Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-12-07


tered the Office.
"Do not be angry, dear. brother, be-
cause 1 was SO rude yesterday" said
he, laying his hand ON his brothers
shoulder.
my dear boy!" The brothers en-
braced each other fervently.
A deep brotherly love existed be-
tween the two. The elder was touched
by the penitence of the younger, until,
face, he again began to speak of Frau
lein Greta. Then Kurt, noticing that
his brother could scarce conceal his
nervous Impotence, soon took his
leave. Descending the stairs, he ca
ressed his budding mustache, cast a
glance toward the door behind which
his brother sat at work and murmured:
cit is a pity of the old fellow-he takes
| it so plainly to heart. But-in an affair
of the heart one must always consider
ones self first. He has known Greta
more than year-can help it that, in
the six short weeks of my acquaint-
ance, have become more to her than
he? Can one help it if one meets good
| fortune? He must accustom himself
to the idea that am no longer child,
that I am man. am two years
younger than Greta-what of that? It
is experience that" he stopped,
smiled, blinked his eyes like cat that
sees sparrow flying above him, and
began to build air castles.
In the meantime the Herr Assessor
with sigh arose from his desk and
paced the floor restlessly. When at last
he returned he scrubbed the name
Greta on the plotting pad and then
sprang to his feet again, more restless
than ever.
During the next few days he hardly
saw his younger brother. One evening
a friend came and reproached him for
his secrecy.
''The whole city knows that your
brother wrote the comedy that is to be
played tomorrow night"
''My brother? 1t is impossible! He
has never shown the slightest inclina-
ton toward dramatic composition.
And then-if he had aspired to be a
writer of comedy, should have known
it,"
"In spite of all that, he is the writer
of the play-after repeated persuasion
the director has betrayed the secret -
The appearance of Kurt himself in
terrupted the discussion.
cit is we'll that you come" cried
Reinhard. els it true that you have
written comedy?"
SIT would be no crime If"
''Did you write The Physician or
not?'
eff they say so it must be true. /
beg of you not to ask me about it-go
to the. theater tomorrow night and see
for yourself"
"But, Kurt, cannot understand why
you have not told me about it BEFORE -
''You would not have helped me with
it had you known about it,
"But if you have disgraced yourself
the thought is quite unbearable."
II shall not disgrace myself."
''You' have not the vaguest concep-
ton of dramatic technique"
"But everyone must begin to learn -
eyes, but if it were only not here,
where you live, where every one knows
you'll I had had suspicion of the
affair should have put a stop to it,
"For that reason I allowed you to
suspect nothing"
Thereupon the lietenant took his de-
parture, whistling march as he has
tened to the Casino, leaving his brother
to pass sleepless night.
The evening for the performance of
the new comedy found the little the
alter crowded. Kurt moved among the
audience with flush of excitement on
his face. His brother came late, look
ing quite pale and troubled.
At last the play began. The first act
was replete with humorous situations,
the public laughed and applauded, and,
during the succeeding wait, some of
Kurt's friends presented him with a
laurel wreath.
"It is very crude,' thought Rein
hard. II should have given Kurt credit
for something trife more mature
than this"
Between the first and the second act
Herr Heldreich appeared with his
daughter. They had seats next to that
of the Herr Assessor.
GLOW do you like the playa" asked
Fraulein Greta, with smile.
He looked at, her earnestly.
"You knew about it, Fraulein
Greta?"
Il UO YES indeed"
He shook his head, saying:
81 am very sorry that you did not
dissuade my brother from this fool
ishness. would give anything to have
been able to prevent it,
"But the piece pleases, as you see.''
"People are laughing at my brother,
and it seems to me as if I myself must
run the gauntlet of their ridicule." :.
Fraulein Greta became very thought
full. The second act was sentimental.
The audience, in spite of a kindly effort
to seem appreciative, at length showed
signs of WEAKNESS. Fraulein Greta
now and then stole glance at her
neighbor. She instinctively OWNED
his thoughts. She saw with his eyes,
saw what she had not seen before, that