The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1880-11-26
The year had added power to his face

g The year had added power to his fac
0 yes, and melancholy.
d Wagner seemed disconnected at th
# sight of him.
Heaven save US" he muttered an
t would have started up, but Ludwig hel,
, him back with gesture.
3 His eyes we're fixed on Marie.
J She, in turn, sat voiceless, motionless
0 looking at him. Her blonde hair Law il
! massive braids upon her shoulders. He
i free was quite coorless-the velvety
brown eyes shone like stars of heaven
She wore long white gown of some ricf
| Opaque stuff, confined at the waist by {
golden girdle.
He seemed dumbfounded at the sigh,
of her exceeding beauty.
: Surely you have not forgotten me p
he murmured, with mingling of reproact
and tenderness in his voice.
Forgotten ?--ah, no! I" she answered
but have not seen you for year."
And her head dropped, and the blood
ran red as fire into her white cheeks.
True" replied Ludwig, "for the portal
OF this Ellen Herr Wagner has guarded
with flaming sword. His will, not
mine, has kept me from 1t. Let me re-.
mind you, my friend, that I have not
supped. Why do you look SO dazed ?
Have you vacant seat here?"
At this the old composer picked up his
scattered wits, and set his guest chair
with his own hands.
:, "A thousand pardons" he muttered !;
you quite take me by surprise. Shall I
order"
"Nothingw said Ludwig, with look.
Il requested particularly that your ser.
want should not announce me. PRAY be
seated, and go on with your supper"
| he took place at the board beside
Marie.
The sunset died on the mountains.
The moon hung shining sickle over
head. Some impassioned lover sang in
his boat upon the lake.
DO you come tonight from Starnberg?"
asked Marie.
NO., answered Ludwig, in low voice
and with aver ed eyes; "from Munich"
"Ahp cried Wagner, in exultation,
the court is now there, hear. and the
city waxes right merry over the Kings
betrothal with the Bavarian princess,
Sophia" Ludwig looked defiantly across
at the SPEAKER.
"For courts l care nothing, as you
know" he answered. nothing, either,
for the King or the princess-bah almost
as little, in fact, as they care for each
other"
Marie lifted her head
"Would the beautiful young King
marry one whom he did not love ?" she
said. "He is too noble for that. | am
sure. And the princess-is she lovely?
is she good2 will she make our sovereign
happy"
Ludwig left his friend to answer these
questions
"She is pretty and piqnant," said Wag-
ner, "and good, too l dare say, since the
Queen-mother and the mobiles pronounce
her such. My child, year ago Herr
Ludwig promised that he would not seek
you, or hear your voice for a twelve
month. The time is now past. Come |
now and sing some little song, that he
may judge of the work we have both
done since l brought you to Lucerne.'
How deadly fair, in that placid light
looked her face She arose, and the
three entered the chateau together.
Wagner seated himself at the piano,
and opened thereon one of his own
operas-that wild, strange music, incom-
to the admirers of Mendeis-
,ohn and Beethoven; y;eaow Bshnnd s.nod Ludwis %
his arms crossed on his breast, the moon
light shining on his fixed, intent face.
Marie crossed to the old masters side.
long, wailing note shivered suddenly
through the scented hush, and she be-
gan to sing.
1t was something to see Wagner's eyes
ylisten, and his hands drop unconsciously
rom the keys-to see him hang on her
voice, as bee on blossom, while she
,eized at a glance on the divine mysteries
If his music-ay, poised flight above
hem, even, to hint of others yet more
livlne. She seemed to draw his plant
Ind passion into some depths of her own
Ioul, and fling thsm back to him again,
ull of fiery newborn life of her own
making. And in the mullioned window
Herr Ludwig stood, pale, breathless, like
statue in stone.
Wagner turned from the instrument,
md snatched his pupil in his arms.
"Child of my heart |" he cried, 81 have
10 words with which to praise you
speak, Herr Ludwig! Have we not done
Tell?"
Ludwig advanced, and stood with one
,and on Wagner's shoulder-his eyes
lpon Marie.
'"Master and pupil-heaven surely
made you for each other" he answered.
I can say no more than this"
And then thrilling silence fell-the
ilence under which some current OF
trong passion throbs. Wagner arose
rom his seat.
"The hour grows late" he sighed.
And Ludwig, with deep-drawn breath,
,arried Marie's iistless hand to his lips,
above it some broken words,
lrev his cloak about his shoulders, and
was gone.
During the weeks which followed this
light, tall man, muff1ed to the eyes,
md attended by a servant, would often,
If fine nights, start from Starnberg, and,
,luDging into the forest, gallop up to
Iome lonely station in time for an ex-
,ress-train, fling his bride to his attend
int, and, seating himself alone in car,
.iage, locked against all intruders, whir,
IF and away-whither, no human being
know.
In the old chateau garden, at Lucerne,
he same person walked in the soft, ro
mantle moonlight, among thickets and
,ascades with girls ravishing voice In
MS cara girls heavenly face shining
lpon him everywhere-from old win
lows, from recesses hung with gorgeous
Fabrics from the hot-hued shadows Of
lowers AS changeless in its beauty as
star.
He came one night to the chateau,
when great storm was roaring through
.he quiet Swiss valley. In the long hali
ne met Marie, with Wagners opera OF
in her hand. Her face
was weary and pale, but she came toward
him with smile on her lips.
n.h 4
word from the King" she said, that a
nlace is vacant in the Court chapel at
am to fill it am to to go to
he capital to sing before the Court, the
the King himself, and
mis- betrothedp
Ludwig started.
Surely that is great good news, he
,aid, in constrained voice.
"Ay," she answered; "and Gretchen
md my Father will now want for moth
ng. Ali can ever pay TO Herr Wag-
ner- to you, the debt that | owe you 2"
His suaerb eyes dwelt fixedly upon
ler.
"To mel Great GodT he groaned
'betwixt your face and your voice, it is
,asy to read your future. You will take
he Court and the world by storm. You
will soon cease to remember Ludwig,
who owes you not only his life, but the
ie~ hours of perfect happiness he has
known in the world"
The passion in his voice seemed to
,hake her from head to foot She stood,
white as spirit, before him.
Cease to remember you ?" she echoed
Won. without whom this fortune would
never have come to me? No-oh, no
He advanced slowly toward her, as If
,rawn nv a mower he could not resist.