,,unfinished ,,portraits     ,,books    
,,by ,,the ,,same ,,author    ,,kate    
,,wetherill   ,a ,,pillar ,,of ,,salt   
,,the ,,son ,,of ,a ,,fiddler   ,,uncle 
,,william   ,,simeon ,,tetlow',s        
,,shadow   ,,happy ,,island   ,,mr4     
,,achilles   ,,the ,,taste ,,of ,,apples
   ,,the ,,woman ,,in ,,the ,,alcove    
,,aunt ,,jane   ,,the ,,ibsen ,,secret  
,,the ,,symphony ,,play                 
,illustration3 ,the great picture       
gathered to itself shape1 and glowed4   
,page #bec            ,,unfinished      
,,portraits    ,,stories ,,of           
,,musicians ,,and ,,artists             
,,by            ,,jennette ,,lee        
,schubert    ,titian       ,chopin      
,giorgione       ,bach        ,leonardo 
,albrecht ,drer     ,,new ,,york3       
,,charles ,,scribner',s ,,sons          
#aiaf       ,copyright1 #aiaf1 by       
,charles ,scribner's ,sons              
,published ,september1 #aiaf            
,,to         ,,gerald ,,stanley ,,lee   
,,and      ,,the ,,great ,,road ,,that  

,,leads     ,,from ,,the ,,seen ,,to    
,,the ,,unseen     ,,contents           
,,page      ,there ,was in ,florence a  
,lady                        #a         
,thumbs and ,fugues                     
#bi      ,a ,window of ,music           
#gi      ,frederic ,chopin--,a ,record  
#ace      ,the ,man ,with the ,glove    
#aea      ,the ,lost ,monogram          
#bjg     ,,there ,,was ,,in ,,florence  
,a ,,lady     ,i   ,the soft wind of an 
,italian spring stirred among the leaves
 outside4 ,the windows of the studio1   
left open to the morning air1 were      
carefully shaded4 ,the scent of mulberry
 blossoms drifted in4 ,the chair on the 
model-stand1 adjusted to catch the      
light1 was screened from the glare2 and 
the light falling on the rich drapery   
flung across its back brought out a dull
 carmine in the slender1 bell-shaped    
flowers near by1 and dark gleams of old 
oak in the carved chair4 ,the chair was 
empty2 but the two men in the studio    
were facing it1 as if a presence were   

still there4  ,the painter1 sketching   
idly on the edge of his drawing-board1  
leaned back to survey the child's head  
that developed under his pencil4 ,she   
will not come this morning1 then8 he    
asked almost indifferently4  ,the older 
man shook his head4 ,she said not4 ,she 
may change her mind4  ,the painter      
glanced up quickly4 ,he could see       
nothing in the face of the other1 and he
 devoted himself anew to the child's    
head4 ,it does not matter1 he said4 ,i  
can work on the background--if ,i feel  
like working at all1 he added1 after a  
moment's pause4  ,the older man stared  
moodily at the floor4 ,he flicked a pair
 of long riding-gloves lightly through  
his fingers4 ,he glanced toward the     
easel standing in front of the painter1 
a little to the left4 ,it is barbarous  
that you have had to waste so much time6
 he broke out4 ,how long is it8         
,two--no1 three years last ,christmas   
time since you began4 ,and there it     
stands4 ,the figure on the easel1 erect1

 tranquil1 in the old chair1 seemed to  
half shrug its shapely shoulders in     
defense of the unfinished face4 ,he     
looked at it severely4 ,the severity    
changed to something else4 ,and it is so
 perfect--damnably perfect1 he said     
irritably4  ,the artist raised his      
eyebrows the least trifle4 ,a movement  
so slight might have indicated scrutiny 
of his own work4 ,you are off for the   
day8 he asked1 glancing at the          
riding-whip and hat on a table by the   
door4  ,yes2 ,i shall run up1 perhaps1  
as far as ,pistoia4 ,going to see the   
new altarpiece4 ,he took up the hat and 
whip4 ,he waited1 fingering them        
indecisively4 ,she seems to me more     
fickle than ever1 this last month or    
two4  ,i see that she is restless4 ,the 
painter spoke in a low tone1 half       
hesitating4 ,i have wondered whether--,i
 had hoped that the ,bambino--he touched
 the figure lightly with his foot--might
 not be needed4  ,the other started4 ,he
 stared at him a full minute4 ,his eyes 

fell4 ,no1 no such good luck1 he said   
brusquely4 ,it is only caprice4  ,the   
draperies near him parted4 ,a boyish    
figure appeared in the opening4 ,castino
 wishes me to say that the musicians    
wait1 said the youth4  ,the painter rose
 and came toward him1 a smile of        
pleasure on his face4 ,tell them that   
there will be no sitting to-day1 ,salai1
 he said1 laying his hand1 half in      
greeting1 half in caress1 on the youth's
 shoulder4  ,yes1 ,signor4 ,salai       
saluted and withdrew4  ,the painter     
turned again to the older man4 ,it was a
 happy thought of yours1 ,zano--the     
music4 ,she delights in it4 ,i almost   
caught1 one day last week1 while they   
were playing1 that curve about the lips4
  ,they stood for a moment in silence1  
looking toward the portrait4 ,the memory
 of a haunting smile seemed to flicker  
across the shaded light4  ,well1 ,i am  
off4 ,the man held out his hand4  ,the  
artist hesitated a second4 ,then he     
raised the hand in his supple fingers   

and placed it to his lips4 ,a safe      
journey to you1 ,signor1 he said1 in    
playful formality4  ,and a safe return1 
to find our ,lady ,lisa in better       
temper1 laughed the other4 ,the laugh   
passed behind the draperies4  ,the      
artist remained standing1 his eyes      
resting absently on the rich colors of  
the ,venetian tapestry through which his
 friend had disappeared4 ,his face was  
clouded with thought4 ,he had the look  
of a man absorbed in a problem1 who has 
come upon an unexpected complication4   
,when the chess-board is a ,florentine  
palace1 and the pieces are              
fifteenth-century human beings1 such    
complications are likely to occur4 ,the 
,lady ,lisa had more than once given    
evidence that she was not carved of wood
 or ivory4 ,but for three years the     
situation had remained the same--the    
husband unobservant1 the lady capricious
 and wilful4 ,she had shown the artist  
more kindness than he cared to recall4  
,that was months ago4 ,of late he had   

found scant favor in her sight4444 ,it  
was better so4  ,he crossed to the      
easel1 and stood looking down at it4    
,the quiet figure on the canvas sent    
back a thrill of pride and              
dissatisfaction4 ,he gazed at it        
bitterly4 ,three years--but an eternal  
woman4 ,some day he should catch the    
secret of her smile and fix it there4   
,the world would not forget her--or him4
 ,he should not go down to posterity as 
the builder of a canal6 ,the great      
picture at the ,dominicans already      
showed signs of fading4 ,the equestrian 
statue of the ,duke was crumbling in its
 clay--no one to pay for the casting4   
,but this picture----,for months--with  
its rippling light of under sea1 its    
soft dreamy background1 and in the      
foreground the mysterious figure4444    
,all was finished but the ,child upon   
her arm1 the smile of light in her eyes4
  ,the lady had flouted the idea4 ,it   
was a fancy of her husband's1 to paint  
her as ,madonna4 ,she had refused to    

touch the ,bambino--sometimes           
petulantly1 sometimes in silent scorn4  
,the tiny figure lay always on the      
studio floor1 dusty and disarranged4    
,the artist picked it up4 ,it was an    
absurd little wooden face in the lace   
cap4 ,he straightened the velvet mantle 
and smoothed the crumpled dress4 ,he    
stepped to the model-stand and placed   
the tiny figure in the draped chair4 ,it
 rested stiffly against the arm4  ,a    
light laugh caused him to turn his head4
 ,he was kneeling in front of the       
,bambino4  ,i see that you have supplied
 my place1 ,sir ,painter1 said a mocking
 voice4  ,he turned quickly and faced   
the little doorway4 ,she stood there1   
smiling1 scornful1 her hands full of    
some delicate flimsy stuff1 a gold      
thimble-cap on her finger4 ,it would not
 make a bad picture1 she said           
tranquilly1 you and the ,bambino4  ,his 
face lighted up4 ,you have come6 ,he    
hastened toward her with outstretched   
hand4  ,with a pretty gesture of the    

fragile sewing she ignored the hand4    
,yes1 ,i dared not trust you4 ,you might
 paint in the ,bambino face instead of  
mine1 by mistake4  ,she approached the  
chair and seated herself carelessly4    
,the ,bambino slipped meekly through the
 arm to the floor4  ,zano told me--he   
began4  ,yes1 ,i know4 ,he was very     
tiresome4 ,i thought he would never go4 
,i really feared that we might quarrel4 
,it is too warm4 ,she glanced about the 
shaded room4 ,you manage it well1 she   
said approvingly4 ,it is by far the     
coolest place in the palace4  ,you will 
be going to the mountains soon8 ,he saw 
that she was talking lightly to cover   
herself1 and fell in with her mood4 ,he 
watched her as he arranged the easel and
 prepared his colors4 ,once he stopped  
and sketched rapidly for a minute on the
 small drawing-board4  ,she looked      
inquiry4  ,only an eyebrow1 he          
explained4  ,she smiled serenely4 ,you  
should make a collection of those       
eyebrows4 ,they must mount into the     

hundreds by this time4 ,you could label 
them ',characters of the ,lady ,lisa4'  
,the ,souls of ,lady ,lisa4  ,the lady  
turned her head aside4 ,your            
distinctions are too subtle1 she said4  
,her eye fell on the ,bambino1 resting  
disgracefully on its wooden head4 ,poor 
little figurine1 she murmured1 reaching 
a slender hand to draw it up4 ,she      
straightened the tumbled finery         
absently4 ,it slipped to her lap1 and   
lay there4 ,her hands were idle1 her    
eyes looking far into space4  ,the      
painter worked rapidly4 ,she stirred    
slightly4 ,sit still1 he said1 almost   
harshly4  ,she gave a quick1 startled   
look4 ,she glanced at the rigid little  
figure4 ,she raised it for a minute4    
,her face grew inscrutable4 ,would she  
laugh or cry8 ,he worked with hasty1    
snatched glances4 ,such a moment would  
not come again4 ,a flitting crash       
startled him from the canvas4 ,he looked
 up4 ,the ,bambino lay in a pathetic    
heap on the floor1 scattered with       

fragments of a rare ,venetian glass4    
,she sat erect and imperious1 looking   
with scorn at the wreck4 ,two great     
tears welled4 ,they overflowed4 ,the    
floods pressed behind them4 ,she dropped
 her face in her hands4 ,before he could
 reach her she had darted from the      
chair4 ,the mask of scorn was gone4 ,she
 fled from him1 from herself1 blindly1  
stopping only when the wall of the      
studio intervened4 ,she stood with her  
face buried in the drapery1 her         
shoulders wrenched with sobs4  ,he      
approached her4 ,he waited4 ,the        
,bambino lay with its wooden face       
staring at the ceiling4 ,it was a crisis
 for them all4 ,the next move would     
determine everything4 ,he must not risk 
too much1 again4 ,the picture--art--hung
 on her sobs4 ,lover--artist8 ,he paused
 a second too long4  ,she turned toward 
him slowly1 serenely4 ,her glance fell  
across him1 level and tranquil4 ,the    
traces of ignored tears lay in smiling  
drops on her face4 ,the softened scorn  

played across it4 ,shall we finish the  
sitting8 she asked1 in a conventional   
voice4  ,he took up his brush           
uncertainly4 ,she seated herself1       
gathering up the scattered work4 ,for a 
few moments she sewed rapidly4 ,then the
 soft fabric fell to her lap4 ,she sat  
looking before her1 unconscious1 except 
that her glance seemed to rest now and  
then on the fallen figure in its        
fragments of glass4  ,for two hours he  
worked feverishly1 painting with        
swiftest skill and power4 ,at times he  
caught his breath at the revelation in  
the face4 ,he was too alert to be human4
 ,the artist forgot the woman4          
,faithfully1 line by line1 he laid bare 
her heart4 ,she sat unmoved4 ,when at   
last1 from sheer weariness1 the brush   
dropped from his hand1 she stepped from 
the model-stand1 and stood at his side4 
,she looked at the canvas attentively4  
,the inscrutable look of the painted    
face seemed but a faint reflex of the   
living one4  ,you have succeeded well1  

she said at last4 ,we will omit the     
,bambino4  ,she moved slowly1           
graciously1 toward the door1 gathering  
the fragile sewing as she went4 ,he     
started toward her--suddenly conscious  
of her power--a man again4 ,a parting of
 the draperies arrested them4 ,it was   
,salai1 his face agitated1 looking from 
the lady to the painter1 inarticulate4  
,the ,signor--he gasped--his horse--they
 bring him--dead4  ,she stirred slightly
 where she stood4 ,her eyelids fell4    
,go1 ,salai4 ,await your master's       
commands in the hall below4  ,she turned
 to the painter as the draperies closed4
 ,i trust that you will make all use of 
our service1 ,signor ,leonardo1 in      
removing from the palace4 ,the          
apartments will1 ,i fear1 be needed for 
relatives4 ,they will come to honor the 
dead4  ,he stood for a moment stupefied1
 aghast at her control of practical1    
feminine detail2 then moved toward her4 
,lisa----  ,she motioned toward the     
easel4 ,payment for the picture will be 

sent you soon4  ,the picture goes with  
me4 ,it is not finished4  ,it is well4  
,she bowed mockingly4 ,the little door  
swung noiselessly behind her4 ,he was   
left alone with the portrait4 ,it was   
looking sideways at the fallen ,bambino 
amid the shattered fragments on the     
floor4     ,,ii   ,it was the ,french   
monarch4 ,he fluttered restlessly about 
the studio1 urbane1 enthusiastic4 ,he   
paused to finger some ingenious toy1 to 
praise some drawing or bit of sunlit    
color that caught his fancy4 ,the       
painter1 smiling at the frank           
enthusiasm1 followed leisurely from room
 to room4 ,the wandering ,milanese villa
 was a treasure house4 ,bits of marble  
and clay1 curious mechanical            
contrivances1 winged creatures1 bats and
 creeping things mingled with the       
canvases4 ,color and line ran riot on   
the walls4 ,a few finished pieces had   
been placed on easels1 in convenient    
light1 for the royal inspection4 ,each  
of these1 in turn1 the volatile monarch 

had exalted4 ,he had declared that      
everything in the villa1 including the  
gifted owner1 must return with him to   
,france4  ,that is the place for men    
like you6 he exclaimed1 standing before 
a small1 exquisitely finished ,madonna4 
,what do these ,milanese know of art8   
,or the ,florentines1 for that matter8  
,your ',last ,supper'--,i saw it last   
week4 ,it is a blur4 ,would that the    
sainted ,louis might have taken it      
bodily1 stone by stone1 to our ,france1 
as he longed to do4 ,you will see2 the  
mere copy has more honor with us than   
the original here4 ,come with us1 he    
added persuasively1 laying his hand on  
the painter's shabby sleeve4  ,the      
painter looked down from his height on  
the royal suitor4 ,you do me too much   
honor1 sire4 ,i am an old man4  ,you are
 ,leonardo da ,vinci1 said the other    
stoutly1 the painter of these pictures4 
,i shall carry them all away1 and you   
will have to follow1 laughed the        
monarch4 ,i will not leave one4 ,he     

rummaged gayly in the unfinished dbris1 
bringing out with each turn some new    
theme of delight4  ,the painter stood   
by1 waiting1 alert1 a trifle uneasy1 it 
might seem4 ,and now1 sire1 shall we see
 the view from the little western       
turret8  ,one moment4 ,ah1 what have we 
here8 ,he turned the canvas to the      
light4 ,the figure against the quaint   
landscape looked out with level1 smiling
 glance4 ,he fell upon his knees before 
it4 ,ah1 marvellous1 marvellous6 he     
murmured in nave delight4 ,he remained  
long before it1 absorbed1 forgetful4 ,at
 last he rose4 ,he lifted the picture   
and placed it on an easel4 ,is she yet  
alive8 he demanded1 turning to the      
painter4  ,she lives in ,florence1 sire4
  ,and her name8  ,signora ,lisa della  
,gioconda4  ,her husband8 ,it matters   
not4  ,dead these ten years4  ,and      
children8  ,a boy4 ,born shortly after  
the husband's death1 he added1 after a  
slight pause4 ,shall we proceed to the  
turret8 ,the light changes fast at      

sunset4  ,presently1 presently4 ,the    
portrait must be mine4 ,the             
original--,we shall see--we shall see4  
,nay1 your ,majesty1 the portrait is    
unfinished4  ,unfinished8 ,he stared at 
it anew4 ,impossible4 ,it is perfect4   
,there was to be a child4  ,ah6 ,the    
monarch gazed at it intently for many   
minutes4 ,the portrait returned the     
royal look in kind4 ,he broke into a    
light laugh4 ,you did well to omit the  
child1 he said4 ,come1 we will see the  
famous sunset now4 ,he turned to the    
regal figure on the easel4 ,adieu1 ,mona
 ,lisa4 ,i come for you again4 ,he      
kissed his fingers with airy grace4 ,he 
fluttered out4 ,the mocking1 sidelong   
glance followed him4     ,,iii   ,the   
western sun filled the room4 ,on a couch
 drawn near the low ,french window lay  
the painter4 ,his eyes looked across the
 valley to a long line of poplars1      
silver in the wind4 ,like a strange     
processional1 up the hill1 they held    
him4 ,they came from ,lombardy4 ,in the 

brasier1 across the room1 burned a      
flickering fire4 ,even on the warmest   
days he shivered for sunnier skies4     
,above the fire hung a picture--a woman 
seated in a rock-bound circle1 looking  
tranquilly out upon the world of life4  
,the painter touched a silver bell that 
stood on a table at hand4 ,a figure     
entered4 ,it crossed to the window4 ,the
 face was turned in shadow4 ,it waited4 
,has our good physician gone1           
,francesco8 asked the painter4          
,francesco bowed4 ,there was silence in 
the room except for the fire4  ,what    
does he say of us to-day8  ,the youth   
brushed his hand across his eyes        
impatiently4 ,he always croaks4 ,he is  
never hopeful4 ,he approached the couch 
and knelt by it1 his face in the shadow 
still4  ,the painter lay tranquil1      
watching the poplars4 ,why grieve8 ,an  
exile has not so many joys that he need 
fear to lose them1 ,francesco4  ,the    
younger man made no reply4 ,he was      
adjusting the pillows4 ,he slipped a    

fresh one beneath the long white hair4  
,the locks strayed in a dull silvery    
glimmer over it4  ,ah1 that is good1    
murmured the old man4 ,your hand is like
 a woman's4 ,i have not known many      
women1 he said1 after a pause4444 ,but  
,i have not been lonely4 ,friends are   
faithful--he pressed the youth's warm   
hand4 ,his ,majesty8--the voice ended   
with a question4  ,no1 master4 ,but     
there is yet time4 ,he often comes at   
sunset4 ,see how bright it grows4  ,the 
painter turned his head4 ,he looked     
long4 ,tell us what the wise physician  
said1 ,francesco4 ,will it be soon8     
,nay1 master1 ,i know not4 ,he said if  
you have any wishes----  ,ah1 yes4 ,he  
lay musing1 his eyes looking across the 
room4 ,there will be few bequests4 ,my  
pictures--they are mine no longer4      
,should a painter barter the sons and   
daughters of his soul8444 ,gold cannot  
buy4444 ,they are mine4444 ,four        
thousand shining gold pieces ,francis   
put into my hand4 ,he took away the     

,lisa4 ,he would not be refused4 ,but ,i
 followed4 ,i could not live without    
her4 ,when a man is old1 ,francesco1 his
 hand trembles4 ,he must see something  
he has done1 something perfect4444 ,he  
lay looking long at the portrait4 ,and  
yet it is not finished4444 ,there was to
 be the child4 ,he smiled dreamily4     
,poor ,bambino4 ,his eyes rested again  
on the portrait4444 ,he smiled back upon
 it4 ,yes1 you will live1 he said       
softly4 ,francis will have you4 ,you    
scorned him4 ,but he was generous4 ,he  
gave you back to me4 ,you will be       
his--his and his children's4 ,i have no 
child----,at least4444 ,ah1             
well--,francis will have you4 ,leda and 
,pomona will pass4 ,the ,dominican      
picture 444 all but gone4 ,the hand of  
time has rested on my work4             
,crumbling--fading--nothing finished4 ,i
 planned so much4 ,life runs1           
,francesco1 while one sits and thinks4  
,nothing finished4 ,my manuscripts--do  
with them what you will4 ,i could not   

even write like other men--this poor    
left hand4 ,he lifted the filmy lace    
ruffle falling across his hand4 ,he     
smiled ironically at the costly folds1  
as they fluttered from his fingers4 ,a  
man is poor who has few wants4 ,then ,i 
have not been poor4 ,but there is       
nothing left4 ,it will be an empty name4
  ,silence fell between them4  ,there is
 in ,florence a lady4 ,you must seek for
 her1 ,francesco4 ,she is rich and      
beautiful4 ,she did me once a kindness4 
,i should like her--this ring-- ,he     
slipped it from his finger--a heavy     
stone1 deep green1 with translucent     
lights4 ,it was my father's crest4 ,he  
gave it to my mother--not his wife--a   
woman--faithful4 ,she put it on my      
finger when she died--a peasant woman4  
,tell the lady when you give it her 444 
she has a son4444 ,tell her4444 ,the    
voice fell hushed4  ,the young man      
waited1 with bowed head4 ,he looked up4 
,he started quickly1 and leaned his ear 
to listen4 ,then he folded the hands    

across the quiet breast4 ,he passed     
swiftly from the silent chamber1 down to
 the courtyard1 out on the ,king's      
highway1 mounted and fleet4  ,the       
,french ,king was riding merrily4 ,he   
carolled a gay chanson4 ,his retinue    
followed at a distance4 ,francesco      
,melzi saluted and drew rein4 ,he spoke 
a word in the monarch's ear4 ,the two   
men stood with uncovered heads4 ,they   
looked toward the western windows4 ,the 
gay cavalcade halted in the glow of     
light4 ,a hush fell on their chatter4   
,the windows flamed in the crimson      
flood4 ,within the room1 above the      
gleaming coals1 a woman of eternal youth
 looked down with tranquil gaze upon an 
old man's face4     ,,thumbs ,,and      
,,fugues     ,i   ,ready1 father--ready6
 shouted the small boy4 ,he was standing
 on the top step of a flight of stairs  
leading to the organ-loft of the        
,hofchapel1 peering in4 ,his round1     
stolid face and short1 square legs gave 
no hint of the excitement that piped in 

his shrill voice4  ,the man at the organ
 looked leisurely around1 nodding his   
big head and smiling4 ,ja1 ja1          
,s'bastian--ja1 he said placidly4 ,his  
fingers played slowly on4  ,the boy     
mounted the steps to the organ and      
rubbed his cheek softly against the coat
 sleeve that reached out to the keys4   
,the man smiled again a big1 floating   
smile1 and his hands came to rest4  ,the
 boy looked up wistfully4 ,they'll all  
get there before we do1 he said quickly4
 ,come6  ,the man looked down absently  
and kindly4 ,nein1 ,s'bastian4 ,he      
patted the round head beside him4 ,there
 is no need that we should hurry4  ,they
 passed out of the chapel1 across the   
courtyard and into the open road4 ,for  
half an hour they trudged on in silence1
 their broad backs swinging from side to
 side in the morning light4 ,across the 
man's back was slung a large violin1 in 
its bag2 and across the back of the boy 
hung a violin like that of the father1  
only shorter and fatter and squarer1 and

 on his head was a huge woollen cap4 ,he
 took it off and wiped the perspiration 
from his white forehead4  ,the man      
looked down at him once more and halted4
 ,now1 but we will rest here1 he said   
gently4 ,he removed the violin-bag      
carefully from his back and threw       
himself on the ground and took from his 
pocket a great pipe4  ,with a little    
sigh the boy sat down beside him4  ,the 
man nodded good-naturedly4 ,ja1 that is 
right4 ,he blew a puff of smoke toward  
the morning clouds2 the ,bachs do not   
hurry1 my child--no more does the sun4  
,the boy smiled proudly4 ,he looked up  
toward the ball of fire sailing above   
them and a change came over his face4   
,we might miss the choral1 he said      
wistfully4 ,they won't wait1 will they8 
,the big man shook his head4 ,we shall  
not be late4 ,there is my clock4 ,he    
nodded toward the golden sun4 ,and ,i   
have yet another here1 he added1 placing
 a comfortable hand on his big stomach4 
,the boy laughed softly and lay quiet4  

