Year: 1873




clown. attached, OH a small salary, to
theater in the capital of one of the little
duchies into which Germany was divided
before the genius and ambition of Bismarck
had effected its consolidation into the en-
pire. Ny role was popular because every
body likes to laugh, and likes one who
puts them in a laughing mood. My make
up was considered a marvel of perfection.
Ny songs always took, and my gestures
and grimaces never filled to elicit the most
raptdrous applause. 1t used to be said
that my face must be made of Indiarrubber,
it could be twisted and distorted into such
strange expressions. But | hated the life,
and my success made it more and more
distastefill.


One night | went home completely worn
out in body and mind. Ny little sister
Ada, fifteen years old, and light and grace
full as q sylph, who was engaged as a dam
seuse at the same theater, also seemed dis
.pirited and worn. The play had been
running forty nights, and the whole COM
pany was heartily sick of it. But it was
not this alone which exerted a depressing
influence ON my spirits that evening. For
many weeks had been losing my heart
to Fraillein Dora, the principal aanseuse
of the tleater, who was no less lovely in
mind and heart than in her person. She
was the most beautiful woman had ever
seen; tall, well-formed, GRACEFUL; with a
step1ike fairy queen; large, thoughtful
eyes; and a sweet, winning smile.
What first drew me to her was her kind
ness to my sister, whom she took every
opportunity to befriend and assist in her
profession. This was the more surprising,
because Ada promised to become a danger
ous rival and, in the theatrical profess
sion, jealousy is the rule, and genar-
osity the exception. So [ learned TO
like Dora, and then to love her. But
so did everybody else. All the gentry of
the place fell in love with her, and raved
about her beauty andher dancing, in a way
that nearly drove me wild with jealousy.
| was in love in the old-fashioned way we
read of in novels--I am not ashamed to
confess it-eager to kiss the ground ON
which she trOd, and wouldnot believe that
any one else could love and worship her
with the same devotion. ] must not omit
to say that Dora. in the midst of all this
adulation, displayed the most discreet and
modest behavior. She was always attend
ed to and from the theater, by her mother; !;
and always returned the rich presents
which were shoWered upon her.


Among all who paid court to Dora, |
feared only one the young, rich, hand





Walters. who pressed his suit with unre-
mittine ardor. What chance had the poor
clown against thisim Yeti fancied if
he were out of the way | need not despair
of winning her. Did she not lbve my sis
ter, and had she not often spoken kindly to
me- and praised my acting and singing?
Bnt this day I had learned the worst
that her kindness to me sprang only from
a gentle and friendly feeling for the brother
of the girl she had learned to love like
sister, and that she had promised to be
come the wife of Count Won Walters.
What wonder that went to my lodgings
with despair in my heart!


NY little sister exerted herself to make
things cheerful in our quiet little. sitting
room. She suspected nothing of the real
cause ofmy dowIIheartedness, for she, my
confidant in everything else, had never
been intrusted with the secret of my love
for Dora; and, in the hope of drawing me
out of my moody silence, prattled on
about number of unimportant matters.
She was interrupted by knock at the
door. followed by the entrance of our
landlady. The good soul aTologized for
coming in at so late an hour, but the post
man had brought a letter for me
just after we had left for the
UHeaI6r, anu ds IL DOiO a iooASh
postmark, she thought it might be lmpor-
tant should getit that evening. l thank
ed her mechanically, but a glance at the
postmark caused me to tear the letter open
with eager and trembling fingers; Tor
had often heard my father speak OF an only
brother who had settled in England In
early youth, and from whorn vague re-
ports came, from time to time, OF sue
ceSsful mercantile career. The letter was
postmarked London, and the heavy black
border lines told the story before the seal
was broken. My uncle was dead. He had
never married, and on his death-bed, rer
membering his only brother, he had LETT ALI
his wealth to him or his children. For .
moment felt stunned and faint; and Ada,
throwing her arms about my neck, begged
me to tell her what bad news was in my
letter to make me look so strange and pale
took her on my knee, and told her we
were rich, and would have no more need
to act in the thehter. Wewonld leave this
miserable little town and go TO Berlin.


To my surprise, Ada againput her arms
about nv neck, and Whispered softly,
Need we leave the theater Immediately. !.
dear brother?"


No, child,' said |, wondering what SHE