The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-03-25
- THE
POOR GENTLEMAN.
[Continued. !
CHAPTER ~


CHAPTER w
A few days after the depar ture of his unols
Gustave paid a visit TO GriDselhof. He WAS re
csived by Monsieur De Vlisrbeok and hi
daughter With their snail kindnesa, passe'
the greater part of an ."ernocp with them
Echelpoel full ut delightful recolleotions an'
hopes. Either from fear of disturbing the re-
served habits OF the old gentleman, or from
sense of polifenfss, Gustave at hrst did not q
fret repeat bis Visits TOO frequently; but afte
n couple OF weeks the extreme cordialify o.
Vlierb beck dispell.d all his soruples. The ar
dent youth no longer resisted an i'm pulse hal
drew him toward the bewitching girl, DOR did
he allow o single day to roll by ihout passing
the afternoon at GtiDselhaf. Toe bR"py hourt
flew rapidly on the wings OF love. He strolsd
with Lenors through the shady walks of the
old garden, listened to her fathers obstrva
tions on science and art, drank in the delicious
notes of his loved ones voice as it, was breathed
forth in song, or, seated beneath the h'~ery
and spreading catalpa, dreamed the dream OF
happiness that was in store for him with her
who was probably soon to become his be-
trothed.
II the noble and beautiful face Of the IN alden
had won his eye and enlisted his feelings the
moment he first beheld Der in the village
church yard, aosV, that he had become familiar
with her character, his love grew so ardently
absorbing shat the world seemed sad and dead
il she were not present to shed the light of her
Joyous spirit upon everything around him.
Neither religion nor poetry could copjure U o
an angel more fascn Atipg than his beloved
Indeed, though God had endowed her person
with all those feminine Rraces that adorned
the first woman in Paradise, he had also Law
lished upon her IA heart whose crystalline
purity was never clouded, and whose gen.
erosity burst forth with every emotion like
limpid spring
But in all his interviews, Gus.ave had never
yet been alone with Lenora When he visited
her she never LETT the apartment where she
COMMONLY sat with her father unless tho old
gentleman expressed "A wish that they should
unite in a walk through the garden ; aud, of
ceurse, he never had oppurfuI ity 10 breathe
the love that was rising TO hIs lips. Still. he
felt that is was altogether useless to press by
words what was passing in their hearts; for
the kindness, the respect. the affection, that
shone In every bod y'seye s, betokened the feeling
which united them in q mingled sentiment of
attachment and hope.
Though Gustave entertained profound ven.
Grafton for Lenora's father and really loved
him as son, there was something which at
times camo like cloud betwixt himself and
the old gentleman. What he heard outside of
Grineelhof OF De Vlierbeck's extraordinary
avarce had been fully realized since be became
Intimate at the house. No one ever offered him
glass Of wine or beer he never received an
Invitation to dinner or supper and he fire.
quently observed the trouble that was taken
by the master of the house to disguise his in
hospitable economy.
Average is passion that excites no other
emotion than that of aversion or contempt
degrading vice takes possession of ones sonl
1t destroys every spark of generosity al d FILE
it with meanness. Accordingly. Gustave had
long and fearful conf ict with himself in order
to subdne this instructive feeling and to con-
vince his Judgment that De Vlierbecks con-
duct was only q caprice which did not detrsct
from the native dignity of his character. And
yet, had the young man known the truth, he
meath every smile that fitted over the old
mans face, and that the nervous shuddeTs
which at times shook his frame were the result
OF suppressed agony that almost destroyed
him. As he GaZed on the happy face of Lenora
and stepped his soul in the intoxioation of her
love, he never dreamed that her fathers life
was prolonged punishment: that, day and
night, II terrible future opened its vista DO.
GoTe him and that zach momeut of his exist
ence brought him nearer and, carer to a dread
full catastrophe. He had not heard the mex
orable sentence of the notary " Four months
more aud your bond expires when ali yon pos
sesa in this world will he sold by the CGcers
of Justice tn satisfy your credltors!"
Two OF those fatal months had already ex-
piredl
II Monseur De Vlierbeck appeared TO en-.
courage the young mans love il was not alone
in consequence of his Symp Ithy with his feel.
inRs. No: the deRoUeHent of his painful trial
was TO be developed within defined period
and, II it proved Iuans picous, there was moth.
ing but dshouor and moral death for himself
and child! Destiny was about to decide forev al
whether he was to come out victorious froM
this ten years conflict with poverty, or whether
he was tn fell into the abyss OF public con.
tempt! These were the feelings that induced
him to coucoal his true position more carefully
than ever. aud, while no u alched over the
lovers like a guardian spirit, made him dc
nothing 10 check the rapid progress of then
passion.
As the time of his uucle's return spproache
the two months seemed 10 Gustave to have
flown by like u pleasant dream; and, although
he felt sure that his relative would not oppose
a " he n