,the man opened his lips and blew a     
wreath of smoke4  ,there will be more   
than a hundred ,bachs1 he said slowly1  
and you must play what ,i have taught   
you--not too slow and not too fast4 ,he 
looked down at the boy's fat fingers4   
,play like a true ,bach and no other1 he
 added4  ,the boy nodded4 ,will ,uncle  
,christoph be there8 he asked after a   
pause4  ,ja4  ,and ,uncle ,heinrich8    
,ja1 ja6  ,the boy gave a quick sigh of 
contentment4  ,his father was looking at
 him shrewdly4 ,but it is not ,uncle    
,heinrich that will be making a player  
of you1 and it is not ,uncle ,christoph4
 ,it is only ,johann ,sebastian ,bach   
that can make himself a player1 he said 
sternly4  ,yes1 father1 replied the boy 
absently4 ,his eyes were following the  
clouds4  ,the man blew great puffs of   
smoke toward them4 ,it is more than a   
hundred and twenty years ago that we    
came from ,hungary1 he said proudly4    
,the boy nestled toward him4 ,tell me   
about it4 ,he had heard the story many  

times4  ,ja1 ja1 said the man           
musingly4444 ,he was my                 
great-grandfather1 that man--,veit      
,bach--and your great-great-grandfather4
  ,the boy nodded4  ,and he was a       
miller----  ,he dropped into silence1   
and a little brook that ran over the    
stones near by babbled as it went4  ,the
 boy raised his eyes4 ,and he had a     
lute1 he prompted softly4  ,ja1 he had a
 lute--and while the mill-wheel turned1 
he played the lute--sweet1 true notes   
and tunes he played--in that old mill4  
,the boy smiled contentedly4  ,and now  
we be a hundred ,bachs4 ,we make music  
for all ,germany4 ,come6 ,he sprang to  
his feet4 ,we will go to the festival1  
the great ,bach festival4 ,you1 my      
little son1 shall play like a true      
,bach4  ,as they walked along the road  
he hummed contentedly to himself1       
speaking now and then a word to the boy4
 ,what makes one ,bach great1 makes all4
 ,remember1 my child1 ,reinken is       
great--but he is only one2 and ,bohm and

 ,buxtehude1 ,pachelbel4 ,but we are    
many--all ,bachs--all great4 ,he hummed 
gayly a few bars of the choral and      
stopped1 listening4  ,the boy turned his
 face back over the road4 ,they are     
coming1 he said softly4  ,ja1 they are  
coming4  ,the next moment a heavy cart  
came in sight4 ,it was laden to the brim
 with ,bachs and music2 some laughing   
and some singing and some playing--on   
fiddles or flutes or horns--beaming with
 broad faces4  ,the man caught up       
,sebastian by the arm and jumped on to  
the tail-board of the cart4 ,and        
thus--enveloped in a cloud of dust1     
surrounded by the laughter of fun-loving
 men and youths--the boy came into      
,erfurt1 to the great festival of all   
the ,bachs4     ,,ii   ,sh-h6 ,it is    
,heinrich6 ,listen to him--to ,heinrich6
 ,there were nods and smiles and soft   
thudding of mugs1 and turning of broad  
faces toward the other end of the       
enclosure1 as a small figure mounted the
 platform4  ,he was a tiny man1 unlike  

the others2 but he carried himself with 
a gentle pomposity1 and he faced the    
gathering with a proud gesture1 holding 
up his hand to enjoin silence4 ,after a 
few muttering rumbles they subsided4    
,sebastian1 sitting between his father  
and a fat ,bach1 gulped with joy4 ,it   
was the great ,heinrich--who composed   
chorals and fugues and gavottes         
and--hush6 ,could it be that he was     
rebuking the ,bachs--the great          
,bachs6444 ,sebastian's ears cracked    
with the strain4 ,he looked helplessly  
at his father1 who sat smiling into his 
empty beer-mug1 and at the fat ,bach on 
the other side1 who was gaping with open
 mouth at the great ,heinrich4          
,sebastian looked back to the platform4 
,heinrich's finger was uplifted at them 
sternly4444 ,it was ,reinken who said   
it4 ,he of the ,katherinenkirche has    
said it1 in open festival1 that there is
 not a ,bach in ,germany that can play  
as he can play4 ,do you hear that6 ,the 
little man stamped impatiently with his 

foot on the platform4 ,he has called us 
flutists and lutists and 'cellists-- ,he
 stopped and held up a small instrument 
that he carried in his hand--,do you    
know what this is8  ,a response of      
grunts and cheers came from the crowd4  
,sebastian stretched his neck to see4   
,it was a kind of viol1 small and       
battered and torn4 ,worn ribbons        
fluttered from the handle4  ,the small  
man on the platform lifted it reverently
 to his chin4 ,he ran his fingers       
lightly along the broken strings4 ,you  
know the man who played it1 he said     
significantly1 old ,veit ,bach-- ,cheers
 broke from the crowd4 ,he stopped them 
sternly4 ,do you think if he were       
alive--if ,veit ,bach were alive1 would 
,reinken1 of ,hamburg1 dare challenge   
him in open festival8  ,cries of ,nein1 
nein6 and ,ja1 ja6 came back from the   
benches4  ,ja1 ja6 ,nein1 nein6 snarled 
back the little man4 ,you know that he  
would not4 ,he had only this-- ,he held 
up the lute again4 ,only this and his   

mill4 ,but he made the greatest music of
 his time4 ,while you--thirty of you    
this day at the best organs in          
,germany4444 ,and ,reinken defies       
you4444 ,reinken6 ,his lighted eye ran  
along the crowd4 ,before the next       
festival1 shall there be one who will   
meet him8 ,there was no response4 ,the  
,bachs looked into their beer-mugs4 ,the
 great ,heinrich swept them with his    
eagle glance4 ,is there not one1 he went
 on slowly1 who dares promise1 in the   
presence of the ,bachs that before      
,reinken dies he will meet him and      
outplay him8  ,the ,bachs were silent4  
,they knew ,reinken4  ,sebastian1 wedged
 between his father and the fat ,bach1  
gulped mightily4 ,he struggled to get to
 his feet4 ,but a hand at his coat-tails
 held him fast4 ,he looked up           
imploringly into his father's face--but 
the hand at his coat-tails restrained   
him4 ,i will promise1 he whispered1 ,i  
want to promise4  ,ja1 ja1 little son1  
whispered the father2 and he and the fat

 ,bach exchanged smiles across the round
 head4  ,heinrich's glance swept the    
crowd once more4444 ,you will not       
promise8 ,then let me tell you-- ,he    
raised his small hand impressively4     
,there shall come of the ,bachs one so  
great that all others shall fade4 ,he   
only shall be known as ,bach--he and his
 sons2 and before him the name of       
,reinken shall be as dust6 ,with a hiss 
upon the last word1 he threw open his   
arms4 ,come6 he said1 take your         
instrument and play4  ,then fell upon   
the assembly a series of squeaks and    
gruntings and tunings and twinges and   
groans and wails such as was never heard
 outside a ,bach festival4 ,and little  
,sebastian1 tugging at his violin1 tuned
 and squeaked and grunted with the rest1
 oblivious to the taps that fell on his 
small head from surrounding bows4 ,and  
when at last the tuning was done and    
there burst forth the wonderful new     
melody of the choral1 ,sebastian's heart
 went dizzy with the joy of it4 ,and    

,uncle ,heinrich on the platform1       
strutting proudly back and forth1       
conducting the choral--his own          
choral--forgot his anger and forgot     
,reinken1 and forgot everything except  
the ,bachs playing there before         
him--playing as only the ,bachs1 the    
united ,bachs1 could play--in all       
,germany or in all the world4     ,,iii 
,the two boys had come to a turn in the 
road1 and stood looking back over the   
way they had come4 ,the younger of the  
two looked up wistfully to the          
cherry-blossomed trees overhead4 ,it is 
hot1 ,sebastian6--,let us rest4  ,with a
 smile the other boy threw himself on   
the grass4 ,the large1 flat book that he
 carried under his arm fell to the      
ground beside him1 and his hand stole   
out and touched it4 ,he had a wide1     
quiet face1 with blue eyes and a short  
nose1 and lips that smiled dreamily to  
themselves4 ,as he lay looking up into  
the white blossoms that swayed and      
waited against the clear blue of the    

sky1 the lips curved in gentle content4 
,his companion1 who had thrown himself  
on the cool grass beside him1 watched   
him admiringly4 ,his glance shifted and 
rested on the book that lay on the      
grass4 ,what is it8--,what is it1       
,sebastian8 he asked timidly4 ,he put   
out an inquisitive finger toward the    
book4  ,sebastian turned it quietly     
aside4 ,let be1 he said4  ,the boy      
flushed4 ,i was not going to touch it4  
,the other smiled1 with his slow1       
generous eyes fixed on the boy's face4  
,thou art a good boy1 ,erdman6 444 ,it  
is only thy fingers that itch to know   
things4 ,he patted them gently1 where   
they lay on the grass beside him4       
,erdman was still looking at the book4  
,was it your brother's8 he asked in a   
half whisper4  ,christoph's8 ,sebastian 
shook his head4 ,no1 it is mine--my own4
  ,the soft wind was among the blossoms 
overhead--they fell in petals1 one by   
one1 upon the quiet figures4  ,want to  
know 'bout it8 asked ,sebastian1 half   

turning to meet his companion's eye4    
,the boy nodded4  ,it's mine4 ,i copied 
it1 every note--six months it took      
me--from ,christoph's book4  ,did he let
 you8  ,sebastian shook his head1 a     
grim1 sweet smile curving the big mouth4
 ,let me8--,christoph6  ,the boy crept  
nearer to him4 ,how did you do it8  ,i  
stole it--carried it up to my room while
 the others were asleep--and did it by  
the moon4  ,the moon8  ,the boy nodded1 
laughing4 ,didst never hear of the moon1
 brave boy6  ,erdman smiled pettishly4  
,there isn't a moon--always1 he said1   
after a moment4  ,and that also is true1
 quoth the boy gravely4 ,but some time1 
late or early1 one gets a glimpse of    
her--if one lies awake to see1 he added 
softly4  ,the other glanced again at the
 book4 ,let me look at it1 he pleaded4  
,sebastian smiled and reached over a    
hand to the book4 ,don't touch4 ,i'll   
show it thee4 ,he untied the strings and
 spread it on the ground1 throwing      
himself in front of it and resting his  

chin in his hands4 ,come1 he said1 ,i'll
 show it thee4  ,erdman threw off his   
heavy cap and bent toward the book1 with
 a little gesture of wonder4 ,i heard   
about ,christoph's book--a good many    
times1 he said softly4444 ,i didn't ever
 think ,i'd see it4 ,he reached out his 
hand and touched the open page4  ,nobody
 ever saw it1 said ,sebastian absently4 
,he was humming to himself4 ,listen to  
this6 he said eagerly4 ,he hummed a few 
bars4 ,that's ,buxtehude's--isn't it    
great6 ,his face went tumpty-tumpty with
 the notes1 and the blue eyes shone4    
,but this is the one ,i like            
best--listen6 ,he turned over the pages 
rapidly4 ,here it is4 ,this is          
,reinken's4 ',by the waters of ,babylon1
 by the waters1 by the waters of        
,babylon4' ,he hummed the tune below his
 breath--and then louder and fuller4444 
,the clear1 sweet soprano of the notes  
died away softly4 ,some day ,i shall    
play it1 said ,sebastian lingeringly4   
,some day4 ,see--here is the place for  

the harps6 ,and here are the great      
horns4 ,listen6 ,his voice droned away  
at the bass and ran into the swift high 
notes of the treble4 ,some day ,i shall 
play it1 he repeated wistfully4         
,erdman's slow gaze was following the   
page4 ,i can't read so fast1 he said    
enviously4  ,sebastian smiled back4 ,i  
know it by heart--almost4 ,when the moon
 was behind the clouds ,i waited4 ,i    
sang them over and over4  ,very softly1 
said ,erdman1 as if seeing the picture  
of the boy and the darkened room4  ,very
 softly1 assented ,sebastian1 so that no
 one should hear4 ,and now ,i have them 
all6 ,he spoke exultingly4 ,and next    
month ,i shall see ,reinken4444 ,i shall
 hear him play6  ,the other stared at   
him4 ,but ,reinken is at ,hamburg1 he   
said at last4  ,and that1 too1 is so1   
said ,sebastian smiling4  ,and we go to 
,lneburg----  ,and we go to ,lneburg6   
repeated the boy1 with a mocking lilt in
 his voice4 ,and ,lneburg is twenty     
miles from ,hamburg4 ,hadst thought of  

that6 ,he laughed exultingly4  ,the     
other shook his head4 ,i don't know what
 you mean1 he said4  ,sebastian was     
fastening the big violin in place on his
 back4 ,he looked up under smiling      
brows1 as he bent to draw the last      
strap4 ,then he touched his sturdy legs 
with his hand and laughed4 ,i mean that 
these are the horses to carry me to     
,hamburg and back many times4 ,i shall  
hear the great ,reinken play6--,and ,i1 
too1 shall play6 he added proudly4  ,do 
you never doubt1 ,sebastian8 asked the  
other thoughtfully1 as they moved on4   
,doubt8  ,whether you will be a great   
musician8444 ,sometimes ,i see myself   
going back-- ,he paused as if ashamed to
 have said so much4  ,sebastian shook   
his head4 ,his blue eyes were following 
the clouds in the spring day4 ,sometimes
 ,i doubt whether ,i am among the elect1
 he said slowly4 ,but never that ,i am  
to be a musician4 ,his full lips        
puckered dreamily1 and his golden head  
nodded1 keeping slow time4 ,by the      

waters-- he broke out into singing4 ,is 
it not wunderschn6 ,the blue eyes turned
 with a smile4 ,it is wunderschn6       
,ach--wunderschn6 ,is it not1 ,erdman8  
,he seemed to awake and laid his hand   
affectionately on the boy's shoulder4   
,the other nodded4 ,yes1 it is schn1 he 
said wistfully4  ,come1 ,i will teach it
 to thee6  ,and the notes of ,reinken's 
choral1 ,an den ,wasserflssen ,babylon1 
floated with a clear1 fresh sound on the
 spring morning air1 two hundred years  
ago1 and more1 as two charity pupils    
walked along the road to ,lneburg4      
,,iv   ,a tall man with keen eyes and a 
round stomach stood in the shadow of the
 ,johanneskirche1 lost in thought and   
humming to himself4 ,now and then he    
took off his glasses and rubbed them    
vigorously1 and put them on again to    
peer absently down the street4  ,a heavy
 figure1 clad in the faded blue uniform 
of the ,michaelsschule1 rounded the     
corner1 puffing heavily4  ,ach1         
,kerlman6 ,the tall man started forward 

with a stride4 ,you are late4  ,the     
other nodded imperturbably4  ,ja1 ,i am 
late4 ,those boys--,i cannot make to    
hurry4 ,he spoke as if assigning        
sufficient reason and wiped his brow4   
,a twinkle came into the keen eyes4 ,and
 one of them you have lost to-day1 he   
said dryly4 ,he cocked his eye a trifle 
toward the heavy church that rose behind
 them4  ,the other looked quickly       
around4  ,that ,s'bastian--was he here8 
he demanded4  ,in there1 replied the    
tall man1 smiling4 ,no1 no6 he laid his 
hand on his companion's arm as he       
started forward4 ,let be--let be6444 ,we
 must help him--that boy4 ,you have not 
heard him play my organ4 ,wait6 ,he held
 up his hand4444 ,music was stealing    
from the gloomy shadows of the church4  
,come in1 said the master4 ,he pushed   
open a low door and they entered the    
great church4 ,far up in the loft1      
struck by a shaft of light from a gable 
in the roof1 the boy was sitting1       
absorbed in sound4 ,his face was bent to

 the keys as his hands hovered and      
paused over them and drew forth the     
strangely sweet sounds that filled the  
great building4  ,the two musicians     
below stood looking up1 their big heads 
nodding time4444 ,suddenly they paused  
and looked at each other with           
questioning glance4 ,the music was      
quickening and broadening with a clear1 
glad reach of sound1 and underneath it  
ran a swiftly echoing touch that bound  
the notes together and vibrated through 
them4  ,how was he doing that8 whispered
 the small man excitedly4 ,you have     
taught him that8  ,the other shook his  
head4  ,come1 we will see4  ,together   
they tiptoed through the dark church1   
softly--up to the organ-loft and peered 
in4 ,the boy1 oblivious to sight and    
sound1 played on4  ,kerlman leaned far  
forward1 craning his neck4 ,he drew     
back1 a look of stupefaction in his     
face4 ,he held up his large thumb and   
looked at it soberly4  ,what is it8     
whispered the other4  ,you see1         

,johannes ,bohm8 ,he shook the fat thumb
 in his companion's face4 ,he does it   
with that6  ,the master peered forward1 
incredulous4 ,slowly he crept up behind 
the boy1 his eyes fastened on the moving
 hands4 ,his shadow fell on the keys and
 the boy looked up4 ,his face lighted   
with a smile4  ,go on1 said the master  
sternly4 ,his eyes still watched the    
hands4 ,slowly his big fingers reached  
over and grasped the thumb as it pressed
 lightly on a key4 ,who told you that8  
he demanded4  ,the boy looked down at   
it1 puzzled4 ,then his face grew a      
little ashamed and doubtful4 ,it is     
wrong1 ,i know1 he admitted4 ,yes1 it is
 wrong4  ,who taught you8  ,nay1 no one 
would teach it4 ,i just happened--one   
day4 ,it makes it so easy4  ,yes1 ,i    
see4 ,the master's voice was curt4  ,i  
will never do it again1 said the boy    
humbly4  ,no--you might play it for me  
once--just once1 for me1 said the       
master4  ,the boy's hands ran lovingly  
to the keys4 ,they crept along the maze 

of sound and rose and fell in the       
changing rhythm4 ,shyly the small thumb 
darted out and found its key1 and filled
 the great church with the tremulous1   
haunting call of note answering note4   
,the master bending over the keys wiped 
his brow and looked at the boy proudly1 
with a little wonder in his face4       
,good4444 ,ach--but good1 good6 he      
murmured softly4  ,the boy looked up    
quickly4 ,his clear skin flushed4 ,may  
,i use it--sometimes8 he asked1         
doubting4  ,bohm gave a sharp1 generous 
laugh4 ,you may use it4 ,he laughed     
again4 ,all the world will use it6 he   
said1 patting him on the back4 ,it is a 
great discovery4 ,play more4  ,the boy  
turned obediently to the keys1 and while
 he played1 the master slipped away4    
,come down1 he whispered to ,kerlman1   
whose fat bulk filled the doorway4 ,let 
us come down and get some beer4 ,i am   
very dry this day4  ,over their mugs1 in
 the garden across the way1 they looked 
at each other solemnly4 ,then they threw

 back their big heads and laughed till  
their sides shook and their wigs stood  
askew4 ,kerlman laid his fat thumb on   
the table and regarded it respectfully4 
,gott im ,himmel6 he said4  ,bohm       
nodded1 his eyes twinkling4  ,the fat   
man raised his thumb from the table and 
twiddled it in the air4 ,it fell with a 
stiff thud4 ,ja1 ja1 he said1 half      
impatient1 half laughing4 ,how is one to
 do it--such fool tricks6 ,ja1 ja6  ,the
 keen eyes watching him had a proud     
look4 ,you know what he will be--that   
boy1 he said exultingly4 ,he will be a  
great musician6  ,he will be a great    
bother1 grumbled ,kerlman4 ,first1 he   
checked off the vices on his            
fingers--first1 he comes to us three    
weeks late--three weeks late--because   
his brother promises1 and takes it back 
and waits to die--,bah6 ,he took a sip  
of beer and laid out another fat finger4
 ,second1 he sings two octaves at the   
same time--two octaves6 ,did one ever   
hear such nonsense6 ,third1 he loses his

 voice1 his beautiful voice1 and sings  
no more at all4 ,he shook his head      
heavily4 ,fourth1 he is running away to 
,hamburg to listen--always to ,hamburg1 
to listen to ,reinken1 and coming back  
to be forgiven4 ,ja1 ja6 ,seven times ,i
 have forgiven him4 ,i think he is      
making ready now to go once more6 ,he   
glared at his companion4  ,bohm nodded  
slowly4 ,i was to ask you for that      
to-day1 he said1 smiling4  ,ja6 ja--,i  
have thought so4 ,he looked sadly at the
 four short fingers resting on the      
table4 ,and fifth--fifth--now what is   
that fifth8 ,ach1 it is that6 ,that     
thumb6 ,he scowled at it4 ,that         
crawling1 snivelling1 stiff-necked one6 
,he brought it down with a thump on the 
table4 ,to make me all my days ashamed6 
,he held up the thumb and shook it      
scornfully4  ,high up in the            
,johanneskirche1 in front of the big    
organ1 the boy was playing--with head   
and hands and heart and feet and        
thumb--swaying to the music1 lifting it 

