The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-07-31

moth porcelain stove, and sufficiently
lighted by quaint lamp that hung
from the ceiling. Tho furniture was
ample and elegant; on the walls hung
several handsome engravings, and in
the corners stood four marble statues,
''This is shameful!" cried the dom
organist, as he took off his vest, three
cornered hat, with such a violent jerk
as to bespatter the face of the Venus
di Medici and the breast Of the Apollo
di Belvedere.
The boy, on the contrary, gazed at
his surroundings with almost breath
less astonishmcnt, until side-door
opened, and q mclodious male voice
called out:
"Entrate, entrate, signori!"
On the threshold stood tall hand
some, richly-dressed man, of some
thing more than forty years.
'The domorganist, Christian Lc-
berecht Zachau, Of Halle, don't under
stand italian, or his pupil eithe,"
replied the old organist, in an angry
tone.
"Well, then, if I must, I'll speak as
| we'll as I can in your cultural Ger
man, Signor Zachua," returned the
Italian, smiling. "I trust we shall be
able to make ourselves understood, if
not Just at this hour, for / shall have
to ask you to excuse me until evening,
at least. am in haste to 60 to re-
hearsal."
"What kind of rehearsal p asked
the organist. "Will you not permit
US to be present?
"Well, yes, think may, although
we rarely admit spectators" answered
Buoncncini, after moments refec-
ton. 81 am teaching my new opera,
I'll Trionfo del Parnasso,' to a very
select little troupe Of artists, who, es-
pecially the ladies, are somewhat
spoiled, and have to be handled with
great delicacy. I dare not keep them
waiting momont." He said this in
q strange admixture Of German and
Italian, accompanying his jargon with
a quizzical smile, that the venerable
dormorganist did not attempt TO in
terpaet. "You will, therefore, excuse
me if I leave you now," continued
Buononcini, "till you got warm and
have taken some refreshments, after
which Giacomo will come with you to
the riding-house, where you will find
me with my little troupe. I must ask
you to bo very still over there and
speak to no one but after the rehear-
sal We will be all the merrier."
TO be frank with you, l nave not
come altogether on your account" ex-
planned the domorganist of Halle !;
my chief errand, as told you in my
letter, is to present my pupil here to
her grace the electress, in order that
she may hear him play and give him
access to her musical library, and
perhaps, also, permission to produce
some one of his compositions, a mass,
for example, in her chapel. They are
not so bad, can tell you, and it is
time some one heard them besides the
people Of our little old Halle. I was
told that the shortest way to accom-
piish my object was to come to you,
and that is the reason you see nc
here. AS for your Italian music
hum II don't think much Of it, Itell
you plainly"
"But should like so much to 60 to
the rehearsal of your new OPERA" in
terposcd tho boy, enthusiastically.
"At homo 1 never hear any foreign
music, and yet 1 know your masses,
and also that you have written beau
tiful opera -'Polifermo.' Herr Zachau
knows your masses, too. He has not
half so poor an opinion of italian mu-
sic as he pretends, for"
Hold your tongue, sir" interrupt
ed Zachau. "Boys, in the presence of
older people, should speak only when
they are spoken to. I, too, will 80 to
the rehearsal; it can do me no harm.
But, if I live hundred years, I shall
never write a bar differently, for all
that. 1t will do you no harm either,
I trust; you are too thoroughly groun-
ded in the principles of the true
school,"
"Well, then, you will follow me, af:
ter you got warm. I will write you
pass, and, after tho rehearsal, shall
be able to tell you when you can take
your pupil to the princess. But then
you must be prepared to do your best
my boy. for Sophie Charlotte herself
plays better than many an old, and
certainly better than many n young
performer besides, she can detect
every error in q piece of music by
merely glanciag at it,
The old servant brought vino and
luncheon. Buononcini gave him di
rections to bring his guests to the
riding house, wrote his name on caro-
and handed it to Zachau, and ther
turned to 60 with q cordial "a rive
derci."
At the door he turned and said:
"Be sure, young man, you dom
fall in love with any Of my actresses
some Of them are beautiful, but re
member also that some Of them are al
dangerous as they are beautiful. Anc
then they are forbidden fruit-fruit
that such as we are not allowed tt
pluck. Bo on your guard"
After BuonoDcini had gone, the do
morganist turned his attention to the
luncheon he did not spare the fiery
Italian wine, and urged his young
| cnmnanion to fnllnu his axannle q