River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-02-20

md west, and north ana south. She lis
ened to theVioliDs In many ansoFehestra,
loping 70 hear his among them. She
Ind not care to see the players. That
was not necessary. She would recognize
the voice of his instrument when she
beard,it. But she listened in vain.
So year went by and at the end of il
she fonnd herself ia a great inland city,
with money almost gone and courage
sinking low. How was her quest to be
kept up longcrl She could work, but
when she worked her search could not 20
on. r
"Oa, my Franz she said sorrowfully,
&s she leaned upon the window sill that
night and listened 10 the roar Of life as
II sulged to and fro in the streets below
her IT may be VIC have been near each
other, and yet are never to meet again.
1t may be thou art dead. But thou hast
not forgotten me, wherever thou art"
So beautiful and strong is loving wo-
mans faith
BY and by the babel of life grew still.
As she leaned out in the moonlit air, the
impulse came to her 10 sing. All, it had
been long since she cared to do that
And she sanga-sang the little song Franz
had made for MGR. Soft and low, at first,
with culver in it, as if her sorrow
haunted its notes and could not be shaken
off then, as the momory Of the old times
came back, and she thought OF Franz,
playing under the shadows of the pines,
and seemed to hear his violin again,
speaking to her like a voice from Heaven
and falling like balm upon the unrest
of her life, her song grew clearer and
sweetcr, and the night was like a great
soul that listens in its stiffness. -
TIE song ended. Then from window
high up in the great tenementhouse op
posite, came the sound of violin. Ii
was like a voice that cries out in glad
ness that is almost unutterable-- gladness
so deep that it is half pain. The long,
tremulous tones came floating to her on
the wind, and voice in each chord
seemed calling, while over and above the
Voice of melody wound itself like a
vine that Is full of beautiful flowers.
ooh, my Franz p cried Gretchen, while
her face was pale with sudden Joy "Oh,
my Franz have found theel That is thy
voice speaking to me. Thou hast not
forgotten thy song, and now thou art
answering it,
Down the long stairs and across the
street she flew like a bird that hears its
mate Up the stairs of the house in
which Franz dwelt her feet climbed
swiftly. Love lent her wings, and her
body seemed light as her heart. Her
soul kept crying, "Frauz, ! have found
thee at last
DGretchen, is it thou!" 1t was Franz's
voice, in the language of the fatherland,
that spoke when her feet were at the
door 1@
at is thy Gretchen" she cried, and
| then he saw her at the doorway, with
the light of womaus love shining In her
face, and he dropped the violin, stretched
out his hands toward her with rapture
toi, deep for words in his poor pale face.
"Oh, my FranzI' and then her arms
were about his neck, her tears and kisses
mingled on his face.
n had thought that must die without
seeing thee again. he said But it
seemed as il could not. 1t will notbe
so hard now since thou art here to mold
my hand"
3.'T'hou must not say that, nay Franz"
she said, and her eyes were SO full of
teas that sac could no longer sec his
face Thou must live for me-"
:.''If could he whispered. But
fear it can,ot be. Even love like thine
is not strong enough to conquer death"
"Bring me my VIOLIN" he said. And
she brought it and raised him up in bed,
so that ne could play. He touched the
strings softly and lovingly, in low, uncer-
tain chords. Presently they fashioned
themselves into the melody of the song
he had made for Gretchen. Oh, it was
SO sweet, So sad. She felt the tears fall
ing down her cheeks like rain.
All at once the violin fell from his
! hands to the floor, and string snapped
apart with sound that was like a sharp
cry of pain.
at is the end, Gretchen" he said faint
". "Let me hold thy hand, dear, and
wilt thou kiss me2'
She bent above him and drew his head
upon her breast, and kissed his thin cold
cheek. A lonesome wind was blowing
through the room and smote against his
/ forehead.
"Ah, the pines!" he cried. "Dost hear
them, Gretchenl They are talking to
me-
And then such a far away look came
INTO his eyes that she felt as if an infinite
space was between them. And when she
| called his name and he answered not sho
| knew that II was the space of death.