Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-11-24

could barely see the white streak OF
keys through the haze that covered
his eyes. Then he began TO beat his
feet on the ground to bring back the
blood to them, and the sound, coupled
with the music and the wine fumes
that were encirlclinghis brain, Great
ed fantastic pictures before his imag-
ination. Beat! Beat, Baet. He
saw crowd marching. could hear in
every beat the tramp of thousands OF
feet; the fierce passion on their faces
urged him on.
Then, just as the dawn broke and
crept through the curtains, melody
and words together rushed through
his head like a torrent beyond re.
straint. And, when he had PLAYED
the song through. his head dropped
and the music paused.
Three hours later, when little Vic
lette came into the room to draw the
curtains, she found him lying at the
foot of the clavichord, one hand still
resting on the mute keys. And in
his sleep he smiled.
II.
When De Lisle awoke the SUNLIGHT
OF morning was streaming through
the window full into his face. He
started up. dazed expression in his
eyes. Then he passed his hand
YEARLY over his face.
81 think I must have slept" he said
alphabetically.
do you wonder at that, moneiourc"
Violette asked. And he saw that hor
eyes were riveted on the wine stains
on the floor. 1t takes a strong head
to stand a flagon of good wine"
He shrank back, and sitting down
on the stool watched her. He c0ud
find no words for answer; he was con
scious only of his own shame.
The next moment Dietrich himself
entered. There was smile on his
face, and crossing the room he pu;
his hand on De Isles shoulder.
AT exactly twenty minutes rast
this morning France was saved he
said Il heard it. lay awake in
fever of uspense-waiting waiting.
waiting. At last it came, the mel
ody that will stir all France. Then
slept, even as your music died
away. In my dreams | saw the PEG
pie rising as if with one accord to
overthrow tyranny. And you were
leading them on, you were at their
head-you with that song. saw tho
dawn of a great republic. Come, let
lis hear the chant again.
De Lisle stepped across to the claw
chord, and, running his fingers over
the keys, struck at once into one of
the most soul stirring refrains the
world has ever known. Little VIC
lette, crouching in the window,
bowed her head in awe, for. as he
played, De Isle began to sing in his
rich tenor voice the words he had
composed to it. Once or twice Diet
rick raised his eyes as if in gratitude
to providence for such heaven born
music; then he would interlace his
fingers, and at each Tilt of the pas
sionate notes clinch them so tightly
that the nails bit into the flesh. At
last, his eyes wet with tears, he crept
from the room.
The music ceased, and De Lisle, ris-
ing from the instrument, looked stead
tasty at Violette. Then he went to-
wards her with outstretched hands.
Last night | was a beast of the
field" he said. yet that song was
the result. Why should a drunken
debauch be sanctifed with such mus
ic as that? have no excuse to make.
! came to offer YOU my love, the true
love of my heart and soul, and now
am more conscious of my own worth
lessness than | have ever been be-
fore"
He had drawn a little away from
her, but she rose and stood before
him.
Have you never thought" he said,
chat genius like yours might lead
you to the heights of fame were it
not for that one failing? | admire
you, and-yes, in spite of your fault
N'PNCb Sob. hllC"ihS NuiS, anu Dt-
carse l ask it, will you not try for one
year, twelve short months, to cut
yourself aloof from the winecup?"
His face Frightened into a smile of
hone
"And if I did, little Violette, and
then at the end of that time asked
you to give me what so freely be
stow unon vou-mv deenest, truest
love-what would you say?"
''If you stopped to do me such an
honor, | could give you but one an
Swer. You have a natural talent for
music, which should make you great; |
but, ignoring this entirely, if you were
able to make such conquest over |
self, should consider you the noblest, |
greatest man that ever lived"
81 can" he said, because you ask
Il. And then But bark What is /
all this still in the sfreet?"
He ran to the window, and looking |
nut, saw the crowd gathering below .