The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-03-11
1aernlng Star and Catholic Messenger.
WEw ORLEANS, SUNDAY, MARCH II. 1871.

belief that he was the happiest man on earth.
And yet--alas, poor gentleman i-he was q
prey to the profou ndest agony He was, per-
baps about TO suffer Humiliation, "a humiliation
that would cue him to the very heart Bat
there was q being in the world whom he loved
better than his life or honor,-his only child,
his daughter! For ber-how frequently had he
already sacrificed his pride. how frequently
had ho suffered the papgs of martyrdom still,
90 great q slave was he TO this passionate love
that every now endurance, every now tr1ai:
raised him In his own estim alton and exalted
his pain into something that esnobled and
sanctified his very natnrel
His heart beat violently as he entered deeper
and deeper into the heart of the city and ap-
proached the house he was about to visit.
Soon after he stopped ut door. and, as he
pulled the bell. his hand tTembled violently in
spite of ex raordinary selfcoptrol; but as soon
~ o servant answered the summons he became
master of himself again.
"Is the notary inp inquired the old gentle
map. The servant replied afirmatively, and,
showing the visitor into q small room, went to
Apprize his master.
he put his right foot over the left to hide the
rent In his boot, drew forth the gold suuf box,
and made ready to take o pinch.
The notary came in. He WAS o spare, bus-
his guest gracously, but no sooner did he per-
ceive who 1t was than his face grew dark and
assumed that reserved air with which . eau
Sious mGn arms hi mself when he expects q re-
quest which he 10 predetermined to refuse. 1n-
Stead, therefore, of lsvishing on Monsieur De
VlierbecR the compliments with which he
habituaily welcomed his visitors, the notary
confined himself TO q few oold words of re-
oognition and then sat down silently in front
of him.
wounded and bumbled by this ungraoious
reception, poor De Vlierbeck was seized with q
chilli and became slightly pale; still, he
managed to rally his nerves, as he remarked,
affably:
spray excuse me, sir; but, pressed by i'm.
49,,
peal to your kindness for II small SERVICE"
What 10 1t you want with me| answered
She notary. tsrtly.
al wish you to and another loan of thou.
sand francs for me,-or even less.-secured by a
mortgage on my property. l do not want all
the money at enee, but have especial need of
two hundred francs, which must ask the favor
Of YOU to lend me to-day. trust you will not
deny me this trifing loan, which will extroate
mo from the deepest embarrassment"
"a Thousand francs. on mortgage ~ growled
the notary and who. pray, will guarantee
tho intetesti Your property is already mort
gagged for more than it is worth"
"Ohi you are mistaken, sir" exclaimed
Monsieur De Vlierbeok, suxiously.
"Not the least in the world BY order of the
persons who have already accommodated you
with money, 1 caused your property to be ap-
praised at the very highest rates; and the
consequences Is that your creditors will not get
back their loans unless it shall sell for an ex-
traordirary price. Permit me to say, sir. that
you have acted very foolishly: had l been in
your place, Z would not have sacrificed all my
fortune, and my wife's too, to save q worthless
fellow. even though he had been my brother n
De Vlierbeok frowned. as q painful reeolleo-
tion shot through his mind, but said nothing,
though his hand grasped the golden snu4 box
as If he would have crushed it.
"By that imprudent act" continued the no.
tary, You have plunged yourself and your
ohild into absolute want for you can no longer
Disguise it. For ten years-and God knows at
what oost-you have been able to keep the
AS,f 1,nNf SFav skaLN M
approaching, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, when you
will be forced to surrender everythingi'
De Vlierbeok riveted q look of doubt and
agony on the notary as the latter continued:
81 must tell you frankly the condition of
your affairs. Monsieur de Hoogebaen died
during his journey in Germany; his heirs found
your bond fer four Thousand francs. and have
directed me not to 1t. If Monsieur
HoOgebaen was your friend his heirs certainly
are not. Daring ten years you have failed to
cancel this debt, aud have paid two thousand
-fraaos interest; 30 that, for your own sake. it
lie time the transaction sh ould be closed. -Four
months are still left. Mousieur Vlierbeck, be-
fore the expiration of"
"0Hiy four months" interrupted the poor
gentleman, in q distressed tone; "onIv four
months, aud then-oh, Godw
Then your property will be sold according
to law" said the notary, dryly, finishing the
sentence. al can we'll understand, sir, that
this is painful prospect but, as it is decree
of fate that no one can control, you have moth
ing to do but prepare to receive the blow. Let
me offer to sell your estate rs if you I" were
leaving the country By that means you will
escape tho modification of a forced sale"
For come moments Monsieur De Vlierheck
remained silent, his face buried in his bands
as if crushed by the notary's advice aud cal-
lousness At length he, replied, calmly but
humbly:
your council is, perhaps, wise and gener.
OuB; yet will not follow it. You know that
Ali my sacrifices, my painful life, my constant
agony. have been patiently endured for the
sake of my only child. You alone know that
all do has but one purpOse,-A puFpose which
hold sacred. l have reason to believe that
God 10 about granting the earnest prayer /
have daily offered for ten years. Ny dau ghter
ts beloved by rich gentleman, whose oharao-
ter think may oonade in, and his family
appears to sympathize in ell his views. Four
Sla0RthS IL is but short time, alas vet on oht
], by anticipating the legal period of q sale. to
destroy ell my fond hopes Ought 1 instantly
70 welcome misery for myself and my child
when see the chance Of sure relief from eli we
have sufferedi"
"Then you want to deceir0 these people, who.
ever they may net Do you not suppose that by
such . course of conduct you may mako your
daughter still more wretohed ~
At the word deceipS" the poor gentleman
WINGED 90 If stuDg by an adder, while q nervous
thrill ran through his limbs and suffnsed his
face with blush of shame.
''Deceirsp echoed he, bitterly; "oh, moi but
dare not, by q rash aVowal of nv want atiae