New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-16
CHAPTER LII.


though all this time my lnexorable taskmaster had
kept watch and ward over me, drilling me with an
inexhaustible panstaking care. was getting SO
dead tired of the whole affair that had more than
once mcditated slipping back to England. and leav-
ing Scarlati TO find out my whereabouts as best he
might but he suddenly infused fresh courage into
me- by informing me that was to appear ut Covcnt
Garden on the first night of the approaching
season that to be, for the first three months,
at the disposition Of the imPresdrio at a merely
nominal salary; and that them unless my voice
went as quickly as it came llintless fortune lay
before me, and might name my own prices.
But there are two sides to every bargain l had n
voice, my dream was realized; but had sold my
soul to win the prize of my ambition. And what,
my reader ID naturally anxious to know, was the
result
The first result was, viewed from my present
standpoint, q little comica though it was the
cause of endless chagrln at the time. When Scar
lati had become sufficiently familiar with my
newly acquired powers to be critical, he detected q
complete want of all soul feeling in my singing.
Every note was correct, and delivered with a
strength and dclicacy beyond all riyalling. But
there my merits ended, and my defaults began.
was simply and solely singing machine III the
literal sense of the hackneyed bit OF schoolboy
Latin was ror ct prgt.rea mimi | can see now. IN
my minds eye, Scarlati seated at he piano, and
myself standing beside him; he wagcing his enOr-
nous head to shake away the tears which drlpped
adown his nose or glaring In my face with eyes OF
flame, as he kissed the keys into some dainty
melody, or beat out of them some passage OF misl-
cal thunder; 1, meanwhile. following the turns OF
the music with barrel-organ like accuracy and
IN all the tongues of Europe round the limits OF the
little room dozen times e day | wondered
whether possessed anything else bJ which, should
] ever meet Heinrich Brenck again, could buy
back my SOUL And sometimes felt that would
have given him my voice into the bargain, and gone
back to my garrett IN Great Russel-st
ScArati, enthusiast he was, had managed to
recognize the fact that occasional relaxation was
necessary, and had therefore given orders to a
London news-agent TO forward to US certain of the
English and French newspapers and magazines. 1t
was time of great commercial depression and ire
quent disaster. and every Newspaper opened was
full of the news Of the wreck of fortunes. One
day. about q mO.th after our arrival at Moreno,
opening q newly arrived copy OF The Times saw
a familiar name-that of Richard Vernon. the
father of nv old playmate Elsie. Reading on, /
found that, having become hopelessly involved by
excess We and unfortunate speculation, he had com
mitted suicide, leaving his family consisting OF his
sister and his only daughter, IN state OF complete
restitution.
What would have been nv sensations had re-
ceived this news before nv meeting with Heinrich
Brenckf That was the question that asked my,
sorrow that wonld not come No; did not feel
sorry. There WAS no emotion IN my heart, except
blind rage against myself and the hend who had
betrayed me. / pointed out the paragraph TO Scar
lati who had never met Elsie on any other occasion
than that have described; and all that can re-
member is that felt dull envy OF hls capacity Tor
preached me with tears in his eyes for my apparent
heartIessness. We were neither OF us rich; but at
his suggestion II am afraid | should never have
thought of doing even so much) we sent sum OF
money TO the sufferers. Scarlat who was at bottom
man of the rarest deicacy of feeling insisted upon
our letter being so worded that II should seem tn
the initiative came from Inc. as the elder friend
The answer was couched in such expressions OF
gratitude. sorrow for the past. and hope Tor the
future as brought tears to the eyes of my mercura
and sensitive companion; it merely reused in me
the dull hopeless feeling OF sorrow that sorrow
would not come. ! have often since read and re-
read that letter, with even more emotion IMAM ny
friend perused it AZ the time. But am anticipat-
ing.
| was walking one evening beside the seq, which
was Just visible from the topmost windows OF our
cottage Turning TO retrace my steps, saw APP
preaching me a figure which, for just moment,
imagined to be Scaratis. second glance assured
me of my error. He was q tall and exceptionally
lean man, who walked like "a badly constructed
Inarionette as though none OF his limbs were COM
pletely under his control. His forehead was almost
non exstent and crowned with thatch OF
cropped faced hair OF the color OF dead moss
His nose was thin, long and peaked; bis lips thin
and always drawn back over the teeth, as though
their owner had been in mortal pain his checks
pale and snnken; his chin rldiculonsiy long ana
pointed But his most remarkable feature was his
eyes, of which despair giving any adequate de-
scrption. They we're at once snnken anu proinl-
nent deeply sunk below the level of the overhang
ing brows. and yet glarlng from their orbits, as
though their owner had never recovered from the
effects of semi strangulaton. This phantom paused
before me- and with a voice which accorded with
his hdeously grotesdue appearance, said In Italian,
with a strong French accent.
.Good-evening, signor. My name is Volney.
lie evidently expected the announcement to I'M
press me but il did not. l bowed and waited.
you have heard of mel
I animated NY sorrow that had never yet had
I'm Mon Disu. is it possbleH But you are must
cianr
Yes answered.
You are a musician and you know not the name
of Angnste Volneyl You have heard of Gounod, of
Wagner of Verdi, of FlOtow
I replied that those names were hoI UNKNOWN ~
Sacred Heavenp exclaimed he, in surprise a!
genuine as it was ludicrous. You have heard OF
These and Won have not heard of me? .
n took him az least minute to recover from his
amszement / waited REFRESHING strong inclina-
ton to laugh.
at matters not he went on presently. If have
not the happiness TO find in you an old admlrer
viii make of Won q new one. Since. you do not
know me- you do not know my WORKS but the
world knows Inc, and am famous Iou snaii
make me more famOus still. | nave written an
onrra. and Paris has asked me to produce It. What
have said 10 Parish I" Bring back Grsi TO the
stage and let Antoletti Scariati sing WIN her, ana
I viii give nv work to the world" For, Sfgnor,
the worf il divine aud il shall he worthly sung or
NOT at ali. month ago, in Engand, In London,
find INV Grisi: and to-day, here IN Moreno, ma
voice to which Scarlatps would DO contemplate.
Won shall sing for me- and upon the wings Of your
voice my music shall soar into eternal iaino' ioS'
Signor you shall sing for me- .,.,, .;a .
| have q word IL that niatsoi '"i""' ~
turnsJ With start 10 find Scarlati beside me-
Volney with shrek of delighted surprise, nsersH
fell npon his shoulder. scarlati wthdrew hmseu
from his embrace half laughingly; and looked on
in silent wonder Volney caught slght Oh my lace
and burst into volube explanation. ,
4 - This man. this Searlati. whom you see mere,
signor whom embrace (Scariat lodged rapidly,
is my friend my savior When starved, w men 4
had neither roof to my head nor clothes my osos
Le fonnd me- ont. and did homage 10 the genius
with which I swell. When ! was the jest OF fools
who know not one note from another, he recognnneo
10 ME nv potentiahties and honored them. Some
little reward for what he dad he has already IN my
eternal friendship; but q greater u TO come
When my biography Is written he shall De immoI