Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-11-25
THE DESERTED HOUSE.


extreme end OF tue fauDoufg SAINT ~
main. and AUDITING on one Of those mag
niacent bouleyards. which spread on, from
the invaiiles. 1t was one Of those rare
Partisan spots. IN which there was not a
single shop. ard. indeed. | know OF none
more tranquil. Several gardens. whose
long, low walls were oyergrown with vines
and shrubs. filled the deserted street with
the faint odor OF lllacs IN May and the
delicious perfume OF elder trees aud acacias
In June. When a porte coehere opened to
permit Of the passage OF a coupe or
landau. tn stroller (whose ochong foot
steps moment ago was the only audible
sound on the pavemunO caught a glimpse
Of 4 pebbsd roadway. bordered by yoke
elms. which turned brusquely toward the
house. hidden among the trees. No more
solitary OF aristocratic corner was TO be
found In Paris.
At the time n which speak single
house IN this peaceful street could be seen
by sllmpses through the iron work OF
Rocco" grating copied after the famous
wrought; iron chef d'oeuvre. which deco
rates the Place stanlsleus at Nancy. but
without the gliding OF the latter aud Of
much smaller dimensions. ! never passed
by without stopping a moment to admire
the trimly-kept grass plot. overshadowed
by a sllvery linden tree; the charming
facade Of pavilion in the Louis XVIII
style. composed OF req dc chausce Of ex-
quiaite pFoportions with Its graceful flights
OF steps. It's high windows. with diamond
shaped panes and It's peaked roof. above
which the tops Of some high trees. led one
to suppose a park was behind tho house.
Thore were no out houses or servants
halls. Nothing but this nest hidden in the
foliage.
You could not gsze on this little nest
without thinking chow happy one would
be here. solus cum sola. with grande
pasaion!" was young then. and when
the setting sun filtered through the
branches Of the linden tree. cast an lncend-
airy reflection on The windows Of this
charming house and illuminated the flower
beds OF garanlum and cinnbar. scattered
among the groups OF trees on the lawn. |
very often abandoned myself to those fall
laclous arguments which makes a man uu-
happy by persuadlng him That where he
Is not. happiness dbldes."
The pavilion was inhabited. The garden
laid out In flower beds and Kept With most
scrupulous care. gave ample evidence OF
that The chlmueys in winter sent
their gray smoke heayenward. and
a subdued lamp light could be
discerned behind the cl0sely-drawn heavy
window hangings Several times had
seen an OLD servant in dark livery coming
out or going in By the door In the grille. OF
clrcumspsct, one might almost say sus-
pieous moan should have gained moth
ing by questioning him. Besides what |
right had ] TO lntrune upon the privacy OF
these people2 ! respected their secret /
aud the snigmadcal dwelling only exercised
a more potent attraction for me,
One night in July, 1t was suallngly no,
and 4 heavy sky hung overhead: / was |
home about IL O'Clock. and as
| had mechanically fallen into the habit. / .
turned out Of my way In order to pass by .
my mysterious pavilion. The little street. in
which three very scattered gas lamps .
Jared up In the oyerhelted atmosphere. was
absolutely deserted Not a leaf stirred on tho |
trees In the gardens, That evening nature |
was buahed With the overwhelming calm |
which precedes Storm
| had reached the pavilion when a fev
chords struck on the plano. evidently com |
Ing from there, rang out on the m1tlonless
alr. perceived then that, for the first
time Slice ! had become Interested IN
the house. on account Of the extraordinary
heat doubtless two windows were half open.
but In such a manner as not TO permit Of
any one catching glimpse OF the interior
and sud1en'y a woman's voice, a soprano |
OF marvellous ewe1tuess and range, burst
forth IN the silence OF the night. She sanp
a short melody OF weird rhythm and nosf
touching melancholy. which | lnstlnctiyeiy
OWNED to be a popular air. one Of those
gems OF savage music which Is never gath
cred In the gardens rakad over BY pro-
iesaional Maestri Yes 1t was surely
t1ap r1Haf HINsr hsN 80 IA
not understand the language In which the
words were sung. Nevertheless, | rec
ogui2od the plaintive inspiration OF tbe
sad Northern genius. The air was touch
Ing. the voice sublime. The song lasted bu,
a few moments but never In all my NE
Experienced s. deep musical sensation,
and for some time after the song had
ceased, the las. note Of the melody. SO
shrlll, SO penetrating. so doleul. only to BE-
20 a long wall OF suffering, vi
Drated within me
Some days later IN the Casino, at Dieppe.
was taking part musical discussion
with some friends Of mine | extolled popu-
lar melodies as those which appealed most
10 the hesrt. and, TO strengthen my theory
related my adventure.
"Do you remember this aIr?" I asked
Prince x, young Russian. with whom
am sun on the trlendllest terms, 81 shall
i'fN' iWhNN ~ 9ilu tAflte1lE. aud
lummed II for him as we'll as | could.
We'll replied the young Prince. "you
AN truly boast, my dear sir, Of having en-
oyed rare treat. That melody is a sons
y tue Dronthelm sail1rs, very popular Ia
Norway. and the admirable voice y5u hoard
It belongs to the stolbsrg. who
wo years ago, when she made her debut ~
81. Petersburg, drove us ali crazy: stols
Berg. who had the cOntre-pa' OF her COM
patriot, Nilsson and who would have be.
ONE one OF the greatest singers on m
century had she not been suddenly ,nr,
rom art the Stage and every success hy
Ter love for Count Basile T.obanof nv con,-
'ade In arms, both OF US being cprneftes ~
'dNairy. Yes Tor Two years we have heard
lothlng 81 Basie. He sent in his rsstg-
iation. left Russia without saying fareweii
o any one. and we only knew. IN a v.gwa
way, that he was hidden In Paris with IN.
wife tfor he was mad enough TO marry bars
3u1 we were all Ignorant Of his piaee ~
iealed Il to u.s." law 'e-
And ] cried, this wonderful ar,,., -
bounced all for lovegr re-
Say rather for a passion r.,,t., Al,
'rin 9 Though Sun young. the stolbere
iad nsa her snare OF adulstlon. was nrsss
ns that evening that Bash, who NM,
GU YOU, Is as handsome as yourg rod. wos
lresentei q her II was IKE a sfroia -
ishtning; ne was wild over her an5 ~
vas completely Infatuated with him II. ~
anne intensely Jealous Of her--iesIous ~ ~
'uhiic when she sang. lie occunje5 me .ne
eat every nigat. and at every round Of ~