from the great organ till it pealed     
forth1 a mighty sound1 and1 breaking    
from the gloomy church1 floated on the  
still air4444 ,in the garden across the 
way1 above their mugs1 two old1         
white-wigged heads nodded and chuckled  
in the sun4     ,v   ,the               
,katherinenkirche was dark1 and very    
still--except for a faint noise that    
came from a far corner of the upper     
left-hand gallery4 ,the old verger1     
moving about in felt slippers below1    
paused now and then1 and looked up as   
the sound grew louder or died away4 ,it 
was like a mouse nibbling--and yet it   
was not a mouse4  ,the verger lighted a 
taper and prepared to ascend the stairs4
  ,he heaved a sigh as he climbed the   
steep step1 throwing the candle rays    
ahead of him into the gloom of the      
gallery4 ,not a sound4 ,the silence of  
death was in the big church4444         
,muttering to himself1 he traversed the 
long aisle at the top of the gallery1   
peering down into the vacant seats that 

edged the blackness below4  ,suddenly he
 stopped4 ,his eye had caught a gleam of
 something to the left of the last      
pillar4 ,he snuffed the wavering taper  
with his fingers and leaned forward4 ,a 
face grew out of the darkness and stood 
up4  ,what are you doing8 demanded the  
old man1 falling back a step4  ,eating  
my supper1 said the youth4 ,he held up a
 handkerchief4 ,in the dim light two    
pieces of crisp1 dry bread shaped       
themselves1 and a generous odor of      
cheese floated out4  ,in the church6    
said the verger1 with an accent of      
horror4  ,the youth's face regarded him 
pleadingly4  ,come away6 said the old   
man sternly4  ,he led the way down the  
steep stair1 into a high1 small room1   
lighted by a narrow window over which   
cobwebs ran4 ,here you may eat1 he said 
laconically4  ,with a grateful glance   
the youth seated himself on the edge of 
a chair and opening his handkerchief    
took out a piece of the dry bread4 ,his 
teeth broke it crisply1 and crunched    

sharply upon it as he ate4  ,the old man
 nodded with satisfaction4 ,that is the 
mouse1 he said4  ,the youth smiled      
faintly4  ,where do you come from8 asked
 the verger4  ,from ,lneburg4  ,you     
walked8  ,the youth nodded4  ,i have    
seen you before1 here4  ,yes4  ,the old 
man watched him a minute4 ,you ought to 
have some beer with that bread and      
cheese1 he said4 ,have you no coppers8  
,the youth shook his head4 ,reinken is  
my beer1 he said1 after a little4 ,his  
face was lighted with a sweet smile4    
,the old man chuckled4 ,ja1 ja6 ,he     
limped from the room4 ,presently he     
returned with a pewter mug4 ,it was     
foaming at the top4 ,drink that1 he     
commanded4  ,the youth drank it with    
hearty quaffs and laughed when it was   
done4 ,ja1 that is good6 he said simply4
  ,the old man eyed him shrewdly4 ,in   
half an hour ,reinken comes to play1 he 
suggested craftily4  ,the youth started 
and flushed4 ,to-night8  ,ja4  ,i did   
not think he came at night1 he said     

softly4  ,not often1 but to-night4 ,he  
wants to practise something for the     
festival--with no one to hear1 he added 
significantly4  ,the boy looked at him  
pleadingly4 ,his hand strayed to his    
pockets4 ,they brought back two coppers1
 the only wealth he possessed4  ,the old
 man looked at him kindly and shook his 
head4 ,nein1 he said4 ,it is not for the
 money ,i shall do it4 ,it is because ,i
 have seen you before--when he played4  
,you shall hear him and see him4 ,come4 
,he put aside the youth's impulsive     
hand1 and led the way up a winding1 dark
 stairway1 through a little door in the 
organ-loft4 ,groping along the wall he  
slipped back a panel4  ,the boy peered  
out4 ,below him1 a little to the left1  
lay the great organ1 and far below in   
the darkness stretched the church4 ,when
 he turned1 the old man was gone4 ,down 
below in the loft he watched his        
twinkling path as the taper flashed from
 candle to candle4  ,the great ,reinken 
was a little late4 ,he came in          

hurriedly1 pushing back the sleeves of  
his scholar's gown as they fell forward 
on his hands4 ,the hands were wrinkled1 
the boy noted1 and old4 ,he had         
forgotten that the master was old4      
,sixty years--seventy--ah1 more than    
seventy4 ,nine years ago he was that--at
 the ,bach festival4 ,the boy's heart   
gave a leap4 ,seventy-nine--an old man6 
444 he should never meet him in open    
festival and challenge him4 ,there would
 not be time4444 ,the music stole about 
him and quieted his pulse4 ,he stood    
watching the face as it bent above the  
keys4 ,it was a noble face4 ,there was a
 touch of petulance in it1 perhaps of   
pride and impatience in the quick glance
 that lifted now and then4 ,but it was a
 grand face1 with goodness in it1 and   
strength and power4 ,the boy's heart    
went from him4444 ,if he might but touch
 a fold of the faded gown--seek a       
blessing from the wrinkled hands on the 
keys4 ,spring was about him--white      
clouds and blossoms and the smell of    

fresh earth4 ,by the waters1 the waters 
of ,babylon2 by the waters4 ,the        
slender1 delicate hands called out the  
notes one by one4 ,tears ran down the   
boy's face4 ,gropingly he felt for the  
door--only to seek a blessing of the    
hands4444  ,the old verger waited at the
 foot of the stairs1 nodding in the dim 
light4 ,he sprang up1 startled and      
rubbing his eyes4  ,i want to speak to  
him1 said the youth humbly4 ,only a     
word6  ,the old man hesitated4 ,the     
music had ceased and a slow step was    
coming down the church--an old man's    
step4  ,ja4 ,stand there1 he whispered4 
,it shall be as you wish4 ,stand there6 
,he pushed the youth behind a pillar and
 stepped forward1 his taper held aloft4 
,mein ,herr1 he said softly4  ,the      
organist paused and looked at him       
inquiringly4 ,his face was very tired4  
,what wouldst thou1 ,wilhelm8 he said   
gently4  ,it is a young man-- he        
stammered and paused4  ,a young man8    
,he would speak with you1 ,mein         

,herr--but a word4 ,the old man's voice 
waited4  ,speak with me8 ,does he bring 
credentials8  ,nay1 your honor----  ,the
 great organist drew his gown about him4
 ,i have not time1 ,wilhelm4 ,many seek 
me and life runs fast4 ,i have not time4
 ,he bowed courteously and moved on4 ,as
 he passed the pillar a fold of his robe
 floated out and touched the hand of the
 youth1 kneeling there1 hidden in the   
dim light4     ,,vi   ,the choirmaster  
smiled deprecatingly4 ,he had small1    
obsequious eyes and narrow shoulders4   
,if the gracious ,herr would be so good1
 he said1 shrugging them a little4 ,the 
people have assembled4 ,he glanced back 
over the fast-filling church and raised 
his eyebrows a trifle to indicate the   
honor4  ,bach smiled gravely4 ,a        
humorous look came into his eyes4 ,let  
the service go on as usual1 he said     
quietly4 ,when it is done1 ,i will      
play--if time allows4  ,the choirmaster 
squeezed his moist palms and wiped an   
anxious brow4 ,and that1 too--will be   

well1 he murmured gratefully4 ,it will  
please the old organist1 he added       
apologetically4  ,bach nodded his head4 
,i had thought of that4  ,the other     
stared4 ,you know ,reinken8 he asked4   
,the great organist shook his head4 ,i  
have seen him4 ,the humorous smile      
played about his lips4 ,i have never    
spoken with him4  ,he has been a great  
player--in his day1 said the            
choirmaster4 ,the note of apology in his
 voice had deepened4  ,that ,i know1    
said ,bach shortly4  ,and now it is the 
people--they will not let him go1       
murmured the choirmaster despairingly4  
,each ,sunday he must play--every motet 
and aria and choral--and he is          
ninety-nine4 ,mein ,gott6 ,the          
choirmaster wiped his brow4  ,it is a   
long life1 said ,bach musingly4 ,a sweet
 look had come into his face1 like the  
sunlight on an autumn field4 ,he raised 
his hand with a courteous gesture4 ,let 
me be summoned later--at the right time4
  ,the choirmaster bowed himself away4  

,already the notes of the great organ   
filled the church4 ,it was ,reinken's   
touch upon the keys--feeble and         
tremulous here and there--but still the 
touch of the master4  ,with bent head   
,bach moved to a place a little apart   
and sat down4 ,curious glances followed 
him and whispers ran through the church1
 coming back to gaze at the severe1     
quiet face1 with its look of sweetness  
and power4  ,he was unconscious of the  
crowd4 ,his thoughts were with the old  
man playing aloft--the thin1 serene     
face--the wrinkled hands upon the       
keys--twenty years4444 ,the time had    
come--at last4444 ,the music stole      
through his musings and touched him4 ,he
 lifted his face as the sound swept     
through the church4 ,the fire and       
strength of youth had gone from the     
touch1 but something remained--something
 inevitable and gentle that soothed the 
spirit and lifted the heart--like the   
ghost of a soul calling to itself from  
the past4  ,bach started4 ,a hand had   

fallen on his shoulder4 ,it was the     
choirmaster1 small-eyed and eager4 ,bach
 followed him blindly4  ,at the top of  
the stairs the choirmaster turned and   
waited for him4 ,at last we have the    
honor4 ,welcome to the greatest master  
in ,germany6 he said smoothly1 throwing 
open the door4  ,without a word ,bach   
brushed past him4 ,his eye sought the   
great organ4 ,the master had left the   
bench and sat a few steps below1 leaning
 forward1 his hands clasped on his cane1
 his white head nodding tremblingly     
above it4 ,far below the words of the   
preacher droned to a close1 and the     
crowd stirred and craned discreet necks4
  ,quietly the organist slipped into the
 vacant place4 ,the ,bach festival      
danced before him4444 ,uncle ,heinrich  
on the platform--,the great             
,reinken--will no one of you promise8   
,his father's face smiling1 his father's
 hand on his head4444 ,slowly his hands 
dropped to the keys4  ,the audience     
settled back with a sigh4 ,at last they 

should hear him--the great ,bach4  ,the 
silence waited1 deep and patient and    
unerring1 as it had waited a decade--the
 touch of this man4 ,a sound crossed it 
and the audience turned bewildered      
faces4 ,question and dissent and wonder 
were in them4444 ,not some mighty fugue1
 as they had hoped--not even an aria1   
but a simple air from a quaint1         
old-fashioned choral1--,by the waters1  
the waters of ,babylon4 ,they looked at 
one another with lifted brows4          
,reinken's choral6--and played with     
,reinken's very touch--a gentle1        
hurrying rhythm 444 as ,reinken used to 
play it--when he was young4444 ,in a    
moment they understood4 ,tears stood in 
bewildered eyes and a look of sweet     
good-will swept the church4 ,he had     
given back to them their own4 ,their    
thought ran tenderly to the old man     
above1 hearkening to his own soul coming
 to him1 strong and swift and eternal1  
out of the years4 ,underneath the choral
 and above it and around1 went the soul 

of ,bach1 steadfast and true1 wishing   
only to serve1 and through service      
making beautiful4 ,he filled with wonder
 and majesty and tenderness the simple  
old choral4  ,a murmur ran through the  
church1 a sound of love and admiration4 
,and above1 with streaming eyes1 an old 
man groped his way to the organ1 his    
hands held out to touch the younger ones
 that reached to him4 ,i thought my work
 had died1 he said slowly1 ,now that it 
lives1 ,i can die in peace4     ,a      
,,window ,,of ,,music     ,i   ,about so
 high1 ,i should think1 said the girl1  
with a swift twinkle4 ,she measured off 
a diminutive man on the huge            
blue-and-white porcelain stove and stood
 back to survey it4 ,and about as big1  
she added reflectively4  ,her sister    
laughed4 ,the girl nodded again4  ,and  
terribly homely1 she said1 making a     
little mouth4 ,her eyes laughed4 ,she   
leaned forward with a mysterious air4   
,and1 ,marie1 his coat is green1 and his
 trousers are--white6  ,the two girls   

giggled in helpless amusement4 ,they had
 a stolid ,german air of family         
resemblance1 but the laughing eyes of   
the younger danced in their round       
setting1 while the sleepy blue ones of  
the older girl followed the twinkling   
pantomime with a look of half protest4  
,they were in the big reception-room1   
went on the girl1 and ,i bounced in on  
them4 ,mamma ,rosine was giving him the 
family history--you and me4  ,they      
giggled again4  ,the younger one drew   
down her face and folded her hands in   
matronly dignity1 gazing pensively at   
the blue-and-white stove1 her head a    
little to one side4  ,my own voice is   
alto1 ,herr ,schubert1 and my daughter  
,caroline's2 but my daughter ,marie has 
a beautiful soprano4 ,she rolled her    
eyes1 with an air of resigned sentiment1
 and shook the bobbing black curls      
gently from side to side4 ,and he just  
twiddled his thumbs like this1 and      
grunted4 ,she seized her sister around  
her plump waist and shook her           

vigorously4 ,don't you see it8 she      
demanded4  ,the older girl laughed      
hysterically1 with disturbed eyes4      
,don't1 ,cara6 she protested4  ,the dark
 eyes bubbled again4  ,and his hair     
curls as tight-- ,she ran a hand along  
her rumpled curls1 then a look of dismay
 crossed the laughing face4 ,she        
subsided into a chair and folded her    
hands meekly4 ,the little feet1 in their
 stout ankle-ties1 swung back and forth 
beneath the chair1 and the round1       
,german face assumed an air of wholesome
 stupidity4  ,her sister1 whose slow    
glance had followed hers1 gave a little 
gasp1 and sank into a chair on the      
opposite side of the stove1 in duplicate
 meekness4  ,the door at the other end  
of the room had swung open1 and a tall  
woman swept in1 followed by a diminutive
 figure in green coat and white         
trousers4 ,a pair of huge spectacles1   
mounted on a somewhat stumpy nose1      
peered absently from side to side as he 
approached4  ,my daughters1 ,herr       

,schubert1 said the tall lady1 with a   
circumflex wave of her white hand that  
included the waxlike figures on each    
side the stove4  ,they regarded him     
fixedly and primly4  ,his glance darted 
from one to the other1 and he smiled    
broadly4  ,i haf seen the young ,frulein
 before1 he said1 indicating the younger
 with his fat hand4  ,the dark1 round   
eyes gazed at him expressionless4 ,his  
spectacles returned the gaze and        
twinkled4  ,she has come into the       
reception-room while you were explaining
 about the voice of ,frulein ,marie1 he 
said1 with a glance at the other sister4
  ,the waxlike faces shook a little4    
,the lady regarded them severely4  ,she 
is only eleven1 she murmured            
apologetically to the little man4  ,ja6 
,so8 he muttered4 ,his glance flashed   
again at the immovable face4  ,caroline1
 my child1 come here1 said her mother4  
,the child slipped down from the stiff  
chair and crossed to her mother's side4 
,her little hands were folded1 and her  

small toes pointed primly ahead4  ,my   
youngest daughter1 ,herr ,schubert1 said
 the lady1 slipping an arm around the   
stiff waist4 ,caroline1 this is your new
 music tutor1 ,herr ,schubert4  ,the    
child bobbed primly1 and lifted a pair  
of dark1 reflective eyes to his face4   
,his own smiled shrewdly4  ,she will be 
a good pupil1 he said2 it is the musical
 type4 ,the green coat and white        
trousers bowed circumspectly to the     
small figure4  ,now1 ,marie--the tall   
lady shook out her skirts--,herr        
,schubert will try your voice4 ,but     
first1 ,herr ,schubert1 will you not    
give us the pleasure8 ,she motioned     
politely toward the piano1 and sank back
 with an air of fatigued sentiment4  ,he
 sat down on the stool and ran his      
white1 fat fingers through his curling  
hair4 ,it bristled a little4 ,the       
fingers fell to his knees1 and his big  
head nodded indecisively4 ,then it was  
thrown back1 and the fingers dropped on 
the keys3 the music of a ,beethoven     

sonata filled the room4  ,the grand lady
 forgot her sentiment1 and the little   
waxlike figures gave way4 ,their eager1 
tremulous eyes rested wonderingly on the
 broad back of the player4  ,the white  
fingers had dropped on the keys with the
 lightness of a feather4 ,they rose and 
flashed and twinkled1 and ran along the 
keyboard with swift1 steel-like touch4  
,the door at the end of the room opened 
softly4 ,a tall man entered4 ,he looked 
inquiringly at the grotesque            
green-and-white figure seated before the
 piano1 then his glance met his wife's1 
and he sank into a big chair by the     
door1 a pleased look on his dark face4  
,the younger child glanced at him shyly4
 ,he returned the look and smiled4 ,the 
child's face brightened4  ,the door     
opened again1 and a slight figure stood 
in the doorway4 ,he looked approvingly  
toward the piano1 and dropped into a    
chair at the other side of the door1    
twirling his long1 light mustaches4     
,the player1 wrapped in sound1 was      

oblivious to the world outside4 ,the    
music enveloped him and rose about him1 
transfiguring the plain1 squat figure1  
floating above the spectacled face and  
crisp1 curling locks4 ,his hearers      
glanced approvingly at one another now  
and then1 but no one spoke or moved4    
,suddenly they were aware that a new    
mood had crept into the notes4 ,quick1  
sharp flashes of fear alternated with   
passages of clear1 sunlit strength1 and 
underneath the changing melody galloping
 hoof-beats rose and fell4  ,the        
dark-eyed child sat poised forward1 her 
hands clasped about her knees1 her      
tremulous gaze fixed on the flying      
fingers4 ,she started and caught her    
breath sharply4 ,faster and faster      
thudded the hoofs2 the note of          
questioning fear beat louder1 and into  
the sweet1 answering melody crept a note
 of doubt1 undefined and terrible1 a    
spirit echo of the flying hoofs4 ,it    
caught up question and answer1 and      
turned them to sharp1 swift flight4 ,the

 pursuing hoofs struck the sound and    
broke it2 with a cry the child leaped to
 her feet4 ,her hands were outstretched1
 and her face worked4 ,the man by the   
door turned slightly4 ,he held out a    
quiet1 imperious hand1 and the child    
fled across the room1 clasping the hand 
in both her own1 and burying her face in
 his shoulder4 ,the swift sound was upon
 them1 around them1 over them1 sweeping 
past1 whirling them in its leaping1     
gigantic grasp4 ,it hesitated a second1 
grew strangely sweet and hushed1 and    
dropped through a full1 clear octave on 
a low note4 ,it ceased4 ,the air        
quivered4 ,the player sat motionless1   
gazing before him4  ,the dark man sprang
 to his feet1 his face illumined1 the   
child clinging to his hand4 ,he patted  
the dark curls carelessly as he flashed 
a smile to the young man at the other   
side of the room4  ,that's mine1        
,schnstein1 he said exultantly2 your    
tenor voice won't carry that4  ,the     
other nodded half grudgingly4  ,they    

were both looking toward the player4 ,he
 swayed a little on the stool1 stared at
 the ceiling a moment1 and swung slowly 
about1 blinking uncertainly4  ,the older
 man stepped forward1 holding out a     
quick hand4  ,wunderschn6 he said       
warmly4 ,what is it8 ,are there words to
 it8 ,can you get it for me8  ,the tiny 
man seemed to shrink a little4 ,he put  
out his fat hand and waited a moment    
before he spoke4 ,the full1 thick lips  
groped at the words4  ,it is--it is     
something--of my own1 he said at last4  
,they crowded about him1 questioning and
 delighted4  ,have you published it8    
,what is it8  ',der ,erlknig1' said     
,schubert shortly4 ,the child's face    
quivered4  ,i know1 she said4  ,her     
father glanced down at her1 smiling4    
,what do you know8 he said gently4  ,i  
read it1 said the child1 simply4 ,she   
shivered a little4 ,the ,erlking carried
 him off1 she said4 ,she covered her    
face1 suddenly in tears4 ,she was       
quivering from head to foot4  ,the count

 glanced significantly at his wife4 ,she
 came forward and laid her hand on the  
child's shoulder4  ,come1 ,caroline4    
,come1 ,marie1 she said4 ,later1 ,herr  
,schubert1 ,i shall have the pleasure of
 thanking you4 ,she swept from the room4
  ,the three men remained1 looking a    
little uncomfortably toward the closed  
door4  ,the count shrugged his shoulders
 and glanced at the musician4  ,a very  
impressionable child1 he said lightly4  
,a very unusual child1 returned the     
small man gravely4 ,he was blinking     
absently at the count's dark face4 ,she 
has the temperament1 he murmured softly2
 she will learn4  ,the count beamed on  
him4  ,we depend on you to teach her1 he
 said suavely4 ,you will go with us next
 week to ,zelitz8  ,the young man bowed 
uncertainly4 ,his full lips smiled      
doubtfully4 ,it is an honor1 he said1   
but ,i must work4 ,there is not time to 
lose4 ,i must work4 ,he moved his big   
head from side to side and twirled his  
fingers4  ,the count smiled genially4   

