The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-06-10

Strauss, who could not help obsery-
ing the strange, almost timid manner
of his visitor-for he seemed studiously
to avoid his gaze-replied with only b
slight bow.
As he was opening the door, the
count turned around, and stammered: !:
"Apropos, you may be curious to learn
the name of my bride; 1t is Countess
Sophie c.. Good morning."
For a moment, Strauss was stupefied;
but, quickly recovering command Of
himself, his first thought was to hasten
after the count and take back his prom
ise. On second thought, however, he
resolved tn pursue wiser course.
"Shameful !" he cried, in bitter
tone. "But the dart intended for my
bosom, my beauteO,ls countess, shall
pierce your own. You could have Civ
en- me no better proof of your utter un-
worthiness than in preierring to me
this titled idiot. / will play at your
wedding-will play the waltz l COM
posed in my agony. You shall see
that no longer suffer, that my hand
does not tremble in welding the baton
or drawing the bow"
The marriage ceremony had been
performed. Countess Sophie was now
the wife of Count M. The palatial
residence of the brides mother was
lighted by hundreds Of wax candles,
and its spacious apartments were filled
by the elite of Vienna.
1t was time for the dancing to begin.
The rank and file of the orchestra were
in their places, and Strauss, faultlessly
attired, stepped to the front, violin and
bow i'm hand. He was pale but calm:
he had every muscle under control.
His bearing was proud and graceful, as
he gave the signal to begin a stirring
introduction, followed by the usual
1)OiOndiSe.
The pOl0naise was to be followed by
a waltz-a new composition, by the
liking of dancing music" dedicated to
the beautiful bride. All were ON the
tiptoe of curiosity to hear the new air,
which, every one predicted, would be
something extraOrdinary-sOmething
worthy of the occasion. ret
The vanity of Sophie, now Countess
NJ was deeply wounded at seeing
the despised lover discharge his duties
as conductor with such apparent un-
concern. She was irritated, and the
flush of anger mantled her cheeks in
spite of herself. When she, leaning on
the arm of her husband-who, i'm his
insignificance, was completely over
shadowed by the brilliant beauty at his
side came near the orchestra and
glanced at Strauss, she thought she OBJ
served on his lips an ironical smile as
he fixed his eyes on the count. She
felt ill at ease, oppressed i'm the hot,
perfumcd air of the crowded salons,
and was about to withdraw, when
Strauss took up his bow and violin.
He gave the signal, and the intro>
duction to the waltz began, with soft,
melancholy tones, whose serious,
mournful rythm seemed to prelude a
waltz-tempo without distinctly mark
ing it. The last dominant accord of
the introduction sounded. Strauss
raised his violin to his shoulder, and, as
soon as his bow touched the strings, an
electric stream seemed to thrill the lis
teners and now the dancers, couple af-
ter couple, began to whirl round and
round the hall, urged on by the inspir-
ing melody.
More and more joined in the dance
among them, the bride and groom.
The now joyous now mOurnful strains
of the waltz appeared to exercise a
magic influence on the dancers. A
bacchanal humOr seemed to have pos
sessed the entire assembly. Strauss
alone stood tranquil and serene, his
eyes fixed on space, pouring his whole
soul into the tomb of his hopes and
love.
Suddenly, q piercing cry resOunded
through the hall-the music ceased;
violin and bow sank from the hands of
the conductor, who, with one bound,
descended the few steps that led to the
hall.
There was confusion and consterna-
ton; everybody crowded around one
point. Strauss thrust the crowd aside
and pressed forward to the spot from
which had come the cry of familiar
voice. When he reached it, he found
the proud and beautiful countess DEATH
ly pale, her eyes half closed, in the arms
of her kneeling husband. With wall
of anguish, the mother of the bride hur-
ried to the scene. They lOosened the
countess clothes and fastened to pro-
cure restOratives. In the meantime a
physician who was present felt her
pulse, listened for the pulsations of the
heart and examined her eyes then,
rising slowly, he said in sad tone:
"The countess is dead. She has
burst blood-vessel. The cause is due,
doubtless, to the tightness OF her cloth
ing, the heat of the room, and the ex-
citement Of the danceu f.......
In dismay The guests quickly left the
mansion that had been so suddenly
turned from a house of joy to house
of mourning. Strauss took one last
farewell look at the beautiful but now
pallid form of her he had once 80 pas
siOnately loved.
AS he entered his modest apartments
he murmured: "My waltz was her
requiem. Poor Sophie she is for
given"