Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-11-27


10 choose whether she would rather have
his arms around her, or Lave him free her
spirit with his music. But sometimes |
think, " she added, with playfulness that
daily become more rare, that if | were
to lay my ear on your violin, il would
breathe again to me all it has in these
happy days told mel So, perhaps, dear,
you might after speaking our farewell
through it, lay il by me, and, as ! rested
on your heart, it would tell me what your
lips would then refuse to say"
Julius smiled quietly, as he always did
at the tender little tsacieS of his wife, and
rs he turned to looked at her few moments
after she left the room, he was struck by
the extreme fragility of her appearance.
He hardly dared to confess to himselfthat
she was weak or sick, but after this he
could not help seeing that, day by day,
she grew more quiet, cared less 10 walk or
visit, and was more reluctant to see
strangers, but more eager to hear the VIC.
lin, and SO keep him by her.
But Others had noticed this change be
fore her husband had, and finally, some
one, who knew them best, spoke of it, and
told him that she needed medical aid.
Her old physician was sent for, and he in
deed startled julius when he said that
medicine alone could do but little for her,
and that it was more than probable that
nothing could save her life but change.
She had no disease, he said, but, as sensi-
tive people sometimes do, she was fading
for want of vitality Her life he thought,
was too introverted, and so he advised her
husband to take her from home, and let
her find in new scenes new life and
strength. This was a hard verdict to both
julius and Lisa; their little, quiet home
had become very dear to them; but while
she had no desire to die, julius was ami
mated by fierce intention of saving her;
and so they left America at once, and
sailed for Europe.
But new places and strange faces seemed
to have but little power over Lisa. She
never complained, but grew weaker day
after day, until their journeys became
shorter, their stoppages longer. But moth
ing interfered with their pleasure in the
violin. 1t was, Lisa said, her best tonic,
her only restoratve and, when fatigucd
and worn out by journey, she asked for
nothing but a lounge to lie upon, and the
violin to soothe her Thus, Julius played
to her constantly, and their route
through Europe might have been
traced by tones of music. Every
where the artist and his delicate
wife were noticed, while everywhere peo-
pie would noiselessly gather under their
window and by their door, to listen to the
magic tones of his violin, that seemed to
artiCulate the tenderness and love of the
player
But, as they drew near Italy, Lisa began
to fail very rapidly, while Julius's trouble
found expression iii the most passionate
and vehement music. He rarely talked
to her. but, when he was not holding her
in his arms, he played To her. When they
reached Venice she asked for long rest,
and they found rooms in lonely palace
on the Grand Canal.
The continued and marvellous strain of
the violin soon caught the attention of the
Venetians and through the long summer
nights the gondolas fioated quietly by, as
the occupants silently listened to the mu-
sic in the dimly-lighted rooms, where Lisa
lay on her lounge.
Julius could not conceal from himself
the knowledge that the end was now
growing near. But it was the one inevita-
BILE thing he could not accept and he
spent frantic hours battling with his
grief
None of the physicians gave him any
hope, although they all hesitatedYn de-
claring that she suffered from active dis
ease. She must have quiet and whatever
she wanted, they all said. 1t was very
easy to obey Them for all she asked for
was her husband and his violin; so now,
as her nights became more disturbed and
it was difficult for her to sleep, the violin
was heard long past midnight, and a cele-
bratcd Berceusc, credited to a Venetian
composer, was caught, it is said, by him,
as he lay in his gondola under the win
dow.
But at last the music ceased One
August night, when the air was quiet, but
fresh and pure, few gondolas lay at rest
by the palace, from which the most ten
der and neart-broken music was escaping.
The listeners held their breath, the young
girls trembled, and the gondoliers were
motionless. Suddenly the sharp twang of
broken string was heard a frantic cry
rent the air, and, simultaneously the gon-
dolas were turned, and they fled swiftly
away, leaving julius alone with his dead. !
When julius, years after this, appeared |
in public, it was said that he was not only
unnaturally aged but that his music had |
changed Years and study, they said,
had given passionate pathos 10 the very
tones of his violin, aS well as an inspra !
ton to his music, that was unknown TO |
other artists.
But, whether this was true or not, when !
ever he played, it was impossible for
some Of his hearers to remain unmoved |
Young girls drew closer to their lovers |
and some of them half fancied that
womans voice was speaking from the |
music, breathing the little tender self |
sacrificing fancies men never know. |
Here and there man who had been faith |
full to some woman that was eead-but |
Julius had but few Of these in his audi |
ences--was seen to start and look round |
as if he heard familiar voice calling to
him. Sometimes julius heard Of these
fancies, but he took no heed of them
and, when he was told how his music at !
fected others by arousing what was best |