The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-10-16
THE VIOLA OF LOVE.

THE VIOLA OF LOVE.
In the oldeu time there dwelt In Atoning
Castle, near Tourney,s young Countess, Of
the name of Cecilia, who was more fond Of
music than any other thing in the world.
The Cathedral of Tournay had for organ
ist youth, who was te-plsyer's sou and
whose genius for music was so great that he
played upon all known instruments before
he was fifteen years old. Often would the
Duke Of Antoning summon this Roland to
the palace TO perform sonatas with his daugh.
ter, who was no despcsble hand at the
harp.
Instruments o. music were very imper-
feet in those days, and though Cecilia found
pleasure in listening to organ, harp, theorba,
mandilne, and guitar, none of them affect
ed her heart deeply enough for tears to dim
her lovely eyes.
"Ahl" she would sigh "ifevera musician
could cause me 10 shed tears, | would give
him the reddest rose Of my nosegay, the
largest ruby in my necklace, and the purest
pearl in my crownl"
Cecilia was marvel OF grace and in spite |
of the saying that every fawn has mate,
Roland could not dream ofseeking elsewhere
for more sovereign charmer. One day, |
when she was repeating this stereotyped |
phraze Of hers, the young musician depart
ed abruptly, and came no more, to her deep
regret. But shs soon had other cause for |
grieving.
Through more than fve.score years the
Antoings had been at feud with their pow
eriul neighbors, the BitreInonts The pres
ent Earl of Btremont had been struck by |
Cecilia's beauty during tournay, and asked
for her hand.
The Count was olire-hued, with hair as
black as the ravens wing and his eyes lack
lustre, under beetllng brows, he was under
stool to be hasty and jealous, so that Cecilia
stood in fear of him. But her sire set his
heart upon this union which should restore
peace between the two families; 30 that the
poor girl gave way, and accepted the black
browed earl as her betrothed.
He did not wait till after the nuptiaIs 10
reveal the extent to which went his execra-
BILE temper Eve:thng she did that took
her away from his odious attentions worried
him, even to her passion for music. He
looked with impotence when she thrummed
the harp, and one day overturned it with
such violence that it was shattered into
thousand pieces. It is true he offered to re-
place it with gold one to please herr but
what could again be instead OF the harp
which had harmoniEed with the voice and
guitar Of Rolsnd7
At last, after all those subtle excuses
which even the most guileless maiden finds
to delay hated wedding, the earl wrung
reluctant consent that in three days the
bridal should be celebrated.
It was evening and they were interrupted
by servant telling Of ttoubadour who
had come to eutreat an audience of his
ladyship and his lord. The earl shook his
head testify; but the duke took no heed OF
that, as he ordered the wanderer to be ad.
mitted. 1t was Roland at tthe sight of whom
the poor girls countenance resumed it's old.
time brilliancy.
"You p said she, softly snilingJ "whence
come you, fair fugitive -
"Damsel OF beauty" answered Roland
Gotten and often you murlnured that If ever
a musician should move you to tears you
would bestow upon HIM the reddest rose in
your bouquet, the largest ruby in your neck
lace, and the purest pearl in your crown.
come from spending all this time at Cremo-
ma, where was happy enough to invent an
instrument that perchsnce will perform this
feat Behold il here !"
He showed her the new instrument Co.
ella considered il sttentively, and asked its |
name.
al call il the Viola Of LoveP
"Ha !" calculated the earl l,grufly whats
the use of houEng all these vsgrants--thun?-
srs of drums and winners through flutes
bsggars, every one Of themf"
81 am no beggar," replied the son Of art.
"a ask nothing for conducting TO the young
lsdy's entertainment"
Cecilia nodded, forgetting all slSe and
Roland at once tuned his viola and began. I
Such sweet and fondly touching tones the
countess had never heard before and 1t was I
with strange magic that the inventor played. ,
At first amazed and then profoundly ar /
fscted, the lady fell into deep reveris-
her bosom heAving forcibly, her features ex- !
pressing pleasing distress,and her eyes wet .
with tears, as she bent them on the perform-
er at the conclusion of the meloay. With
no other care,she sprang up,tore rose from ,
ber breast knot, and tossed it to the young /,
minstrel, saying, "No sound so stirring ever
met mine ear, dear friend. Play once again,
/ prithee, for would act out all my prom
ise."
"Never, faithless girl !" cried out the earl,
p!uolsing his poniard, in fit Of fury, and
driving it to the heart of the maiden, who
fell to the rush-covered floor, dead Roland
uttered one cry, leaped to the corpse, drew '
the dagger, and plunged it into the heart of {
the Earl of Bitremont.
lie fed and for twenty years no one be-
held him. All thought him in the grave,
and when he appeared, no Que recognized
Ngoung minstrel in that man Of bended
hollow cheeks, and griszled hair aud {
beard.
The fate Of her he deeply loved had driv-
en- him mad, for he believed Cecilia alive {
Sut astrcy aud 50 he sought hereverywhere.
Chs great musician was guItAr-strumming
a. .tranothfng ,vho nlaved N, fha xyiol in /