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

was iaulCloSS Deauty. ONO Wofe d
dress of rich rose-colored taffeta, and
had rose-colored bows in her powdered
hair, while her feet we're incased in
the most delicate little high-heeled
slippers that could be imagined. And
the elderly lady at her side, in green
damask, had something so digni6ed
and commanding in her mienl The
men all looked as if they might be her
vassaIs, although they wore embroid-
cred coats and waistcoats, and car
ried cavalier swords. Another group,
nearer the piano. also attracted his
attention. A bevy of pretty women
had gathered around a tall, elderly
man, who wore the costume of a cav
alier Of the court of Louis XIV. He
listened and replied to the youthful
beauties wit the ease and grace that
characterized the renowned school to
which he evidently belonged. What
a buzzing of voices But they used
the French language exclusively, not
word Of which the young listener
understood.
And when he finally approached
the piano in order to glance at the
score, his attention was arrested by
the pleasing manner and distinguished
air Of the lady, who sat nearly before
the instrument engaged in converse
ton with a middle-aged gentleman,
who stood beside her. He was richly
but plainly attired in black, and wore
large wig, the long curls of which
hung down to his shoulders. His
strongly-marked feature and massive
forehead denoted 4he man of thought.
The lady was evidently much inter-
ested in what be was saying.
"How rich these people must ~"
thought the astonished pupil of the
domorg mist. And then he fixed his
eyes on the man in black with the
high forehead who spoke with the
lady. There was something in tho
gentleman's mien that had an irresist-
ible charm for him. How he would
have liked to know what they were
saying to each otherI Love-making
they certainly wero not-the gentle
mans manner was too respectful for
that, and then his face wore such a
serious, almost melancholy, express
sion
"Look out now-they are going to
begin |" said Zachau to his pupil, at
tho same time pulling him not over
gently by the arm to rouse him from
his reverie. As he spoke, he stepped
forward, so that he obstructed the
youths view of the score and Of the
pianist, who now turned toward tho
instrument and struck the first accord.
Zachau now thought only of the mu-
sic. Great as his contempt was for
the Italian school, what he heard
soon excited in him the liveliest inter
est. The second act began with a
sort of introduction that had some
tolerable difficult passages. In one Of
these the lady at the piano made a
mistake, which rendered it necessary
for them to begin anew, but she was
no more successful the second time
than the frst-agaln she threw the
orchestra into confusion.
AS the musicians paused, voice
was heard to say, in an emphatic and
somewhat rough tone, "My boy
could do better than thatl The pas
sage is too difficult for woman"
All eyes were instantly turned toward
tho worthy domorganist of Halle
for the voice was his-and his pupil,
whose face was suffused in scarlet.
And now the lady at the piano also
turned slowly toward the tall provin-
cialist, and fixed her large blue eyes
on him with smile full of soul and
gentleness.
"Then your son shall play it for me-
if he will" said she, gently, as she
rose from the piano and stepped to
one side. "Where is the lad ?"
The youth came forward without
hesitation. His handsome face had
changed color again, and was now pa
ler than usual. He bowed gracefully
to the lady, brushed his long dark
hair back from his forehead, and seat
ed himself silently at the piano. Fo,
a moment the notes, tits truo, present
ed only blurred and indistinct mass
to his bewildered vision, but no soon
er did the tone Of the orchestrt
reach his ear than his nervousness dis
appeared. He struck the first accore
with sure and powerful hand, ane
then played on with the ease and calm
of q master. The troublesome pas
sage now went smoothly, and he con
tinucd to plap the difficult score o.
though it were an easy exercise. H'
came quickly to the aid of the sing
ers when they seemed to need assist
ance; and when the tempo becam'
quicker and the melodies and passage
more complicated, he played as thougl
for him there were no difficulties
He came to the assistance now of thi
instrument and now Of that, now o
this singer and now Of that, unit
Buononcini, apparently unable to con
tain himself, cried out:
"Santa Maria, the boy is wonderl
The performers paused and looke'
at ono another amazed. What
prodigyl Everybody crowded aroun'
him. Now he could have had near
.er view of the faces that few mo
ments before had absorbed his atten
ton, vet he looked only at his master
A hand touched his arm gently; h
recognized it; it was the hand of tn
ladv who had been at the piano, an,