Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-05-05
BEETHovEN's LOST LOVE.

Illul, SeCluucu foiiOy, oIohoo VIZ oNAA
mer palace of the Count Paulo Guic-
ciardi. Evidently there has been
spared neither pains or money to
make it luxuriant and unrivaled re-
sort for the wealthy and ancient fam
lily who possess it.
Tonight the spacious and elegant
saloons are brilliantly lighted. The
forms of many people promenading
up and down can be vaguely distin-
guished thro Ugh the half-opened win
dows; and the mingled hum OF con-
versation floats out on the balmy,
midsummer air and dies languidly
away in the distance.
1t is the gtand soiree given by the
count in honor of the distinguished
Beethoven, who has been a welcome
and honore1 guest during the past
few weeks. Yet tomorrow he leaves
for the more uncongenial cline of his
own native Germany, at the earnest
solicitation of his noble host. The
reason is quite apparent; mutual
and passic nate love has sprung up
between the lovely Countess Julia
and himself almost at first sight.
Consequently he must be banished,
as the difference between rank and
fortune renders marriage out of the
question. AZ still more effective
step, she is betrothed to the Due de
Montpensier, the French ambassador.
And it is he with whom she so list
lessly promenades to night
Beethoven is the reluctant center
of an admiring audience and he
seems like half-tamed lion at bay,
growing now and then a disdainful
reply, and tossing his royal head in
defiance. His eye roves over the
multitude as if in search of some
thing lost. Suddenly he strides for
ward and in another moment con-
fronts the duke and his affianced.
Countess" he says in a low, dis
tinct tone, ''you promised me the
pleasure of a boat-ride before 1 left
Italy. The evening is inviting, the
gondola is ready-let us CO."
She bushes deeply and stammers a
few apologetic words in the ear of
her escort, who hesitatingly relin-
cuisines her to Beethoven, sullenly
following them with his eyes as they
glide out of the room into the open
air-into the loveliest of scenes-per-
fumed by the rarest of flowers.
The night is perfect. Overhead
the moon, attired in her full regal
splendor, sails majestically in the
LIQUID azure. On either side the
silver crested mountains rise mysteri-
ously, and rear their shaggy, uncouth
heads TO receive the tender caresses
of their radiant queen. The twinkle
of the stars, the ripple of the lake,
and the signing of the breeze, are in
complete harmony. Earth, ocean.
and heaven are reconciled. The
music of the spheres is no longer a
mere expression, but q mighty SYM
phony, lulling the restless erd-geist
into peaceful, dreamless repose.
Beethoven leads his beloved slowly
along a narrow hidden path, over
which the trees form a nearly perfect
arch. Both maintain a sombre ST.
lence until little grotto is reached,
situated directly on the borders of a
beautiful lake. He places her on the
low stone bench, and throws himself
down at her feet.
Fastening her large, dreamy eyes
full upon his upturned face, she muir
murs:
"Ah, Luigi"-thus the liquid must
cal italian softens the harsh, cultural
Ludwig-''why do you make our
parting so cruelty hard to bear? Why
must you mingle the sweet with the
bitter? Why cause us to endure the
pangs of purgatory with paradise
still in our view?"
The hitherto unmoved and express
sionless face of her companion sud
denly becomes vivid and intense with
suppressed passion.
.Why," he exclaims fercely, "why
do you ask me why? Must we drain
this preferred cup of bitterness to the
very dregs! Why not hurl it back
into the faces OF those who offer it?
What care we for the world and it's
gilded glamor of hollowness and n.y.
pocrisy?" Then in a softer and more
subdued tone: "Julia, have pro-
vided means for our escape-let us
fly. In few hours we can be safely
concealed in yonder mountains. where
even the all-powerful arm of your
father cannot reach us. After the
first hot scent of pursuit has grown
cold we can sail for America, and
pass the remainder of our lives de-
voted to love and music"
His flushed and eager face, CULVER
ing with passionate expectancy, is
turned to her, and his great, lustrous
eyes flash their lurid fires into hers;
magnetizing her being with mysteri-
GUS yet overwhelming force. For
one brief moment she allows herself
to be drawn into the wild enthusiasm
Of her lover, but quickly RECEIVERS
herself and nournfully replies:
"Ah, my poor Luigi, it cannot, can
not he. / am betrothed to the duke,
not for the sole purpose of prevent
ing my union with you, as you sup
pose, Int that my father may redeem
the fortune and estate-nay, even
honor--of his family. The instant
my marriage takes place the duke
stands pledged for large sum to my
father. So you see that my hand is
already sold to the highest bidder,
and is not at my disposal. My heart.
however, has long been yours, and
All 10TH ~ov,v,ekno fo,s