The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-03-25

tells me that arineelhof don't belong TO you
and that you are poori hope, Monsieur De
Vlierbeck, you have too good an opinion OF my
| sense to imagine that have the least faith In
| such q story"
A shudder passed over the poor geutleman's
| frame. Deueoker's goOd.humored familiarity
| had made him believe that be knew and credl'
| ted all, and nevertheless responded to his ne
phew's hopes but the lsst words he bad
taught bin that he must again go over the sad
recital of bis misfortunes.
monsieur Depecker," said he, "do not en-
terrain the least doubt, beg you, In regard to
what am aboSt to say. am wii NE i hms
~ to consent shat my daughter, sSsi become
am poor-frghtfuily poorp
Come, some!" cried tho merchant i've
knew long, long ago that you were nightly
only child you must open your heart and your
purse, my dear sir, and portion her ACCORDING
TO your meaus. Tney say-psrdon me for
repeating it-thst you are miser, but what q
shame il wnnld be to let your only daughter
leave yonr house upprovided forI
Poor De Vlierb. ok wrivhed on his chair as
Denecker poured forth his iucrednlous jokes
{" For Gods sake, sir" cried he, "spnre me
these bitter renarks 1 declare. on the word
worldp
"Wsllw cried the merchant. taking no heed
of his remsrks. and with hooking smile,
come; let us pher the matter out on the
table. You suppose, perhaps. thatI have come
here to ask some great sacrifice of you but no.
D0 Vl10ED6Ck, bu6nk GOOs nave 10 OCCa5iOu 10
be 30 close in my calculations. Yet q marriage
is q thing to which there are always two par
ties, and it is just that each should bring
something in the common stock"
"Oh, God! oh, God ~ muttered the poor
gentleman, as he clencbed his bands convnl-
sively.
81 propose to give my nephew one hundred
Thousand francs," continued Deneoker; "and
if he wants to continue in business my credit
will be worth as much more to hum. have no
wish that Lenora's portion shall equal his.
Your high birth. and especially your character,
will make mp what is wanting in her fortune;
but what say you TO the hatf,-fifty Thousand
frapcs7 You will consent TO that, or am much
mistaken. What say you Is it a bargainf"
Pale and trembling, De Vierbeck sat riveted
to his chair; but at last, in low, nlela nchOly
voice:
monsieur Denecker," said he, this con-
versation kills me- beg yon TO stop this in
since yon force me to speak before yor apprize
me of your own Intentions, know that CRU
selhof and it's Gependepoies are portgaged be-
yord their value 1t is useless to inform you of
the origin of these debts Let 1t sutfice to re-
peat that tell the truth and beg You, with
out going further, new that you are Informed of
the state of my affairs to declare frankly W hat
are your designs as to your nephew's mar
rage"
Although this declaration was made with
that feverish energy which ought TO have
satisfied DeneekeH of it's truth, it nevertheless
failed to convince him. A degree OF surprise
displayed itself on the merchants face; bot no
continued his observations in the same in
credulous tone:
BILE to believe you. i did not think you were
so hard in a bargain. Yet be it SO: every man
has bis weakness one IL too mlserly, another
too prodiRal. Now, for my part, confess that
extremely anxious to spare Gustave
the anxiety of delay. Give your daughter
twenty five thousand francs, with the under
standing that the amount of her portion is to
remain q secret; for / don't want to be
laughed at. Twenty five thousand francs .
you cannot say il Is TOO much lin fact, it is q
trifie that will hardly pay for their furniture.
Be reasonable my good sir, and let Us shake
hands on it'll!
De Viierbeck said nothing; but, rising
abruptly from the table, opened closet with
trembling hand, and, taking from Is q pack
age of papers. threw them on the table
"ThereP said he; read convince YOURSELF
Denecker took ny the papers and began to
OF his face gradually changed, and a times he
raised his bead aud looked upward, as if in
| deep thought. After he had been engaged for
| some tune in this Glssgreeabls tack, De Vlier.
| OF emitting irony:
"Ah! you would not believe me, sir. Well
| let your determination be founded on those
| papers alone. IL 10 right you should know
every Thing; for have determined never again
! To be tortured. Besides the evidences of deb
| which are before you, owe bill of exchange
| for four thousand francs, which l cannot nay
| Hon see now, Monsieur Den ecker, that am
worse Than poor, for upve dsbtsl'
| Alas! il is but 100 true said the stupeied
| merchant; you have Indeed nothing! l sec by
these documents thar ny notary is also yonrs
ana, although l spoke 10 him of your fortune
| be left me unatVIsed, or, L shoOld rather say
| in error"
De Vlierbeck breathed more freely. for he
felt il q rock had fallen from his breast. His
face resumed it's ordinary oalmness; and seat
| ing himself, be continued:
| Now, cir, is you have no Ion ger any reason
to doubt my poverty, let me aek what are your
| Intentions.
My intentionsH" replied the merchant ;
"my Intentions that we shall remain
| as good friends were before; but, as to
the marriage, that of course falls to the ground.
We will speak no more about it. What were
your slcuIations, Monsieur De Vlierbec kH 1
| think | am just beginning to see a little clearly
| into this matterl You imagined, l suppose,
that you would make a good business out of
it and sell your merchandise as high as posi-
| blew
"Sir," exclaimed De Vlierbeck, bour ding
from his chair in rage, "speak respectfully OF
my daughter Poor or rich, do not dare to for
get who she isw
Done get angry! don't get angry, Monsieur
De Vlierbeck. l have 10 desire to insult you
Ear from it. Had your enterprise succeeded ]
would probably have admired you, but fnesst
against JfHeSse always makes q bad game
Permit me to ask, since you are SO touchy OF
int nF ho,y