,it shall be arranged--a little house by
 yourself1 apart from the castle--a     
piano1 absolute quiet1 lessons only by  
your own arrangement4 ,he spoke quietly1
 in the tone of a superior granting     
terms4  ,the thick lips opposite him    
were puckering a little1 and the eyes   
behind the great spectacles blinked     
mistily4  ,i must have time1 repeated   
the little man--time to think of it4    
,the count's face clouded a shade4  ,we 
depend on you1 he said4 ,the tone had   
changed subtly4 ,it was less assertive4 
,with the ,baron von ,schnstein-- he    
motioned toward his companion2 the two  
young men bowed slightly--with the baron
 we have a fine quartet1 and with you to
 train us--oh1 you must come6 ,his face 
broke into a winning smile4  ,the young 
man smiled in return4  ,i will come1 he 
said2 but--free1 he added4  ,free as the
 wind1 assented the count easily4 ,the  
note of patronage was gone4  ,a big     
sunny smile broke over the musician's   
face4 ,it radiated from the spectacles  

and broadened the wide mouth4  ,ach6 ,we
 shall do great things6 he announced    
proudly4  ,great things1 assented the   
count4 ,and ',der ,erlknig'--,i must    
have ',der ,erlknig4' ,bring it with    
you4  ',der ,erlknig' shall be yours1   
said ,schubert grandly4 ,there was the  
air of granting a royal favor in the    
round1 green-and-white little figure as 
it bowed itself from the room4  ,in the 
hall he stumbled a little1 looking      
uncertainly about4 ,a small figure      
glided from a curtained window and      
approached him timidly4  ,your hat is on
 the next landing1 ,herr ,schubert1 she 
said4  ,he looked down at her4 ,his big 
face flushed with pleasure4 ,you like my
 music1 he said bluntly4  ,she shook her
 head gravely4  ,it is terrible1 she    
replied4  ,the spectacles glared at her4
  ,it hurts me here4 ,she raised a      
small1 dark hand to her chest4  ,the    
musician's eyes lighted4  ,that is      
right1 he said simply2 ja1 that is      
right--it hurts4  ,they stood looking at

 each other in the dim light4 ,the      
child's eyes studied the big face       
wistfully4  ,i wish you would never play
 it again4  ,not play my ',erlknig6' ,he
 glared at her4  ,she nodded slowly4    
,never1 she said4  ,he waited a moment1 
looking at her sternly4 ,he pushed his  
spectacles far up on the short curls and
 rubbed his nose vigorously4  ,the      
child's eyes waited on the queer1       
perturbed face4 ,she gave a quick little
 sigh4 ,her lips had parted4  ,he looked
 down with a sudden big smile4  ,i will 
never play it for you again1 he said    
grandly4 ,the spectacles descended      
swiftly1 the door banged behind him1 and
 the child was left alone in the great  
dim hall4     ,,ii   ,the heat of the   
day was nearly spent1 but the leaves of 
the oaks hung motionless4 ,the two young
 men walking beneath them had bared     
their heads4 ,one of them glanced up now
 and then1 as if looking for coolness in
 the green canopy4  ,it will rain before
 night1 said the baron1 casually1 noting

 the glance4 ,his lithe figure1 in its  
white suit and blue tie1 showed no sign 
of heat or fatigue4  ,the musician1     
puffing beside him1 wiped a handkerchief
 across his warm face4  ,ja1 it will    
rain1 he assented hopefully4  ,the baron
 glanced at him1 smiling4  ,you find ten
 miles a good stretch1 he remarked4 ,we 
went too far1 perhaps4  ,nein1 not too  
far4 ,we have had great talk1 responded 
,schubert4 ,his face under its mask of  
perspiration shone gloriously4 ,he      
glanced down a little ruefully at his   
short1 fat legs in their white casings4 
,but my legs they do not talk1 he       
announced navely4 ,ja1 they are very    
weary1 perhaps2 but my soul is not      
weary4 ,he struck his breast a          
resounding blow with the palm of his    
hand and straightened his short body4   
,the baron laughed musically4  ,a low1  
sweet sound1 stealing among the oaks1   
answered the laugh4 ,they stopped short1
 looking at each other4 ,the sound came 
again1 a far-off1 haunting peal1 with a 

little catch and sob in its breath4     
,they stole swiftly forward on tiptoe4  
,among the trees a roof and the outline 
of a small building glimmered4 ,it was  
covered with dark ivy4 ,smoke came from 
the chimney1 and through the open window
 drifted the strange1 alluring sound4   
,the house of the little folk of the    
wood1 whispered ,schubert1 pressing     
forward4  ,the wash-house1 returned the 
baron1 with a laugh4  ,the sound had    
ceased4 ,the wood1 in the soft heat1 was
 very still4  ,it is ,marka1 said the   
baron1 glancing toward the house4 ,marka
 has charge of the linen4 ,i heard her  
the other day1 in one of the corridors1 
singing2 but ,fritz hushed her up before
 she'd begun4 ,she's a ,hungarian----   
,hush6 ,schubert lifted a finger4  ,the 
music had begun again4 ,the sadness was 
gone from it4 ,it laughed and smiled to 
itself1 and grew merry in a sweet1 shy  
fashion that set the air about them     
astir in little rippling runs4          
,schubert had started forward4  ,i must 

have it6 he said impetuously4  ,take    
care6 warned ,schnstein2 she is a witch4
  ,the musician laughed1 stealing away  
among the tree-trunks4 ,he moved softly 
forward1 his short fingers fumbling at  
his pockets4 ,a torn envelope and the   
stub of a pencil rewarded the search4   
,his face lighted as he grasped the     
pencil more firmly in his fingers1      
moistening it at his thick lips2 he     
approached the open window4  ,he peered 
uncertainly into the dim room4 ,by the  
fireplace stood a lithe1 quick figure1  
sorting the pile of linen at her side4  
,as she lifted each delicate piece she  
examined it for holes or rents4         
,careless little snatches of song played
 about her lips as she worked4  ,the    
torn envelope rested on the sill1 and   
the stubby pencil flew across its       
surface4 ,the big face of the musician1 
bent above it1 was alight with joy4 ,the
 sound ceased1 and he straightened      
himself1 pushing back the hat from his  
brow1 and gazing fondly at the little   

dots on the torn bit of paper4  ,the    
girl looked up with a start4 ,the shadow
 had fallen on her linen4 ,she gazed    
with open1 incredulous lips at the      
uncouth figure framed in the window4  ,a
 broad smile wreathed the big face4  ,go
 on1 ,marka1 he said4 ,he nodded        
encouragement4  ,she looked down at the 
pillow-slip in her hands1 and back again
 to the face in the window4 ,the linen  
slip was plaited uncertainly in her     
fingers4  ,go on1 said ,schubert        
peremptorily4 ,you were singing4 ,what  
was it1 that tune8 ,go on4  ,she looked 
up again with bold shyness1 and shook   
her head4  ,the face glared at her4     
,she smiled saucily1 and1 putting two   
plump hands into her apron pockets1     
advanced toward the window4 ,her steps  
danced a little4  ,franz stared at the  
vision4 ,he took off his spectacles and 
rubbed them1 blinking a little4  ,waugh6
 he said4  ,she laughed musically4  ,he 
replaced the spectacles1 and looked at  
her more kindly4  ,she was leaning on   

the other side of the casing1 her arms  
folded on the sill4 ,her saucy face was 
tilted to his4  ,he bent suddenly1 and  
kissed it full on the mouth4  ,she      
started back1 fetching him a ringing    
slap on the cheek4  ,you ugly thing6 she
 said4 ,she laughed4  ,franz gazed      
serenely at the sky1 a pleased smile on 
his lips4  ,you're too ugly to look at1 
said the girl promptly4  ,he looked down
 at her and smiled4  ,that tasted good1 
he said4  ,she pouted a little and      
glanced at the door4  ,his glance       
followed hers4  ,sing me some more1 he  
suggested craftily4  ,she threw back her
 head1 and her lips broke into a        
strange1 sweet sound4 ,the dark eyes    
were half veiled1 and her full throat   
swelled4  ,the wood about them darkened 
as she sang4 ,swift birds flashed by to 
their nests1 and the green leaves       
quivered a little4 ,a clash broke among 
the tree-tops2 they swayed and beat     
heavily1 and big drops fell4 ,the girl's
 eyes flashed wide4 ,the song ceased on 

her lips4 ,she glanced at the big drops 
on the sill and then at the open door4  
,come in1 she said shyly4  ,he opened   
the door and went in4     ,,iii   ,we   
feared that you were not coming1 ,herr  
,schubert1 said the countess suavely4   
,the group had gathered in the          
music-room4444 ,the storm had ceased1   
and a cool breeze came through the      
window4 ,outside in the castle grounds  
dim lights glimmered4  ,the young man   
advanced into the group a little        
awkwardly1 rubbing his eyes as if waking
 from a dream4  ,the baron1 standing by 
the piano1 glanced at him sharply under 
lowered lids4 ,his lips took on a little
 smile1 not unkind1 but full of secret  
amusement4  ,the musician passed him    
without a glance1 and1 seating himself  
at the piano1 threw back his head with  
an impatient gesture4 ,he turned swiftly
 the leaves of music that stood on the  
rack before him4  ,sing this1 he said   
briefly4  ,he struck a few chords1 and  
they gathered about him1 taking up their

 parts with a careless familiarity and  
skill4 ,it was ,haydn's ,creation4 ,they
 had sung it many times1 but a new power
 was in it to-night4 ,the music lifted  
them4 ,the touch on the keys held the   
sound1 and shaped it1 and filled it with
 light4  ,when it was finished they     
glanced at one another4 ,they smiled2   
then they looked at the player4 ,he sat 
wrapped in thought1 his head bowed1 his 
fingers touching the keys with          
questioning touch4 ,they moved back     
noiselessly and waited4 ,when he was    
like this1 they did not disturb him4    
,the melody crept out at last1 the      
strange1 haunting ,hungarian air1 with  
unrest and sadness and passion and      
sweetness trembling through it4  ,the   
baron started as he heard it4 ,he moved 
carelessly to the window and stood with 
his back to the room1 looking out4  ,the
 countess looked up with a startled air4
 ,she glanced inquiringly toward her    
husband4 ,he was leaning forward1 a look
 of interest on his dark face4 ,the     

child at his knee shrank a little4 ,her 
eyes were full of a strange light4 ,on  
the opposite side of the room her sister
 ,marie sat unmoved1 her placid doll    
eyes resting on the player with a look  
of gentle content4  ,the passionate note
 quickened4 ,something uncanny and      
impure had crept into it4 ,it raised its
 head and hissed a little and was gone1 
gliding away among the low notes and    
losing itself in a rustling wave of     
sound4444 ,the music trembled a moment  
and was still2 then the passion burst in
 a flood upon them4 ,dark chasms opened2
 strange1 wild fastnesses shut them in2 
storm and license and evil held them4   
,blinding flashes fell on them4 ,slowly 
the player emerged into a wide sunlit   
place4 ,the music filled it4 ,winds blew
 from the four quarters to meet it1 and 
the air was full of melody4  ,the count 
stirred a little as the last notes fell4
  ,a strange composition1 he said       
briefly4  ,the child at his knee lifted 
her head4 ,she raised a tiny hand and   

brought it down sharply1 her small face 
aglow with suppressed anger4  ,it was   
not good6 she said4  ,the player turned 
to look at her4 ,his big face worked    
strangely4  ,no1 it was not good1 he    
said4 ,i shall not play that again4 ,but
 it is great music1 he added1 with a    
little laugh4  ,the count looked at him 
shrewdly4 ,he patted the child's        
trembling hand4  ,now1 he said          
soothingly1 something to clear away the 
mists6 ',der ,erlknig1' ,we have never  
had it2 bring it out4  ,schubert        
hesitated an instant4 ,he glanced at the
 child4  ,that music--,i have it not1   
,herr ,count--,i left it in ,vienna4    
,the count moved impatiently4  ,play it 
from memory1 he said4  ,the musician    
turned slowly to the piano4  ,the       
child's eyes followed him4 ,she shivered
 a little4  ,he swung back with a swift 
gesture1 feeling absently in his        
pockets4  ,a piece of tissue-paper1 he  
murmured4 ,he had extracted a small comb
 from one of his pockets4 ,he regarded  

it thoughtfully4 ,if ,i had one little  
piece of paper-- ,he looked about him   
helplessly4  ,there is some in the      
music-rack1 ,marie4 ,find it for him1   
said the count4  ,the girl found it and 
laid it in his hand4  ,he turned back to
 the piano1 adjusting and smoothing it4 
,his broad back was an effective screen4
 ,the group waited1 a look of interest  
on their faces4  ,suddenly he wheeled   
about1 his hands raised to his mouth1   
the comb1 thinly covered with           
tissue-paper1 at his lips1 and his fat  
cheeks distended4 ,his eyes behind the  
big spectacles glowed portentously4     
,they gazed at him in astonishment4  ,he
 drew a full breath and drove it forth1 
a lugubrious note4 ,with scowling brows 
and set face he darted the instrument   
back and forth across his puckered lips4
 ,it wailed and shrieked1 and out of the
 noise and discord emerged1 at a        
galloping trot1 ,der ,erlknig6  ,the    
child1 who had been regarding him       
intently1 threw back her head1 and a    

little laugh broke from her lips4 ,her  
face danced4 ,she came and stood by the 
player1 her hand resting on his knee4   
,herr ,schubert puffed and blew1 and    
,the ,erlking pranced and thumped4 ,now 
and then he stumbled and fell1 and the  
fugitives flew fast ahead4  ,the        
player's face was grave beyond belief1  
filled with a kind of fat melancholy1   
and tinged with tragic intent4  ,the    
faces watching it passed from question  
to amusement1 and from amusement to     
protest4  ,nein1 nein1 mein ,herr6 said 
the countess1 as she wiped her mild blue
 eyes and shook her blond curls4 ,nicht 
mehr6 nicht mehr6  ,with a deep1        
snorting sob the sound ceased4 ,the comb
 dropped from his lips1 and the player  
sat regarding them solemnly4 ,a smile   
curved his big lips4  ,ja1 he said      
simply1 that was great music4 ,i have   
made it myself1 that music4  ,with      
laughter and light words the party broke
 up4 ,at a touch from the count the     
musician lingered4 ,the others had left 

the room4  ,the count walked to the open
 window and stood for a moment staring  
into the darkness4 ,then he wheeled     
about4  ,what was it you played8 he said
 swiftly4  ,a ,hungarian air1 replied   
,schubert briefly4  ,the count looked   
incredulous4  ,it was your own1 he said4
  ,partly1 admitted the musician4  ,the 
count nodded4  ,i thought so4 ,he       
glanced toward the piano4 ,it is not too
 late----  ,schubert shrugged his       
shoulders4  ,i told the child--you      
heard--,i cannot play it again1 that    
music4  ,the count laughed lightly4  ,as
 you like4 ,he held out a hand4 ,good   
night1 my friend1 he said cordially4    
,you are a strange man4  ,the grotesque1
 sensitive face opposite him quivered4  
,the big lips trembled a little as they 
opened4  ,i am not a strange man1 said  
,schubert vehemently4 ,that music--it   
was--the devil6  ,the count laughed     
again lightly4 ,he held out his hand4   
,good night1 he said4     ,,iv   ,a soft
 haze hung over ,zelitz4 ,the moonlight1

 filtering through it1 touched the paths
 and shrubs with shifting radiance and  
lifted them out of shadow4 ,under the   
big trees the darkness lay black1 but in
 the open spaces it had given way to a  
gray1 elusive whiteness that came and   
went like a still breathing of the quiet
 night4  ,a young girl1 coming down one 
of the winding paths1 paused a moment in
 the open space to listen4 ,the hand    
that held her trailing1 shimmering      
skirts away from the gravel was strong  
and supple1 and the face thrown back to 
the moonlight wore a tense1 earnest     
look2 but the dark eyes in their curving
 lids were like a child's eyes4 ,they   
seemed to laugh subtly4 ,it may have    
been that the moonlight shifted across  
them4  ,a young man1 standing in the    
shadow of the trees1 smiled to himself  
as he watched her4 ,he stepped from     
beneath the trees and crossed the open  
space between them4  ,the girl watched  
him come without surprise4  ,it is a    
beautiful night1 ,herr ,schubert1 she   

said quietly as he stood beside her4  ,a
 wonderful night1 my lady1 he answered  
softly4  ,she looked down at him4  ,why 
are you not in the castle1 playing8 she 
demanded archly4  ,the night called me1 
he said4  ,she half turned away4  ,he   
started forward4  ,do not go1 he        
breathed4  ,she paused1 looking at him  
doubtfully4  ,i came to walk1 she said4 
,she moved away a few steps and paused  
again1 looking back over her shoulder4  
,you can come----  ,he sprang to her    
side1 and they paced on in silence4     
,she glanced at him from under her lids4
  ,his big face wore a radiant1         
absent-minded look4 ,the full lips moved
 softly4  ,what are you thinking of8 she
 said swiftly4  ,he flushed and came    
back to her4  ,only a little song2 it   
runs in my head4  ,hum it to me1 she    
commanded4  ,he flushed again and       
stammered3  ,nein1 nein2 it is not yet  
born4  ,her eyes were on the shifting   
light4  ,will you play it to me when it 
is done8 she asked softly4  ,you know   

that ,i will4  ,she waited a moment4    
,you have never dedicated a song to me1 
she said slowly4 ,there are the four to 
my father--but he is the count2 and the 
one last year for ,marie--why to        
,marie8--and one for them all4 ,but not 
one least little song for me6 ,the words
 had dropped under her breath4 ,her dark
 eyes were veiled4 ,no one could say    
whether they laughed now4  ,he looked up
 with a swift1 brusque gesture4  ,they  
are all yours2 you know it4 ,the low    
voice rebuked her gently4 ,for six years
 they are yours--all that ,i have done4 
,the face was turned toward her4 ,it was
 filled with pleading and a kind of     
gentle beauty1 clumsy and sweet4  ,she  
did not look at it4  ,there is one that 
,i should like to hear1 she said        
musingly4 ,you played it once1 years    
ago1 on a comb4 ,i have not heard it    
since4 ,she laughed sweetly4  ,schubert 
smiled4 ,the hurt look stole from his   
eyes4  ,you will hear it--my ',erlknig'8
 he demanded4  ,she nodded4  ,i will    

play it to you when ,i come back1 he    
said contentedly4  ,she stopped short in
 the path4  ,when you come back6 ,the   
subtle eyes were wide4 ,they were not   
laughing4  ,ja1 ,i shall----  ,where are
 you going8  ,he rubbed his great nose  
in the moonlight4  ,nein1 ,i know not4  
,i know ,i must go----  ,she stopped him
 impatiently4  ,you will not go6 she    
said4 ,he turned his eyes and looked at 
her4 ,after a moment her own fell4 ,why 
will you go8 she asked4  ,the face with 
its dumb look was turned toward her4    
,that little song--it calls me1 he said 
softly4 ,when it is done ,i will come   
back again--to you4  ,she smiled under  
the lids4  ,that little song--is it for 
me8 she asked sweetly4  ,ja1 for you4   
,he looked pleadingly at the downcast   
face4 ,the song--it is very sweet2 it   
teases me4  ,the lids quivered4  ,it    
comes to me so close1 so close6 ,he was 
silent1 a rapt look of listening in his 
face4 ,it broke with a swift sigh4 ,ach6
 it is gone6  ,she glanced at him       

swiftly4  ,i thought the songs came     
quickly4  ,he shook his head4  ,the     
others1 yes2 but not this one4 ,it is   
not like the others4 ,it is so sweet and
 gentle--far away--and pure like the    
snow4444 ,it calls me-- ,he broke off1  
gazing earnestly at the beautiful1      
high-bred face1 with its downcast eyes4 
,nein6 ,i cannot speak it1 he said      
softly4 ,but the song it will speak it  
for me--when ,i come4  ,she lifted her  
head1 and held out her hand with a      
gesture half shy and very sweet4  ,the  
moonlight veiled her4 ,i shall wait1 she
 said gently--for the song4  ,he held   
the slender hand for a moment in his    
own2 then it was laid lightly against   
his lips1 and turning1 he had           
disappeared among the shadows4     ,v   
,hallo1 ,franz6 ,hallo--there6  ,two    
young men1 walking rapidly along the low
 hedge that shuts in the ,zum ,biersack 
from the highway1 lifted heated faces   
and glanced toward the enclosure1 where 
a youth seated at one of the tables had 

half risen from his place1 and was      
gesticulating with the open book in his 
hand to vacant seats beside him4  ,it is
 ,tieze1 said ,schubert1 with a smile4  
,come in4  ,his companion nodded4 ,the  
next instant a swift waiter had served  
them1 and three round1 smiling faces    
surveyed one another above the foaming  
mugs4  ,ach6 said ,tieze1 looking more  
critically at the shorter man1 but you  
have grown thin1 my friend4 ,you are not
 so great4  ,schubert smiled            
complacently4 ,he glanced down at his   
rotund figure4  ,nein1 ,i am little1 he 
assented affably4  ,his companions broke
 into a roar of laughter4  ,drink her   
down1 ,franz6 drink her down6 said      
,tieze1 lifting the heavy stein4        
,schubert wiped the foam from his lips4 
,ja1 that is good6 ,he drew a deep sigh4
  ,he reached out his hand for the open 
volume that lay by his companion's hand4
 ,it was given over in silence1 and he  
dipped into it as he sipped the beer1   
smiling and scowling and humming softly4

 ,now and then he lifted his head and   
listened4 ,his eyes looked across the   
noisy garden into space4  ,his          
companions ignored him4 ,they laughed   
and chatted and sang4 ,other young men  
joined the group1 and the talk grew     
loud4 ,it was the ,sunday festival of   
,warseck4  ,schubert smiled absently    
across the babel4  ,a pencil--quick6 he 
said in a low tone to ,tieze4 ,his hand 
holding the open book trembled1 and the 
big eyes glowed with fire4  ,tieze      
fumbled in his pockets and shook his    
head4  ,schubert glared at the careless 
group4  ,a pencil1 ,i tell you6 he said 
fiercely4  ,there was a moment's lull4  
,nobody laughed4 ,some one thrust a stub
 of pencil across the table4 ,a fat     
young man sitting at ,schubert's side   
seized it and1 drawing a few music-bars 
on the back of a programme1 pushed it on
 to him4  ,ach6 said ,schubert1 with a  
grateful sigh1 ,goot--goot6 ,in another 
moment he was lost4  ,the talk grew     
louder4 ,hurried waiters rushed back and

 forth behind his chair with foaming    
mugs and slices of black bread1 and gray
 and brown4 ,fiddles squeaked1 and      
skittle-players shouted4 ,now and then  
the noise broke off and changed to the  
national air1 which the band across the 
garden played loudly4 ,but through it   
all ,schubert's big head wagged         
absently1 and his short-sighted eyes    
glared at the barred lines and flying   
pencil4  ,suddenly he raised his head   
with a snort4 ,his spectacles flew to   
his forehead1 and his round face smiled 
genially at the laughing group4  ,done8 
asked the fat young man with a smile4   
,he reached out his hand for the        
scrawled page4  ,schubert drew it       
jealously back4  ,nein1 he said quickly4
  ,tieze1 who had come around the table1
 stood behind them1 scanning the barred 
lines and the scattered shower of notes4
 ,he raised a quick hand to the group   
about the table4  ,gott im ,himmel6 he  
said excitedly4 ,listen1 you            
dunderheads6  ,silence fell on the      

group4 ,every glance was turned to him4 
,he hummed softly a few bars of sweetest
 melody--under the garden's din4444 ,the
 notes stopped in a choking gasp1       
,schubert's hand on his throat4  ,stop  
that6 he said hoarsely4 ,the paper had  
been thrust loosely into his coat       
pocket4 ,his face worked fiercely4      
,tieze drew back1 half laughing1 half   
alarmed4  ,franz6 ,franz6 he said4  ,the
 other brushed his hand across his      
forehead and drew a deep breath4  ,ja1  
he said slowly1 ,i might have killed    
you4  ,tieze nodded4 ,a look of         
curiosity held his face4  ,it is schn6  
he said softly4 ,schn6  ,schubert turned
 abruptly4  ,it is not for you4444 ,for 
years ,i search that song1 over         
mountains1 in the storm1 in the         
sunshine2 but it has never come--till   
here4 ,his eye swept the crowded place4 
,now ,i have it--he patted the rough    
coat pocket--now ,i have it1 ,i go away4
     ,,vi   ,the girl sitting on a rough
 bench by the low building stirred      

slightly4 ,she glanced behind her4 ,deep
 blackness in the wood1 shifting        
moonshine about her4 ,she breathed a    
quick sigh4 ,it was like that other     
night4 ,ah1 he would not come6  ,her    
face fell forward into her slender      
fingers4 ,she sat immovable4 ,the shadow
 trembled a little1 but the girl by the 
low house was blind and deaf4 ,melodies 
of the past were about her4 ,the shadow 
moved1 but she had no eyes to see2      
slowly it travelled across the          
short-cropped grass1 mystically green   
and white in the waning moon4           
,noiselessly it came2 it sank           
noiselessly into the shadow of the low  
house4 ,a sound clicked and was still4  
,but the girl had not moved--memory     
music held her4 ,it moved upon her      
spirit1 low and sweet1 and stirred the  
pulse1 and breathed itself away4  ,she  
stirred a little1 and laid her cheek    
upon her palm4 ,her opened eyes rested  
carelessly on the ground2 her look      
flashed wide and leaped to the lattice  

window beside her1 and back again to the
 ground4 ,a block of light lay there1   
clear and defined4 ,it was not moonlight
 or dream-light4 ,she sprang to her feet
 and moved a step nearer the window4    
,then she stopped1 her hand at her side1
 her breath coming quickly4 ,the high1  
sweet notes were calling from the night4
 ,swiftly she moved4 ,the door gave     
lightly beneath her touch4 ,she crossed 
the smooth floor4 ,she was by his side4 
,the music was around them1 above them1 
shimmering4 ,it held them close4 ,slowly
 he turned his big1 homely face and     
looked at her1 but the music did not    
cease4 ,it hovered in the air above1    
high and pure and sweet4 ,the face of   
the young countess bent lower2 a look of
 tenderness waited in her subtle eyes4  
,he sprang to his feet1 his hands       
outstretched to ward it off4  ,nein4 ,it
 is not ,i4 ,it is the music4 ,you shall
 not be bewitched6 ,his hands made swift
 passes1 as if he would banish a spell4 
,she caught them to her and waited4  ,am

