LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1271, 15 April 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

FRANZ WERNER. A Christmas Tale, Founded on Fact. By Lois Selbon. Argosy. ' Have you seen Franz at all ?' asked Herr Rudolph Werner of his brother Oscar one afternoon, as they were preparing to leave the office. ' It is very strange he should not have come near the place since yesterday morning.' ' I saw him last nigH,' was the rejoinder. ' He came in to Bj«end an hour with Francisco, who was not very well. You know those two are great friends. He said then he was not sure about coming to the office to-day : he might have to go out to the works.' ' Does it strike you, Oscar, that Franz goes to the works very often ? that he has been singularly absent-minded of late ? And very irregular here ?' ' Franz is not as regular as he used to be, Rudolph ; or perhaps,' he added hesitatingly, ' quite as attentive as he ought to be iu a house that has you for its chief. But we must not forget that business never was much to Franz's liking. He only took to it on leaving the University because you urged it.' Herr Rudolph's brow darkened at the suggestion. After a moment's silence Oscar continued : 'There is something else, Pudolph, that both my wife and I have noticed about Franz lately - he looks very ill, and is decidedly out of spirits. He used to be sofull of fun ; now you hardly ever hea* him laugh.' * I have seen him looking moody and not himself occasionally,' replied Herr Rudolph. ' But the chief point is this irregularity, which must be stopped. Think of the example, Oscar ! I have never allowed the smallest infringement of rules, and I shall certainly not begin now. 1 shall spe:ik to Franz seriously.' And with these words Herr Werner buttoned up his coat, and strode out of the office with the firm, decided step of a man who never has given way an inch and never will. The speakers were brothers. The elder, Rudolph Werner, was at the head of a leading iron and steel firm in S uth Germany. He was a remarkably shrewd, intelligent man, yet so proud and haughty that the latter qualities occasionally blinded him to his own best interests, if those interests did not relate to matters of business. He was proud of his self made name, proud of his we'l-known integrity; above all, proud of his justice. Strict justice could always be got at the hands of Herr Rudolph Werner, but woe to the man who hoped for sym athy and [indulgence from him. His two younger brothers, Oscar and Franz, who had successively become his partners, looked up to him with boundless admiration, but with great awe as well. He had made his will their law since the day when, at eleven years of age, he had ordered them to shoulder their tiny bundles and follow him into the wide world to seek their fortunes. After ihey had risen to fame and fortune, the second brother, Oscar, had married the pretty and penniless daughter of an old and noble house, and Rudolph Werner had been perfectly satisfied with the match. 'She brings no money,'he observed, 'but we do not want it, and the connection is all we could wish for.' He himself had mairied his old master's daughter, Gretel, years before. He had loved her from the day that her father, worthy Hans Preis, had taken in the three lads, weary and travel stained anil pretty Uretel had offered to be theirsi:;ler and playmate. Both marriages l\ad turned out singularly happy ones. The above conversation had taken place in Rudolph's own private room in the countinghouse. Oscar looked much troubled, for he had given a shrewd guess himself as to ths reason of Franz's frequent absences from, work, and dreaded the idea oi his elder brother's thoughts taking the same direction. He determined to consult his wife, and did so that same evening. * Do I know what is the matter with Franz?' criei Francisca. ' w 'hy, ofcours-I do He is bead ovr ears in love ! How stupid y«w meu ar«—l have seen it for mr

so long ; but either the Jove is hopeless, or it is wasted upon some one we should not approve of. I think latter is the more likely of the two. for if not, I feel pure Franz wo 'ld have made me his confidant.' ' v> hichever way it is, Francisca, you must st*nd his friend now, and get at the b ttom of tb.9 ratter. Rudo'ph is very much vexed at hiß frequent absencas from the counting-house, and is going to speak seriously to him on the subject You know what that means. 'I here is no sayirg how Franz may take it in his present mood ' Francisca's answer was cut short by Franz's sudden appearance. He stood stilJ, looked at them a moment, and then exclaimed — '.How solemn you both look? " alk'ng about me, 1 shouldn't wonder! I thought I heard my name mentioned as I optned the door. What's the matter ?' • Why were you not at the office this morning, Franz?' began Oscar. 'You know you ought to bo more regular, and especially more particular in making your excuses to Rudolph.' ' I thought so,' replied Franz, rather scornfully. « What more ?' 'Rndolph asked me to-day what takes you rut to the wor'is so often' continued Oscar. steadily in the fare. 'ln fact he has made up his mind to speak seiously to you about it, and you know what that will end in.' ' Oh, yes, I know,'said Franz, bitterly. 'I shall be told to marry, only he must choose the wife. I know all about that, but—look here, Oscar, once for all, I will not bear it. I will only marry the woman I choose for myself, or I will not marry at all. You say Rudolph wants to talk to me ? He shall do it to-night. I want to talk to him too, and I will go now, and have it over.' Without another word he jumped up in hot haste, snatched hie hat off the table, and was out of the room in a moment. Oscar looked after him, and shook his head. He himself would have avoided a 'serious' talk with Rudolph at all risks; and he was not fiery-tempered when roused, like Franz. Whilst Rudolph and Oscar had been talking over the change that had come ov>>r Franz in the earlier part of the day, Franz himself was galloping hard on the high road to Hilgendorf The day was frostv, and the horse scattered showers of diamond dust all around him as he flew along trie well-known road, and stopped almost of his own accord at the door «■? a little cottage on the outskirts of the village not far from the Werners' works Everything looked beautiful and bright in the wintry sun. I he young man, with the light of hope in his eyes, was out of the saddle and under the little porch at one bound. At the same moment the |do<>r opened, and a young and most beautiful girl came out with her fiuger on her lip. ' Hush,' she said. ' Mother has just fallen asleep. She never closed her eyes last night.' ' Lisa, I mnst speak to you,'said Franz pleadingly. 'lf ' cannot come in, where cm we go ? I have so much to tell you.' The gitl hesitated. 'lt ; s the last time,' she murmured to herself ; 'it surely cannot be wrong. I, too, have much to tell you, Franz. Oome this way ; we can go to the little seat, near the window, and then I can hear if mother calls for me.' Franz after tying his horse to a tree, came and stood before her. He felt happy and joyous, whilst the young face before him was sad and downcast. But the deep blue eyes were brave and steadfast, looking up at Franz. - To be continued."*.