The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-08

We thought ut first that the crowd had beef
attracted by battle between drunkards, or
conflict between lovers, for a man was lyinl
on the ground. DR.. Ealkner, who was one o
the party, leaped from the carriage and wen
to see what was the matter He was told:
THE chcck.takcr of the ball has sudden,
died" DR. Falkner examined the man on TIT
ground and presently said:
"Ilc is not yet dead, but is dying of starva
ton"
Everybody tried to do something for thu
poor check-taker He was given glass o.
WINE. A collection was taken up for him
We put something into it. The doctor prom
Used to go TO see the poor fellow in the morn
ing, and asked his address. womsn gave
him visiting card, and the doctor went up Il
the carriage lamp and read
RoDOLPHE ZIMMER,
Professor Of Music.
Sternegasse, No. PCS.
"Zimmer! | know him. Quick, quick I"
exclaimed. "Put HIM in this carriage.
will take charge of him"
We drove to the address on the card. I'm
mer's chamber WAS on the fifth story. The
door was opened and our hearts ached when
we saw-not the chamber, but-the hole IN
which the poor fellow lived. -Four naked
sold walls, little straw in one corner, al
carthenwaae jug, an earthenware porringer, q
bit of soap-nothIng else Luckily we were
IN a furnished lodging house, and the cham
bers on the first story were almost decent. We
had poor thinner placed IN the best of them
DIR. Falkner promised me that he should be
well taken care Of A week or ten days after
wards servant announced to me, Mr. Ro
dolphe ZImmer." At last | had gotten pos
session of my waltz. A tall, old man, with a
noble face, entered my room. Misfortune had
cruelty scratched his wrlnkled cheeks with her
claws. His eyes were gentle and resigned
Long white locks fell on his black coat, which
was most threadbare, but as tidy as could be
Everything about him awoke sympathy. lie
said
"Sir, | have come to thank you for your
kindness to me"
"Tisn't worth mentioning. did nothing
but follow the example OF your friends
| 81 have no friends. have notlong enough
to live to talk to you of gratitude. | have
come merely to say: Thank you.
replied quite dryly dor to tell the truth |
tor all had donc) II repeat again, you owe
me nothing. Do you know who al" y
Jacques Ohenbach"
"Yes, that's my name; now you can under
stand that between brethren OF the same pro
fession the very least thing they can do Is to
help each other
Zlmmer murmured IN bitter tone: "Breth.
rem! You say that out of politeness. Alas
| am but poor professor without profit that
is with nothing"
81 beg your pardon You have had your
share of popularity. You hava had talents. y
II am obliged by your politeness."
1T is not politeness. 1t is my sincere opln
ion"
You may, perhaps, have heard that and
you repeat it to me to lessen the bitterness OF
aims. You do not you cannot know anything
about me-"
"You are mistaken, and am going to prove
it to you"
went to the piano and | played slowly the
eight bars knew SO well. The old man lifted
his head at the first notes; stupelaction was
followed by infinite delight The artist
Strengthened himself up. A beam OF JOY
shown through thetears which streamed down
his hollow cheeks. | had the utmost Difficult
ty to get through the eight bars, his emotion
had so affected me- | rose. lie ran towards
me and took my hands and exclaimed;
AN Maestro, dear Maestro May God re
ward You! You have done good deed foi
me. You have prevented me from dying
that is nothing. You give me strength to live
that is everything. SO there is indeed some
body on earth who still knows me, and thai
somebody is you. All, how can | show my
gratitude for this delight, which Is SO great, Sc
unexpectedly
81 exclaimed: Nothing, my dear friend
You have but 10 play me the rest OF thai
waltz"
"The rest--thc rest of my wallz?'
yes. 1t Is the grratest favor yon could dc
me- When | shall have told you why, you
hat oil ~ spttIai hptWplp and
that am still your debtor"
| thinner sat at the piano and played as l had
Just done, the eight bars. Then he stopped
/ was all attention. He seemed to he trying
TO recall it. His physiognomy changed from
establishment to pain. Suddenly he clasped
his brow III his hands and exclaimed in great
terror:
II can't recollect it! | cant recolect it
Good heavens am going crazy-maybc il
Is excitement-y0u are listening to me-and
yet tins very morning played it, That waltz
is my life, myself-a very mourntul life. Let
me 20 home. Ill fetch the waltz to you.
will not be long gone"
| "Be still more generous Come to breakfast
with me to morrow and then you will play the
waltz to me and tell me your history"
That very evening telegram summoned
me to Paris \ month afterwards | returned
4
come of Zmmer He said:
"X,mmcr is dead Before he died he gave
me a parcel for you. | shall send it to you
confess 1t was with emotion opened the
packet 1t contained the waltz, small ring
set with sapphires, an envelope grown yellow
by time, and these lines traced by a trembling
hand:
MAEsTRo-I owe to you the sole pleasure
which have enjoyed for these forty years
Allow me while dying to bequeath you the
three objects which have recalled to me my
past happiness. promised you my history
| tell 1t: was then fiveand.twenty years old
| had been betrothed for three years. | ador
ed my love with all my heart and soul.
worked day and night to become celebrate
that she might be proud of me and happy
was proud of her; wasn't she beautiful!
believe there are still living people who knew
her Were they asked, they assuredly would