The Washington herald., 1910-05-29

tive theme. alike beneath the sun and the
fog"
But. far more often, Mr.. BretwiIIer dld
not 90 out. In the streets his tall. bent
figure was seldom seen. unless It were on
saints days. half an hour before service
and half an hour afterward. He walked
along. already improvising, possessed by
the idea which developed itself exuber-
| antly IN these moments Of exaltation.
He saw no one, bowed TO no one, and did
not know that he had reached his desti-
nation until suddenly the shadow close
70 the Roman walls Of the cathedral
! made him raise his head. Then. going
IN by a door Of which he alone possessed
the key ne mounted the organ gallery.
seated himself threw a terrible glance at
the blower and played a few chords,
with his hand and his foot, 70 test him
self Then. the time having come, he
abandoned himself 10 the charm Of his
composition. a charm which, alas. was
confined 20 himself He ives no longer
! bowed down, but erect solemn. happy.
The only person who disturbed him in
these joyful hours was Catbise, the chapel
master who responded TO him with the
little choir organ; Catbise who played
the chants, pure Southerner. and OF the
blond kind which never knows self-dis-
trust. This Catbise. who had not COM
posed even waltz, delighted his au-
d!ence with preludes. sorrowful airs with
foWe-y TyrotioAs. fearful strains mingled
with Tyroean warblings, the art, in fact,
of the li;tle Italians who smlUnglv play
the violin in the streets. Bretwiller exc
Grated him. all the more so because once
or twice a year a certain worthy canon.
who had no thought OF nI-Wiu, would
come 70 him and say: How you master
your organ, Mr.. BretwiIler, What a pity
that you are not always clear! See 1lr.
Cat5ise, a young man with a great future.
There IS a man whom one can easily un-
derstand, and whom one can follow with
! out fatigue
Catherine consoled her father for the
injustice Of men. She was the true cause
Of this sacrificed life. II YOU could have
penetrated the secret Of that artists soul.
YOU would have seen what no one knew,
not even Catherine herself: that il he
remained in that southern land so rebel
J l0Is 10 his art il was not IN order TO
! secure the triumph Of his favorite COM
posers or Of his own works. but 10 save
Catherine, who had been sickly from her
childhood A physician, in whom Bret
8iler had confidence. had said. IF she
leaves the south before she is twenty
five years old she viii not live" lie
waited. watching with a growing hope
the restoration of this child. who had
neither strength nor beauty. From year
Io year ne observed new favorable symp-
toms. She had a faint color in her
cheeks. She walked more firmly. Her
voice assumed without effort the grave
. fuiuess which indicates a robust life.
Would she live? And could they both
leave the valley Of the Rhone. and make
their Hay 90 the north; she. after having
passed her early youth. he. before his
aLal old age2 When she sang De said
aloud What Q Joy 20 he so understood.
What "a queen Of high art you are At
the same time he thought. we viii
leave them all, these lovers Of faran-
dC,es, ] win take you far away You
We're almost sentenced 20 death. and now
life smiles Ep0n you"
Twenty-three. tWenty-f0ur. twenty-five!
She -ad reached her Jneuty-dfth birth
day Bretwillsr only sought an occasion,
and the occasion came 20 him without MS
suspectinC il. The rUmor spread through
the city that Catbise had composed
mass in sol minor for the approaching
solemnity OF Easter. At first the organ
list did not believe IT,
Il was true. however When he re-
ceived the score from the priests hands
. a rage took possession Of tho organst:
rage in which there entered musical
passion and great deal Of Jealousy.
The priest said.
You VIII accompany Mr.. Catbise's
mass on the little organ, viii you not,
dear Mr BretwiUer? He viii conduct"
NO. sir. only accompany that which
exists Catblse does not exist"
His resignation followed on the same
day. The organist wrote IL offhand.
without hesitation, without emotion He
was free, he could return 10 the North
and realize his dream of twenty-five
years. Only twenty-five years IS a great
age for a dream.
AS he came down the street from the
Cathedral he went into the shop OF a
man who sold hot cakes. He used to
buy one every Sunday, as he went home
from the great organ.
"Adieu, Mr.. Nessaguet"
Don't you mean an revoir?''
no. adieu."
He did not explain himself for he was
affected. He felt the curiosity Of a for
I'D
wanted TO see during all his life there
He observed the houses. measured with
his eye the trees on the avenues. reCog-
nized the passers by, and saluted them
with a slow gesture which followed them.
When he came in front OF HIS garden
hedge he saw a pOmegranate blossom
which had just opened. Il shall regret
that he said He went along between
the borders Of violets which were so
fragrant every morning when he settled
himself at his piano, and he went past
the grape-arbors which he visited so
gladly in the autumn, until he came 70
his daughter. feeling less proud than he
had expected TO feel She had already
approved Of everything. She had more
things TO regret than he had: but. after
all, since he was so eager to leave the
country
Bretwiller was aStonished 10 find that
he was held by so many ties 10 a land
which he destested. His nature was IN
sistent. He loved TO go 10 the bottom
Of questions. He said.
What matters It 10 US, here or
there? We shall carry with us our hap
piness, my little Catherine, our dear in
timacy which is everything 10 US"
Undoubtedly"