The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-16

y
minutes left to decide in continued looking
at my watch. Then drew out my own case and
lighted cigar.
Nov. if Metz had been poor and proud, he
would have spurned my offered pardon. Being
rich and mean, it needed only three minutes con-
temptation of his threatened loss to decide him.
'''Tll sing, Gilbert he said; come and take
glass of wine
"'No, thank YOU answered, turning on my
heel and leaving him. to go back to the anxious
committee with my news.
1.-THE hall would not have held another person
when / entered the dressing room at quarter
before g. The chorus was seated-a mass OF
white, edged with black, and 1utter with fans.
The musicians were fling in upon the stage
when some one asked: where's Grozzip Sure
enough, where was he? Not in the building, not
at the hotel whittier usher was dispatched
post haste. for when the usher came back he was
breathless from running and almost speechless
with bad news. Grozzi had paid his bill and
taken the o'clock train for home.
Here YVES q pieklel | must confess was
nearly floored this time The sensitive Italian
violoncest offended. outraged by Metz's insult
of the afternoon, had thought only of revenge
and had certainly taken most effectual way
of having it. He knew well enough that the
other cello, Bolles, would no more play Tt is
enough with Metz than he would cut his hand
off. So there were. The committee looked
at me- and turned and looked In the mirror to
see il my hair was turning gray. just then the
breathless usher hurried in from the stage door
door asking for you. He says his business is
immediate and important but ne won't come in.
Mechanically followed the usher and left the
committee alone in their VICE.
The man at the door was shabbily dressed.
His clothes had once been good, but were now
gone to the extreme of seediness. He wore
full beard, not long, but somewhat gray. He
had large, dark eyes and delicate hands He
said, in a low. distinct voice:
"'Mr Gilbert, I understand that your solo
tcaI rla W has left
and the committee are in distress. l have sent
for you to offer my services. l assure you that
am perfectly competent to play the part, though
admit that the time is too short to prove it by
previous trial. If you are willing, however,
shall be glad to serve you
He looked me straight in the eye when he
spoke and I felt that he was competent. l
glanced downward at his attire.
81 know I'm not fit to appear in the orches-
tra,' said he, without touch of embarrassment
in his manner, but if a dress suit could be bor-
rowed'-
II walked back into the dressing room, drag
ging the stranger with me-
Franklin said to the chairman, tell the
people that the delay will be but few minutes
longer. Talman, run and borrow dress suit
for this man-take one right off from one OF the
chorus, if necessary
"'But what about 'celor asked the low
voice of the stranger
.sSure enough. In my anxiety about his ap-
pearance had forgotten what he was to do.
REV. Dr. Ellsworth has one,' suggested the
waiter, who had now begun to regain his breath.
"'Goodp shouted. and it is splendid one.
too He showed it to me yesterday. The Doc
tor is in the audience now. Run and ask him to
get it for u.s. He lives only block away
GAS the usher rushed off loud round of APP
plause from the hall told that Franklin's speech
of explanation had been satisfactory. My spirits
had now revived, and / turned to the stranger
and held out my hand
"You have saved the Oratorio, said
Hardly smile stirred his serious face as he
said quietly: I am very glad That was ali.
"Talman came in with one of the chorus bas-
sos, and by the time the stranger was arrayed in
his dress suit, and the basso, wrapped in over
coats, had sent for another, the usher and DR..
Ellsworth entered with the cello in a green bag.
AS the good Doctor carefully took it out and
handed it to the player he said: Take good care
of it; love 1t next to my wife,
1.-THE stranger suddenly Strengthened up, and
fixing piercing glance upon the minister, said
quickly, so much as thatV
Eyes said the Doctor.
"sWell them replied the cello player 1 love
it more than you do Then taking the precious
instrument. ne said TO me: i am ready aud we
went upon the stage
1T was exactly haf-past 8, and the audience
treasured me of their good humor by hearty
round of applause. had not heard FraDklins
speech. but as passed Metz he touched me, and
pointing with scorn over his shoulder said in
dsagreeable voice: Who is this 'cello-player
you've picked up? Don't you know that l was
not engaged to sing with street musciansp
Metz. said, if you fail TO sing when yonr
time comes, shall stop the whole performance,
make a speech to the audience and place the
blame where it belongs And stepped upon
the platform and grasped my baton. The or
chestra gave the four grand opening chords-and
Metz sang / have never heard that brief but
impressive recitative so impressively rendered,
before since.
'sThe performance of Mendelssohns master
piece was excellent from the very beginning, and
nothing occurred to disturb the smooth progress
of the oratorio until we came to the great solo
that Metz had stopped in the afternoon rehears-
AL glanced at the strange cello player, and al
most feared that we were on the point of break
down. His eyes were fixed neither upon me nor
his music. He sat with his right hand grasping
bent slightly forward and the head of his cello
pressed against his cheek. while his eyes gazed
iutently at nothing, and seemed yelled in sort
of reverie. Such look of inefable sadness /
have seldom seen on the face of man. l did
not know for an instant what to do did not
want to rap for attention. yet hardly dared be-
gin the introduction, with its lovely cello solo,
while the man whom l had taken on his own
recommendation to play it sat there in apparent
oblivion. There was, however, not an instant
TO lose lifted my baton and the sobbing ac-
compartment began. kept my eye on the cello
player and the moment his time came to play
he raised his head, glanced mechanically at my
moving baton, though without apparently tax
ing any notice OF me. and drew his bow across
the string.
II cannot describe to you how he played that
melody. Its every note went straight to my
SOUL 1t is only eight measures long, yet into
that eight measures was crowded burden of
sorrow, a lifetime of despair such as no strings
ever vibrated with before. Even Metz turned
in astonishment and looked first at the stranger
and then at me- The cello player still looked
not at his music but at something far away, be-
yond the hall, the town, the world itself His
gaze was unearthly. AS for me | ceased to con-
duct; though my baton continued to move, it
not but the cello player, who controlled it.
ut is enough; Lord, now take away my
life, for am not better than my fathers. 1t is
enough 1t is enough Thus sang Metz, in a
way that never heard him sing before He,
too, seemed under the spell. And all the time
that sobbing accompaniment Of the volins and
the mourning Of the cello intensified the hope
less wall of the life-weary Elijah. The