 ,i bewitched--,franz8 she said at last4
 ,the voice was very low4 ,the laughing 
eyes were looking into his4  ,ja1 you   
are bewitched1 he returned stoutly4     
,and you8  ,i have only love for you4   
,and ,i have only love for you1 she     
repeated softly4 ,she hummed a bit of   
the melody and stopped1 looking at him  
sweetly4 ,it is my song1 she            
questioned--the song you went to seek   
for me8  ,he lifted his head proudly4   
,it came for you4  ,she nodded with     
brimming eyes4 ,her hands stole softly  
up to the big face4 ,they framed it in1 
with its look of pride1 and touched it  
gently4 ,dear face6 she breathed1 dear  
ugly face--my music face6  ,they moved  
swiftly apart4 ,the figure of the count 
was in the open doorway4  ,she moved    
forward serenely and slipped her hand in
 his4  ,i am here1 ,father ,johann1 she 
said quietly4  ,his fingers closed about
 the white ones4  ,go outside1 ,cara4   
,wait there till ,i come4  ,her dark1   
troubled eyes looked into his4 ,they    

were not laughing now4  ,nay1 father1   
she said gently1 it is you who will wait
 outside--while we say farewell4  ,the  
count regarded her for a long moment1   
then he turned toward the young         
musician1 his face full of compassion   
and a kind of envy4  ,my friend1 he said
 slowly1 for five minutes ,i shall leave
 her with you4 ,you will go             
away--forever4  ,schubert bowed proudly4
 ,his eyes were on the girl's face4  ,as
 the door closed1 she turned to him1    
holding out her hands4  ,he took them in
 his1 and they stood silent1 looking    
into each other's eyes4  ,she drew a    
long breath4  ,what do people say when  
they are dying8 she asked4  ,nein1 ,i   
know not4 ,his voice trembled4  ,there  
is so much1 and it is nothing1 said the 
girl dreamily4 ,she moved a step toward 
the piano1 his hands locked fast in     
hers4 ,tell me again you love me6 she   
whispered4  ,he took off the great      
spectacles1 and laid them beside the    
scrawled page4  ,look in my eyes1 he    

said gently4 ,a kind of grandeur had    
touched the homely features4 ,the soul  
behind them looked out4  ,she bent      
toward him4 ,a little sob broke from her
 lips4 ,she lifted the hands and moved  
them swiftly toward the keys4  ,tell me6
 she said4  ,with a smile of sadness1 he
 obeyed the gesture4  ,melody filled the
 room4 ,it flooded the moonlight4 ,the  
count1 pacing back and forth1 halted1 a 
look of bewilderment in his face4 ,he   
stepped swiftly toward the door4  ,the  
lights on the piano flared uncertainly4 
,they fell on the figure at the piano4  
,it loomed grotesque and grim1 and      
melted away in flickering shadow4 ,music
 played about it4 ,strains of sadness   
swept over it in the gloom and drifted  
by1 and the sweet1 high notes rose      
clear4 ,a little distance away the      
figure of the young countess stood in   
the shifting light4 ,her clasped hands  
hung before her4 ,she swayed and lifted 
them1 groping1 and turned4 ,her father  
sprang to her4 ,side by side they passed

 into the night4 ,the music sounded     
about them far and sweet4         99    
99       99       99       99  ,franz   
,schubert1 with his youth and his       
wreaths of fame1 his homely face and    
soul of fire1 is dead these many years2 
but the soul of fire is not dead4444    
,the ,countess ,esterhazy1 framed for   
love1 is dust and ashes in her marble   
house4 ,the night music plays over her  
tomb4  ,the night music plays wherever  
night is4     ,,frederic ,,chopin--,a   
,,record       ,,paris1 ,october #f1    
#ahcg4  ,it has rained all day4 ,no one 
has been in4 ,no fantasies have crept to
 my soul4 ,nothing to break the         
ceaseless1 monotonous drip1 drip1 drip  
on my heart4 ,no one but a garon from   
the florist's bringing violets--the     
great swelling bunch of ,english        
violets--,jane ,stirling's violets6     
,heavens1 what a woman6 ,i am like her  
now1 in the little mirror on my desk4   
,merely thinking of her has made me so6 
,the great aquiline nose--the shrewd1   

canny ,scotch look--and the big         
mouth--alas1 that mouth6 ,when it smiles
 ,i am enraged4 ,oh1 ,jane6 ,why dost   
thou haunt me1 night and day1 with thy  
devotion and thy violets--and thy nose6 
,let women be gentle1 with soft glances 
that thrill--soft1 dark flames4         
,constantia's glance8 ,constantia8 ,nay1
 fickle4 ,fickle moon of yesternight    
that drips--drips--drips4 ,will it never
 cease6 ,i cannot play the pain away4   
,it eats into my heart4 ,yet life was   
made for joy and love--love--love--sweet
 as dream-light--sweet as music--sad and
 sweet and gay--love6 ,the weariness    
rests upon me4 ,the silver clock ticks4 
,it chimes the pain4                    
,one--two--three--nine--ten4 ,the night 
wears slowly4 ,i must break the burden4 
,i will look into a woman's face1 and   
rest4       ,,paris1 ,october #aj1      
#ahcg4  ,it was a thought of            
inspiration4 ,i threw off the ugly loose
 coat and my ennui together4 ,i plunged 
into the fragrant bath4 ,little tunes   

hummed to me as ,i rose from it4 ,i put 
on clean1 fresh linen--fine as silk--and
 evening dress4 ,my blood coursed       
freely1 and the scent of violets came to
 me sweetly4 ,it followed through the   
wet1 dripping streets1 and clung to me  
as ,i ascended the softly carpeted stair
 to the salon of the ,countess          
,czosnowska4 ,i was merry in my soul4   
,then a shadow crossed me4 ,it fell upon
 my shoulder1 and ,i turned in fear to  
look4 ,no one--except a naked ,venus on 
the wall4 ,my good angel drew me on4 ,i 
have seen her thrice since then4 ,it    
seems a day4 ,she came and looked into  
my eyes1 while ,i played4 ,it was       
fairy-music1 witching and sweet--a      
little sad--the fairies of the ,danube4 
,my heart danced with them in the       
fatherland4 ,her eyes looked into mine4 
,sombre eyes--strange eyes4 ,what did   
they say8 ,she leaned forward on the    
piano1 gazing at me passionately4 ,my   
soul leaped back and stood at bay4 ,the 
strange eyes smiled4 ,it was a man's    

face--breadth and depth and             
coarseness--and the strange1 sad eyes4  
,i longed for them and shrank upon      
myself4 ,she moved away4 ,later we spoke
 together--commonplaces4 ,liszt brought 
her to me1 where ,i was sitting alone4  
,camellias framed us in4 ,a sweet shadow
 rested on my heart4 ,she praised my    
playing--gently4 ,she understood4 ,but  
the strong1 sad1 ugly face6 ,i have seen
 her twice since then4 ,in her own      
salon1 with the noblest minds of ,france
 about her--and once alone4 ,beautiful  
face--haunting sadness6                 
,aurora--sweetest name6 ,she loves me6  
,day-spring--loved-one6 ,the night      
lags----       ,,paris1 ,november #e1   
#ahch4  ,we are to go away together--to 
the ,south4 ,there is a strange pain at 
my chest1 a haunting cough4 ,it will not
 let me go4 ,i shall escape it--in the  
,south4 ,she cares for me1 day and      
night4 ,her sweet breath6 ,my mother's  
face is sad in my dreams4 ,i shall not  
dream when the sun shines warm upon     

me--in the ,south----       ,,majorca1  
,november #af1 #ahch4  ,we are          
alone--two souls--in this island of the 
sea4 ,the surf beats at night4 ,i lie   
and listen4 ,jane ,stirling came to see 
us off4 ,she brought violets--great1    
swelling ,english violets4 ,i smell them
 in the mouldy cloister cells1 night and
 day4 ,this monks' home is cold and     
bleak4 ,the wind rattles through it1 and
 at night it moans4 ,a chill is on me4  
,when ,i cough it echoes through my     
heart4 ,i love the light4 ,sweet music  
waits the light4 ,i will not die4 ,the  
shadow haunts4 ,but life is strong4     
,jane's violets on my grave6 ,i will not
 die4       ,,paris1 ,march #ad1 #ahci4 
,paris--gay1 live ,paris6 ,the cabs     
rattle sweetly on the stones4 ,i can    
breathe now4 ,the funeral dirge will    
wait4 ,in ,marseilles we came upon      
,nourrit--dead4 ,poor ,adolphe6 ,he     
could not bear the weight4 ,a crash into
 eternity6 ,i knew it all4 ,the solemn  
mass ascended for his soul--and high    

above it all1 ,i spoke in swelling      
chords--mystery--pain--justice--the     
fatherland4 ,a requiem for his soul--for
 ,chopin's soul8 ,and ,heine smiles4    
,brave ,heine6 ,with death upon his     
heart--inch by inch he fights it--with  
laughs4 ,i saw him yestermorn4 ,his     
great eyes winked4 ,they made a bet at  
me4 ,he will outlast us yet1 he swore1  
ten years4 ,brave fight6 ,shall ,i live 
to see it stop--gasp--the last quip fail
 on sunny lips8 ,i peer into the years  
between4 ,they hang among the mists4    
,aurora comes4 ,it is a week4 ,sweet    
day-spring6       ,,nohant1 ,october    
#aa1 #ahci4  ,they tell me ,i am well4  
,the cough has ceased and the pain4 ,but
 deep below1 it beats4 ,aurora's eyes   
are veiled4 ,only when ,i play will they
 glow4 ,they fill the world with light4 
,i sit and play softly--her pen moves   
fast4 ,she can write with               
music--music--over                      
her--around--,chopin's music1 whispered 
low--but clear as love4 ,they said once 

,george ,sand was clever4 ,it is        
,chopin's touch that makes her great4   
,it eats the soul4 ,for thee1 ,aurora1  
,i could crawl upon the earth4 ,i would 
not mind4 ,i give thee all4 ,i ask a    
glance--a touch--a smile when thou art  
weary--leave to love thee and to make   
sweet music4 ,thou wilt not be too      
cruel1 love--with thy veiled eyes8      
,,nohant1 ,may #c1 #ahdg4  ,i must have 
money4 ,i am a burden--sick--a cough    
that racks the soul4 ,aurora comes but  
seldom4 ,the cough hurts her4 ,she is   
busy4 ,i do not look into her eyes4 ,i  
lie and gaze across the field4 ,it      
stretches from my window--sunny1 ,french
 field6 ,miles away1 beneath a ,polish  
sky1 ,i see my mother's eyes4 ,unshed   
tears are heavy4 ,fritz1 little ,fritz1 
she calls to me1 thou wilt be a great   
musician4 ,poland will be proud of thee6
 ,poland--dear land--proud of ,frederic 
,chopin6 ,my heart is empty4 ,it aches4 
,,nohant1 ,june #a1 #ahdg4  ,it is over4
 ,life has stopped4 ,a few years more or

 less1 perhaps4 ,but never life again4  
,i do not write the words4 ,they hammer 
at my brain4 ,she spoke so sharply--and 
my soul was sick4 ,i did not think she  
could4 ,if she had waited--,i would not 
have tarried long1 not too long1        
,aurora4 ,hadst thou waited--weary of   
the burden1 the sick burden of my       
complaint6 ,money--,i shall             
work--,waltzes that the public          
loves--and pays for4 ,mazurkas from a   
torn heart6 ,i shall work--a little     
while--#bj1jjj francs to set me free6 ,i
 will die free6       ,,paris1 ,june    
#aj1 #ahdg4  ,strange fortune that      
besets a man6 ,the #bj1jjj franc paper  
is in my hand4 ,i turn it4 ,i look at   
it4 ,jane ,stirling and her goodness    
haunt my gloom4 ,she only asks to give4 
,strange1 uncouth1 ,scotch lady6 ,with  
thy heart of gold1 thy face of iron1 and
 thy foot of lead6 ,thy francs lie heavy
 in my hand4 ,master1 she writes my     
name4 ,she only asks to give4 ,but women
 should be gentle1 with soft1 dark eyes 

that thrill4 ,the day has closed4 ,i    
shall die free6       ,,stirling        
,,castle1 ,,scotland1 ,june #af1 #ahdh4 
,i am lying in a great chamber of the   
castle4 ,the house is still4 ,the guests
 have creaked to their rooms4 ,the last 
hoarse voice is hushed4 ,when ,i played 
for them below1 my fingers twitched and 
my heart ached with the numbness4 ,i    
could have cried with weariness and     
pain4 ,the faithful ,daniel lifted me   
like a child4 ,he has undressed me and  
laid me here among the swelling pillows4
 ,the light burns fitfully4 ,it dances  
among the shadows4 ,outside the bleak   
,scotch mist draws near4 ,it peers into 
my window4 ,it is ,jane's soul--soft and
 floating wool--and clammy4 ,my heart is
 ice--ingratitude and ice4 ,she sits    
beside me all the day4 ,we talk of      
music6 ,strange1 disjointed talk--with  
gaps of common sense--hero-worship--and 
always the flame that burns for me--slow
 and still4 ,she has one thought1 one   
wish--to guard my days with sweet       

content4 ,and in my soul the quenchless 
fire burns4 ,it eats its way to the last
 citadel4 ,i have not long to wait4 ,i  
shall not cry out with the pain4 ,its   
touch is sweet--like death4 ,i'll beat  
you yet1 brave ,heine writes4 ,his soul 
is emptied4 ,but the lips laugh4 ,jane's
 slow ,scotch eyes keep guard at death4 
,my lightest wish grows law4 ,the       
treasures of my salon--shall they be    
hawked about the town8 ,chopin's        
wash-basin--going6--for ten sous--going6
 ,my pictures1 caskets1 tapestries1 each
 rug and chair that ,i have loved1 and  
the great piano with its voice and soul 
of love4 ,she will guard them4 ,faithful
 lady6 ,cruel one--my soul curses thee1 
crushes thee forever--false dawn that   
could not stand the sun's deep          
kiss--,aurora4 ,unrest--unrest--will it 
never cease8 ,shall ,i lie quiet8 ,there
 will be ,polish earth upon me4 ,the    
silver goblet holds it4 ,it is here     
beside me now4 ,i reach and touch it    
with my hand4 ,dear land of music and   

the soul6 ,the silver cupful from thy   
teeming fields is always near4 ,it shall
 spill upon my breast--upon this racked 
and breathless burden6 ,but the heart   
within that beats and burns--it shall be
 severed1 chord by chord--it shall      
return to the land that gave it4 ,dear  
,poland6 ,i see thee in the mists--with 
my mother's brow and mouth and chin4    
,poland that sings and weeps--sad land4 
,my heart is thine6 ,cleanse it in      
sweet-smelling earth6 ,in thy bosom it  
shall rest--at last--rest6     ,,the    
,,man ,,with ,,the ,,glove     ,i   ,ho1
 ,tiziano6 ,ala-ala-ho6 ,tizi-ah-no6    
,the group in the gondola raised a merry
 call4 ,the gondola rocked at the foot  
of a narrow flight of steps leading to a
 tall1 sombre dwelling4 ,the moonlight  
that flooded the gondola and steps      
revealed no sign of life in the dark    
front4  ,the young man sitting with his 
back to the gondolier raised the call   
again3 ,what1 ho6--,tiziano6 ,the clear1
 tenor voice carried far1 and occupants 

of passing gondolas turned to look and  
smile at the dark1 handsome youth as    
they drifted past4  ,the door at the top
 of the steps opened and ,titian ran    
lightly down4 ,he carried in his hand a 
small lute with trailing purple ribbons1
 and the cap that rested on his thick   
curls was of purple velvet4 ,he lifted  
it with gentle grace as he stepped into 
the gondola and took the vacant seat    
beside a young woman facing the bow of  
the boat4  ,her smiling face was turned 
to him mockingly4 ,late again1 ,signor  
,cevelli1 and yet again6 ,she plucked at
 the strings of a small instrument lying
 on her lap1 and the notes tinkled the  
music of her words4  ,pardon1 ,signora1 
a thousand pardons to you and to your   
gracious lord6 ,he bowed to the man     
opposite him4  ,giorgio8 ,oh--,giorgio  
doesn't mind4 ,her soft lips smiled4    
,he's too big and lazy4 ,he never minds4
 ,her laugh rose light and sweet4 ,the  
three men joined in4  ,the boat shot    
into midstream4 ,it threaded its way    

among the brilliant craft that floated  
in the moonlight1 or shot by them under 
vigorous strokes4 ,many glances were    
turned toward the boat as it passed4    
,the face of ,titian was well known and 
that of the woman beside him was the    
face of many pictures2 while the big man
 opposite--her husband--the famous      
,giorgione1 was the favorite of         
art-loving ,venice4 ,it was a group to  
attract attention at any time4 ,but it  
was the fourth member of the group that 
drew the eyes and held them to-night4   
,he was a stranger to ,venice1 newly    
come from ,rome--known in ,venice years 
ago1 it was whispered--a mere stripling4
 ,now the face and figure had the beauty
 and the strength of manhood4444 ,a     
famous courtesan touched her red-gold   
locks and laughed sweetly as she drifted
 by4 ,but the sombre1 dark face with the
 inscrutable eyes and the look of power 
did not turn4 ,he sat1 for the most     
part1 a little turned away1 looking at  
the waves dancing with leaden lights    

under the moon and running in ripples   
from the boat4 ,now and then his lips   
curved in a smile at some jest of his   
companions1 or his eyes rested on the   
face of the woman opposite--and filled  
with gentle1 wondering light4  ,titian1 
watching him from beside the young      
woman1 marvelled at the look of mystery 
and the strength4 ,he leaned forward1   
about to speak--but ,giorgione stayed   
him with a gesture4  ,the ,fondaco1 he  
said1 raising his hand to the gondolier4
 ,ho1 there6 ,halt for the ,fondaco6    
,the boat came slowly to rest at the    
foot of the great building that rose    
white and gray and new in the half      
light4 ,giorgione's eye ran lovingly    
along the front4 ,to-morrow1 he said1 we
 begin the last frescos4 ,you1 ,titian1 
on the big faade to the south1 and      
,zarato and ,i-- ,he laid his hand      
affectionately on the arm of the young  
man at his side1 ,zarato and ,i on the  
inner court4  ,the youth started and    
looked up4 ,his eyes studied the massive

 walls1 with the low1 arching porticos  
and long unbroken lines4 ,a noble piece 
of work1 he said4  ,giorgione nodded4   
,german and ,venetian mixed4 ,he laughed
 softly4 ,with three ,venetians at the  
frescos--we shall see1 ah--we shall see6
 ,he laughed again good-humoredly4  ,the
 boat shot under the ,rialto and came   
out again in the clear moonlight4       
,to-morrow1 said ,giorgione1 looking    
back1 to-morrow we begin4  ,to-morrow   
,zarato comes to me--for his portrait4  
,titian spoke quickly1 almost harshly4  
,his eyes were on the young man's face4 
,the gondola stirred slightly4 ,every   
one looked at the young man4 ,he sat    
staring at ,titian1 a look half amused  
and half perplexed in his dark eyes4    
,the look broke and ran4 ,is it so6 he  
said almost gayly4  ,titian nodded      
grimly4 ,you come to me4  ,giorgione    
leaned forward4 ,but ,i can't spare him1
 he pleaded4 ,i can't spare you4 ,the   
work is late1 and the ,council hammer at
 a man6 ,you must wait4  ,just one day1 

said ,titian briefly4 ,i block in the   
outlines4 ,it can wait then--a year1 six
 months--,i care not4  ,giorgione's face
 regained its look of good-humor4 ,but  
you are foolish1 ,titian1 foolish6      
,paint doges1 if you will1 paint popes  
and dukes--paint gold4 ,but never paint 
an artist--an artist and a gentleman6   
,they laughed merrily and the boat      
glided on--out into the lagoon and the  
broad1 flooding moonlight4  ,sing       
something1 said ,giorgione4 ,he raised  
the flute to his lips1 breathing into it
 a gay1 gentle air4 ,the lute and       
cithara1 from the opposite side1 took it
 up4 ,presently the tenor voice joined  
in1 carrying the air with sweet1 high   
notes4 ,they fell softly on the ear4    
,the slender fingers plucking at the    
cithara faltered4 ,the bosom beneath its
 white tunic1 where a single pansy      
glowed1 trembled with swift breathing1  
and the red lips parted in a quick sigh4
  ,titian looked up1 smiling            
reproachfully3 ,violante6 ah1 ,violante6

 he murmured softly4  ,she shook her    
head smilingly4 ,a tear rested on her   
cheek4 ,i cannot help it1 she said2 it  
is the music4  ,yes1 it is the music1   
said ,titian4 ,his tone was dry--half   
cynical4  ,her husband looked over with 
faithful eyes and smiled at her4  ,only 
,zarato had not looked up4 ,his eyes    
followed the dancing leaden water4 ,a   
flush had come into his sallow cheek4   
,but the moonlight did not reveal it4   
,violante glanced at him timidly4       
,come1 we will try again1 she said4 ,she
 swept her cithara1 and the tenor voice 
took up the notes4 ,faster6 she said4   
,the time quickened4 ,her cheeks were   
flushed and her eyes shone4  ,chi boit  
et ne reboit1 ne cais qua boir soit1    
rang out the voice4  ,qua boir soit--qua
 boir soit1 repeated ,violante softly4  
,the duet rose1 full and sweet and      
clear1 with passionate undertones4      
,slowly it died away1 calling to itself 
across the lighted water4  ,the two men 
applauded eagerly4 ,bella6 murmured     

