New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-28
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Mtsslc, and NIaslness.

The Count Gerfaut de e., although, BY pos
ton and fortune thrown into the highest circles Q
Partisan society had, from his entrance into life es
chewed all its follies The Count had serious tastes
was fond Of study, and, above ali, Of music, which h
had cultivated especially. He was both q scientific
and an aristocratic musician.
In pursuit Of his art the Count had gone to Italy
There he had resided for some years. On his return
Amongst other things, music, which had been hi.
ruling passion, was now his aversion. The sound
the human voice especially had an influence 0vel
him which appeared almost TO produce madness
Mysterious rumors were circulated with regard Z
change; but to none did the Count Gerfaut confide
the real cause.
Count Gerfaut had conceived q profound passion in
Italy for young prima donna, Gina Ostnvl, a crea
ture Of beauty and genius, whose fame was destined
to exceed that Of al her predecessors although a.
yet confined to Venice, Verona and Padua. Gerfaut
loved her genius as much as he loved herself; and
when he asked her to become his wife, he never in
tended that she should quit the stage. Gina, how
lover should desire her still to continue on the stage
she thought he loved her genius better than herself
and 50 she manied-not Gerfaut, but the Prince Of
P and, taking possession Of her palazzo, left the
stage forever.
But Gina had loved Gerfaut. She strove to hide
even from herself the feelings that would arise in her
heart and not desiring to inger on the past she be-
gan with renewed enthusiasm to take to her art and
expressed in music what she dared not whisper even
to herselfs All her grandeur paled on her, the
Prince became hateful to hershe longed she pinned
for word from Gerfaut. But he was in Paris be
had never even deigned to breathe her name.
At length theP Princess de P--'s health gave way;
her enthusiasm for music took the characteristics Of
insane. To Paris to the great Partisan physicians
was the Princess sent and her name was for the first
time echoed in the Partisan world
Quiet GENTLE silent, the Princess, accompanied by
fhofv,, ~
the Bots de Bouogne at the opera, at the Italiens
beautiful but SO pale that as she listened in wrapt
ecstacy to the music it impossible to believe her
other than statue. The Princess soon attracted the
morbid curiosity Of the Partisan world.
Gerfaut heard her name. For the first time since
his return from Italy he entered the opera house.
There he beheld her-a PALE beautiful vision of the
woman he had so adored. Their eyes met, then a
deep blush which showed that there was life within
overspread the neck and shoulders Of the Princess
but Gerfaut turned away without word or a sigh.
He sought the physician who was to effect this
wondrous cure. What would save her? Nothing but
return to the emotions of the stage. There alone
could the pentup passions find vent
Gerfaut, calm and firm, sought the Prince he told
him how he had loved Gina-he told him how they
had separated-he told him that she must be saved
though he swore to him that he never would see her
more.
Z Save herr said the Prince al will trust Won,
but on a public stage the Princess de P never
can appear
Nor shall She"
In his old ancestral hotel of the Fauboure St. Ger.
man Gerfaut set to work; he arranged theatre-he
engaged company, an orchestra, and then-for
without public an artists triumph could not be
compete-he invited the elite of the fashionable and
musical world.
Giulietta and Romeo-not Bellini's but Zngarelli's
tender music, worthy Of Shakspeare's poem-was the
opera the Princess was ever singing. This was the
opera chosen She was dressed. At the first strains
OF the orchestra an eye frightened life seemed in
used in the statue; she comprehended where she
was; the applause which greeted her as she entered
seemed to give her strength; she sang never mortal
sang before Gerfaut listened with despair and love.
At length came the last scene. Juliet is laid in the
tomb. steathiy comes Romeo to see her once again;
the tomb is opened and Romeo clasps his around
her. With shrek, he starts away, and inlet falls
heavily back into the tomb. The Prince and the
guests rush on to the stage but too ate Gina Juliet
lay dead-not in mimic but in real death-in her
tomb. She had never moved nor spoken-no not to
the Prince, not to those around herr but Geraut had
reached her FIRST and being over her. his lips to hers
had caught her last faint murmurings and they had
said her last words on earth-tamo.
The Count Gerfhut de X. has entered the order of
the Monks of La Trappe, at Pesth and the Prince is
raising magnificent monument to Gina, in marble,
that is to be of the wonders of modern sculpture
Two monuments to her memory-the living man
turned to stone for her sake and the marble endowed
with life to bid her live forever.