Litchfield enquirer., 1875-08-26
WHOLE NO. 2568.

 with echoes of the forlorn cry of wrecked love, mingled with the imaginary sobs ] had just heard; therefore hardly listened to the majestic opening of full harmoni- ous chords, which lead grandly into sort of cantible movement. The curious modulations which follow ed aroused me, and soon busted myself in tracing the changes from major to mi- | nor, and from one minor key to another, as sorrows chase each other in life. Just at this part of the composition occurs the passage which sounds like awierd, ,ghostly call or summons: when heard it, my fam cy began working, and, like Heine, l saw spectres in the music sounds. | The air seemed to have grown suddenly "nipping and eager." 1 unconsciously drew my mantle around my shoulders, as a shiver ran over me, such as nurses tell us in childhood is caused by some one walking over our graves. I fancied saw before me the ghost scene in Hamlet" There was tbe castle platform,-the gloomy battlements, sound of dis tant wassail; and dimly defined by the vague light of my fancy, stood the sad young Danish prince, shiveriDg in the ''shrewd, biting" night air, tortured with those approximations and sickening doubts | "That cloud the mind and fire the brafn,"
 but talking with feigned and courtly in- difference to his dear friend, "the pro- found scholar and perfect gentleman" HOratio; and in the gloom around them seemed to be rising the questionable shape which was
 1 ''so horribly to shake his disposition"
 Strangely the music displayed it's fine forms, mingling most curiously with, while it created, my fancied pictures,-and though my senses followed the changing visions, which fitted like a phantasma- goria before my eyes. my mind traced clearly the music train; but when the di- unfinished seventh resolved gracefully into the melody which is taken alternately by cello and violo,- close of the first movement,-my vision faded gradually | away.
 There was short pause, but the fine artists who were executing the QuIntette did not by any undignifed movement break the illusion which the music created | although violin-string needed raising, 1t was done with quiet and skIllful dexter1ty and they proceeded with the second move ment.
 Smoothly and mournfully the Funeral March opened. The solemn melody which glides softly through 1t is totally unlike the restless trampings of Fate heard in other compositions of kind; yet Fate is unmistakably there, quiet, but relentless, | like
 ''the Pontio sea, Whose icy current and cOmpulsive course Neer feels retiring sbb. but keeps due On." The ScherzO. with it's beautiful octave run for the piano and delicious change of harmony in the next measure,-the Wierd melody sketched out by the first violin, and then yielded up to the piano,-and the strange, but truly inspired mOdula- tions which fOllow.-lapped my spirit in a sweet bewilderment: forgot all the before and after of that ''sad and incapa- ble story" of human life and love which my fancy had been weaving from the coarse, vulgar threads of common rumor; and even the pictures vanished which had been evoked of the young prince, '.In his blown youth blasted with ecxtacy," estlng as they were; for often music fills the thoughts so full that the ear forgets to listen to the sweet harmOnies. But was again aroused by the fine sus- pension and sequence which open the last movement of the Quintette,-the Allegro naa non troppO. The fu9ued passage. the reiteration of the opening theme. and the sad close were all as tragic as the last scene in Hamlet" the
 ''quarry that cries on, HavOc!7
 but it was also as graceful and touching as the words of the dying prince to his friend,-
 .'Horatio, I am dead: Thou hvest. Report me and my cause aright To the unsatisfed."
 A thousand rumors fitted about the room as the concert broke up. Madame C. was so i'll, they feared she was dy- ing; and, strange to say, the tenor, on leaving the platform after Lucia finale, had been seized with violent vomitings, which could not be checked, and he was also lying in a ve-y critical state. There were dark hints and many probable imag- things.
 "An was not well, they deemed: Some knew perchance,
 And some besides were too discreesly wise To more than hint their knowledge in surmise.7 About an hour after midnight I was ly- ing on the lounge in the anteroom of the cottage. The faithful maid had taken my place by the sick bed d,-fOr my invalid was was still sleeping. It was a long, quiet sleep; and so low and peaceful had grown those suffering, panting breaths, that they almost startled me into hope of happier days. Could health, long absent, be returning? A state of continuous illness, if free from acute pain, would be re- lief.
 These half formed hopes made me rest less, and, instead of taking the physical repose needed, rose from the lounge, and walked out on the deserted lawn in front of the cottage. The moon was at the full, and shOne brighter than days twi- light. The night was warm. but not Op- pressive,-for there was a gentle air blow ing, filled with the invigorating briny odOr of the ocean; yet felt chOked and stihed.
 Just for breath from the beach," I said to myself, as descended the steps leading down from the cliff. On reaching the sands, instead of being | alone. as had hoped Il found two persons already there. I drew back intending to return; but they were passing too swiftly | to notice me. As they went by, the full moon gleamed over their pale, wan faces, and recognized in them Madame C. and the tenorI
 They were talking earnestly, in low, rap i'd Italian. She leaned on his arm,-in- deed, they seemed to be sustaining each other, for both appeared feeble and faint, but, tottering as they were, they sped rapidly by, and so near to me that the corner of Madame D-'s mantle Tapped in my face, and left a strange subtitle per fume behind 1t.
 DuG WnaS Struck me most WaS tue e1~ pTession of their faces,-such wild, sad, longing entreating lOvel As they disap- peared around the corner Of the cliff which jutted out t,a dreadful suspicion seized me. Could they be seeking self-destructiOn? Were they going to bury their unhallowed love, with its shame and sorrow, in one wildering embrace beneath those Surging ocean-waves?
 As one in a dream, moved along the beach, hardly knowing wIither I went. Mechanically l ascended the flight of steps which led to the part of the cliff directly opposite the hotel entrance. As walked I noticed great commotion in the house. There were lights fitting about, people running up and down stairs, and many persons talking confusedlY on the gallery and in the hall.
 ''What is the matter ?" asked of a wal