How Two Immortals Met

In Fraguo there was to be iinotler of thoso grcat musical jubilees i'or whieh tho caprtal of Bohemia was noted during the last century, and l'rom every direction jounieycd thither artists and laymen, either to particípate in tho exercises, or to listen. Already, on tho day before the feie, the inns - large and Binall - of tho city proper woro ovorfillcd, and the landlorus, desirous as they were to profit by tho occasion, could not do otherthan turn awity the later arrivals. Many woro, theiofore, compelled to seek lodgings in thetivernsof the guburba, wbioh .were usuülly patronized by people of the lower order. A young man (a "pianist," said his passport) froni Vienna had, like many others, sought lodgings in all the hotels of tin; fity, without success, and finally decided to go to au inn in ono of the suburbs, whére ho' w:is told ho would probably find very comfortable quartera and vi-ry rood fare. The youtb wssreceived by a laadlord of yery surly me n, who, af eer measuring him nom head to foot with a forbiddir.g glunco, replied thathe ccAild not accommodate him, " ho was full." üut there w,is a pratty young servant irl witliin hearing, who did nol seem at all afraid of the cross-grained old landlord, and ventured to difiur with him. " Yes, we can accommodate the gentleman, too," s;iid she. " Thero will be no one in the winc room thisevening; cverybody will bo iu the city. It's vury e isy to make up a bed i'or the gentleman there." "Doso, for all I caro," muttered the landlord, as ho turne d away. The young pianist deoided to remain, as the girl assured him thnt she would sce that he was made comfortable, and that tho landlord was really not half so much of a bear as ho seemed. Siie now hastened to prepare tho cvening meal, and the young musieian in the nniantime repaired to a large rooin that wiis destiued lo bc his bed -room lor thfe night. As the usual evening guests were not expected, the room had not been lightod; bat the nioon shon through tho vine-bordered window so as to enable the youth to see his way, although indistinetiy. In the corner he discoverod a sofa, on which hc threw himseli' in order to rest his Weary limbs whilo wailing jBor sappen He had been there hut a few momuuts when the door opened and a jr;m entend, who walked to the farther anl darkcr end of the room with a oertainty of stej) whioh showed that he was not a stranger to the ipartMiont. A minuto aftorward tho vouth heard the tones of a piano - at first a few accords, tlien a molody, a wild molody, that niight have been likonod to a chorus oí' angels. Tho youth purtially rose froin the sofa, and listened as one who would catch tho lainl(;st sound. How radiant was every feature of his face with ecstatic delight! This improvisaron, tiis heavenly improviaation, ge imed ;o transport him into anotiier and highor i' -i-i!. Thore was but one - only onc - ■ u!d produce suota Larmouy, rcañ to ■ce and hoar him was tho chief object of the youth's journey. lio rose and walked on tiptou over toward tho piano, to seo, íf possible, the performer. The tones rrew softer and softer, until thcy finally died away. The finale was divinely beautiful, and ïeld the youtliíul enthusiast spell-bound until the maater himself aróse froin his r.jverie. Tho latter, when he had fmished phiying, rose, went toward the sota, and threw himself upon it, apparently faLgU( d. As the light of the moon fe 11 on lis face, the youth saw he liad bofore him IB olderly man oí' poculiarly noblo and jeuevolont mein. Seeing that lio liad not as yet been observed, an idoa suddeny oecurred to him, and ho seated himself noiselessly at the piano. Again tho instrument was made to uttor its sweetest ;ones, and the man on the sofa listened in arofound admirution. lie .saw no on ■ jut ho hcard, and what he heard w.is sutieient to rivet his entiro atlention. IIow jure the tones carne froin this master íand ! That it was a m s ter hand tho istoner on the Bofa qu ekly discovered. The jo) s oí' a youthful heart secincd to índ utterance in the first accords of the young musician. Then, gradually, the tonos becaine deeper; the passiens and ;,nals oí' a large, struggling nature, spoke n the full and sorrowful aceords, until ;hey became the cry of bitter despair. What Music it was ! The older musician daeped his hands across his Irjast and listened with his whole soul. lie knew cl' but one composer who was capablo oí producing suoli musió, and it was mainly in the hope of meeting him that he had come to the feto. He was toníident the virtuoso b(;foro him must be lio, and he only. Finally ho arose and nois-elessly approached the piano, until he stood behiud the performer, who was so absorbed that he neither saw nor heard him. At last he, too, ceased playing. Ho s truck the last accord and sank back exhaustLd. Al. i tuit moment a hand was laid gontly on his shoulder, while another took him Viy the arm and led him toward the window, where the light of the inoou full full upon l.is face. An eldeily man, his eyes beaming with delight, 'sjiized at him a moment and then cried, in a tone that botrayéd deep einotion, "Jlozart!" "Ilayden ! :' respondfd the young man in an accent not less joyo-us. Thus met, for tho first time, these two immortal composers, whose groatest wish had long been to know ach other.