Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-04-23

taken No theater would permit him en-.
trance, no tnpreSdrto was willing 10 grant
him hearing. His heart sank within
him. lie thought of Germany, and won
I dered whether It's people were more hos
pitable and obliging He wondered. too.
whether the fair goddess that had whis.
pered into his ear long years before had
really and only deceived him. Indeed,
was he a born musician2 He thought not
and with this sad conclusion weighing
down upon his life and bedazzling his
brain In burning fever he sank back into
The easy-chair where the reader has first
discovered him.
He was so nearly hidden that his pres
ence was not perceived by two personages
Iwho had just entered the room, lady and
a gentleman, the latter the proprietor of
the hotel
Hers was figure which both poets and
painters loved to mediate upon She was
slender and tall, and her features were
singularly beautiful and regularly marked
her cheeks were round and full and sweet
Ily diffused with tint of delicate paleness.
Her mouth was wrought into the fairest
curve and her lips bore the hue of the
brightest carnations. Her grace was re-
markable; her loveliness was complete.
Her whole soul was attuned to an heroic
power that i'll became the delcacy of her
| living form.
She shook her dark curls somewhat
spitefully, and spoke in the purest Tuscan
| dialect when she said:
| " do not know what am to do about
the affair. The concert, as you know, has
been announced, the tickets are all sold,
and every seat is engaged. MY husband
was to appear, and it was to him that |
looked for the success of the enterprise"
p" Your ladyship's husband, then, is un-
| able to come downi l hope his illness
will not prove serious" )" replied the host,
| fairly eXhausting his store of civilities.
" He is not seriously i'll, ~ continued the
first speaker, but the physician says that
he must keep in his room full three days
| yet. am in despair. l can sing, at best,
| only three songs my husband was to fill
up the remainder of the programme"
Aheml OH then you wish to procure a
| new violinist-one who can supply his
place? Well, signora, there are enough
| of them in Florence. You know Paganini
stayed here once, and Viotti, too; and, as
my grandfather used to relate, Tartini also
has been guest of this house will find
you violinist; there is one who is even
now stopping here.o
Stopping here? What, in this hotel?
body who can take my husbands placer"
Yes. have heard him play, and the
strains that came from his instrument re-
minded me of another world"
His namel 1t seems Incredible"
1.-The name is not high-sounding, con-
fess. It's mixture of English and Ger
man, reads oddly, and is still worse to
pronounce. 1t is-well, bless mel l have
forgotten. However, I'll bring him in"
You do me a great service, signor,
and thank you"
The burly host was on the point of leav-
ing the room when his eyes fell upon the
young man, who had sat listening unheed-
ed to the conversation. He advanced
toward him and bowed low.
Pardon me, my Northern gentleman,
said he, "but the most famous Malibran
tells me that her distinguished husband
cannot appear at the concert tonight. She
is in search of substitute, and perhaps,
signor, you can act the part and confer
favor on my LADY,"
Forgive me, signor," interposed the
fair lady herself that my friend should
dersf65fp-antl1- address ufr'---r1uE Won
The young artist stepped forward and
saluted Malibran in the most courteous
manner. Then in broken Italian he said
under embarrassment should be only too
happy to assist you"
Malibran returned look that showed
full plainly her willingness to accept any
offer that he might make.
Did not tell you, signora," cajoled
the tacetious host, :" that would find sub
stitute? And here he is"
81 thank you, signor, for your kind
ness. Have | the honor to salute an artist
from Brittania; and may be so inquisi-
tive as to seek your name?"
al am Norwegian, Signora Malibran,n
replied the artist, with downcast eyes, "and
my name-Ole Bull"
Malibran made an effort to pronounce
the name, but failed.
You have heard of our people," he
| continued, "Only as sea kings. But you
see have chosen a different occupation,
and carry the bow instead of the sword. /
do not shun the contest, and, although am
TO take the place of the -virtuoso of
France, should feel happy, even in my
failure, to know that had attempted to
be of the best service to you. | will en-
gage to play the pieces advertised in the
programme, and their difficulties will
prove incentives to try and do my best"
81 have unbounded confidence in you,"
replied Malibran, land TO refuse your
liberal offer would be as ungracious as it
would be indiscreet on my part to accept
1t without first consulting my husband"
"Ah, then, we will have trial of skill.
You play the piano. of cOursef | will
bring in my violin, and your husband
shall say whether am worthy to supply
| his place.
Agreed; and let us do so at once, for
there is no time that must be lost"
Malibran took the arm of her newly
made friend, and with step as light as air
conducted him up the wide staircase into
the most richly-adorned room of the hotel.
In that silent chamber, clothed almost
in the darkness of night, De Beriot lay
outstretched on low couch. A bandage
was tied around his head, and, as the
couple stepped into the room, he bowed in
credulously, as if doubling the charcter of
the stranger. In few words Malibran di-
vulged the name of the latter, and his pro-
| pOsal. The Yirtuoso smiled family, as
with distorted features he endeavored to
speak the name of the artist.
At length Malibran sat down TO the
piano, the Norwegian took up his violin
and bow, while De Beriot, still doubling,
resumed his former posture and well nigh
buried his head in the pillow.
"What shall we try first, my noble
Northern champion ?" asked she, turning
over the pages of open music. eve GER
tainly have enough to choose ffom.n
- Anything, anything, signora--suit
your TASTE" was the reply.
"Well, let us try my good old favorite,
and his sonata in A minor You know it,
/ supposeH' -...t,...
The artist nodded assent and the music
began. The sick man had almost deter
mined not to listen. But at the opening
strains he raised his head from the pill
low, and glanced furtively at the musi-
clan, Sweeter and sweeter grew the har-
mony; each and every movement was
rendered in the most exact time. Now,
the tones rose to the loudest swell, and
then, gradually diminishing, fell dying
from the strings in sweetest cadence. Al
the end of the first part DE Beriot arose
from his couch At the close of the sec.
ond he advanced toward the players, and
with feeling of mingled awe and rever-
ence, and heart too full for utterance, he
threw his arms around the neck of his