The Osceola times., 1883-04-07
FLOTOW'S BROTHER.
The Terribly Tragic Ending OF u Practical
Joke.
French of Albert Wolf


French of Albert Wolf
In a second marriage, NJ. De Flotow
found again that happiness which he
thought had passed away forever with
his first wife's death; but another cruel
blow came in 1864, the violent death
of his younger and only brother who
lived upon an estate near Schwcrin.
His rank in the nobility of the country
and his fortune gave him the right to a
seat in the Legislative Chamber of his
country.
But NJ. de Flotow's brother was young.
He made fun of politics, he mocked his
own official position, and looked only at
the merry and amusing side of life.
Now, last year it happened that one of
his friends, bookseller, was celebrating
the twenty-fifth anniversary of mis- mar
riage at Schwerin.
Young Flotow, happening to pass that
way about o'clock in the morning, took
the bookseller away with him, AID while
all the guests were waiting for their host
the latter was off in the country getting
gloriously drunk on Rhine wine in the
company of his friend Flotow
When one gets more or less tipsy, one
is apt to DO something foolish sooner OF
later. About ) O'Clock in the evening,
Il Al hoI
drunk indeed. NJ. de Fiotow dressed him
up in his Mecklenburgian official costume
and sent him back to town thus attired,
in an open carriage.
1t made great scandal in that little
capital.
Next day no less than twelve deputies
sent their seconds to NJ. de Flotow, who,
they said, had grossly insulted the entire
Chamber by rigging up his grotesque
guest in the official costume.
81 cannot fight them ALL" replied Flo
tow; but let them draw lots for it, and
| pledge you my word that my adversary
will have a serious duel on his hands"
So he had.
When NJ. de Flotow found himself in
the presence of the Count de 4, the
adversary chosen by lot, he said to him:
"Do you really think, sir, that a mean,
foolish trick like that is worth fighting
about?"
Certainly, sir" replied the count.
"You have firmly made up your mind
to fight ?"
81 am astonished at your asking me
such a question, sirw
"Very well, then" said Flotow, 'if you
care no more about your life than do
about mine, we shall fight an original
duel"
81 am at your orders, sir"
an that case we shall settle this mat
ter in American fashion. | will stake
my life against yours on a game of ecarte
five points. The loser will blow his
brains out within twenty-four hours"
The cards were bro1ght, and the two
men played their terrible game.
Wheh both had made four points the
count shufiled the cards and placed them
before his adversary.
"Your cut, sir ~ he exclaimed.
Then he dealt the cards. The count
turned up king.
"You have won, sir" said young de
Flotow, rising from the table. 81 shall
pay at midday Tomorrow"
NJ. de Flotow slept next day until L
o'clock in the morning.
After his breakfast he took a short
walk in his park, and gave several orders
TO his servants. The valet-de-chambre
afterwards remembered having seen his
master standing thoughtlully before the
facade of the chateau for nearly ten
minutes.
The servant added that he saw him at
one moment put up both hands to his
face as If he were weeping
Then the gentleman looked at his
watch.
II was five minutes to y.
NJ. de Flotow withdrew into his study.
Precisely at u o'clock q loud report
sbool. the chateau.
The brother Of the author OF Martha
had blown his brains out.