The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-04-14

and the old voice tremblo with bitter
ness, "plsy not these inspirations of
the old masters. Make thy violin to
speak, whistle like bird. bark as the
dog, or scream as bad child. That is
what these critics will like, that will
bring the famei Tricks, not music,
eecst thou ? Onlv, not on my Cremona,"
hugging the old instrument in his
wasted arms; "that would be q profa.
nation |" his voice deep and impressive
as roll Of thunder on tho last word.
Marguerite would assent to all he
said, her mind entirely blank as to the
brilliant career he seemed confidently
to arrange for her, her thoughts wan
dering away to the quiet, happy home
life the loving words Of a young me-
chanic had pictured to her as their
blessed future
At last q change came into the girls
unevcntful lifeI
A great pianist In his rambles about
the city CHANGED to hear the girl.artist
as she practicej, and, presto the road
to the stage which had hitherto seemed
barred against her progress now opened
clear of ali obstacles allurins, onohant-
ing.
Fattered, coaxed, petted by the per.
sons whose very name End hitherto filed
her With awe, urged on by poverty and
| by the thought that she might win
back the fame that had once cast halo
around her father. it was nothing to be
wondered OF that her innate vanity and
slumbering ambiti, awoke TO life
that che forgot her lover and his happy
planning, that she consented to be
taken under her discoverer's patronage
81 must" she urged, in reply to all
! young Earlston's arguments. Don't
you understand, Fred? Vsterchen is
an old man. he needs rest and comforts.
He cannot live with me much longer
what else can do TO caro- for him, to
keep myself hen he is gone 2" and she
fooked up iLto the frowning young
lace above her, her blue eyes filled with
tears.
"R.Iy on me. Marguerite. Trust to
me-" the pan answered, firmly. Do
YOU tLink that would ever let you
suffer, dear Como to mo now, you and
your father"
The girl moved away from hi'u, Ler
face elmost sullen at this overthrowing
OF her own good reason, with wh ch
I'ha sought to blind her oTn conscier ce
and the eyes OF others, for wishing to
leave her old monotonous life. She
walked slowly over to tho window and
looked out to where the lovely old eIms
were being despoiled of their fresh
spring foliage by an innumerlble lost
OF small black worms with which call
green things" were that year infested;
glarced from them in their W ithing,
weary lag hideousness, up to where q
swarm Of gayiy colJrcd moths, newly
released from the croveling lie and
brief prison. were fit ing and futter-
ing in the sunshine. then turned back
to the humble room with its one waiting
Uccurant again.
"Fritz." she said. going to him and
laying hand on each tf his shoulders
81 will tell you the truth. lam tired,
desperately tired, of this ttrI life.
will die il remain in this awful stagna.
been crawling aud held in check long
enough" with backward glance ont at
the marau1ers. "Now ], too, want to
try nay wings, to Autter about in the
sunshine for timo. 1t i, cruel, cruel
to keep me horep
Llebchen," he answered, calling
her by her cid pet name, though kind
Of despair hhone from his eyes" Lieb.
chez, l cannot keep you against your
will; cannot even ask you to stay
Dow,' and he took the slender hands
from his shoulders and held them close
in his own strong palms for a moment,
land so goodbye to you-and hap.
piness."
"But will come back" she urged,
hurriedly, frightened now at her own
work. I" will come back to you some
time"
Yes" he answered, with bitter
smile, as the moth returns to its own
ways"
And then he left her, feeling that the
Light bad gSans from aisl bis 1is While i she s.
again been soothed and stimulated by
her new friends to forgetfulness Of all
else but the thought OF her new career.
ALI during the spring and summer
she prncticed more earne.tly, moro as
Biduously than ever before; strong res,
olution lending her physical strength
q boundless ambition guiding her fingers
through the intricacies OF scale and
1iPOe6iOs
In the early fall came tue eventful
night. The spscious opera h ouse, with
its rows upon rows OF upturned faces
the faces Of those upon whose smile OF
frown hung the success or failure of her
artist-iife; the idle, lack luster faces OF
smusement-seekers; and above and be-
| yond the dear, familiar faces Of her
girlhood days.
As she stood looking down upon them
all, for one moment she hesitated, q
dull, aching fear paralyzing every nerve
and muscle then the opening notes OF
the accompaniment fill upon her ear,
and clasping the precious old Cremona
in her fair arms she stood awaiting the
signal for her playing TO begin, lost to
all save the love of her art.
And bow she playedi
Surprising her patrons widest hope
Carrying her whole audience as one
soul spellbound into the ,egions Of di-
vinest sound All her fathers old skill
heightened and refined by her own
womanly intuition and talented Prace.
One, and only one Of all the vast as
seAbly ielt his heart sink. as he saw
the fattering attention and heard the
thunders Of applause that broke forty
again and AGAIN as soon AZ the last note
had died away, and tho girl turned to
leave the stage. Standing for back in
the shadow Of huge colann, young
Earlston watched The slender form as il
nassau off hetuaAn tha uJ;pn,a #. p.atohol