"
"I always enjoy your singing," she replied.
He ran down stairs and soon returned with the music. He seated himself
at the piano and played the piece through with great expression.
"It is a beautiful melody," remarked Alice. "What is it?"
"It is a German song," replied Quincy, "by Reichardt. It is called
'Love's Request.' I will sing it this time."
And he did sing it with all the force and fervor of a noble, manly
nature, speaking out his love covertly in the words of another, but
hoping in his heart that the beautiful girl who listened to him would
forget the author and think only of the singer. How many times young
lovers have tried this artful trick, and in what proportion it has been
successful only Heaven knows.
"The words are very pretty, are they not?" said Alice. "I was listening
so closely to the melody that I did not catch them all."
"I will read them to you," rejoined Quincy, and going to the window,
where the light was still bright enough, he read the words of the song
in a low, impassioned voice:
"Now the day is slowly waning,
Evening breezes softly, softly moan;
Wilt thou ne'er heed my complaining,
Canst thou leave me thus alone?
Stay with me, my darling, stay!
And, like a dream, thy life shall pass away,
Like a dream shall pass away.
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