,giorgione4 ,once more6--,bella6 ,he    
clapped his hands4  ,again the music    
rose4 ,once the eyes of the singers     
met--a long1 slow look4 ,the time       
quickened a little1 and the music       
deepened4  ,titian sat watching them1   
his head in its velvet cap1 thrown back 
against the cushions1 his lips smiling  
dreamily4 ,his eye strayed over the     
voluptuous figure at his side--the snowy
 tunic and the ruby-red bodice and      
skirt4 ,he knew the figure well1 the    
red-gold hair and wondrous eyes4 ,but a 
new look had come into them--something  
tender1 almost sweet4  ,he leaned       
forward as the music ceased4 ,you shall 
pose for me1 he said under his breath4  
,i want you for the ,duke's picture4    
,she nodded slightly1 her bosom rising  
and falling4  ,giorgione leaned forward1
 smiling4  ,what is that8 he asked4 ,his
 eyes rested tenderly on the flushed    
face and the full lips of his wife4     
,what is it you say8  ,i want her for   
,bacchante1 said ,titian1 for the       

,duke's picture4 ,he had not removed his
 eyes from her face4  ,giorgione smiled4
 ,then his face darkened4 ,my frescos6  
,oh1 my frescos6 he murmured tragically4
 ,but you will help1 ,zarato4 ,you will 
not go paint for dukes and popes8 ,the  
tone was half laughing and half         
querulous4  ,the young man roused       
himself and looked at him questioningly4
 ,he drew his hand across his eyes4     
,what is it8 he said dreamily4 ,what is 
it8 ,his face flushed4 ,help you8 ,yes1 
,i will help you--if--,i can4     ,,ii  
,a little more to the right1 please4    
,titian's eyes studied the figure before
 him thoughtfully4 ,his voice murmured  
half-articulate words1 and his glance   
ran swiftly from the sitter to his      
canvas4  ,that is good4 ,he gave a sigh 
of satisfaction4 ,can you hold that--ten
 minutes1 say6 ,he had taken up his     
brush and was painting with swift       
strokes4  ,the young man before him     
smiled a little4 ,the dark1 handsome    
face lighted under it and glowed4 ,i    

will do my best4 ,the quiet irony in the
 tone laughed gently4  ,titian smiled   
back4 ,i forget that you are of the     
craft4 ,you have too much of the grand  
air1 ,zarato1 to belong to us4  ,i am   
indebted to you6 said the young man     
politely4 ,he lifted his hand with a    
courtly gesture1 half mocking and half  
sincere4 ,it dropped easily to the      
console beside him4  ,with rapid touches
 ,titian sketched it as it lay4 ,his    
face glowed with satisfaction1 and he   
worked with eager haste4 ,good6--,good6 
he murmured under his breath4 ,it will  
be great4 ,you will see4444 ,you will   
see4 ,he hummed softly to himself1 his  
glance flashing up and down the tall    
figure before him1 inserting a touch    
here and a line there1 with swift       
decision4  ,the warm air of the studio  
was very quiet4 ,voices drifted up from 
the ,grand ,canal1 and now and then the 
sound of bells4  ,the young man's eyes  
looked dreamily before him4 ,he had     
forgotten the studio and its occupant4  

,he might have been listening to        
pleasant words--to the sound of a voice4
  ,there6 ,titian dropped the brush and 
stepped back4 ,we have done for to-day4 
,he surveyed the canvas critically4     
,the young man stepped to his side4 ,he 
looked earnestly at the daubs and lines 
of paint that streaked it4 ,a smile     
crept over his dark face4 ,you paint    
like no other1 he said quietly4  ,titian
 nodded4 ,like no other1 he repeated the
 words with satisfaction4 ,they will not
 call it like ,palma1 this time--nor    
like ,giorgione1 nor ,signor ,somebody  
,else4 ,he spoke with mild irritation4  
,his eyes travelled over the lines of   
glowing canvas that covered the walls4  
,the young man's glance followed them4  
,no1 he assented1 you have outstepped   
them all4444 ,you used them but to climb
 on4 ,he moved toward a canvas across   
the room4  ,but this-- he laid his hand 
lightly on the frame--this was after    
,palma8 ,he turned his eyes with a look 
of inquiry4  ,titian nodded curtly4  ,it

 was the model--partly1 he said half    
grudgingly4  ,i know--,violante4 ,zarato
 spoke the name softly4 ,he hesitated a 
moment4 ,would she pose for any one--for
 me1 do you think8  ,titian laughed     
harshly4 ,better not1 my boy--,better   
not6 ,when she gets into a brush1 it is 
a lost brush1 ,zarato--bewitched        
forever6 ,look there--and there--and    
there6 ,his rapid hand flashed at the   
canvases4  ,the young man's eyes        
followed the gesture4 ,the result is not
 so bad1 he said gravely4  ,titian      
laughed back4 ,not so bad6444 ,he       
studied them a minute4 ,you've no idea  
how ,i had to fight to keep her         
out--,and1 oh1 that hair6 ,he groaned   
thoughtfully1 looking at the            
canvases--,palma's worse6 he chuckled4  
,the young man started4 ,a thought      
crossed his face and he looked up4 ,and 
,giorgione8 he asked doubtingly4        
,titian shook his head grimly4 ,he      
married her4  ,the young man moved a    
little away4 ,he picked up a small book 

and mechanically turned the leaves4     
,the older man eyed him keenly4  ,don't 
mind me1 ,zarato4 ,he said it kindly1   
and laid a hand on the young man's      
shoulder4 ,i have no right to say       
anything against her--except that she's 
a somewhat fickle woman1 he added dryly4
  ,the young man's eyes were fixed on   
the page before him4 ,he held it out1   
pointing to a name scrawled on the      
margin4  ,titian took it in his hands1  
holding it gently1 and turning it so    
that the light fell on the rich binding4
 ,a treasure6 he said enthusiastically4 
,the young man nodded4 ,an ,aldine--,i  
saw that4 ,what does the marking mean8  
,he asked the question almost rudely4   
,his companion turned the leaves4 ,it's 
a bacchanal for the ,duke1 he said      
slowly4444 ,i've been looking up        
,violante's pose4--,here it is4 ,he read
 the lines in a musical voice4  ,a heavy
 frown had come between the handsome    
eyes watching him4 ,you'll not paint her
 like that8  ,i rather think ,i shall1  

responded ,titian slowly4 ,she has      
promised4  ,and ,giorgione8  ,giorgione 
lets her do as she likes4 ,he trusts    
her--as ,i do4 ,he laid his hand again  
on the shoulder near him4 ,i tell you1  
man1 you're wrong4 ,believe in her      
and--leave her1 he said significantly4  
,the shoulder shrugged itself slightly  
away4 ,the young man picked up his hat  
from the table near by4 ,he raised it   
courteously before he dropped it with a 
little laugh on the dark curls4  ,i go  
to an appointment1 he said4     ,,iii   
,a face looked over the balcony railing 
as the gondola halted at the foot of the
 steps4 ,it smiled with a look of       
satisfaction1 and the owner1 reaching   
for a rose at her belt1 dropped it with 
a quick touch over the balcony edge4    
,it fell at the feet of the young man   
stepping from the gondola1 and caused   
him to bend with a deep flush4 ,it      
touched his lips lightly as he raised   
himself and lifted his velvet cap to the
 face above4  ,she smiled mockingly4    

,you are late1 she said--two minutes    
late6  ,i come6 he replied1 springing up
 the steps4 ,in another minute he was   
beside her1 smiling and flushed1 looking
 down at her with deep1 intent gaze4    
,she made a place for him on the divan4 
,sit down1 she said4  ,he seated himself
 humbly1 his eyes studying hers4  ,she  
smiled lazily and unfurled her fan1     
covering her face except the eyes4 ,they
 regarded him over the fringe of        
feathers4  ,where have you been8 she    
demanded4  ,with ,titian4  ,giorgione   
wanted you4 ,he did scold so--6 ,she    
laughed musically4  ,zarato nodded4 ,i  
go to him to-morrow4  ,has ,titian      
finished8  ,for the present--,he will   
lay it away4  ,i know1 she laughed1 --to
 mellow6444 ,how did you like it8  ,he  
hesitated a second4 ,it was a little    
rough1 he confessed4  ,always6 ,the     
laugh rippled sweetly4 ,like a log of   
wood--or a heap of stones--or a large   
loaf of bread4  ,he stirred uneasily4   
,do you sit to him often8 he asked4     

,her eyes dwelt for a moment on his     
face4 ,not now1 she replied4  ,he       
returned the look searchingly4 ,you are 
going to8  ,yes1 she assented4  ,he     
still held her eyes4 ,i don't like it1  
he said slowly4  ,the ghost of a smile  
came into her face4 ,her eyes danced in 
the shadow of it4 ,no8 she said quietly4
  ,no6  ,she waited1 looking down and   
plucking at the silken fringe of her    
bodice4 ,why8 she asked after a time4   
,he made no reply4  ,she glanced up at  
him4 ,he was looking away from her1     
across the gay canal4 ,his face had a   
gentle1 preoccupied look1 and his lip   
trembled4  ,her glance fell4 ,why not8  
she repeated softly4  ,he looked down at
 her and his face flushed4 ,i don't     
know1 he said4 ,he bent toward her and  
took the fan from her fingers4  ,she    
yielded it with half reluctance1 her    
eyes mocking him and her lips alluring4 
,he smiled back at her1 shaking his head
 slightly and unfurling the fan4 ,he had
 regained his self-possession4 ,he moved

 the fan gently1 stirring the red-gold  
hair and fluttering the silken fringe on
 her bodice4 ,it rose and fell swiftly1 
moved in the soft current of air4 ,his  
eyes studied her face4 ,will you sit for
 me some day8 he said4  ,she nodded     
without speaking4 ,the breath came      
swiftly between the red lips and the    
eyes were turned away4 ,they rested on  
the faade of a tall building opposite1  
where a flock of doves1 billing and     
cooing in the warm air1 strutted and    
preened themselves4 ,their plump and    
iridescent breasts shone in the sun4    
,her hand reached for the cithara at her
 side4 ,shall ,i sing you their song8   
she said1 ,the ,birds of ,venus4  ,he   
smiled indulgently4 ,her voice crooned  
the words4  ,sing6 she said imperiously4
 ,he joined in1 following her mood with 
ready ease4  ,there was silence between 
them when the song was done4 ,she sat   
with her eyes half closed1 looking down 
at the white hands in her lap4  ,he     
lifted one of them gently1 his eyes on  

her face4 ,she did not stir or look up4 
,he raised it slowly to his lips4  ,the 
warm breath stirred a smile on her face4
 ,she glanced at him from under falling 
lids4  ,he dropped the hand and stood up
 with a half cry4  ,i must              
go--,violante--,i must--go6 ,he groped  
to where the doorway opened1 cool and   
dark1 behind them1 ,i must go1 he       
repeated vaguely4  ,she rose and came to
 him slowly4 ,you must go1 she said     
softly4  ,they passed into the dark1    
open doorway4  ,below1 in the hot sun1  
the gondola rocked at the foot of the   
stairs4     ,,iv   ,the noon-bell in the
 southern turret of the ,fondaco chimed 
softly4 ,a painter at work on the faade 
near by looked up inquiringly at the    
sun4 ,he smiled absently to himself and1
 dropping his brushes1 descended lightly
 from the scaffolding to the ground4 ,he
 walked away a few steps--as far as the 
ground permitted--and turned to look at 
the work above4  ,not so bad1 he        
murmured softly1 --not so bad 444 and   

better from the water4 ,he glanced at   
the canal below4 ,a white hand from a   
passing gondola waved to him and        
motioned approvingly toward the colors  
of the great wall4  ,bravo1 ,tiziano6   
called some one from another craft4 ,the
 canal took up the cry4 ,bravo1 bravo6  
,bravo1--,tiziano6  ,titian raised his  
painter's cap and returned the salute4  
,he stood with one foot on the parapet1 
looking down and smiling with easy      
grace1 at the pleasure-loving crowd     
below4 ,a man came in sight around the  
corner of the ,fondaco1 walking slowly  
and looking up at the picture as he     
came4  ,well8 ,titian glanced at him    
keenly4  ,great6 responded ,giorgione   
heartily4 ,the ,judith bears the light  
well1 and when the scaffolding is down  
it will be better yet4444 ,venice will  
be proud6 ,he laid his hand             
affectionately on the other's shoulder  
and motioned toward the throng of boats 
that had halted below1 gazing at the    
glowing wall4  ,to-day                  

,titian--to-morrow another6 said ,titian
 a little bitterly4  ,why care8         
responded ,giorgione4 ,some one to-day  
told me that my ,judith1 on the south   
wall here1 surpasses all my other work  
together4 ,he laughed cordially4        
,titian looked at him keenly4 ,his face 
had flushed a little under the          
compliment4 ,it is like you not to care1
 he said affectionately4  ,care6 ,why   
should ,i care--so that the work is     
done8 ,his eyes rested lovingly on the  
faade4 ,it is marvellous--that trick of 
light1 he said wonderingly4444 ,you must
 teach it to me4  ,titian laughed under 
his breath4 ,i learned it from you4     
,giorgione shook his head4 ,not from    
me4444 he replied doubtingly4 ,if you   
learned it from me1 others would learn  
from me4 ,he stood1 looking up1 lost in 
thought4  ,where is ,zarato8 asked      
,titian abruptly4  ,giorgione started   
vaguely4 ,a flush came into his face4   
,he stopped work--an hour ago1 he said4 
,titian's eyes were on his face4  ,the  

open friendliness had vanished4 ,it was 
turned to him with a look of trouble4   
,had you thought1 ,cevelli-- ,his speech
 hesitated and broke off4 ,he was       
looking down at the dark water4  ,titian
 answered the unspoken question4 ,yes1  
,i had thought1 he said4 ,his voice was 
very quiet4  ,his companion looked up   
quickly4 ,he is with her now1 it may    
be4444 ,i told them that ,i should not  
go home at the noon-bell4 ,he looked    
about him slowly--at the clear sky and  
at the moving throng of boats below--   
,i am going home4 ,he spoke the words   
with dull emphasis4  ,titian turned and 
held out his hand4 ,the gods be with    
you1 friend6  ,giorgione gripped it for 
a moment4 ,tears waited behind the eyes 
and clouded the look of trust4 ,i could 
bear it if--if ,zarato was not my       
friend1 he said as he turned away4      
,keep faith while you may1 said ,titian1
 following him a step4 ,he who distrusts
 a friend lends thunderbolts to the     
gods1 he quoted softly4  ,remind him    

that he is to sit for me this afternoon1
 he called more lightly1 as the other   
moved away4  ,i will remember1 said     
,giorgione soberly4 ,the next moment he 
had disappeared in the maze of          
buildings4  ,titian1 looking after him1 
shook his head slowly4 ,he turned and   
gathered up some tools from a bench near
 by4444 ,the look in his friend's eyes  
haunted him4     ,v   ,it still haunted 
him as he laid out brushes and colors in
 his studio for the appointed sitting   
with ,zarato4  ,he brought the canvas   
from the wall and placed it on the easel
 and stood back1 examining it           
critically4 ,his face lighted and he    
hummed softly1 gazing at the rough      
outline4444 ,slowly1 in the smudge of   
the vague face1 gleaming eyes formed    
themselves--,giorgione's eyes6 ,they    
looked out at him1 pathetic and fierce4 
,with an exclamation of disgust he threw
 down the brush4 ,he looked about him   
for his cap1 and found it at last--on   
the back of his head4 ,he settled it    

more firmly in place4 ,there will be    
time1 he muttered4 ,i shall be back in  
time4 ,with a swift glance about him he 
was gone from the room1 and on the way  
to ,giorgione's studio4  ,as he opened  
the door he saw ,giorgione's great      
figure huddled together against the     
eastern window4 ,bars of light fell     
across it and danced on the floor4      
,titian crossed the studio quickly and  
touched the bent shoulder4  ,the eyes   
that looked up were those that had      
called him4 ,giorgione's eyes--a fierce1
 pathetic light in their depths4 ,they  
gazed at him stupidly4 ,what is it8     
asked the man4 ,he spoke thickly and    
half rose1 gazing curiously about the   
room4 ,he ran a hand across his forehead
 and looked at ,titian vaguely4 ,what is
 it8 he repeated4  ,titian fell back a  
step4 ,that's what ,i came to find out1 
he said frankly4 ,he was more startled  
than he cared to show4  ,what has       
happened1 ,giorgione8 ,his tone was     
gentle1 as if speaking to a child1 and  

he took him by the shoulder to lead him 
to a seat4  ,for a moment the man       
resisted4 ,then he let himself be led1  
passively1 and sank back in the chair   
with a hoarse sigh4 ,he looked about the
 studio as if seeking something--and    
afraid of it4 ,she's gone6 he whispered4
  ,titian started4 ,no6  ,giorgione     
laughed harshly4 ,fled as a bird1 he    
said gayly1 a bird that was snared4 ,he 
hummed a few bars of the song and       
stopped1 his gaze fixed on vacancy4 ,a  
great shudder broke through him1 and he 
buried his face in his hands4 ,there was
 no movement but the heave of his       
shoulders1 and no sound4 ,the light upon
 the floor danced in the stillness4     
,titian's eyes rested on it1 perplexed4 
,he crossed the room swiftly and touched
 a bell4 ,he gave an order and waited   
with his hand on his friend's shoulder  
till the servant returned4  ,drink this1
 he said firmly1 bending over him4 ,he  
was holding a long1 slender glass to his
 lips4  ,the man quaffed it--slowly at  

first1 then eagerly4 ,yes1 that is good6
 he said as he drained the glass4 ,i    
tremble here4 ,he laid his hand on his  
heart4 ,and my hand is strange4 ,he     
smiled--a wan1 wintry smile--and looked 
at his friend with searching eyes4      
,where have they gone8 he demanded4     
,titian shook his head4 ,how should ,i  
know8  ,he said he was going to you4    
,zarato8 ,titian started4 ,for the      
portrait--,he will be there6  ,giorgione
 broke into a harsh laugh4 ,no portrait 
for ,zarato6 ,he said it exultantly4    
,what do you mean6  ,he bears a beauty  
mark4 ,he laughed again4  ,you did      
not----8  ,giorgione glanced cunningly  
about the studio4 ,his big face worked  
and his eyes were flushed4 ,he laid his 
hand on his lips4  ,hush6 he said4 ,it  
is a secret--,i--she--branded him with  
this4 ,a piece of heavy iron lay on the 
sill--the wood near it blackened and    
charred4 ,he took it up fondly4  ,look6 
,he pointed to the fire-worn end4       
,titian shrank back in horror4 ,you are 

mad6 he said4  ,giorgione shook his head
 sadly4 ,i wish ,i were mad 444 my eyes 
have seen too much4 ,he rubbed his hand 
across them vaguely4  ,sleep-- he       
murmured4 ,a little sleep4 ,the potion  
was beginning to take effect4  ,titian  
laid him on the couch near by and       
hurried from the studio4  ,home6 he said
 to the white-robed gondolier who looked
 back for orders4 ,home6 ,row for life6 
,a sense of vague horror haunted him4   
,he dared not think what tragedy might  
be enacting4 ,a man of ,zarato's proud  
spirit--,faster6 he called to the       
laboring gondolier1 and the boat shot   
under the awning4  ,with a sigh of      
relief he closed the door of his studio 
behind him4444 ,on the couch across the 
room1 his cap fallen to the floor and   
his arms hanging at his sides1 lay the  
young man asleep4 ,titian moved forward1
 scanning eagerly the dark1 handsome    
face4 ,deep shadows lay under the closed
 lids1 and a look of scornful suffering 
touched the lines of the mouth4 ,slowly 

his eyes traversed the figure4 ,he gave 
a start and bent closer1 his eyes       
peering forward4444 ,the left hand      
trailing on the floor was gloved1 but   
above the low wrist a faint line shot   
up--a blotch on the firm flesh4  ,with  
an exclamation of horror he dropped to  
his knees and lifted the hand4  ,it     
rested limply in his grasp4  ,slowly the
 eyes opened and looked out at him4 ,a  
faint flush overspread the young man's  
face4 ,he withdrew the hand and sat up4 
,i came to tell you the portrait--must  
wait1 he said apologetically1 ,i fell   
asleep4 ,he picked up his cap from the  
floor and smoothed its ruffled surface4 
,i must go now4 ,he looked awkwardly at 
his friend and got to his feet4         
,zarato1 said ,titian sternly4 ,where is
 she8  ,he shook his head4 ,i don't     
know1 slowly4  ,you don't know6 ,she has
 left home----  ,but not with me4  ,the 
two men stood staring at each other4    
,there was a sound of steps in the hall 
and the door swung open4 ,it was a group

 of ,venetian boatmen1 bearing in their 
midst a wet1 sagging form4 ,the red-gold
 hair trailed heavily4 ,they moved      
stolidly across the room and laid their 
burden on the low bench4 ,the oldest of 
them straightened his back and looked   
apologetically at the wet marks on the  
shining floor4  ,he said to bring her   
here1 ,signor4 ,he motioned clumsily    
toward the wet figure4 ,he said so4     
,who said it8 said ,titian harshly4     
,signor--,the ,signor--,giorgione4444   
,we took her there4 ,he would not let us
 in4 ,he stood at the window4 ,he was   
laughing4 ,he said to bring her here1   
ended the old man stolidly4 ,she is long
 dead4 ,he bent to pick up the heavy    
litter4 ,the group shuffled from the    
room4  ,slowly the young man crossed to 
the bench4 ,he knelt by the motionless  
figure and1 drawing the glove from his  
hand1 laid it on the breast that shone  
in the wet folds4  ,i swear1 before     
,god-- he said 444 before ,god6 ,he     
swayed heavily and fell forward4  ,the  

artist sprang to his side4 ,as he       
touched him1 his eye fell on the        
ungloved hand4444 ,shuddering1 he       
reached over and lifted the glove from  
the wet breast4 ,he drew it over the    
hand1 covering it from sight4     ,,vi  
,you must go6 said ,titian sternly4     
,the young man looked at him dully1     
almost appealingly4 ,he shook his head4 
,i have work to do4  ,titian lifted an  
impatient hand4 ,the people will not    
permit it--,i tell you6 ,he spoke       
harshly4 ,giorgione is their idol4 ,it  
has been hard to keep them--this one    
week6 ,only my promise that you go at   
once holds them4  ,the young man smiled1
 a little cynically4 ,do you think ,i   
fear death--,i crave it6 ,his arms fell 
at his sides4  ,his companion looked at 
him intently4 ,what is your plan8 he    
asked shortly4  ,giorgione-- ,the voice 
was tense4 ,he shall pay--to the        
uttermost6  ,for that8 ,titian made a   
motion toward the gloved hand4  ,the    
young man raised it with a scornful     

