New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-19


On the morning of the first of July, Monsieur
yanderhaven sat at breakfast III his dining room,
pleasant old loom, the prevailing UNI Oh WhcH "ds
n sober brown, relieved with brighter touches OF
color here and there in a repOusse salver. or Ores
de- Flandres vase and IN the rlch bindings Oh TIC
hooks which lined one of the walls,
When he had finished his cup OF caie-au-lalt, he
tonched the bell at his elbow. The summons was
answered by his housekeeper. stately; hieh-nosed
old dame, wearing the cap aud hchu OF her hauVe
II eli Monsieur Bernhardt that wish to speak to
him. -, a. - Is.
and anurOached him mysteriously. lie Is noJ IN
the house Monsieur she sad. HIS bed ms n0I
beep slept in nd-and | have Just found THIS
letter addressed TO You, on his table. :.
She fingered. watching him curousiy' as ne
opened it, He dismissed her with one sharp word
then read it through, his face growing darker VIII
.So-he is gone to study in Rome he repeated
with n sour smile when he had hnlshed. very
well lie may starve in Rome. nave doue Win
Hc took vesta-match from the inkstand twisted
the letter deliberately burnt It, ana then hounteu
the stairs to the banquetroon. Inc palnng ti''ro
rails were gone but the unfinished portrait re-
NAMED on the easel He frOWned az MS eyes I p
upon it, He guessed whom IL repIesehFut' .lu tli
be.rt was hitter against this gill who. IL seemed
Frorn Rernhardt's letter had encouraged him IN ms
disobedience A palette-Knlte lay on the leu21 ol
the easel IN sudden impulse OF resentlheit iIlo
took il IN, and was about 10 cut the canvas lruni
the frame hut As he raised his hand, the sweet eyes
seemed TO meet his with Wistiul apptaI; ~ ~ III
deprecatiOn OF his anger. I'ls mana ltli Ills ~"
relaxed he gazed at the fair face with a sort Vi
Then. as he noted the execution of the picture, 2
new expression dawned in his eyes a nihghhR %
astonishment and half reluctant admiration. II
the lad could paint III this way at twenty, What
r,ioht ne not achieve when MS powers were
maturedy An uncomfortable feeling TOOK posses
sIon of the old merchant. Had he been mistaken
after all Had Bernhardt done wisely III dlsoo'S
mo him With an impatient movement or tlo
head ne dismissed the unwelcOme d0uDt, ana YAK
mo tbe pcture from the easel, turned lt Will i'H
face 70 the wall then left the room, locking tine
door and putting Z he key IN his pocket
II anyone inquiries after my grandson. you may
aav that he il travelling he told OLD JIshlt
briefly; and from that day Bernhardt . name Was
spol,eu no more his Old home.
The months went by. Summer waned INTO
autumn and autumn into winter-a winter OF the
good old-fashiOned' type; InVgoratlhg 10 inc
Young and healthy. but terrible To the weak 'no
aged and the poor. 5000. .
One hitter December afternoon, Annette van
Elven and her mother were alone IN the niue room
which now served them as bed ana sittihg,
room both, on the first floor or AROUSE IN a uuii
grass grown sde-stIeet not tar from thS SaledIaI'
Madame van Elven. n fair, fragiie-looAhg "o-
man who had been beautiful IN her youth, ana was
sfiU attractive though worn by suffering. SAT III
a cusDoned armchair near the Stove, wnle Annette
cr,,uched ON the hearth, her head droOpiug' nci
hands idly folded on her lap IN an attitude OF nst-
less detection The snow outside was naruly
winter than her cheeks. and her eyes mad yelled
look that made them more pathetic than ever.
How quiet Won are, dearP LEI companion sala'
breaking a long silence are you esieepf go
mo [ was thinking, she answered with an
effort. Il was wondering what sort Gz christmas
Bernhardt would have II Rome