Show NOT rr ter ALL MOSS X- - authority than any man in Italy” laughed Fred termentinglr “ Ah! Signor Waiter did not sowed You could play many a part lib disgrace your rank and family more than by illustrating the works of genius’ the composer remarked Hut on the stage of public life Signor Maestro?’ ‘Do not nobles then Signor Walter appear on public stages? Believe me young man genius has a higher title than social rank and art degrades no man — not even a King’ replied this illusdriuusson of genius proudly Doubtless Spontini was right and even nobles and princes have endorsed his claims for Spontini ?” “ I know no secret of theory Signor D’Lacy that Walter shares not and I can do nothing he cannot do: He has iucked my art from mo as you would the juice from an orange He blends the genius of my country with the Were irresistible character of his own he in the professional arena with his gifts and Napoleonic impetuosity embodied in music Spontini would have to give place to his pupil” You are unjust to yourself mclestro though your opinion is very gratifying to my vanity” “ 1 have said it child Rome hears the impassionate soul of Terese burstRome bows to the ening into song chantress 1 see her take her powers from her magician Not more could that overture have been Walter’s had ho and not Terese composed it” “Nay nay Terese has genius and one of nature’s voices That is not my gift” “ Still your soul inspires her” Thee Terese will not fail for Walter’s nvy'ito is I never fail!” added Fred still pursuing his playful persecution 44 By the blessed Virgin I hope she svill not !” exclaimed Spontiui with the same anxious manner marked by D’- his class by their companionship with men of rare talents and their profound homage paid to the rnonarchs of art Th e second scene had commenced in which Tense appeared It represented his first meeting with the ‘ Peasant Girl’ in the beautiful Italian village which her birth ingly said The subject and moral of the opera Altar !’ Shall she there be another exainplegiven that the divine fires which blazes to the illumination of forth genius the world has been kindled'for her own sacrifice? Will the offering be accepted yet not consumed? Will the child be spared? Oh! Signor W alter Signor Walter it is you who must give the judgment ! You are to our Terese as the voice of fate to night!’ Spontini turned to watch the progress of the piece leaving Walter to answer as he designed in the deep silence and feeling of his own soul Nor was there one in the house who followed the development of the piece more intently than Walter Templar lie entered into the powerful impersonation of Terese in her character of ‘ The Feasant Girl’ felt the fulness of her tender pathos and heard with inexpressible emotion the irresistible pleadings of a soul for its mate and the idolatry of the human heart for its ‘ Lacy is ‘ Genius upon the be consumed? Shall When the prima donna appeared the house sent up such an exclamation of welcome which none but the passionate enthusiastic children of sunny Italy could give Doubtless Terese felt the electrifying thrill of the applause but as she came to io foreground to give the first solo touches her eyes sought the box in which £at her master and the two young Englishmen There was her world If she won not him who was to her the soul of nil things however great Rome might declare her success to her it would be failure most agonising She cared not though that whole house cast her otF so she was taken to the heart of that solitary box There was the resting place she sought — there would she rest forever as the heaven to which her longing soul soared on the wings of love If she reach it not the universe will he to her a blank “Signor Spontini how denominate you the opera ” interogated Walter as the prima donna concluded her opening idoL From their first meeting Walter was personated with Terese throughout the opera lie was her primo tenore represented by another llis very thoughts sentiments and character were interpreted and his own history blended with hers As Spontini had remarked of the overture 60 with the opera Walter's part would not have been more his own had he composed it and he soon fully understood the voices of love which lie had of the heard in the overture prophesying ’ drarua of ‘The Feasant Girl s life The strain which she sang at their first meeting was sweetly mournful the same excepting the scientific dressing as when lie heard it gushing spontaneous from airia As does the in your programme band” answered the composer drily “But the subject? the character? the plot ? the issue?” “ It is an history growing out of a passo many gave The 13y Heaven ! our first meeting subject of the opera is her own history !’ ejaculated Sir Walter bounding with his impulsive instinctiveness into the opening plot ‘ UTuph! Is that very wonderful to you JSignor Walter ?’ queried Spontini IKo !’ he replied strongly and sharply like onesuddeuly awakened to powerful interest too intense for conversation Spontini laid his hand upon Sir Walter's arm and impressively and plead- tot toral episode” “ But there are -r- little piqued 1 think Spontini and Terese could have been bought over Walter’ put in Fred II ow?’ he asked ‘Had you accepted an engagement as her primo tenor e’ ‘Preposterous! Fred has rated the price of your confidence too high Spon-tini- ’ understand Spontini’s words as he soon will” said the composer mysteriously I have heard the maestro say” again put in Fred provokingly “ that this ungrateful friend of mine has the best voice in Italy” “ I cry you mercy D’Lacy !” “Siguor D’Lacy is right Walter Holy mother I never knew the English had voices until I heard yours” “ A first class composer too Eh ‘ r- a Which one Spontini ?” “ That of the Peasant Girl ! Sdb your programme child” ‘ Now Maestro don't jest with our ini patience I do think you and Terese lmve christened the opera bo puzzle us Gome come what part does she play V’ Iter own ’the composer replied still ’ evasively ‘ Very satisfactory said Wal- 4 :lv rv-- It yt was as the he gifted nniien s soul to hear yearning of a daughter theof 4Zion Comfort ye the prophetic voice of comfort e my peopled As if in answer to the Hebrew maiden's strain the comforter was near! Walter was he! lie saw in the operatic mirror the leading episodes of their life since that first A new revelation flashed bemeeting fore him in the transformation change from gratitude to the dearest sentiment of the heart — the birth otlovo inTerese’s ll soul — the of a woman’s life The last scene was powerfully moving and full of the most touching pathos It was love clinging to her idol and pleading with irresistible voice! Genius was upon the altar offering herself to her ! demi-goWould he accept the offer ing or would she he consumed by her fires The audience was left own divine d to imagine the issue which nil But Te- would give as happy rose must wait for her fate to speak the issue The great voice of applause which Rome sent up proclaimed her triumph as an a stisle and composer but none only those concerned knew that the opera Genius had concealed her own history W ould the woconquered ’the public man prevail with her beloved ? From the private door of the opera house an elegant carriage was just starting hearing Spontini and Terese to their beautiful villa on the suburbs of the city Sir Walter and Lord Frederick usually accompanied them but now they bid good night tojdie maestro aud his pupil ‘It is a beautiful evening Spontini Fred and I will indulge in the luxury of a walk home’ said Sir W alter himself to hide the powerful emotions which made every nerve of his system quiver 'strong but high-strunIt was the first words he had spoken since the startling revelation of the prima donna's love first burst upon him they broke a heavy spell and acted upon him like the first bursting sob from a woman’s overflowing grief — not however in the language of a woman’s gush of nature — tears but that of proud powerful naturedtuon — his soul bursting into vocal utterance ‘ 0 Terese Terese !’ he exclaimed as he seized her hand iu a grip so strong in the intensity of his feelings which would have made hm cry out with pain had not her emotion been as great as his ‘0 Walter Walter!’ came iu reply in tones as from a human soul trembling on the brink of its perdition and crying to her only one with power to save ‘ he said in a choked dear Terese! I must voice ‘ of chaos in pass this night y Walter handed Terese into the carri- age almost iu a state of unconsciousness and she shrank into the corner like a poor frightened fluttering dove She was glad to be alone with her master as was Walter with his triend But no conversation passed between the young Englishmen on their way home A 'firm warm grasp of the hand between the friends told in silence of confidence and sympathy When they reached home Fred retired to bed without any exchange of thoughts with Walter who under strong emo- tious or great revolutions of miud ro- -' sembled sable night into whose dark profounds you look with wonder and awe There were times when this picture of night which he saw in his friend’s character made him tremble' and ha would hide it in a summer prospect" (TO BE COXTLNUKIL) |