gesture4  ,for that--he spoke           
sternly--,i would not touch the dog4 ,it
 is for her6 ,his voice dropped4        
,titian waited a moment4 ,what would you
 do8 he asked in a low voice4  ,the     
young man stirred4 ,i care not4 ,he must
 suffer--as she suffered1 he added with 
slow significance4  ,would that content 
you8 ,would you go away--and not return8
  ,i would go--yes4  ,titian waited1 his
 eyes on the gloved hand4 ,you can go1  
he said at last1 the ,lord has avenged  
her4  ,the young man leaned forward4    
,his breath came sharply4 ,what do you  
mean8  ,that she is avenged1 said       
,titian slowly4 ,giorgione cannot live  
the year4 ,go away4 ,leave him to die in
 peace4  ,i did not ask for peace1 said 
the young man grimly4  ,titian turned on
 him fiercely4 ,his heart breaks4 ,he   
dies drop by drop6  ,the young man      
smiled4  ,titian watched him closely4   
,you need not fear his not suffering1 he
 said significantly4 ,go watch through  
his window1 or by a crack in the        

door4--,he waited a breath4 ,the man is 
mad6  ,the young man started sharply4   
,mad6 repeated ,titian4  ,zarato turned 
on him a look of horror and exultation4 
,mad6 he repeated softly4 ,the gloved   
hand trembled4  ,a look of relief stole 
into ,titian's face4 ,does that satisfy 
you8 he asked quietly4 ,will you go8    
,yes1 ,i will go4 ,the young man rose4  
,he moved toward the door4 ,mad6 he     
whispered softly4  ,wait1 said ,titian4 
,he sprang before him4 ,not by          
daylight--you would be murdered in the  
open street6 ,you must wait till        
night4444 ,i shall row you1 myself1 out 
from the city4 ,it is arranged4 ,a boat 
waits for you4  ,the young man looked at
 him gratefully4 ,you take this risk for
 me8 he said humbly4  ,for you and      
,giorgione and for--her4  ,they sat     
silent4  ,he will never paint again1    
said the young man1 looking up quickly  
with the thought4  ,titian shook his    
head4 ,never again1 he said slowly4     
,the young man looked at him4 ,there are

 a dozen pictures begun1 he said1 a     
dozen and more4  ,yes4  ,who will finish
 them8  ,who can tell8 ,the painter's   
face had clouded4  ,shall you8  ,titian 
returned the suspicious gaze frankly4   
,it is not likely1 he said4 ,he will not
 speak to me or see me4 ,he says ,i am  
false to him--,i harbor you4  ,the young
 man's gaze fell4 ,i will go1 he said   
humbly4 ,he shivered a little4  ,and not
 return till ,i send for you4  ,i will  
not return--till you send for me6       
,,vii   ,venice laughed in the sunshine4
 ,gay-colored boats flitted here and    
there on the ,grand ,canal1 and overhead
 the birds of ,venus sailed in the warm 
air4  ,a richly equipped gondola1 coming
 down the canal1 made its way among the 
moving boats4 ,its occupant1 a dark1    
handsome man1 sitting alone among the   
crimson cushions1 looked out on the     
hurrying scene with watchful eyes4      
,other eyes from passing gondolas       
returned the glance with curious1       
smiling gaze and drifted past4 ,no one  

challenged him and none remembered4 ,two
 years is overlong for laughing ,venice 
to hold a grudge or to remember a       
man--when the waters close over him4444 
,slowly the boat drifted on1 and the    
dark eyes of the man feasted on the flow
 and change of color4444 ,bride of the  
,sea1 he murmured as the boat swept on4 
,bride of the ,sea--,there is none like 
thee in beauty or power6 ,his eyes1 rapt
 with the vision1 grew misty4 ,he raised
 an impatient hand to them1 and let it  
fall again to his knee4 ,it rested      
there1 strong and supple4 ,the seal of a
 massive ring broke its whiteness4 ,the 
other hand1 incased in a rich glove1    
rested on the edge of the gondola4 ,the 
man's eyes sought it for a moment and   
turned away to the gay scene4  ,with a  
skilful turn the boat had come to rest  
at the foot of a flight of stairs       
leading to a richly carved doorway4 ,the
 young man leaped out and ran up the    
steps4 ,the great silent door swung open
 to his touch1 and he disappeared       

within4  ,titian1 standing by his easel1
 looked up quickly4 ,you are come6 ,he  
sprang forward1 holding out his hands4  
,the young man took them1 looking into  
the welcoming eyes4 ,i am come1 he said 
slowly4  ,why did you send for me8 he   
asked after a pause4 ,his eyes sought   
the glowing walls of color1 with        
curious1 eager glance4  ,nothing there6 
,the painter shook his head with a      
wistful smile4 ,i have not done a stroke
 since that last night--the night ,i    
rowed you out to the lagoon4  ,why not8 
,they were seated by a window2 the tide 
of life drifted below4  ,titian shook   
his head again4 ,i was broken at        
first--too strained and weak4 ,my       
fingers would not follow my thoughts4   
,he glanced down at them ruefully4 ,and 
then-- ,his voice changed4 ,then they   
came for me to finish his pictures4444  
,there has been no time4  ,did he want  
you to do it8 asked the other in a low  
voice4  ,titian's gaze returned the     
question4 ,i shall never know--,he would

 not see me--to the last4 ,he never     
spoke4444 ,when he was gone they came   
for me4 ,i did the work and asked no    
questions--for friendship's sake4 ,he   
sighed gently and his glance fell on the
 moving1 changing crowd below4  ,his    
name is water1 he said slowly4 ,ask for 
the fame of ,giorgione--,they will name 
you--,titian6 ,he laughed bitterly4     
,the young man's smile had little mirth 
in it4 ,we are all like that4444 ,he    
turned to him sharply3 ,why did you want
 me8  ,the painter roused himself4 ,to  
sit for me--with a swift look4 ,i am    
hunted6 ,i cannot wipe away your        
face--as it looked that night4 ,i paint 
nothing4444 ,perhaps when you are done  
in oil ,i shall rest easy4 ,he laughed  
shortly and rose to his feet4  ,the     
young man rose also with a courteous    
gesture of the supple hand4 ,i am at    
your service1 ,signor ,cevelli1 now and 
always4  ,titian's eyes swept the       
graceful figure4 ,i must begin at once4 
,he turned away to an easel4  ,there was

 a picture begun1 was there not8 asked  
the young man4 ,he had not moved from   
his place4  ,titian looked up swiftly4  
,yes1 he said4 ,yes4  ,why not finish   
that8  ,the painter waited an awkward   
moment4 ,he crossed the room and fumbled
 among the canvases4 ,then he brought it
 and placed it on the easel1 looking at 
it4444 ,slowly the look changed to one  
of pride1 and his hand reached out for a
 brush4  ,the young man moved to his    
side4 ,they looked at it in silence4    
,you will not do better4 ,the young man 
spoke with decision4 ,best finish it as 
it stands--,i am ready4 ,he moved to his
 place by the console1 dropping his hand
 upon it and standing at ease4  ,titian 
looked at him doubtfully4 ,we shall     
change the length and perhaps the pose1 
he said thoughtfully4  ,why8 ,the       
question came sharply4  ,the painter    
colored under it4 ,i had planned--to    
make much of the--hands4 ,he hesitated  
between the words4 ,the change will be  
simple1 he added hastily4  ,would you   

mind painting me as ,i am8 ,there was a 
note of insistence behind the words4    
,titian's eyes leaped at the question4  
,they scanned the figure before him with
 quick1 gleaming lights4  ,the young man
 read their depths4 ,go on1 he said     
coolly4 ,when my feelings are hurt ,i   
will tell you4  ,the painter took up his
 brushes1 working with swift haste4     
,fingers and brush and thumb flew across
 the canvas4 ,splotches of color were   
daubed on and rubbed carelessly in and  
removed with infinite pains4 ,over the  
picture crept a glow of living color and
 of light4  ,at last the brush dropped4 
,i can do no more--to-day1 he said      
slowly4 ,his eyes dwelt on the picture  
lovingly4  ,the young man came across   
and joined him1 looking down at the     
glowing canvas4 ,his lips curved in a   
sweet smile4  ,you thought ,i was       
ashamed of it8 ,the gloved hand lifted  
itself slightly4 ,i would not part with 
it--not for all the gold of ,venice6    
,the painter's eyes were on it1         

doubtingly4 ,but you wear it gloved1 he 
stammered4  ,it is not for the world to 
see1 murmured the young man quietly4 ,it
 is our secret--hers and mine4 ,it was  
her last touch on my hand4  ,titian's   
eyes stared at him4  ,you did not know8 
,the lips smiled at him4 ,it was her    
hand that did it4 ,he touched the glove 
lightly4 ,giorgione stood over her--and 
guided it4444 ,his voice ceased with a  
catch4  ,titian's eyes were full of     
tears4 ,poor ,violante6 he murmured4    
,poor child6  ,the other nodded         
slightly4 ,it has pledged us            
forever--forever4 ,he repeated the words
 in low1 musical exultation4 ,the locket
 suspended from its slender chain amid  
the folds of his cloak1 swung forward as
 he moved4 ,a hand stayed it--the gloved
 hand4  ,there was silence between them4
 ,voices from the canal floated up1     
laughter-laden4 ,the ,june sunshine     
flooded in4  ,titian roused himself with
 a sigh4 ,it shall be called ',the      
,portrait of a ,gentleman1' he said4 ,he

 laid his hand with swift affection on  
the arm beside him4  ,the young man     
smiled back4 ,his hand closed firmly    
over the one on his arm4 ,call it ',the 
,man ,with the ,glove1' he said quietly4
 ,it is the open secret that remains    
unguessed4     ,,the ,,lost ,,monogram  
,i   ,the woman seated in the light of  
the low1 arched window was absorbed in  
the piece of linen stretched on a frame 
before her4 ,as her fingers hovered over
 the brilliant surface1 her eyes glowed 
with a look of satisfaction and lighted 
the face1 making it almost handsome4 ,it
 was a round1 smooth face1 untouched by 
wrinkles1 with light-blue eyes--very    
near the surface--and thin1 curved lips4
  ,she leaned back in her chair to      
survey her work1 and her lips took on a 
deeper curve4 ,then they parted         
slightly4 ,her face1 with a look of     
listening1 turned toward the door4  ,the
 young man who entered nodded carelessly
 as he threw back the blue-gray cloak   
that hung about his shoulders and       

advanced into the room4  ,she regarded  
the action coldly4 ,i have been waiting1
 ,albrecht4 ,she spoke the words slowly4
 ,where have you been8  ,i see4 ,he     
untied the silken strings of the cloak  
and tossed it from him4 ,i met          
,pirkheimer--we got to talking4  ,the   
thin lips closed significantly4 ,she    
made no comment4  ,the young man crossed
 the room and knelt before a stack of   
canvases by the wall1 turning them one  
by one to the light4 ,his full lips     
puckered in a half whistle1 and his eyes
 had a dreamy look4  ,the woman had     
returned to her work1 drawing in the    
threads with swift touch4  ,as the man  
rose to his feet her eyes flashed a look
 at the canvas in his hand4 ,they fell  
again on her work1 and her face ignored 
him4  ,he placed the canvas on an easel 
and stood back to survey it4 ,his lips  
whistled softly4 ,he rummaged again for 
brushes and palette1 and mixed one or   
two colors on the edge of the palette4  
,a look of deep happiness filled his    

absorbed face4  ,she lifted a pair of   
scissors and snipped a thread with      
decisive click4 ,are you going on with  
the portrait8 she asked4 ,the tone was  
clear and even1 and held no trace of    
resentment4  ,he looked up absently4    
,not to-day1 he said4 ,not to-day4 ,his 
gaze returned to the easel4  ,the thin  
lips drew to a line4 ,they did not      
speak4 ,she took off her thimble and    
laid it in its velvet sheath4 ,she      
gathered up the scattered skeins of     
linen and silk1 straightening each with 
a little pull1 and laid them in the     
case4 ,she stabbed a needle into the    
tiny cushion and dropped the scissors   
into their pocket4 ,then she rose       
deliberately1 her chair scraping the    
polished boards as she pushed it back   
from the frame4  ,he looked up1 a half  
frown between the unseeing eyes4  ,she  
lifted the embroidery-frame from its    
rest and turned toward the door4 ,i have
 other work to do if ,i am not to pose  
for you1 she said quietly4  ,he made no 

reply4  ,half-way to the door she       
paused1 looking back4 ,herr ,mndler was 
here while you were out4 ,we owe him    
twenty-five guldens4 ,it was due the    
fifth4 ,she spoke the words crisply4    
,her face gave no sign of emotion4  ,he 
nodded indifferently4 ,i know4 ,i shall 
see him4 ,the soft whistle was resumed4 
,there is a note from the ,rath1        
refusing you the pension again4 ,she    
drew a paper from the work-box in her   
hand and held it toward him4  ,he turned
 half about in his chair4 ,don't worry1 
,agnes1 he said4 ,the tone was pleading4
 ,he did not look at the paper or offer 
to take it4 ,his eyes returned to the   
easel4 ,a gentle light filled them4     
,she dropped the paper into the box1 a  
smile on her lips1 and moved toward the 
easel4 ,she stood for a moment1 looking 
from the pictured face of the ,christ to
 the glowing face above it4 ,then she   
turned again to the door4 ,it's very    
convenient to be your own model1 she    
said with a laugh4 ,the door clicked    

behind her4  ,he sat motionless1 the    
grave1 earnest eyes looking into the    
eyes of the picture4 ,now and then he   
stirred vaguely4 ,but he did not lift   
his hand or touch the brushes beside it4
 ,gazing at each other1 in the fading   
light of the low window1 the two faces  
were curiously alike4 ,there was the    
same delicate modelling of lines1 the   
same breadth between the eyes1 the long1
 flowing locks1 the full1 sensitive     
lips1 and in the eyes the same look of  
deep melancholy--touched with a subtle1 
changing1 human smile that drew the     
beholder4 ,it disarmed criticism and    
provoked it4 ,except for the halo of    
mocking and piercing thorns1 the living 
face might have been the pictured one   
below it4 ,the look of suffering in one 
was shadowed in the other4  ,there was a
 light tap at the door and it flew open4
  ,the painter looked up quickly4 ,the  
tense1 earnest gaze broke into a sunny  
smile4 ,pirkheimer6 ,he sprang to his   
feet4 ,what now8  ,the other man came   

leisurely across the room1 his eyes on  
the easel4 ,he nodded toward it         
approvingly4  ,wanted to see it1 he     
said4 ,his eyes studied the picture4 ,i 
got to thinking it over after you left  
me--,i was afraid you might touch it up 
and spoil it--,i want it just as it is4 
,his eyes sought his companion's face4  
,the painter shook his head4 ,i don't   
know--not yet--you must leave it with   
me4 ,it's yours4 ,you shall have        
it--when it's done4  ,it's done now1    
said the other brusquely4 ,here--sign4  
,he picked up a brush1 and1 dipping it  
into a soft color on the palette1 handed
 it to the painter4  ,he took it        
doubtfully between his fingers1 his eyes
 on the face4 ,slowly his hand moved    
toward the canvas4 ,it traced rapidly1  
below the flowing locks1 a huge1 uncouth
 ,a2 then1 more slowly1 within the      
sprawling legs of the ,a1 a shadowy ,d2 
and finally1 at the top1 above them     
both1 in tiny figures1 a date--#aejc4   
,the brush dropped from his fingers1 and

 he stepped back with a little sigh4    
,his companion reached out his hand4    
,that's all right1 he said4 ,i'll take  
it4  ,the artist interposed a hand4 ,not
 yet1 he said4  ,it's mine1 replied the 
other4 ,you said it4  ,yes1 ,i said     
it--not yet4  ,the other yielded with a 
satisfied smile4 ,his hand strayed to   
the purse hanging at his side4 ,what's  
to pay8 ,tell me4  ,the artist shook his
 head4 ,i would not sell it--not even to
 you1 he said4 ,his eyes were on the    
canvas4  ,but it's mine6  ,it's         
yours--for friendship's sake4  ,the     
young man nodded contentedly4 ,then a   
thought struck across his face4 ,you'll 
tell ,agnes that8 he said quickly4  ,ay1
 ,i'll tell ,agnes--that it's yours4    
,but not what you paid for it1 added the
 painter thoughtfully4  ,no1 no1 don't  
tell her that4 ,the young man spoke     
quickly4 ,his tone was half jesting1    
half earnest4 ,he stood looking at the  
two faces1 glancing from one to the     
other with a look of baffled resentment4

 ,a living shame6 he muttered under his 
breath4  ,the artist looked up quickly4 
,what8  ,nothing4 ,the young man moved  
vaguely about the room4 ,i wish to ,god1
 ,drer1 you had a free hand6 he broke   
out4  ,the artist glanced inquiry4 ,he  
held up his hand1 moving the supple     
fingers with a little gesture of pride4 
,isn't it8 he demanded1 smiling4  ,the  
young man shook his head4 ,his round    
face retained its look of dissent4      
,marriage--for a man like you6 ,two     
hundred florins--for dowry6 ,he laughed 
scornfully4  ,his companion's face      
flushed4 ,a swift look came into the    
eyes4  ,the other held out a deprecating
 hand4 ,i didn't mean it1 he said4      
,don't be angry4  ,the flush faded4 ,the
 artist turned to the easel1 taking up a
 brush1 as if to seek in work a vent for
 his disturbed thought4  ,you'll spoil  
it6 said ,pirkheimer quickly4  ,i shall 
finish it1 replied ,drer1 without       
looking up4  ,the other moved restlessly
 about4 ,well 444 ,i must go4 ,good-by1 

,drer4 ,he came and stood by the easel1 
holding out his hand4  ,the artist rose1
 the warm smile on his lips bathing his 
face4 ,good-by1 my friend4 ,he held out 
his hand frankly4  ,pirkheimer caught it
 in his4 ,we're friends8 he said4       
,always4  ,and you will never want--if  
,i can help you4  ,never6 ,the tone was 
hearty and proud4  ,pirkheimer turned   
away with a look of contentment4 ,i     
shall hold you to it1 he said4 ,it is a 
promise4  ,i shall hold you to it1      
laughed ,drer4  ,when the door had      
closed1 he stood looking down at the    
picture4 ,he moved once or twice across 
the room4 ,then he stopped before a     
little brazier1 looking at it           
hesitatingly4 ,he bent over and lighted 
the coals in the basin4 ,he blew them   
with a tiny bellows till they glowed4   
,then he placed a pan above them and    
threw into it lumps of brownish stuff4  
,when the mixture was melted1 he carried
 it across to the easel and dipped a    
large brush into it thoughtfully4 ,he   

drew it across the canvas4 ,the track   
behind it glowed and deepened in the dim
 light4 ,slowly the picture mellowed    
under it4 ,a look of sweet satisfaction 
hovered about the artist's lips as he   
worked4 ,the liquid in the pan lessened 
and his brush moved more slowly4 ,the   
mixture had deepened in tint and        
thickened4 ,wherever the brush rested a 
deep1 luminous color sprang to meet it4 
,it moved swiftly across the            
monogram--and paused4 ,the artist peered
 forward uncertainly4 ,the letters lay  
erased in the dim light4 ,with another  
stroke of the brush--and another--they  
were gone forever4  ,the smile of       
satisfaction deepened on his lips4 ,it  
was not conceit1 nor humility1 nor      
pride4 ,one could not have named the    
sweetness that hovered in               
it--hauntingly4  ,he laid down the brush
 with a quick breath and sat gazing at  
the picture4 ,it returned the gentle1   
inevitable look4 ,he raised a finger to 
the portrait1 speaking softly4 ,it is   

,albrecht ,drer--his work1 he said under
 his breath4 ,none but a fool can       
mistake it4 ,it shall speak for him     
forever4     ,,ii   ,for a quarter of a 
century the picture had rested1 face to 
the wall1 on the floor of the small1    
dark studio4 ,pirkheimer had demanded   
his treasure--sometimes with jests1 and 
sometimes with threats4 ,but the picture
 had remained unmoved against the wall4 
,journeys to ,italy and to the          
,netherlands had intervened4            
,pirkheimer's velvet purse had been     
dipped into again and again4            
,commissions without number had been    
executed for him--rings and stones and  
tapestries1 carvings and stag-antlers1  
and cups and silks and velvet--till the 
,pirkheimer mansion glowed with color   
from the ,south and delicate workmanship
 from the ,north4 ,other pictures from  
,drer's brush adorned its               
walls--grotesque monks and gentle       
,virgins4 ,but the ,face bided its time 
against the wall4  ,to-day--for the     

first time in twenty-five years--the    
,face of the ,christ was turned to the  
light4 ,the hand that drew it from its  
place had not the supple fingers of the 
painter4 ,those fingers1 stiffened and  
white1 lay upon a quiet breast--outside 
the city wall4  ,the funeral cortge had 
trotted briskly back1 and ,agnes ,drer  
had come directly to the studio1 with   
its low1 arched window1 to take account 
of her possessions4 ,it was all         
hers--the money the artist had toiled to
 leave her1 the work that had shortened 
life1 and the thousand ,rhenish guldens 
in the hands of the most worthy ,rath2  
the pictures and copperplates1 the books
 he had written and the quaint curios he
 had loved--they were all hers1 except1 
perhaps1 the copperplates for ,andreas4 
,her level glance swept them as she     
crossed to the canvas against the wall  
and lifted it to a place on the easel4  
,she had often begged him to sell the   
picture4 ,it was large and would bring a
 good price4 ,her eyes surveyed it with 

satisfaction4 ,a look of dismay crossed 
the smooth face4 ,she leaned forward and
 searched the picture eagerly4 ,the     
dismay deepened to anger4 ,he had       
neglected to sign it6 ,she knew well the
 value of the tiny monogram that marked 
the canvases about her4 ,a sound clicked
 in her throat4 ,she reached out her    
white hand to a brush on the bench      
beside her4 ,there would be no wrong    
done4 ,it was ,albrecht's work--his best
 work4 ,her eyes studied the modelling  
of the delicate1 strong face--the       
,christ face--,albrecht's face--at      
thirty-three4444 ,had he looked like    
that8 ,she stared at it vaguely4 ,she   
moved away1 looking about her for a bit 
of color4 ,she found it and came again  
to the easel4 ,she reached out her hand 
for the brush4 ,a slip of paper tucked  
beneath the canvas caught her eye4 ,she 
drew it out slowly1 unfolding it with   
curious fingers4 ,this picture of the   
,christ is the sole property of my dear 
and honored friend1 the ,herr ,willibald

