Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-02

The other shrugged his shoulders, will
q movement of ill-concealed wrath
1.-The life within usl'' he sneered; "whs
true American would use such words?''
'Are we, then, of different nature, and Of
different BIRTH"
you are about to learn. Answer me
thisl What think you of this stranger who
rs always present in our house?"
Our iather's partner? Yes, know
that at the bottom of your heart you hate
and have always hated him."
Hate himi Yesi from my earliest child
hood, from the day witnessed one terrible
scene-the scene from which your own life
dates. The father, at that time, thought OF
nothing but his work; to which be was q
slave. Rough and rude be may have been,
but he had earned the respect and fear OF
all who knew him. The other, q new
conner to the country, suave and gentle in
his manner, hattered and cajoled
nv mother to an extent which aroused even
my childish suspicion and dislike, One
day the crisis came. / saw my mother hide
her shameful blushes with her hands; the
strangers attitude was one OF cowardly
fear, while, 1 child that was, trembled and
wept at the violence of my fathers threats
What had passed? Then, could not un.
derstand, but shortly afterward you were
born. As you grew up watched you with
persistence which at first was unconscious
then voluntary, and at last the awful truth
was riveted upon my brain. You were the
legacy OF that treachery; In you detected
an exact and absolute resemblance to this
man of foreign birth. To me your very
existence became a shame, crime, and q
derision! Do you understand me now?"
From the boys lips a heartrending cry
broke forth; he stretched out both his arms,
as if to save himself upon the brink of some
deep precipice.
A deep silence, full of agony, came be-
tween the two brothers, and neither of them
dared to raise his eyes and look into the
others face. Acting his own story, An
drew paused, and two at least of his audi
ence felt more embarrassed than ever.
Over the placid lace OF Johann Schelm
there seemed to pass an Indefnable express
sion in which were intermixed confusion,
incredulity and desperate defiance. An
drew on his part, maintained the sang froii
OF some comedian exhibiting his powers of
mimicry. In the minds of the two younger
hearers the thinly veiIed identity of the
Wallholm family and the partner, Schelm,
was FULLY established; the story of the two
brothers did but carry out the whispered
gossip Of the heighborhood. Clothed in fc-
titIous words, Andrew was publishing the
secret of his own parents life. But how
came it that he could build up a romance
upon such infamies? How had be learned
the secret? Who had dared to reveal it?
The two young men were utterly dunn
founded.
Glsncing at the pages which he held with
trembling fingers, Andrew once more took
up the tale:
"They could hear the rustling of the reeds
along the borders of the lake, and the drawn
out signing of the breeze amid the damp and
heavy foliage"
The strain at last became too heavy for
endurance and the silence was broken by
the elder brother.
1t may have been the weakness of his
spirit, the engrossing cares of business, or
through willful blindDess-I know mot
which-but my father seemed to have for
gotten what had passed years before. For
me, however, there has been no respite but
an unceasing struggle with a secret which it
was forbidden to reveal. have had to en-
dure this strain upon my hereditary honor,
to submit to the humiliation, to. hold in
check the mad longing for vengeance. But
now l can no longer keep silence. 1t is
your turn, now, to submit to destiny, to
measure out an equivalent for a name be-
smirched, to purify the family blood of all
adulterationl
What would you have me do?' inter
rupted the younger one, no longer a half
weeping boy but an insulted man. -s- -
The elder brother drew close to the poor
lad and spoke rapidly In low, penetrating
voice:
1.-The lake which sleeps at our feet is deep,
beyond the forest which surrounds us is the
open world. ChooseI When right has
come, keep watch and you will see behind
the window of my room light waved to
and fro. Let that be the signal for you to
execute your purpose, whatever it NAV be-"
and with these words he threw his gun again
across his shoulder, turned on his heel, and
without one parting look walked rapidly
away.
And now the fatal hour has comeI
As he spoke the last few words Andrew
had risen to his feet and, seizing with one
hand the lamp, stood in a tragic attitude.
His manner was that of a poet carried away
by his own fantasy, mimickiug the actions
his characters embodied in himself. 1.-The
elder brother gives not the slightest sign of
hesitation; inflexible, he has sworn that
justice shall be Gone. He moves toward
the window, the lamplight streams upon
the darkness OF the forest. Hark! -"
The light shining upon his profile showed
Andrew pale as death; in his voice there
was despairing ring. Both Glib and
Fogg were almost suffocated with pent-up
emotion; Johann Schelm, moved by the re-
cital or. it might be, by tear of the reality,
showed signs of nervousness and what |
seemed like a threatening glance darted |
from his eyes. |
"Hark!' repeated Andrew.
There Wa one moment of intense expect |
ancy, then a bright fash came from the |
forests gloom, and a loud report re-echoed |
through the trees.
Andrew gave one hurried glance at the |
manuscript which he held, then fell upon |
his knees. |
"a gun shotI' he cried; 'fthe younger
brother is no morel The elder, on his knees, |
folds his hands as if in prayer. .-.-
81 have done but what thought was
right, he sobsi 'if am wrong, may God |
pardon mei''
The feelings of the small audience were
indescrloable; what were they to say, or at
what conclusion to arrive? Their chsIled |
looks. were fixed on Andrew as be still |
knelt upon the floor. A clock was heard to
chime the hour of 10, and at that moment a
gruff and peevish voice came from the
bottom o the staircase.
hen is this noise to cease?" shouted |
the elder Wallholm. The effect was strange.
and showed the fear in which the old man
was held. For a moment all that they had
just seen and heard was forgotten in the one
thought of flight.
60, 60 quickly!' almost commanded
jumping quickly to his feet.
Without more ado, the two young men
scrambled down the stairs and through the
little hall, not even pausing for another
stolen glance at the two girls who were still
busy sewing. When they had fairly gained
the road they noticed Johann Schlem fol-
lowing a few steps behind There was M