New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1890-12-31
IT was unhappily, easy to see that
sl1ch would he the end -

I cat my first suggestions you gave
me to understand that it was
your affair. III had insisted you
would have sent me away. I gave
your father a solemn promise never
to leave you; I have kept it. .
The baron knew that he had only
himself to blame for the position in
which he found himself. At last he
said:
~ was ignorant of business mat
ters as a child. When [ needed
money twas you intrusted to pro-
cure it for me. Why have you, who
had the experience which lacked,
accepted the usurious conditions
which have been imposed onme?''
II knew, indeed that the conditions
were exorbitant, but also knew
that young noblemen who were not
willing to regulate their wants &C
cording to their resources are forced
to submit to the terms of the usurers.
1t was necessary for you to have
money atany cost; procured it for
you
"And you have delivered me into
the clutches Of these pitiless Shyl ocks
simply because you did not wish to
be separated from me?'
eyes, monsieur"
"And has notyour intelligence seen
that a ruined master is not able to
keep a servant?"
"Thatview of the case may apply
to others, not to you and me- [ am
bound by the promise l made to your
father"
Il see that you are obstinate, and
that you have a ready answer for all
my questions. There is however,
one thing of which you have not
thought, the possibility of my taking
a fancy to put a bullet into my
BRAIN"
II have never feared that extrem-
ity.
you probably think I have not
the courage to do it,
On the contrary, I have thought
that if you were tempted to commit
such a cewardly act all that would
be necessary to turn you from it with
horror would be to make you look
upon these portraits."
Pierre pointed to two pictures
which hung above the mantelpiece.
One represented the Baron's father,
dressed in the uniform of a colonel,
his face wearing the calm and virile
expression Of a man who knew no
fear. The other was the image of a
woman whose features reflected that
serenity Of soul and that goodness of
heart which made all who knew her
love and admire her.
The young man stood spellbound
before the two pictures. Deep emo.
tion showed itself in his eyes.
During the last war; said the
old servant, II stood near your ia
Their when he was struck by a pierce
Of a bursting shell. He suffered the
pains of martyrdom, and yet the re-
suit of the battle occupied his
thoughts more than his wound. A
fugitive passed near US, and he at
once became anxious to know how
the battle was going. When he learn
ed that our men, overpowered by
numbers, we're yielding, an angry
light came into his eyes. He com
PEELED me to help him mount his
horse, and, barely able to keep his
seat, he rode into the midst of the
fray. His regiment, seeing their
leader covered with blood and pre-
senting the image of death, took
courage and routed the enemy. But
the colonel was not able to witness
the end of the battle; he fell faint
ing into my arms, and for
a month lay on his bed between life
and death. Monsieur, you, being
the son of such a father, will not
kill yourself.'
After a moments silence Pierre
continued:
Il have seen your mother lying on
the led which she did not leave till
she went to the graveyard. A dis
ease, for which she knew there was
no remedy, was consuming her. Her
face was calm although her suffer-
ingWas terrible. A complaint never
escaped her lips. She forgot herself
I'D think Of those whom she was
about to leave behind her. A man
WHO has had such q mother will not
20 take his life"
Inc old reimbursement to he trans
liig11ed. His face always calm and
lmpassive, had assumed soulful
look which made a deep impression
o 'ln5 young man, who was no less
aHoved. ''''
hut 1T Was not a time for senti-
1nent or emotion. The baron was
ruined, and it was necessary for him
Eto adopt some means of extricating
y himself from the difficulties which
surrounded him. He did not fear to
express before Pierre his uncertainty
as to the best course for him to pur-
sue.
Monsieur said the old servant
there is many a wealthy tradesman
Who would be happy to have his
daughter known as the baroness de
sBrantel.'
& sesSell nv name for monov2 uo