The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-05-17

old mans demands would utterly rui
him.
Brinkerhoff's answer was severel
laconic.
81 will entertain no propositions fror
you, and all communications touchin
my interests must be addressed TO m
lawyer and attorney"
His directions to that gentleman
forwarded by the same mail, we, "pursu
him to the utmost extent of the law"
Though he did not feel bound to il
form his wife of any of his bushes
transactions, yet as he held her responsi
bic for what he termed the base ingrati
tude of his son, and as he knew his presen
course would give her NEST exouisit
pain, he took care to spprise her of th
measures he had adopted. The effec
was as felicitious as he had supposed j
would he.
Some weeks after this, he left home fo
few days, to see some property he haC
in New Jersey. On his return, which
was early one morning, he sought his wifi
in the breakiast,room, where he knew b,
should find her at the hour of his arrival
To his astOnishment, she was dressed il
deep mourning.
What has happened ?" he inquired
with real concern what is the meaning
of this mourning dress, Gertrude ?"
1t means that Nicholas will give you
no further trouble in this w,rld. Har
mann," replied the lady, sadly, nor hii
wife either"
"Dead !" cried the conscience-stricke
man, sinking into a chair. ''This il
more than bsrgsined for Dead and
shall never see his face again t' And tears,
the first the hard mau had shed fol-
years, forced themselves from his uu-
wonted eyes.
"You can see his face again, if you
have courage to look upon it"
Are the bodies here 90 asked the old
man, with shudder.
"They are in the parlor. DO you wish
to look at them?"
"You must go with me, Gertrude, y
faltered the guilty wretch. " I dare not
go alone"
"Come then, said the lady, severely,
and rising from her seat, Give me
your hand l will lead you TO them.
The stricken man rose feebly. He
seemed to have grown very old within 4
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; none OF the
funeral accompaniments of death.
6 You will not see exactly what you
expected" said Mrs. Brinkerhof. Raise
your eyes TO the wall. Previous 10 his
death, Nicholas commissioned the famous
painter, COpley, to execute iull-lengtb
portraits OF himself and wife. Tbere
they hang; what do you think of saem?"
The old man gazed upon me wall.
Before him, within a Gorgeous frame,
stood his son, dressed "a a rich suit.
The magic canvass seemed to breathe.
Brinkerhoff cast buI brief glance upon
the beautiful lady that formed the sub
iect of the companion piece-his eyes
were riveteG upon the rather melancholy
features Of the injured boy.
Wat a wonderful art !" he ex-
clained, with broken voice. The
painter was inspired. It wants only one
thiDg-but alas that is everything
life ., that all my geld-that my own
life might restore his?''
' Yet if he stood before you living
man, You would insult him with a
frown,"
4 Not 50, so help me heaven. Ger
trude, my wishes are driving me mad.
could swear a smile crossed that face"
''It was only a sunbeam struggling
through the curtain. / will draw it
closer.
" Not foI worlds. Let me enjoy the
illusion. 1 tell you, Gertrude, think
what you will of it, the lips move"
I" You have heard of speaking like
nesses," said his wife with a smile; this
is one of them"
Father" said the wonderful portrait
Nicholas "11cried the old man, wild
with surprise.
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
he had ever bestowed upon him since his
childhood.
What do you think of Copley, now,
father % asked the young man, after he
bad hugged and kissed his mother and
dried his streaming eyes. But you
have not seen half the wonders OF art
or rather artifce. Emeliner' And ex-
tending his hand, Nicholas assisted the
second portrait out of the frame. The
blushing bride met with rapturous
welcome.
"WilI you orgive us, sir ?'' alter she
had extricated herself from the old gem
tleman's arms, for our plot against
your
If you shadn' tsbelieved my heart was
made Of marble, you wouldn't have
experimental on it so cruelty" said
Brinkerhof. "But that, thank Hesven
it was tough, or it would have broken in
the test"
at was last desperate resort" said
Mrs. Brinkerhof, sadly.
" You have softened it forever" said
the old man. "But can you forgive me,
Nicholas ?''
From the bottom of my soul, SIR"
said the young man. "Had 1 treated
you with more confidence, our differences
would never have occurred. Icome, sir,
prepared to discharge all your just de-
mands."
Z" If you pay me dollar, I'll cut you
off with shilling, you dog" said the
old man. "Come, wife, and come, chill
dren; haven't had mouthiul OF break
fast, and Pve ridden all the way from
the Jerseys this morning. Well ratify
our treaty of peace over the chocolate
and buckwheat cakes, and from this hour