard, and it's tone appeared uttering re-
proaches. At intervals, lady was la.
menting in interrupted phrases. Krcs-
pol spoke more and more violently when
a loud cry from the girl interrupted him
A dcath-likc silence ensued; at last,
footsteps were heard on the stairs and
young man sobbing passionately, rushed
out of the house, threw himself into a
post chase which was standing close by,
and drove away.
"The following day." continued the
professor, "Krcspcl was unusually joy
ful. No one had courage to ask him a.
bout the events Of the preceding night ;
but the housekceper told US quito conf
dentally, that Krespcl had brought home
with him ayoung and sirgularly beauti-
full girl. whom he called Antonio, and
that it was she who had sung so wonder
fully. A young man, she said, had come
with them and as he behaved very ten
derly towards Antonie, she thought he
must have been her lover; but the coun-
sellor obliged him to depart almost di-
rectly. Up to the present moment"
continued the professor, "the nature of
the connexion between Antonio and the
counsellor remains a mystery. He watch
es her as Doctor Bartholo watched his
pupils she scarcely dares show herself
at the window, and whenever he chances
to conduct her into society, his eyes fol-
low her with the look of an Argus.
Moreover, he will not suffer her to utter
the slightest musical sound even in his
house she dares not sing any more
therefore Antoue's song Of that night
has become legend and when any pop
ular cantatrice attempts to charm our
good citizens into admiration, they think
Of Antonio, and exclam. 1T IS not her
ro,ce ?"
You may easily imagine the state o
mind in which the professors account
put me. Always fond of the romantic
| desired nothing else than to see thi
queen of song and to hear from her lip
an explanation Of the mysterious eventi
Of the night in question. The chival
rous idea also came to my mind that
would deliver her from the fctters of til,
iyrant-for such | considered the couu
sellor to be. more than ever sougL
for opportunities of speaking to him ant
having conversed several times very en
ergetically about the structure Of violins
received an invitation TO this house
The first thing he showed NE was
rich stock of yiollus. The walls of hi
cabinet were literally covered with then
but my attention was particularly attraC
ted to one suspended above all the res
decorated with garland Of flowers, an
looking like the queen of all the othe
instruments.
This violin" said Krespel, sis cur
Gus wonderful instrument. once the pr,
perty of an old master, | feel convince
that there is something in its structur
very peculiar and if | were to disset
it, | am sure it would reveal to Inc a S,
cret which / have for long time bee
endeavoring to find. You may laugh I
me if you like; but though l know it
| who give to this dead instrument SCUM
and life, l always think that there is
il some inner life-somc inner vol,
which speaks out of it; and yet yo
could never make up my mind to cut
open am now very glad that | did NJ
do so, for since Autonie has been here,
play upon it, and Antonio likes it
much she understands, too. 50 we'll d
inner voice p
Krespcl was evidently touched. Fl
boldened by tho eounsellor's confident
tone and manner, / ventured to beg hi
to play on this wonderful instrumer
aud to allow me TO witness the effect
tones produced on Antonio. In n
, ment Kresnal's countcnancc chang,