Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-12-21
The BetrOthal Waltz.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

CHRISTMAS STORY.
One Christmas eve finished piece of music
which had been dreaming over some time. It
was written after an odd fashion for which had
motive. 1t could be played either as duet
or as two separate waltzes. | called it the Be-
trothal Waltz
know, and knew then, that the urtist-poet
painter, or muscian-does not always find that
his work says to others what he hoped it would
But my new waltz told me of lovers hopes
and fears, foated on doubtngly until it grew ju-
bilant with the joy of love returned and the be-
trothal kiss, and ended with peal of wedding
bells. 1t may have been only waltz to others ;
l heard all this in it,
When it was quite done l carried it to my
darling Bertha, she who had worn my betrothal
ring only few weeks.
Dearest" said |, "let us have a secret to-
gether Let us learn this waltz you the first
part, the second, and then destroy the written
notes, that you and alone may be able to play
it. You will teach it to one, neither will !;
and wherever Christmas will
always play it, striking the first note as the
clock begins to strike twelve. If together, in
memory of our betrothal year if apart, that we
may draw our hearts more closely together, each
knowing that the other is playing it at the same
moment"
And Bertha liked the romantic fancy, and we
learned the music off by heart, and then dropped
the paper upon the blazing logs and saw it
shrivel into tinder.
g Wherever are, | said again, "apart or
together, next Christmas eve, and every other we
live to see, we will play parts in that waltz,
dearest" And she said, Yes,' and sighed as
she let me keep her little hands in mine, for we
knew must soon be parted
You see, was not rich enough to marry, and
l had only my voice-a voice they thought well
of in my native town-by which to win my for
! frpo 7 fo Anna in tha nnyf
steamer to see what price they would set upon it
there And when l worth a certain sum,
Bertha's father said might have his daughter
for a wife Even then he only yielded reluct-
antly for his neghbor, Van Tromp, rich old
man, as ugly and wrinkled monkey, had
made it known that lie also hoped to win Bertha
| for his wife.
1t was better, said her father, to know what
ones income to be but girls were not SEN
sbe enough to prefer solid comfort to honey
moon with nothing to eat but kisses, and must
talk of love and preference, and break their
hearts if their parents made sensible matches
for them But he loved Bertha and, when she
wept gave her the conditional promise that
when | was worth so many thalers she should be
my wife, and told old Van Tromp that the girl
idiot and would not accept him. And so
was about to leave my dear old German home
to seek my fortune.
About fortnight from that Christmas eve on
which we had played the Betrothal Waltz to-
gether, ! left B on foot with my knapsack
on my shoulders and my face toward the sea-
shore, where the vessel lay which was to bear
me to strangers land to win my fortune.
GO Be true to me, Bertha" l had whispered,
ooh be true to me- for can ever love
you as love you" And | kissed her on cheek
and chin, and ruby lip, and tear-wet golden lash :,
and tore myself away from her.
| Throughout the long voyage dreamed of her,
| ~ hu ct in tha of fufI Rut
when reached America found that was not
the only singer who had sought her shores.
Others better than were there. Success would
be a work of time and So with heavier heart,
I set to work to battle with the life before me.
For year lyed-no more but her letters
came to cheer me, and on Christmas day she
wrote thus:
this morning, played my part of our Betrothal
Waltz. He is playing it also, said Was
right? 1t brought you to to think
So"
And also had thought only of her as in the
silence of my own chamber, l awakened the
well-remembered tones of the Betrothal Waltz.
| was prospering slowly, gaining favor in the
eyes of the public, making more money, ant
feeling happier by far when the next Christina!
eve came about. On that night, after | hat
played my share of our Betrothal Waltz, | wrot,
to Bertha's father, saying that in year, if
prospered, should be able to claim her. Ant
he answered me kindly and encouragingly.
On the night after had received his letter
with Bertha's tiny postscript appeared for tn,
first time in the opera. 1t was a successful
debut. / returned home intoxicated with delight
l wrote wild letter to Bertha, and went out in
to the streets to walk off my excitement.
could not Sleep could not rest. At last, in al
unlucky moment, | entered late drinking
place, one much frequented by musicians. Som
OF my friends were there. They gathered aroun,
me, offering their congratulations. They calle
tor wine to drink to my continued success
They predicted a wonderful future for me
and all the while moody man sat will
folded arms and scowling brows. 1t was r
an Italian who had sung in the same opera tina
night, and had been hissed.
God help him His hopes had been as hrgl e
as mine-his goal perhaps as bright an one. In'
: Kisses had dropped upon his heart like drops o
molten lead, and the applause had recsNed 80
and the congratulations of my frlenos n"uueA
him. ,-,,s .,
Out of that bright saloon into the darkness y. y,
the streets he followed me, and In ione'y 'pO
\ came up to me. -, n ror stand in
NV way no longer" And his reaay ,broat
flashed in the air and buried itse e =. danger II
90 had time to think myself ID eAne .ha
ere ce,1 nau hlow and left me lying on 'ne
was H. deserted street, senseIess anu ino-
tiopless as he thought, L;h. dovJ onened
Due non the world again, and strove 10 ask
NJ. my onestions, as we always 90 wnen Iever
SOM -; is mast and regain our conscious
delIiuI Rnt no words reached the air; could
neiS form them with my lips. ! strove again.
conld only utter the faintest whisper.
I stood indeed, no longer in my rivals way
nv voice had gone forever. should never sing