按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
I see the little cream…colored hammers
within the piano bobbing up and down
like acrobatic brownies。 I never hear
the plaudits of the crowd for the
artist and watch him return to bow his
thanks； but I mentally demand that
these little acrobats； each resting on an
individual pedestal； and weary from his
efforts； shall appear to receive a share
of the applause。
‘‘When I listen to a great singer；''
continued this world…defying skeptic；
‘‘trilling like a thrush； scampering over
the scales； I see a clumsy lot of ah； ah；
ahs； awkwardly； uncertainly ambling up
the gamut； saying； ‘were it not for us
she could not sing thusgive us our
meed of praise。' ''
Slowly he replied： ‘‘Masters have
written in wondrous language and masters
have played with wondrous power。''
‘‘And I so long to hear；'' she said；
almost plaintively。 ‘‘I marvel at the
invention of the composer and the skill
of the player； but there I cease。''
He looked at her intently。 She was
standing before him； not a block of
chiseled ice； but a beautiful； breathing
woman。 He offered her his arm and
together they made their way to the
drawing…room。
‘‘Perhaps； some day； one will come
who can sing a song of perfect love in
perfect tones； and your soul will be
attuned to his melody。''
‘‘Perhapsand good…night；'' she
softly said； leaving his arm and joining
her friends； who accompanied her to the
carriage。
II
The intangible something that places
the stamp of popular approval on
one musical enterprise； while another
equally artistic and as cleverly managed
languishes in a condition of unendorsed
greatness； remains one of the unsolved
mysteries。
When a worker in the vineyard of
music or the drama offers his choicest
tokay to the public； that fickle coquette
may turn to the more ordinary and less
succulent concord。 And the worker
and the public itself know not why。
It is true； Diotti's fame had preceded
him； but fame has preceded others and
has not always been proof against financial
disaster。 All this preliminary；and
it is but necessary to recall that on the
evening of December the twelfth Diotti
made his initial bow in New York； to
an audience that completely filled every
available space in the Academy of
Musica representative audience；
distinguished alike for beauty； wealth and
discernment。
When the violinist appeared for his
solo； he quietly acknowledged the cordial
reception of the audience； and
immediately proceeded with the business
of the evening。 At a slight nod from
him the conductor rapped attention；
then launched the orchestra into the
introduction of the concerto； Diotti's
favorite； selected for the first number。
As the violinist turned to the
conductor he faced slightly to the left and in
a direct line with the second proscenium
box。 His poise was admirable。 He was
handsome； with the olive…tinted warmth
of his southern homefairly tall； straight…
limbed and lithea picture of poetic
grace。 His was the face of a man who
trusted without reserve； the manner of
one who believed implicitly； feeling
that good was universal and evil accidental。
As the music grew louder and the
orchestra approached the peroration of
the preface of the coming solo； the
violinist raised his head slowly。 Suddenly
his eyes met the gaze of the solitary
occupant of the second proscenium box。
His face flushed。 He looked inquiringly；
almost appealingly； at her。 She sat
immovable and serene； a lace…framed
vision in white。
It was she who； since he had met
her； only the night before； held his very
soul in thraldom。
He lifted his bow； tenderly placing it
on the strings。 Faintly came the first
measures of the theme。 The melody；
noble； limpid and beautiful； floated in
dreamy sway over the vast auditorium；
and seemed to cast a mystic glamour
over the player。 As the final note of
the first movement was dying away； the
audience； awakening from its delicious
trance； broke forth into spontaneous
bravos。
Mildred Wallace； scrutinizing the
program； merely drew her wrap closer
about her shoulders and sat more erect。
At the end of the concerto the applause
was generous enough to satisfy the most
exacting virtuoso。 Diotti unquestionably
had scored the greatest triumph of
his career。 But the lady in the box had
remained silent and unaffected throughout。
The poor fellow had seen only her dur…
ing the time he played； and the mighty
cheers that came from floor and galleries
struck upon his ear like the echoes
of mocking demons。 Leaving the stage
he hurried to his dressing…room and
sank into a chair。 He had persuaded
himself she should not be insensible to
his genius； but the dying ashes of his
hopes； his dreams； were smouldering；
and in his despair came the thought：
‘‘I am not great enough for her。 I am
but a man； her consort should be a god。
Her soul； untouched by human passion
or human skill； demands the power of
god…like genius to arouse it。''
Music lovers crowded into his dressing…
room； enthusiastic in their praises。
Cards conveying delicate compliments
written in delicate chirography poured
in upon him； but in vain he looked for
some sign； some word from her。
Quickly he left the theater and sought
his hotel。
A menacing cloud obscured the wintry
moon。 A clock sounded the midnight hour。
He threw himself upon the bed and
almost sobbed his thoughts； and their
burden was：
‘‘I am not great enough for her。 I
am but a man。 I am but a man！''
III
Perkins called in the morning。
Perkins was happyPerkins was
positively joyous； and Perkins was self…
satisfied。 The violinist had made a
great hit。 But Perkins； confiding in
the white…coated dispenser who
concocted his matin Martini； very dry； an
hour before； said he regarded the success
due as much to the management as
to the artist。 And Perkins believed it。
Perkins usually took all the credit for a
success； and with charming consistency
placed all responsibility for failure on the
shoulders of the hapless artist。
When Perkins entered Diotti's room
he found the violinist heavy…eyed and
dejected。 ‘‘My dear Signor；'' he began；
showing a large envelope bulging with
newspaper clippings； ‘‘I have brought
the notices。 They are quite the limit； I
assure you。 Nothing like them ever
heard beforeall tuned in the same
key； as you musical fellows would say；''
and Perkins cocked his eye。
Perkins enjoyed a glorious reputation
with himself for bright sayings； which
he always accompanied with a cock of
the eye。 The musician not showing any
visible appreciation of the manager's
metaphor； Perkins immediately
proceeded to uncock his eye。
‘‘Passed the box…office coming up；''
continued this voluble enlightener；
‘‘nothing left but a few seats in the top