The Washington critic., 1890-02-23
MY FRIEND THE DUTCHMAN.
by FREDERICK nAnpMAN.
Continued from last Suaddy,)
CHAPTER III.

thAi lbh liz
Had the cunning but unlucky Van
Haubitz been a regular reader of the
Theatre Zeitung or journal of the
theatres he would have seen, in the
ensuing number to that whence he de-
rived his information respecting
Mademoiselle Sendel's confirmed popu-
larity and advantageous engagement,
the following short but important
paragraph:
ERRATUM.-In our yesterdays impres
sion an error occurred, arising from sim
llanty of names. II is Fraulein Anlciiuc
Sendel who has concluded with the Vienna
Theatre an engagement equally advanta-
geous to herself and the manager. Her
elder sister, Fraulein Emile, continues the
engagement she has already held for two
seasons, as a superuumerary soubrette. The
amount stated yesterday as her salary
would still be correct, with the abstraction
of a zero. Talent does not always run in
families.
This good-natured paragraph, cvi.
IDENTIFY from the pen of q sulky sub.
editor, smarting under O lashing for
his blunder of the preceding day, did
not come to my knowledge till some
time aftcrward, so that the walters re-
ply to my question concerning Count
J-'s travelling companion perplexed
me greatly and plunged me into an
ocean of conjectures.
In fact, my curiosity was so strongly
reused, that instead of availing myself
of the absence of the Dutchman to es-
cape from the hotel, sat down to din
ner, resolved not to depart till heard
the mystery explained. l had not
long to wait. Dinner was Just over
when l received message from Van
Haubitz, who earnestly desired to see
me.
found him alone, seated at a table,
his chin resting on his hand, anger,
shame and modification stamped upon
his inflamed countenahce, A tumbler
half full of water stood upon the table
beside bottle of smelling salts and,
upon entering, ] was pretty sure l
heard a sound of sobbipg from an inner
room, which ceased however, when l
spoke. There had evidently been a
violent scene Its cause was explained
TO me by Van Haubitz, at first in rather
a confused manner, for at each attempt
he interrupted himself by bursts of
fury. Owing to this, it was some time
before could arrive at clear under.
standing of the facts of the case. When
did, could scarcely help feeling
sorry for the unfortunate schemer, al
though in truth he richly deserved the
disappointment he had met.
Never was there more glaring in
stance of excess of cunning overreach-
ing itself-for no deception had been
practiced by Madame Sendel and her
daughter. They doubtless gave them
selves credit for some cleverness and
more good fortune in enticing q rich
banker, with more ducats than brains,
into their matrimonial nets; and doubt
less Fraulein Emile put on her best
looks and gowns, her sweetest smiles
and most becoming bonnets, to lure the
lion into the tolls. But neither mother
nor daughter had for moment i'm
agined that Van Haubitz took the lat
ter for the celebrated and successful
actress whose name was known
throughout Germany, while that OF
poor Emile, whose talents were of the
most humble order, had scarcely evel
penetrated beyond the wings and green.
room Of the theatre, where she enacted
unimportant characters for the modest
remuneration of hundred forins 6
month
BY no means proud of her position
as an actress, which appeared the more
lowly when contrasted with her sisters
brilliant success, Emile had seldom re
ferred TO things theatrical since her ac
quaintance with Van Haubitz
On his part, the Dutchman, con
scious of his real motives and anxious
10 conceal them, abstained from all di
rect reference TO Mademoiselle Sendel
great talents and their lucrative re
suits, contenting himself with genera
compliments, which passed curren
without being closely scanned. If h
had never heard either his wife o
mother-in-law make mention of Anne
line, it was because they were on tn
worst possible terms with that youn
lady, who had lived, nearly from TIN
period of her first appearance upon til
boards, under the protection of the ac
complished libertine, Count j
over whom she was said to exercise eX
taordinary influence.
When she formed this connection
Madame Sendel-who, in spite of he
paint and artificial Horticulture, ha
very strict notions of propriety-wrot
her letter Of furious reproach, rc
nounced her as her daughter and pre-
hibited Emile from holding any CON
munication with her. Emile, again:
whose virtue none had ever foun
aught to say, sorrowfully obeyed; and
after two or three Intellectual attempt
on the part of Ameline to soften he
mothers wrath, all communication bt
tween them ceased.
Their next meeting was that at whic
Van Haubitz ana myself were presen
It's singularity, Madame Sendel's fain
ing fit and the resemblance between til
sisters, brought on inquiries and an G,
PLANTATION; and the Dutchman found, {
his ineXpressible disgust and consterna
tion, that he had encountered himsel
with wife he cared nothing for, and
mother-in-law he detested. whose joir
income was largely stated at 150 pound
sterling per annum.
In his first paroXyism of rage b
taunted them with the mistake the
had made when they had thought [
secure the love sick millionaire, pr,
claimed himself in debt, disinherite
and beggar; and, finally, by the vi,
lence of his reproaches, drove the
trembling and weaping from the room
Van Haubitz had sent for me to in
plOre my advice in his present diflicu
position; but was so bewildered |
passion and overwhelmed by this SUI
den awakening from his dream of su
cess and prosperity, that he was hard
in condition to listen to reason. II
regrets were so selfish as to destroy Il
possibility of sympathy, and shou
have left him to his fate and his oN
devices, had | not thought that II
so doing would make matters worse f
the poor girl who had thus needless