 ,pirkheimer4 ,i have given it to him   
and his heirs to have and to hold       
forever4 ,signed by me1 this day1 ,june 
#h1 #aejc1 in my home in ,nrnberg1 #ae  
,zisselstrasse1 ,albrecht ,drer4  ,she  
crushed the paper in firm fingers4 ,a   
door had opened behind her4 ,the        
discreet servant1 in mourning garments1 
with downcast1 reddened eyes1 waited4   
,his ,highness the ,herr ,pirkheimer is 
below1 my lady4  ,for a moment she      
hesitated4 ,then her fingers opened on  
the bit of paper4 ,it fluttered to the  
table and lay full in sight4 ,she looked
 at it with her thin smile4 ,ask ,herr  
,pirkheimer to ascend to the studio4 ,i 
shall receive him here1 she said4  ,he  
entered facing the easel4 ,with an      
exclamation he sprang forward4 ,he laid 
a hand on the canvas4 ,the small eyes   
blinked at her4  ,she returned the look 
coldly4  ,it is mine6 he said4  ,she    
inclined her head1 with a stately       
gesture1 to the open paper on the table 
beside her4  ,he seized it in trembling 

fingers4 ,he shook it toward her4 ,it is
 mine4 ,you see--it is mine6  ,it is    
yours1 ,herr ,pirkheimer4 ,she spoke    
with level coolness4 ,i had read the    
paper4  ,with a grunt of satisfaction1  
he turned again to the canvas4 ,a       
smothered oath broke from his lips4 ,he 
leaned forward1 incredulous4 ,his round 
eyes1 bulging and blue1 searched every  
corner4 ,they fell on the wet brush and 
bit of color4 ,he turned on her         
fiercely4 ,jezebel6 he hissed1 you have 
painted it out4 ,i saw him sign         
it--years ago--twenty-five years6  ,she 
smiled serenely4 ,it may have been some 
other one1 she said sweetly4 ,her glance
 took in the scattered canvases4  ,he   
shook his head savagely4 ,i will have no
 other1 he shouted2 ,i should know it in
 a thousand6  ,very well4 ,her voice was
 as tranquil as her face4 ,shall ,i have
 it sent to the house of the honored    
,herr ,pirkheimer8  ,he glared at her4  
,i take it with me1 he said4 ,i do not  
trust it out of sight4  ,she bowed in   

acquiescence4 ,standing in her widow's  
garments1 with downcast eyes and gentle 
resignation1 she waited his withdrawal4 
,he eyed her curiously4 ,the years had  
touched her lightly4 ,there were the    
same plump features1 the same surface   
eyes1 and light1 abundant bands of hair4
 ,he heaved a round sigh4 ,he thought of
 the worn face outside the city wall4   
,he gathered the canvas under his arm1  
glaring about the low room4 ,there was a
 pair of antlers1 he muttered4 ,they    
might go in my collection4 ,you will    
want to sell them4  ,the downcast eyes  
did not leave the floor4 ,they are sold1
 she said1 to ,herr ,umsttter4 ,a little
 smile played about the thin lips4      
,sold6 ,already6 ,the round eyes bulged 
at her4 ,my ,god6 he shouted fiercely1  
you would sell his very soul1 if he had 
left it where you could6  ,she raised   
the blue eyes and regarded him calmly4  
,the estate is without condition1 she   
said4  ,he groaned as he backed toward  
the door4 ,the canvas was hugged under  

his arm4 ,at the door he paused1 looking
 back over the room4 ,his small eyes    
winked fast1 and the loose mouth        
trembled4  ,he was a great man1 ,agnes1 
he said gently4 ,we must keep it        
clean--the name of ,drer4  ,she looked  
up with a little gesture of dismissal4  
,it is ,i who bear the name1 she said   
coldly4  ,when he was gone she glanced  
about the room4 ,she went over to a pile
 of canvases and turned them rapidly to 
the light4 ,each one that bore the      
significant monogram she set aside with 
a look of possession4 ,she came at last 
to the one she was searching4 ,it was a 
small canvas--a ,sodom and ,gomorrah4   
,she studied the details slowly4 ,it was
 not signed4 ,she gave a little breath  
of satisfaction1 and took up the brush  
from the bench4 ,she remembered well the
 day ,albrecht brought it home1 and his 
childish delight in it4 ,it was one of  
,joachim ,patenir's4 ,albrecht had given
 a ,christ head of his own in exchange  
for it4 ,the brush in her fingers       

trembled a little4 ,it inserted the     
wide-spreading ,a beneath ,lot's flying 
legs1 and overtraced it with a delicate 
,d4 ,she paused a moment in thought4    
,then she raised her head and painted   
in1 with swift1 decisive strokes1 high  
up in one corner of the picture1 a date4
 ,it was a safe date--#aeaa--the year he
 painted his ,holy ,trinity4 ,there     
would be no one to question it4  ,she   
sat back1 looking her satisfaction4     
,seventy-five guldens to account4 ,it   
atoned a little for the loss of the     
,christ4     ,,iii   ,the large         
drawing-room was vacant4 ,the blinds had
 been drawn to shut out the glare1 and a
 soft coolness filled the room4 ,in the 
dim light of half-opened shutters the   
massive furniture loomed large and dark1
 and from the wall huge paintings looked
 down mistily4 ,gilt frames gleamed     
vaguely in the cool gloom4 ,above the   
fireplace hung a large canvas1 and out  
of its depths sombre1 waiting eyes      
looked down upon the vacant room4  ,the 

door opened4 ,an old woman had entered4 
,she held in her hand a stout cane4 ,she
 walked stiffly across to the window and
 threw back a shutter4 ,the window      
opened into the soft greenness of a     
,munich garden4 ,she stood for a minute 
looking into it4 ,then she came over to 
the fireplace and looked up to the      
pictured face4 ,her head nodded slowly4 
,it must be1 she muttered1 it must be4  
,no one else could have done it4 ,but   
four hundred years6--she sighed softly4 
,who can tell8  ,her glance wandered    
with a dissatisfied air to the other    
canvases4 ,i would give them all--all of
 them--twice over--to know-- ,she spoke 
under her breath as she hobbled stiffly 
to a huge chair4  ,the door swung softly
 back and forth behind a young girl who 
had entered4 ,she came in lightly1      
looking down at a packet of papers in   
her hand4  ,the old woman started       
forward4  ,what have ye found8 she      
demanded4 ,she was leaning on the stout 
cane4 ,she peered out of her cavernous  

eyes4  ,the girl crossed to the window  
and seated herself in the green light4  
,shadows of a climbing vine fell on her 
hair and shoulders as she bent over the 
papers in her hand4 ,she opened one of  
them and ran her eye over it before she 
spoke4  ,they were in the north room1   
she said slowly4 ,in the big            
escritoire--that big1 clumsy one--,i've 
looked there before1 but ,i never found 
them4 ,i've been trying all day to make 
them out4  ,what are they8 demanded the 
old woman4  ,papers1 grandmamma1        
returned the girl absently2 letters and 
a sort of journal4 ,her eyes were on the
 closely written page4  ,read it1 said  
the old woman sharply4  ,i can't read   
it1 grandmamma4 ,she shook back the soft
 curls with a little sigh4 ,it's queer  
and old1 and funny--some of the words4  
,and the writing is blurred and yellow4 
,look4 ,she held up the open sheet4     
,the keen old eyes darted at it4 ,work  
on it1 she said brusquely4  ,i have1    
grandmamma4  ,well--what did ye find8   

,it's a man--,will--,willi--she turned  
to the bottom of the last               
page--,willibald6 ,that's it4 ,she      
laughed softly4 ,willibald ,pirkheimer4 
,who was he8 she asked4  ,one of your   
ancestors4 ,the old mouth waited grimly4
  ,one of mamma's8  ,your father's4  ,he
 must have been a nice man1 said the    
girl slowly4 ,but some of it is         
rather--queer4  ,the old woman leaned   
forward with a quick gesture4 ,she      
straightened herself4 ,nonsense6 she    
muttered4 ,read it1 she said aloud4     
,this is written to ,albrecht ,drer1    
said the girl1 studying it1 in ,italy4  
,the old woman reached out a knotted    
hand4 ,give it to me1 she said4  ,the   
girl came across and laid it in her     
hand4 ,the knotted fingers smoothed it4 
,the old eyes were on the picture above 
the mantel4 ,will it tell8 she muttered4
  ,there are others1 grandmamma4 ,the   
girl held up the packet in her hand4    
,what have ye made out8 ,the old hand   
closed upon them4  ,he was ,drer's      

friend1 said the girl4 ,there are       
letters to him--five or six4 ,and he    
tells about a picture--in the journal--a
 picture ,albrecht ,drer gave to him4   
,she glanced down at the wrinkled1      
working face4 ,it was unsigned1         
grandmamma--and it was the head of the  
,saviour4  ,the old woman's throat moved
 loosely4 ,her hands grasped the stout  
cane4  ,with a half sigh1 she rose to   
her feet and tottered across the room4  
,fool--fool-- she muttered1 looking up  
to the mystical1 waiting face4 ,to leave
 no mark--no sign--but that6 ,she shook 
the yellow papers in her hand4  ,a      
question shot into the old eyes4 ,she   
held out the papers4  ,what was it      
dated1 ,marie8--that place in the       
journal--look and see4  ,the girl took  
the papers and moved again to the       
window4 ,she opened one and smoothed it 
thoughtfully1 running her eye along the 
page4 ,she shook her head slowly4 ,there
 is no date1 grandmamma1 she said4 ,but 
it must be after ,drer's death4 ,he     

speaks of ,frau ,drer--a smile shaded   
her lips--he doesn't like her very well1
 ,i think4 ,when did ,drer die1         
grandmamma8 ,she looked up from the     
paper4  ,april #f1 #aebh1 said the old  
woman promptly4  ,the girl's eyes grew  
round and misty4 ,four hundred years    
ago--almost1 she murmured softly4 ,she  
looked down1 a little awed1 at the paper
 in her hand4  ,it is very old1 she     
said4  ,the old woman nodded sharply4   
,her eyes were on the papers4 ,take good
 care of them1 she croaked2 they may    
tell it to us yet4  ,she straightened   
her bent figure and glanced toward the  
door4  ,a wooden butler was bowing      
himself to the floor4 ,the ,herr        
,professor ,doctor ,polonius            
,holtzenschuer1 he announced grandly4   
,a dapper young man with trim mustaches 
and spotless boots advanced into the    
room4  ,the girl by the window swayed a 
breath4 ,the clear color had mounted in 
her cheek4  ,the old woman waited1      
immovable4 ,her hands were clasped above

 the stout cane and her bead-like eyes  
surveyed the advancing figure4  ,at two 
yards' distance it paused4 ,the heels   
came together with a swift click4 ,he   
bowed in military salute4  ,the old     
woman achieved a stiff courtesy and     
waited4 ,the dim eyes peered at him     
shrewdly4  ,i have the honor to pay my  
respects to the ,baroness von ,herkomer1
 said the young man1 with deep          
politeness4  ,the baroness assented     
gruffly4 ,she seated herself on a large 
divan1 facing the picture1 and motioned 
with her knotted hand to the seat beside
 her4  ,the young man accepted it       
deferentially4 ,his eyes were on a bowed
 head1 framed in shadows and leaves     
across the room4  ,i trust ,frulein     
,marie is well8 he said promptly4       
,marie----  ,the girl started vaguely4  
,come and greet the ,herr ,doctor       
,holtzenschuer4  ,she rose lightly from 
her place and came across the room4 ,a  
soft curl1 blown by the wind1 drifted   
across her flushes as she came4  ,the   

young man sprang to his feet4 ,his heels
 clicked again as he bent low before    
her4  ,she descended in a shy courtesy  
and glanced inquiringly at her          
grandmother4  ,the old woman nodded     
curtly4 ,go on with your papers1 she    
said4  ,the girl turned again to the    
green window4 ,her head bowed itself    
above the papers4  ,the young man's eyes
 followed them4 ,he turned to the old   
woman beside him4 ,is it something      
about--the picture8 he asked4  ,she     
nodded sharply4 ,private papers of      
,willibald ,pirkheimer1 she said1       
ancestor of the von                     
,herkomers--sixteenth century4 ,he was a
 friend of ,drer's4 ,her lips closed    
crisply on the words4  ,he looked at    
her1 a smile under the trim mustaches4  
,you hope they will furnish a clew8 he  
asked tolerantly4  ,she made no reply4  
,her wrinkled face was raised to the    
picture4  ,you have one ,drer4 ,he      
motioned toward a small canvas4 ,is it  
not enough8  ,her eyes turned to it and 

flashed in disdain4 ,the ,sodom and     
,gomorrah6 ,she spoke scornfully4 ,not  
so much as a copy6  ,it is signed4  ,she
 glanced at it again4 ,there was shrewd 
intolerance in the old eyes4 ,do you    
think ,i cannot tell8 she said grimly4  
,i know the work of ,albrecht ,drer1    
length and breadth1 line for line4 ,you 
say he painted that6 ,she pointed a     
swift finger at the picture across the  
room4 ,have ye looked at ,lot's legs8   
,her laugh cackled softly4  ,the young  
man smiled under his mustaches4  ,the   
baroness had turned again to the picture
 over the fireplace4 ,but that-- she    
murmured softly4 ,it is signed in every 
line--in the eyes1 in the painting of   
the hair1 in the sweep from brow to     
chin4 ,it will yet be found1 she said   
under her breath4 ,it shall be found4   
,he looked at her1 smiling4 ,then he    
raised his eyes politely to the picture4
 ,a slow look formed behind the smile4  
,he half started1 gazing intently at the
 deep1 painted canvas4 ,his glance      

strayed for a second to the green       
window1 and back again to the picture4  
,the old baroness roused herself with a 
sigh4 ,she turned toward him4 ,your     
dissertation has brought you honor1 they
 tell me1 she said1 looking at him      
critically4  ,he acknowledged the remark
 with a bow4 ,it is nothing1 he replied 
indifferently4 ,only a step toward      
molecules and atoms4  ,the baroness     
smiled grimly4 ,i don't understand      
chemical jargon4 ,her tone was dry4 ,i  
understand you are going to be famous4  
,the young man bowed again absently4 ,he
 glanced casually at the picture above  
the fireplace4 ,what would you give to  
know--he nodded toward it--that it is a 
genuine ,drer8  ,the shrewd eyes darted 
at him4  ,the clean-cut face was compact
 and expressionless4  ,give6 ,i would   
give--her eye swept the apartment with  
its wealth of canvas and gilt and       
tapestry--,i would give all1 everything 
in the room--she raised a knotted hand  
toward the picture--to know that        

,albrecht ,drer's monogram belongs      
there4 ,the pointing finger trembled a  
little4  ,he looked at it reflectively4 
,then his glance travelled about the    
great room4 ,everything in this room1 he
 said slowly4 ,that means-- ,he paused1 
glancing toward the window4  ,the young 
girl had left her seat4 ,the papers had 
dropped to the floor4 ,she was leaning  
from the casement to pick a white rose  
that swayed and nodded1 out of reach4   
,he waited a breath4 ,her fingers closed
 on it and she sank back in her chair1  
smiling1 the rose against her cheek4    
,the eyes watching her glowed softly4   
,everything in this room-- ,he spoke    
very low4 ,the one with the rose8  ,the 
old face turned to him with a look4 ,the
 heavy jaw dropped and forgot to close4 
,the keen eyes scanned his face4 ,the   
jaws came together with a snap4 ,she    
nodded to him shrewdly4  ,the young man 
rose to his feet4 ,the cynical smile had
 left his face4 ,it was intent and      
earnest4 ,he looked up for a moment to  

the picture1 and then down at the       
wrinkled1 eager face4  ,to-morrow1 at   
this time1 you shall know1 he said      
gravely4  ,the old eyes followed him1   
half in doubt1 half in hope4 ,they      
pierced the heavy door as it swung shut 
behind him4  ,the stiff1 dapper figure  
had crossed the hall4 ,the outer door   
clanged4  ,against the green window1    
within1 the soft curls and gentle1      
questioning eyes of the ,frulein ,marie 
waited4 ,as the door clanged1 a rose was
 laid lightly to her lips and dropped   
softly into the greenness below4        
,,iv   ,at a quarter to ten the next    
morning a closed carriage drew up before
 the heavy gate4 ,a dapper figure pushed
 open the door and leaped out4 ,it      
entered the big gateway1 crossed a green
 garden and was ushered into the        
presence of the ,baroness von ,herkomer4
  ,she stood beneath the picture1 her   
eyebrows bent1 her lips drawn1 and her  
hands resting on the stout cane4  ,will 
you come with me8 he asked              

deferentially4  ,where to8  ,he         
hesitated4 ,you will see4 ,i cannot tell
 you--now4 ,but ,i need you--with the   
picture4 ,he motioned toward it4  ,she  
eyed him grimly for a second4 ,then she 
touched a bell4  ,the wooden butler     
appeared4 ,send ,wilhelm1 she commanded4
  ,half an hour later the ,herr ,doctor 
,holtzenschuer was handing a bundled    
figure into the closed carriage that    
stood before the gate4 ,a huge1 oblong  
package rested against a lamp-post      
beside him1 and near it stood the       
,frulein ,marie1 rosy and shy4 ,the     
young man turned to her with a swift    
gesture4  ,come1 he said4  ,he placed   
her beside her grandmother1 and watched 
carefully while the heavy parcel was    
lifted to the top of the carriage4 ,with
 an injunction to the driver for its    
safety1 he turned to spring into the    
carriage4  ,the voice of the baroness1  
from muffled folds1 arrested him4  ,you 
will ride outside with the picture1 it  
said4 ,i do not trust it to a driver4   

,with a bow he slammed the carriage door
 and mounted the box4 ,in another minute
 the ,herr ,professor ,doctor           
,holtzenschuer was driving rapidly      
through the streets of ,munich1 on the  
outside of a common hack1 a clumsy      
parcel balanced awkwardly on his stiff  
shoulders4  ,from the windows below1 on 
either side1 a face looked out upon the 
flying streets--a fairy with gentle eyes
 and a crone with toothless smile4  ,the
 ,pinakothek6 grumbled the old woman4   
,does he think any one at the           
,pinakothek knows more of ,albrecht     
,drer than ,henriette von ,herkomer8    
,she sniffed a little and drew her folds
 about her4  ,past the ,old ,pinakothek 
rolled the flying carriage--on past the 
,new ,pinakothek4 ,an old face peered   
out upon the marble walls1 wistful and  
suspicious4 ,a mass of buildings loomed 
in view4  ,the university1 she muttered 
under her breath4 ,some upstart ,herr   
,professor--to tell me of ,albrecht     
,drer6 ,fool--fool6 ,she croaked softly 

in her throat4  ,the ,herr ,doctor is a 
learned man1 grandmamma--and a          
gentleman6 said a soft voice beside her4
  ,a gentleman can be a fool6 returned  
the old woman tartly4 ,what building is 
this8  ,the carriage had stopped before 
a low1 square doorway4  ,it is the      
chemistry laboratory1 grandmamma1 said  
the girl timidly4  ,the old woman leaned
 forward1 gray with rage1 pulling at the
 closed door4 ,chemistry lab-- ,her     
breath came in pants4 ,he               
will--destroy--burn--melt it6 ,four men 
lifted down the huge parcel from the    
carriage and turned toward the stone    
door4 ,stop6 she gestured wildly to     
them4  ,the door flew open4 ,the young  
scientist stood before her1 bowing and  
smiling4 ,she shook a knotted finger at 
him4 ,stop those men6 she cried sternly4
  ,at a gesture the men waited4 ,she    
descended from the carriage1 shaking and
 suspicious1 her cane tapping the       
pavement before her4 ,the ,frulein      
,marie leaped lightly down after her4   

,her hand had rested for a moment on the
 young man's sleeve4 ,a white rose      
trembled in the fingers4 ,his face      
glowed4  ,is your ,highness ready8 he   
asked4 ,he had moved to the old woman's 
side4  ,she was standing1 one hand on   
the wrapped parcel1 the other on her    
stout cane1 peering suspiciously ahead4 
,is your ,highness ready8 he repeated4  
,go on1 she said briefly4  ,four men    
were in the hall when they entered--the 
director of the ,old ,pinakothek1 the   
artist ,adrian ,kauffmann1 the president
 of the university1 and a young man with
 a scared1 helpful face1 who proved to  
be a laboratory assistant4  ,they are   
your witnesses1 murmured the young man  
in her ear4  ,she greeted them stiffly1 
her eyes on the precious parcel4        
,swiftly the wrappings were undone1 and 
the picture lifted to a huge easel      
across the room4 ,the light fell full   
upon it4  ,the witnesses moved forward  
in a body1 silent4 ,the old face        
watching them relaxed4 ,she smiled      

grimly4  ,is it a ,drer8 she demanded4  
,she was standing behind them4  ,they   
started1 looking at her doubtfully4 ,the
 artist shrugged his shoulders4 ,he     
stepped back a little4 ,the director    
shook his head with a sigh4 ,who can    
tell8 he said softly4 ,the marks----    
,the baroness's eyes glowed dangerously4
 ,i did not suppose you could tell1 she 
said curtly4  ,the young scientist      
interposed4 ,it is a case for science1  
he said quickly4 ,you shall see--the    
,roentgen rays will tell4 ,the          
shutters--,berthold4  ,the assistant    
closed them1 one by one1 the heavy      
wooden shutters4 ,a last block of light 
rested on the shadowy picture4 ,a last  
shutter swung into place4 ,they         
waited--in darkness4 ,some one breathed 
quickly1 with soft1 panting breath4     
,slowly a light emerged through the     
dark4 ,the great picture gathered to    
itself shape1 and glowed4 ,light pierced
 it till it shone with strokes of       
brushes4 ,deeply and slowly in the      

bluish patina1 at the edge of the       
flowing locks1 on the shoulder of the   
,christ1 a glimmer of shadow traced     
itself1 faintly and unmistakably4       
,confused murmurs ran through the       
darkness--the voice of the director--a  
woman's breath4  ,ready1 ,berthold4 ,it 
was the voice of the ,herr ,doctor4     
,there was a little hiss1 a blinding    
flash of light1 the click of a camera1  
and blackness again4  ,a shutter flew   
open4  ,in the square of light an old   
woman groped toward the picture4 ,her   
knotted hands were lifted to it4  ,close
 at hand1 a camera tucked under his arm1
 the laboratory assistant stood--on his 
round1 practical face the happy look of 
successful experiment4  ,a little       
distance away the ,herr ,professor      
,doctor moved quickly4 ,the one with the
 rose looked up4  ,high above them      
all--on the great easel1 struck by a ray
 of light from the shutter--the ,drer   
,face of ,sorrow--out of its four       
hundred years--looked forth and waited  

in the modern world4