Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-01-23

child, dead fifty years ago Karl Berger
stood frowning In the shadow of cur
tain. What right had a contessa, q
young girl, to play like thatl What right
had she to a violin which was so much
hotter than his2 The soft repeated
strains came to an end, and the girl
turned proudly toward him.
ut is wretched piece, wretchedly
played, " he said, GROSSLY. "You win
never make an artistic of yourself. 1t
lacks soul, it lacks rhythm, it lacks
everything"
These petulant words swords which
the honest Karl Berger was ashamed of
even while he uttered them-struck the
young girl like blow. Her face,
proud and happy at her successful rem
dering of the simple peasant air, fell
suddenly at this harsh verdict, and, girl
like, she burst into sobs and left the
room, while the servant stared stolidly
at the fierce foreigner, and then rose and
hobbled after the girl
Karl Berger felt ashamed of himself
and his sudden fit of anger. He took
up his own violin, but il sounded harsh.
He was cold and courteous to the pupils
who came that afternoon, but he was
glad when the day was over. They were
lighting the lamps in the courtyard below
when he looked out. He watched the
servants as they put the lamps in their
places, and after they had left he stood
at the window looking absently down on
the empty courtyard beneath, when he
saw figure coming slowly across the
yard. He stepped out on the balcony
and called to her, for he recognized the
escort of the Contessa Lucia. When the
woman had come up he asked her.
"Where does the Contessa Vinella
live ?"
''In this house, signor, with relative.
The contessa has no other friends and
she lives here, but not in idleness, sig
nor! She is too, proud for that She
takes care of the house, and works like
a servant. She has no friends but me;
was her nurse. She is too proud to 90
with others in the house. Even her rea-
tives do not patronize her, and the SER
wants are always very polite to her, and
always obey her, but behind her back
they laugh at her here and call her the
'contessa- of all-work, and the 'contessa
cook Her grandfather, the Count
Vinella, had taught her music, and she
worked so hard at it that she might earn
her own living that way. Last week she
won the prize at the conservatoirc, and
the city was to pay her tuition with you.
You should not have spoken so harshly
to her, signor9 found her in her little
room crying as if her heart would break. :"
Karl Berger ran his hands through his
hair.
81 was wronG-very wrong. Will
you tell her l said so2 Ask her to come
again, and will promise to be fairer."
The next afternoon the girl came in.
''It was very silly of me, Maestro, 70
run away like that" she said; "but l
want so much to be good artistic, and
when you told me l could not"
Don't talk about it, please" inter-
rupted Karl II was cross and tired, and,
if you must know it, jealous,n and he
smiled grimly. eyes, jealous, that YOU
could play better than l."
Lucia flushed with delight.
'If you mean that-but MOI You are
laughing at mel"
81 mean what 1 said," replied Karl,
determinedly. II can teach you tech.
nique, perhaps; after that you have moth
ing to learn"
So it was settled.
One day, during the lesson, Karl said
abruptly;
"Would you like also to study at
night? My evenings are all my own"
The girl laughed with pleasure. and
cried: "Oh, Mastero, you are so kind"
So, after the work was done, Lucia
would come in with Marcia, her old
nurse, and after the lesson Karl would
pick up his own violin and play. One
night he stopped suddenly and said to
her.
II wish you would not call me Macs
tro. am not master in music. am
only sham, and some day they will
find it out. | am not much older than
you and don't play any better. I want
you to think of me as a fellow student,
not as teacher"
"What shall call you, then2" Lucia
asked shyly.
Karl"
" That is pretty name," said Lucia.
$" 1t was my fathers" and he went on
|
snow.storm when all the family died but
himself, and how he was found famished
and senseless with his violin huggcd to
his breast. And Lncia sat still and
drank in every word. Then she told him
of her own home and her past history
Each night after they laid their music
aside they would sit and talk, and Mar
cia would sit and slumber quietly in her
chair.
Soon the opera season commenced, and
often the three would sit back in some
little box which had been placed at
Karrs disposal, and listen to the grand
creations of the masters. A happy time
for BOTH Karl was all gentleness to the
little contessa, and the grim young
Norseman commenced to find himself
making jokes to amuse her. He to make
Ijokes-who had hitherto gone through
life in his sober, solemn way-to make
jokes! 1t was surprising indeed They
called each other Karl and Lucia, and
sometimes brother and sister. So things
went on, till suddenly Marcia fell sick
Lucia stayed by her bedside Sc
much as her work would allow. Tha
lessons must cease till Marcia grew bet
ter, for she had no other chaperone, and
of course it was impossible for her.to go
without one. The days seemed to drag
slowly aleng, and the night watching
tegan to tell on her. She grew paler
and went about sad and musing.
F., AS for Karl, the first time that Lucia
missed her lesson he became rather angry