The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-08-21
our sT0Ry TELLER.


few miles from Naples, In beautl-
full, secluded valley, stands the summer
palace of the Count Paulo Guicciardi.
Evidently there has been spared neither
pains nor money to make it luxuriant
and unrivaled resort for the wealthy
and ancient family who possess 1t.
Tonight the spacious and elegant
salons are brilliantly lighted. The forms
Of many people promenading up and
down can be vaguely distinguished
through the half-opened windows; and
the mingled hum OF conversation foats
out on the balmy, midsummer air and
dies languidly away in the distance.
1t is the grand soiree given by the
count in honor of the distinguished
Beethoven, who has been q welcome
and honored guest during the past few
weeks Yet tomorrow he leaves for the
more uncongenial cline of his own ma
tive Germany, at the earnest solicitation
Of his noble host. The reason is quite
apparent; a mutual and passionate love
has sprung up between the lovely
Countess Julia and himself-almost At
first sight. s.-..,.s'.-s -. .,s'.Tt rd
Consequently he must Be banished, as
the difference in their rank and fortune
renders marriage out of the question.
As a still more effective step, she is
betrothed to the Due de Montpensier,
the French ambassador. And it is he
with whom she SO listlessly promenades
tonight.
Beethoven is the reluctant centre of
an admiring audience and he seems like
half-tamed lion at bay, growing now
and then disdainful reply, and tossing
his royal head in defiance. His eye
roves over the multitude as If in search
of something lost. Suddenly he strides
forward and in another moment confronts
the duke and his affianced.
Countess" he says, in low, distinct
tone, "you promised me the pleasure of
boat-ride before / left Italy. The
evening is inviting, the gondola is ready
let us CO."
She bushes deeply and stammey
few apologetic words in the ear of her
escort, who hesitatingly relinquishes her
to Beethoven, sullenly following them
with his eyes as they glide out of the
room into the open air-into the loveliest
of scenes-perfun1ed by the fareet Of
The night is perfect. Overhead the
moon, attired in her full regal splendor,
sails maiestically in the liquid azure.
On either side the silver-crested noun
tains rise mysteriously, and rear their
shaggy, uncouth heads to receive the
tender caresses of their radiant queen.
The twinkle of the stars, the ripple of
the lake, and the signing Of the breeze,
are in complete harmony. Earth, ocean,
and heaven are reconciled. The music
of the spheres is no longera mere express
sion, but mighty symphony, lulling
the restless erd-keist into a peaceful,
dreamless repose. ~
Beethoven leads his beloved slowly
along narrow, hidden path, over which
the trees form nearly perfect arch.
Both maintain a sombre silence until a
little grotto is reached, situated directly
on the borders of beautiful LAKE. He
places her on the low stone bench and
throws himself down at her feet.
Fastening her large, dreamy eyes full
upon his upturned face, ahe murrnurs:
"Ah, Luigi"-thus the liquid muacal
Italian softens the harsh guttural Lud-
wig=-."why do you make our parting 80
cruelty hard to bearY Why must you
cause us to endure the pangs of Purgatory
with paradise still in our viewT
The hitherto unmoved and expression
less face of her companion suddenly be-
comes vivid and intense with suppressed
passion. EG
Why.n he excIaim. f;ercelv. q wby
do YOU ask me whoY Must we drain
this profFered cum Of bitterness IN the
very dregs? WIN not hurl IL hack into
the faces ~ tbose vbo ofFsr ;t9 What
care we for the world and ;ts ol;ded
glamor of boiiownea. and hvnonSs;sr S, p,
Then in a softer and more subdped tone
"Jul;a 7 have nrov;ried mean. for on,
escape2let us Az In few hour, VIC
can be safely concealed in wonder noun
tains. where even the all-poverful arm
of vour father cannot rescb ma Afte,
the f;rst hot scent ~ nm rs,;t has o,owr
cold we can ssiI for fmer;ca and mas
the remainder M our I;vas devoted n
love and music"
With nass;onste ] aI eInecssnc~ s % = ts tturred =
her and his oreaf lustron. .was aast
their inr;d fre into her.. psgnet;z;n. o.
her beino With A mvster;ous Vet over
wbelminS force. For one brief momen
sho oIIor. h.r.e,f % \. dr.vr int ~,
1,;Ia % a..I,,.;..u. e tI.. w. ~ r.. | IL
rnno.nrs no harsaIf ond r,nrrnf,,iI. 11sni;.:
@AL ~ 49, 1,;n; ~ .arno. canno
ny ~. D o~a'' o".o
De. am petrotned 70 tne duke, not 10
tne Soie PurPo1c VI preventing my unlOl