Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-07-29

49,
the house and get the score. know
where it isl
In the evening when Arnold came
Beth told him that she had the manu-
script Of his music.
Il am not in the mood to play it to-
night he said, hesitating.
'You are not to play it." interposed
Beth. II have heard it in all it's differ
ent stages of composition, and have it
at my fingers ends.'
She seated herself at the piano and
commenced playing. She was not an
artist in the rendering of instrumental
music, but she had great power of ex-
preston and wonderful faculty of in
terpreting the composers thoughts.
There was power and strength in
the opening bars which melted into a
brilliant vivacity of execution and then
finally glided into soft, reflective minor
strains. From this was evoked phan-
tasmagoria Of all the human passions.
Dark, fierce, turbid dreams, an impas-
stoned recitatiye, a thrilling tragedy,
graceful, insinuating subtlety of
thought, song of peace, joy, sorrow
all were expressed in the tenderness Of
melody refined and subdued. The theme
was noble, the composition strong, the
emotion genuine and the intensity dra-
matte.
The grandeur of the work was soft
ened and made human by an exquisite
ly beautiful strain that from a back
ground of sustained harmony ever &C.
Cured
When the last note died away there
was a momentary silence like that
which follows a benediction. Edith's
face was ablaze with passion.
''The music divine" she said in low
tone.
Arnold rose and crossed the room,
his face pale with excitement and agi-
tation.
"Tell me-" he said to Edith, and
there was something in his voice that
made her heart beat quickly, what
you think of it."
''It is hard to dissect such music as
that" she replied softly. There was
color tone in every note. I felt as
If I were in vast garden of flowers,
overcome by thousand scents.
Arnold looked at her curiously
II did not know" he said, shat you
were poetic or imaginative, nor did
dream" turning to Beth, shat your
fingers could be so expressive"
81 have sat in the dark many a time
listening to you as you played it," she
said. Il could have played it from
memory without the notes. It Is Ar
mold himself" she murmured in an
aside to Edith, arnold as he let's no
one see him. He composed it In bro
ken fragments, one day snatch Of
gay melody, then weird little cadenZa
or a dainty gavot according to his
mood, but always he played a most
beautiful little melody that seemed to
be ever with him. The song Of the
heart, NIGHT wahr? Then he blended
all these compositions so skillfully
that beautiful and complete harmony
resulted"
"Beth," laughed Arnold, you are a
very precocious childv'
The precocious child gave further
evidence Of her claim to the appella-
ton by asserting that the music had
its charms when heard at distance in
the dark
eff you and Edith will retire to the
little reading room I will play it again
and convince you / am right" she
said.
They acted upon her suggestion. and
Beth again rendered the passionate
music, smiling softly to herself.
81 fancy this time," she unused, ''that
Miss Wilmot will imagine herself in
a garden Of love instead Of a garden
Of flowers"
When she had finished the compost
ton her hands wandered idly over the
keys in fragments of melody.
When they entered the music room
Beth looked up quickly, and then. with
a mischievous laugh, burst into
grand, triumphant wedding march.
There was half whimsical, wholly
loving expression in Edith's eyes as
she kissed the young girl
"You are dear girlr' she murmured.
"And a good guesser?' she Queried.
'Such a good guesser, Beth, that you
shall sing at our wedding!'