, 1877-07-27

"But,my dear Beethoven" Umlauf ven
tured to say, "you are too much excited,
| told you from the very first we had no
choice. What should We do tomorrow
evening. if
"My child" Frau Schroeder cried out,
and rushed upon the stage.
Water" called Rocco.
Fiorestan caught up the fainting girl
in his arms.
A low murmur ran through the assem-
blage, and Umlauf took heart. Stepping
up to the maestro, he said, loud enough
to be heard by every one:
"Beethoven, this won't do. It's the
most trying moment of my life, but |
must tell you that it will be impossible
to have you lead the opera tomorrow.
Orchestra and singers are at their wits
end. See what state the Schroeder is in,
and"-
That's entirely superfluous, answered
Beethoven, with a scornful laugh, wrap
ping his cloak around him and turning
the collar up high. 81 didn't dream of
coming to morrow. I've had enough
to-day-more than enough. May II never
see such bungling again, and l pity the
PANS'' "Aoh JCu SOOh ONCulnk.
He left the orchestra with rapid strides.
Umlauf was surrounded; they thanked
him and shook hands with him. When
Wilhelmine opened her eyes, he assured
her that he himself would lead the next
day, and that in any case Beethoven
shouldn't come.
She laid her hand in his, and glow
came over her white cheeks. THANK
you," she said, softly. "IHdeed, l will
play tomorrow as well as l know how.
l could never have done anything under
his leading. l was afraid of his dreadful
eyes"
The court came into the boxes. The
overture began.
As Wilhelmine stepped upon the stage
her first glance was into the orchestra.
Beethoven was really not there. She
could have laughed aloud for joy. The
applause reached its height in the So
called "Hope" aria, and when the cur
tain fell she threw herself into her moth
er's arms, happy as a child.
Presently the director gave the signal
for the second act.
Florestan had finished his aria about
his vanished happiness. While the vio-
Inns played the introduction to the dra-
matte scene that follows, Leonora and
Rocco appeared from back of the prison.
They went to work digging the grave.
"You tremble-are you frightened3"
asked Rocco; and at the same moment
his voice began to shake.
"Oh, no, only it's so cold" she an
swered, and looked at him inquiringly,
struck by the quaver in his voice.
A hssty motion of his head conveyed
to her that nothing was the matter with
him, and, reassured, she went on with the
dialogue.
He, however, silently invoked Thalia.
If the Muse would only, for Leonora's
sake, hide with her garments the man who
bad just seated himself beside the con-
ductorl
Wilhelmine, while she went on digging
and began the duet next following,
never noticed the person who had en-
tered.
To the horror of Umlauf and the mu-
sicians there suddenly stood among them,
and then sat down next the conductor,
the mai in the long cloak and with the
fiery eyes-no less than Beethoven him
self.
The whole day through he had been
assuring his housekeeper that no power
in the world could get him to the theatre.
Towards evening he started for his Gus
tomary walk. All at once-how it hap
pened he couldn't tell himself-he stood
in front of the theatre. Taking out his
watch, he said to himself Snow they're
beginning and nice music they'll make.
Be wise and stay outside" Then he
strobe up and down, following, in his
mind, number after number. SNOW
they're at the trio. Now the march has
opened. If Pizarro bungles on single
note in the duet, he'll spoil the whole of
it. Well, suppose that's over. Now
the finale and the closing of the act.
Hadn't better go homer"
He had really left the square and gone
through several streets when, and again
without knowing how it happened, he
stood in front of the theatre. 1.-THE sec.
ond act has begun. A fine performance
directly. l hope he'll get his high A
this time. If he doesn't keep in time,
the violins will get out. One, two, three,
four" and forgetting that he was out in
the square, be beat the time with both
hands, then walked straight up some steps
and through corridor, and, to bis own
astonishment, he was sitting on chair
next Umlauf.
Umlauf looked like a man i'll of
fever. He trembled for Wilhelmine-
for all of them. He could hardly WELD
the baton. TormentiDg thoughts kept
chasing through his brain. If she sees
him her self-possession is gone, she'll
be scared, forget herself, scream-per-
haDa ha0a anothar faintino At Then the