The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-16


| If l should fail? Ny music is now my all.
and if unsuccessful in that, life would indeed
become burden"
What could 1 do but consent to accom-
pany her to her destination. The next few
days were devoted to preparations, and on
Tuesday of the following week we were al
ready well on our journey.
! he next day we arrived at Berlin about
dusk; after hearty meal ut a second-class
hotel on K0nigStrasse we took n survey Of
the city by moonlight and hurried off to bed
to gain much needed rest, as we well knew
what lay in store for us on the morrow.
We awoke bright and early the next morn
ing. Before breakfast Elsa ran her selec-
ton over the KEYS So great was my emo
ton produt ed by the brilliancy in which it
was produced that l impulsively jumped
from my chair, clasped her to my heart and
told her that there was not the slightest
shadow of doubt that she would achieve q
grand success in the evening.
After breakfast we hired a carriage and
were driven through the principal streets of
pleased us most. Such world of fashion,
wealth and frivolity as was there dis
played!
In the afternoon we remained in our
room, as there were numerous little details
TO be attended to relative 10 the toilet in
which Elsa was 20 appear AT last she was
ready. Dtcked in her simple white mule
dress, with solitary rosebud as an only
ornament, il struck me for the first time that
she was really beautiful.
A half hour later we found ourselves as
cending the marble staircase leading to the
cOncert-room Oh the second floor of the
Royal Theater. We wended our way TO the
anteroom, in which the participants had al
ready assembled. After Elsa had introduced
me to Professor Reitf, and after had put
touch here and there to her dress, | adj
yised her 10 endeavor 10 retain her self
possession until The end, and left her.
Throug the courtesy of Professor Reiff,
L found myself In possession Of one of the
choicest seats, from which not only per-
feet view of tile stage but of the entire audi
ence could be obtained
The splendor of the scene on that never
to-he-fo.gotteu night, beggars description;
the glitter of the diamonds the briliancy of
the many lighted Chandeliers, the perfumes
OF the flowers. The gathering of beauty,
wit and wealth all to criticize my Elsa.
My observations were here interrupted by
Professor Reitf, who, in q deep voice. an
nounced the first number on the programme,
81 Bach's Concerto" for two pianos, which
was most enthusiastically encored. The
second and third numbers were likewise re-
celved.
Professor Reiff now announced the Bee
thoven Sonata" which Elsa was to play
For second my heart misgave me. What
if Elsa should lose her self possession at the
eleventh hour No, il could not be, she
Ia,
had already gained the piano-stool, was
ready 10 strike The opening chord. when
slight ruStling Of silk caused by the entrance
of very ariStocratic-looki lady. accom-
panied by s:Iikingly handsome gentleman,
o posite, in Il box IN the second tier, caused
Elsa as 1t did many others TO turn her eyes
in the direction Of the noise. / noticed that
SHE suddenly grew deathly pale, and her
hands dropped passively into her lap
With one mighty effort IN which all her
will power seemed concentrated she raised
her aims once more to strike the OPEN
ing chord, when. with one last appeal
ing look at the audience, she gasped for
breath, and for second time her hands
were no longer the slaves of her will. Pro-
fessor Reif now approached her and gently
he reappeared and in u few words
informed the audience that Fraulein
Ebert had become suddenly indisposed aud
that he trusted that the audience would
kindly overlook the little hitch, and that
the next number on the programme would
be " Rublusten's Sonata in A Minor"
| scarcely knew how | ever managed to gain
the ante-rOom. There lay Elsa stretched upon
the sofa, unconscious. In vain did | chafe
her hands and dash cold water upon her
face. just as my nerves had almost reached
their highest tension she laDguldly opened
her eyes and begged for glass of water,
which seemingly having revived her, as
sisted her into the carriage and we were
RAPIDLY driven home.
Not one word did she utter in the car
rage, nor did | feel it in my heart to ques-
lion her as to the cause of her dismal fail
ure. However, the moment we reached the
door leading into my room she said in per-
fectly calm voice; !" Fraulein Nelson. | am
tired, oh, so tired tonight. | shall feel better
alter a good nights rest, SO let us bid each
other goodnight again. dear Fraulein Mel
SON" then heard her turn the key of her
room, feeling confident | should earn all
in the morning.
My first thoughts upon awakening were
Elsa. l burrledly dressed and Knocked
gently at her door, but not receiving an
answer, knocked again; still no answer.
turned the knob, and finding the door IN
locked, walked in, and beheld 10 my horror
that The bed had not been slept in.
| frantically rushed into the hall, inouir-
ing left and right il anything had been seen
OF FIaulein Ebert that morning, to which
question | received only negative answers
Servants and even some of the guests were
by this time wildly flying in all directions in
order to learn If anything could be found OF
the missing one. on cannot imagine the
state of my feelings. hastily dispatched TO
her mother. thinking that perha in her
humiliation she had taken the last train for
home. / pictured her mothers distraction
IN case she had not returned. With my
blood coursing like fire through my veins,
now desperately ran cut into the street,
walking on and on needless OF all until
found myself face to face with two sturdy
fishermen who were slowly ascending the
stone staircase leading from the river; they
bore between them the inanimate form
OF a young girl. 1t was unnecessary to APP
proach any nearer to have my worst sus-
picions confirmed The long golden hair and
simple white dress told the story only too
well.
A few days after this, as the sad duty of
collecting her belongings, which were TO be
sent TO her home in Dresden, dev0lved upon
me. l found a note. which, in my excite
ment, had not seen that Friday morning.
1t contained the following words:
Ny Dear Frdulein Nelson; Thanks for all
you have done tor me- For what / am about TO
do hope shall be forgiven. Arthur has proved
false 10 me- so has my music. / have nothing
more TO live for. Mamma Will grleve. Try 10 COM
fort her Good-by. ELSA EBERT