The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1903-06-12
.Good Lord" I calculated in dis

For having coIlc 10 ILLS 49,"
southern town to spend the winter
quietly compiling and classifying data
for a work / was engaged on. l eN-
pected to spend most of my mornings
and evenings in the study L had IN
structed Harris to have fitted up Tor
me.
That was before l was aware of the
musician next door. Well, If he gave
music lessons, playing beside Beetho-
ven and Bach by the hour, L would
simpl. have to move out, that was al
there was 10 it.
And vet. these spacious old rooms
remodeled and so graciously remlms-
cent of times and days loag past. had
taken a strong hold on my fancy. ana
| would certainly leave them with re-
greet.
Il think the old gentleman goes out
to give his lessons. sir. l see nm
PASS with his violin case every day.
Harris explained, lighting the candles
| nIaced in bronze candelabra against
| the wall.
/ insisted on their being used, be-
cause the light mingled pleasant!
with the gas and softened IT,
Who cares for any but the old mas
| ters. If once familiar with their SUD
lime Inspirations, thought. iaziiy en-
| loving the glorious strains.
| Monsieur Daubert's sonatas carried
me pleasantly back to HeldeiDnrg
and Leipsic. and my university Gays
and in the light curl of smoke. gong
nm from nv cigar to the faded Tres
| Goes of the ceiling. l seemed to see
the laughing face of a certain niue
baroness. who certainly taught me
more and better German than the
| professors did.
Rach and Handel. and those days OF
| xouthful love and folly. and the light
| hearted ioy all came back on the rip
ping notes.
1t was late when Monsieur Daubert
closed his Erard with bang. Brush
ing away the pleasant old memories
and getting up from my easy CHAIR,
prepared to follow his example ano
60 to bed.
aft won't be so unendurable.
thought. the moonlight sonata still
| ringing in my ears. provided NJ
| doesn't give music lessons.
| Things never turn out as they ar
expected to, which of course makes
the surprises of joy and ansuisi
which go to make up human exist
ence.
I unconsciously grew to wait i'm
patiently for those pleasant evenin;
hours of practice on the piano by m
rcxt-door neighbor.
1t seemed to me when L had live
for some months in my beautiful oil
) rooms. from whose balcony distan
glimpse of crowded shipping alon
the river front was visible. and int
whose recesses the wind waite
scents of sweet olive and other winte
blossoms from square nearby, a
the early spring came, and the dooI
on the balcony were thrown open.
D grew to imagine l could read tn
character of my neighbor. the mi
stefan, in the touch on the Keyboard
and by his wonderful interpretatio
of the thoughts. heart-beats and sui
lime aspirations, US expressed in IL
music he drew in SO mastery and p
: thetic a fashion from the instrumen
which talked and plead and wept al
dreamed strange dreams. under h
touch.
Yes, ! could read it all distinct
There was deep intensity of feelin
{ grand aspirations. pathetic sorro'
and a gentleness almost feminine, al
vet a bold-spirited decision in n
artist neighbor which betrayed
y character of infinite capacities al
loveableness.
Harris. take this note over al
Is wait for an answer. l hope Mr.. Da
q bert will dine with me this evening
When he came it seemed bt
3 lesque on my romantic reading of
4 character, to see what an insignifica
= man Mr.. Daubert really was. althou
X refined and remarkably good-lookiI
There was neither strength II
= purpose in his face, but he was we
:: bred and pleasant. laughed secret
" al my absurd Interpretation of ina
nary characteristics because the SIX
full technique of trained musici
= interpreted correctly some splent
pages of music.
Monsieur Daubert grew flushed a
decidedly voluble, and enjoyed
Yquem and Roederer Harris pour
all to literally in the glasses. He
came communicative when coffee a
liquors were placed on the table, a
Harris went out.
u 1T was sad to be a poor fellt
lls playing nightly in an orchestra. WI
n formerly there had been so mi
81 wealth. His manner was that of
=. ancestor, Jean Pierre Sauveur d.
IN bert, and there was a marquis
ne coming to him by rights. in the
- Dauphine province of France.
How had it all vanished? We
al circumstances-and then after
RI young wife's death--une ange
g beaute.-he had been reckless
~ foolish. les, Monsieur Daubert hi
III bly, acknowledged that he had. in
despair. plunged into speculation
d. dissipation. Was he not excusabie