Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-06-01
THE SONATA.

one of the suburbs of Vienna. He took
! little notice of what was going on around
him, for his attention was centered within
himself
The sun had long since sunk to rest be-
hind yondcr mountains upon whose lofty
/ peaks the faint reflection of the sunset
glow still fingered, and the moon had al
ready climbed up into the sky to reign
with her cold light for few hours over
the weary earth.
The evening air was mild and wonder
fully soft the busy roar of the city grew
hushcd and low, and the peace of rest from
work breathcd over the whole landscape
The man took off his hat and passed his
hand over his brow and through his thick,
waving hair. Evidently he was enjoying
the peace and rest around him, for as he
gazed up into the clear sky above him the
lines seemed to die away from his fore
head and a softer light to come into his
eyes.
His appearance was stately and digni
fed. His clean shaven face showed breadth
of line, and his fine, sensitive lips were
tightly pressed together.
Presently, as he passed a small, one
storied house which was separated from
the street by a small garden, he heard
sounds of music.
They were the tones of piano.
He stopped, then quickly went nearer
and listened attentively.
1t was Well known air that he heard
played with skilled fingers, but what
chained this man in the street to the spot
and made him listen longer was the fact
that it was being rendered with intelli-
gence and feeling Then came woman s
voice, soft and tender, singing.
The listener was deeply moved by the
sweetness of the voice as he stood there
and leaned on the lattice work of the gar
den. The music poured out of the open
window of a room on the ground floor in
which no lights had as yet been lit He
tried to look in, but could only see pair
of white curtains gently moving in the
cool night breeze and two or three carna-
tions that soon on the window sill.
Softly the sounds died into silence, but
the man thought not of moving. He stood
there in the gu i0s street as if lost in
dreams
You played tn beautifully, Marie, ~
he heard the deep strong voice of a man
say. Il like to hear you play in the even
ing when everybody has gone and we are
alone. II carries me back to our child
hood, when we used so often to listen to
our dear mothers singing l am glad you
have developed your taste for l. sic.'
All, have no talcntr replied the vo-
mans voice cOmplainirgly Il am never
for an instant content with myself If
only could hear this heavenly music that
fills my whole being and raises me above
all earthly pain played by master hand
by the hand of the mast n himself!'
The listener felt powerfully affected by
this simple dialogue. With Il quick doci-
sion he walked up the stone steps which
led to the front door and passed into the
low, narrow passage.
He listened for moment to try "a
catch the voices again, so as to guide him
Alright and as he waited he heard til, IN
speaking though he could not distinguish
the words. Going up to the next door, he
knocked gently, and when IA voice answer
cd softly, Come in, he opened it and en-
tered.
He found himself in the same room that
opened out into the garden. The moon
light outside spread throughout the sim
ply furnished apartment a gentle, gray
light that was very pleasant and soothing.
In front of the windows, whore the cur
tGins moved III the breeze, stood the small,
square shaped piano. The remaining fur
niture of the room consisted solely of a
stiff backed sofa, IA round table, bureau
ard IA few chairs
These were only dimly visible in the I'M
certain light, but sharply outlined against
the window stood the figure of a young
girl, who had risen on the entrance of the
stranger and stood beside the piano.
Another door in the background led on
into larger room, in which burned the
light of two candles In this room the APP
pearance was less inviting. 1t was the
workshop of IA shoemaker Probably the
workmen had been enjoying themselves
and had left, for all around were visible
the tOols and implements of the day 5
work.
Then man approached the door. He
looked at the stranger, who stood there
silently, his hat in his hand, with amaze
ment, and asked in a tone that was almost
impolite:
Would you leave an order for shoes ut 50
late an hour"
NO replied the stranger, mot that.
l must ask your pardon for coming in here
so uncercmoniously, but l was enticed
hither by the lovely music that heard in
the street. "
Sir, what has my sisters singing to dc
with youY" was the brusque rejoinder, and
turning to Marie; "Thore you are nowl
have often told you to keep the window
closed while you are playing or singing"
The slim figure that hitherto had re-
manned mutionless now seemed imbued
with life, and turning to her brother the
young girl said gently
LET me have at least the pleasure OF
the evening nir. You know how / enjoy
It. He who is fsnd of music can have nc
evil intentions"
"That may be So" replied her brother,
somewhat softcned by her gentle words
"But what next"
Turning to the young girl, the stranger
said: You sang just now a song well
known to Inc and well beloved. You alsC
played sonata and played it extremely
well. win you perhaps give me permis
siOn-pardon the boldness-to play this
very sonata over to you again.
''Ho, no, that's better still, burst forth
the shoemaker. What next, should like