The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-12-14

DO not be angry, dear brother, be-
cause l 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,
with the same mysterious look IN his |
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:
1T is 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 a year-can / help 1t that, IN
the six short weeks of my acquaint-
ance, I have become more to her than
he? Can one help it if one meets good
fortune? He must accustom himself
to the idea that l am no longer child,
that l am a man. l am two years
younger than Greta-what of that? 1t
| is experience that" he stopped,
smiled, blinked his eyes like a cat that
sees a 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 atlast
| he returned he scrubbed the name
Greta on the blotting 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, l 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.
ut is well that you come" cried
Reinhard. rs it true that you have
written a comedy?"
| eft IyOuId he no crime if
Did you write The Physician OF
not?"
IF they say so it must be true.
beg of you not to ask me about it-gc
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 will
/ II nlu you erly0,le-.t ~ -ars~sa-
But if you have disgraced yourself
the thought is quite unbearable."
Il 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--if l had had a suspicion of TIT
affair | should have put stop to it."
For that reason l allowed you t
suspect nothing"
Thereupon the lietenant took his de
parture, whistling a march as he has
tened to the Casino, leaving his brothe
to pass a sleepless night.
: The evening for the performance o
the new comedy found the little the
= alter crowded. Kurt moved among tn
= audience with a flush of excitement Oh
his face. His brother came late. look
ing quite pale and troubled.
=, At last the play began. The first ac
:. was replete with humorous situations
the public laughed and applauded, anC
. during the succeeding wait, some o
, Kurt's friends presented him with
. laurel wreath.
. at is very crude" thought Rein
= hard. 81 should have given Kurt credi
= for something trifle more matur
; than this"
4 Between the first and the second &C
k Herr Heldreich appeared with hi
Il b'lh illSN iI''N oN'''s7 'AN-Nt ~ 'Ai''
J. of the Herr Assessor.
9 ''How do you like the play?" aske
n Fraulein Greta, with smile.
G He looked at her earnestly.
+ "You knew about it, Fraulei
. Greta?"
f so, yes, indeed"
p He shook his head, saying:
81 am very sorry that you did no
n dissuade my brother from this foo
! ishness. would give anything to hay
O been able to prevent it."
But the piece pleases, as you see"
- people are laughing at my brother
i and it seems to me as if | myself mus
run the gauntlet of their ridicule."
n Fraulein Greta became very thought
+ full. The second act was sentimental
q The audience, in spite of a kindly etfol
o. to seem appreciative, at length Shove
Il signs of WEAKNESS. Fraulein Gret
4 now and then stole a glance at he
h neighbor. She instinctively divine
% his thoughts. She saw with his eye
n saw what she had not seen before, tbs
the play was indeed very weak.
y There is a great difference betwee