Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-11-27

window and by their door, to listen to the
magic tones of his violin, that seemed to
~artlculate the tenderness and love of the
player.
But, as they drew near Italy, Lisa began
TO fail very rapidly, while Julius's trouble
iouhd expression in the most passionate
ana vehement music. He rarely talked
10 her, but, when he was not holding her
IN his arms, he played to her. When they
reached Venice she asked for a long rest,
and they found rooms in a lonely palace
on the Grand Canal.
The continued and marvellous strain of
tne violin soon caught the attention of the
Venetlans; and through the long summer
nights the gondolas floated 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-
bic thing he could not accept, and he
spent frantic hours battling with his
grief.
None of the physicians gave him any
nope, although they all hesitated in de
clarlng 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
1t was difficult for her to sleep, the violin
was heard long past midnight, and a cele-
brated Berceuse, 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, a 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
motlonless. Suddenly the sharp twang of
a roken 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 a passionate pathOs to the very
tones of his violin, as well as an inspira-
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 a
woman's voice was speaking from the
music, breathing the little tender, self
sacrificing fancies men never know.
Here and there a man who had been faith
full to some woman that was Iaad-but
julius had but few OF these in his audi
ences-Was seen to start and look round
as if he heard a familiar voice calling to
him. Sometimes Julius heard of these
t]ancies, but he took no heed of them j;
and, when he was told how his music at
tected others by arousing what was best
in them, he family smiled, but made no
reply.
He never alluded TO the past. and never
spoke OF Lisa, but it was noticed that he
was rarely separated from his violin. He
never played on but the one, and never
allowed any n else to touch it. 1t lay
within reach Of his hand at night, and,
among the many stories that were told of
his i~ntatuatiOn about il, was the one that
he had left his fortune to a charity, upon
the condition that his violin should be
buried with him-iDDlet0n's Journal.