St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1878-05-25

don't stand lingering there I am busy"
Mrs Brinkerhoff fed in terror. The
old man turned to his writing desk, and
indicted brief letter to his Boston cor
respondent, a lawyer, directing him to
present his demands on his son for imme-
date payment. A servant was de-
spatched to the city to mail the docu-
ment. A few days afterwards the mail
brought Brinkerhoff letter from Nicho-
las. 1t was long and explanatory, and
full of earnest suprlications for an
extension of credit, as pressure of the
old mans demands would utterly ruin
him.
Brinkerhof's answer was severely
laconic:
~ will entertain no propositions from
you, and all communications touching
my interests must be addressed to my
lawyer and attorney"
His directions to that gentleman,
forwarded by the same mail, we, "pursue
him to the utmost extent of the law"
Though he did not feel bound to in
form his wife of any of his business
transactions, yet as he held her RESPONSE
bic for what he termed the base ingrati-
tude of his SON, and as he knew his present
course would give her NEST exquisite
pain, he took care to apprise her of the
measures he had adopted. The effect
was as felicitious as he had supposed it
would he.
Some weeks after this, he left home for
a few days, to see some property he had
in New jersey. On his return, which
was early one morning, he sought his wife
III the breakfast.room, where he knew he
should find her at the hour of bis arrival.
To his establishment, she was dressed in
deep mourning.
"What has happened ?" he inquired,
with real concern !; what is the meaning
of this mourning dress, Gertrude p
cit means that Nicholas will give you
no further trouble in this world. Har-
Manu." replied the Lady, sadly, "nor his
wife either"
"Dead!" cried the conscience-stricken
man, sinking into chair. "This is
more than I bargained for. Dead and I
shall never see his lace again ~ And tears,
the first the hard man had shed for
years, forced themselves from his un-
wonted eyes.
"You can see his face again, if you
have courage to look upon it."
Are the bodies here?" asked the old
man, with shudder.
"They are in the parlor. Do you wish
to look at them?''
"You must 60 with me, Gertrude"
faltered the guilty wretch. II dare not
60 alone"
"Come then,' said the lady, severely,
and rising frem her seat, "Give me
your hand I will lead you to them.
The stricken man rose feebly. He
seemed to have grown very cid within
few minutes He surrendered his icy
fingers to the warm, firm clasp of his
wife, and tottered rather than walked,
beside her into the drawing room. The
curtains were let down, and mysterious
twilight pervaded the apartment, but
there was no bier there; nepe of the
funeral accompaniment of death.
You will not see exactly what you
expected" said Mrs. Brinkerhoff. Raise
your eyes to the wall. Previous to his
death, Nicholas commissioned the famous
painter, Copley, to execute tull-length
portraits OF himself and wife. There
they hang; what do you think of them?"
The old man gazed upon the wall.
Before him, within gorgeous frame,
stood his son, dressed in a rich suit.
The magic canvass seemed to breathe.
Brinkerhof cast but brief glance upon
the beautiful lady that formed the SUBJ
ject of the companion piece-his eyes
were riveted upon the rather melancholy
features of the injured boy.
What wonderful art!' he ex-
claimed, with broken voice. "The
painter was inspired. 1t wants only one
thing-but alas that is everything.
life! ., that all my geld-that my own
life might restore his7' ~
Yet if he stood before you living
man, you would insult him with a
frown,"
Not 80, SO help me heaveni Ger
trude, my wishes are driving me mad. I
could swear smile crossed that face"
It was only a sunbeam struggling
through the curtain. / will draw it
closer.
Not for worlds. Let me enjoy the
illusion. I tell you, Gertrude, think
what you will of it, the lips move"
You have heard Of speaking like
nesses," said his wife with smile this
is one of them"
Father" said the wonderful portrait.
Nicholas !" cried the old man, wild
with surprise. Fl
The figure stirred within the frame,
it advanced from the background, it
sprang lightly to the carpet; moment
more and Hartmann Brinkerhoff folded his
son to his heart in the warmest embrace