The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-11
LOST HARMONY


friends, and 70 spend the evening with
them afterward she told me to be careful
that Herr Wcrkles dinner should be ready
when he returned, IA she and | had dned
together early. SO remembering that
well. and perhaps for another reason too
] had burnt my face crimson by poking II
over the whitehall in spite of cooks mia
protcstations, aud had done my best to
add finishing touch OF my own 10 every
thing. Then put ON my new blue RIB
bons, and sat down to my work. listening
TO every step upon the pavement outside.
The concert must have been over an hour
ago; what could keep hlml grew more
and more restless, aud Aunt Anna's pleas
ant drawing room became lonely beyond
words. I tried to read. and then TO sing,
but every effort failed, for have none OF
those good qualities which make girls in
dependent of outer Loneliness. l walked
In and out OF the dining room until Aunt
Anna's solemn housemaid who did not
need my help began to look ouriously
upon me. Then | wandered to Herr
Henrich's private sitting room. and
ioitered there, and looked for him,
and thought Of him. The room was
full of a sweet and softened light;
the flowers filled IL with a cool. delicious
perfume. and his books and music were
round me just rs his hands had laid them
down-the hands that loved me so. II was
easy TO think of him here. Almost day
by day could travel backward through
these spring months and live again that one
hour from which now dated all my memo
ries and all my dreams-the hour when
Herr Heinrich werkle came to be one of
us, sent by an old friend who. like myself,
had cause to know how kind Aunt Anna
could be to the young and solitary. or
course Herr werkle could afford to pay
well for such home rs Aunt Anna gave
him-living among us when he chose yet
always having this pleasant music room
which he could call his own-but believe
he knew quite well that what Aunt Anna
gave him money could never buy.
And I-feeling always that he knew that
tried to excuse him for never extending
one serious thought TO me. could not be
surprised, because knew | was a shallow,
uninteresting girl not at all, no, not ut all
pretty, whatever some people might have
said only just healthy and happy looking
then mean; and possessing very little
knowledge of the art which eemed his
very life breath. But did resent 1t. be-
cause was IA woman and had known what
1t was to be liked and consulted and appre-
oiated. Few girls live to be twenty with
out knowing that and the other expert
ence comes rather bitterly aftcrward.
The tree shadows had grown long and
dark in the gardens OF the square, when
he came INTO the room at last-softly. rs
he always comes, spell bound, as often
fancy by the mystic harmonles within
i rose slowly from my seat, trembling
little, as had lately learned TO trembe,
al his sudden presence, and spoke to hun
shyly.
Herr Heinrich, are you not very later"
He did not answer me-he worry rarely
does until have spoken several times
but he just smiled INTO my eyes before he
eat down to the piano and ran his II gers
caielessly. IT seemed, yet full caressiugly.
over the keys.
As said, | understand very little about
such music as his but this ! did under
stand: that its tone always awakened in
my heart al angry, wicked, terrible Jeal-
ousy.
Herr Heinrich, are you ready for din
ner f.Ori' | made my pause 50 emphatic
that IL obliged him TO look up, but rs usual
his eyes were full Of far-away thoughts,
and he seemed listening only TO some far
of melody. Even then, while he looked
AT without seeing me, his fingers took a
new strength sudden nervous power.
and for few minutes even | was lost In Il
wonderful dream could not comprehend.
A dream which tell IN fragments of intense
bitterness when heinrich ceased and-und
forgetting my very presence-began rapid
ly 10 Ill blank sheet of music paper that
lay ON the table, eugrossed by the harmo-
mes which seemed surping III his brain.
turned again, ana spoke as hopefully us II
| had not been rebuned.
Herr Heinrich, please don't wait until
your dinner is quite ruined-tlo come"
He just looked MP from his score To nod
to me, humming softly rs he did so; and
then, in spite OF ALL he went back to his
writing and forgot me again. My eyes
were iuli oi scaldlng tears when ordered
IN the dinner. " 1t Is cold and spoiled"
sad: go IN and tell Mr.. Werkle So"
Then / shut myself into Aunt Anna's
drawing room. and cried rs II my heart
would break. They were not, by very
very many, the irst tears he had made me
she'd nor WAS that the first time brushed
them hastily away in shame, and vowed
that he should make me shed no more III
the midst OF my tears l had heard Hem
rich's quiet step GROSS the hall aud enteI
the dining room. Did he miss ner DID
he wonder why | was not nj my old posi-
opposite him? sat very upright 1T nv
work, ueiautly dIy-eyed now. II did moi
matter whether he missed me OF not;
would not 20. lie should be ~ silent rs ht
CHOSE TO be. only what pity 1t was that
had tuken - much trouble studyngt he
proprnmme OF that concert on purpose Il
be able to talk to INN about IT, Tor IL haG
really been hard wol k TO me, VINO hardly
knew symphony from sonata Or 1
fugue from fantasia.
Another quiet step across the hall, anc
the closing ~ llenrch's MUSHROOM door
He had dlned then In these few minutes
aud had never missed me. Why had
learnt that prog anime OH by heart, anC
dipped 50 eagerly INTO the life OF Beeth
oven that Iul-nt talk little with Heiu
rich OF the man he loved-a most uninter
e-tlng lie, | thought II, Iapt ana full o
dream, like llclnrlch OH, DO sad 80 sad
Al Thought that Helurich's life could eve
be sol don't think finished the thought
IL Was TOO dcsolate "A one. | took my wOrl
inIny hand, smiled away all signs OF tear
and discomfort, and went in 10 Heinrich
with every appearance OF utter light
henrtcducss,
Herr Heinrich, now tell me abou
the concert, | SAID, aud took Il seat nea
hun IN the easiest manner possible. q
course he would be glad 10 talk OF wha
lie mad enjoyed. or course ho would b
glad OF my sympathy.
What could | Tell you, PhyllisW h
asked, glnnclng up from his wiring TO
just one moment. 4" There IS nothing L
to,l
90 w hN. There were grand DcTfOrmaupes