The Poor Gentleman

t she did not hesitate to inform her father of Gustave's visit. De Vli

to his mind; nor could he banish the thought of that frightful misery into which it would plunge his child and himself. Lenora carefully concealed her own sufferings in order not to increase her father's grief; and, although she fully sympathized with him, no effort was omitted on her part

arently anxious to escape the presence even of his daughter. If she caught a glimpse of him at a distance, a fierce look of irritation was perceptible on his face, while his arms were thrown about in ra

is time that a slight change in the old gentleman's conduct convinced her that a secret-and perhaps a terrible one-weighed on his heart. Every day or two he went to Antwerp in the calèche, without informing her or any one else of the object of his visit. He came back to Grinselhof late at night, s

ne. By degrees the resolution to make her father reveal his secret grew in her mind. And, although a feeling of instinctive respect m

ere her father usually studied or wrote, and, after a good deal of hesitation, in which her face and gestures displayed the anxiety of her purpose, opened the table-drawer, and saw in it, unrolled, a written document. The paleness of death overspre

ch enough for him. What is this secret? and what does it all mean? If it should be true that we are beggars! Oh, God

returning to Grinselhof. She ran down instantly to meet him; and as he drew up at the door she perceived the poor sufferer buried in a corner of the vehicle, apparently deprived of all consciousness; and, when he descended from the vehicle and she saw his expression distinctly, t

at she should do; but by degrees her brow and cheeks began to r

elf; "shall I let my father die without an effort? No! no! I must know

apartment where her father was seated with his elbows resting on the table and his head buried in

my knees; tell me what it is that distresses you! I must know why it is that

a broken voice, with despair in his wild gaze,-"thou hast suffered, dreadfully, my child, hast

remarks, but, disengaging herself from her fathe

ill not go away without knowing what misfortune it is that has so long deprived me of your love. No matter how much I may venera

for thee, my adored child, is precisely the secret of my grief. For ten years I have drained the b

" asked Lenora, without be

her father. "The blow that is about to fall on our hous

ed for a moment to appall the girl; but she repressed h

that. No! your heart is weak and yielding because I have to partake your poverty! Bless you, bless you, for your affection! But, tell me, father,

proudly at his daughter, and a gentle

and meet poverty without a sigh. And you, father,-if they offere

laimed her father; "do we sel

mourn when we ought to be grateful for his compassionate care? Take heart once more, dear father; no matter what may be

ho seemed altogether unnerved and disconcerted by the painful dénouement. At length, after some moments o

art not of earth-thou art an angel! The unself

fty brow was lifted once more under the sentiment of dignity and self-devotion that struggled for l

ith grief! United in each other's love,

ess, wrapped in a tender embrace; then, seating themselves with their hands interlocked,

you must pardon me. It was the fear of afflicting you-the hope of finding some means of rescue, of escape-that sealed my lips. I did not know you, my daughter; I did not know the inestimable treasure that God in his mercy had lavished on me! Bu

ant smile that illuminated the face of her heart-brok

part I have to perform must be based on complete knowledge of every thing

bout to disclose is indeed lamentable; yet do not tremble and give way at the recital, for, if any thing should move you, it must be the s

out averting his eager gaze fr

ntered in your care and comfort. We dwelt on the lands of our forefathers; nothing disturbed the even tenor of our si

astes and habits, and, I fear, induced him to increase his revenue by adventurous means. There can be no doubt that he speculated largely in the public funds. But probably you do not understand what this means, my child. I

ousand beautiful presents, and lavished his affection with testimonials of kindness which were proportioned to his fortune. I spoke to him often about the dangerous character of his adventures, and endeavored to convinc

ins, and saw his fortune diminishing with every venture. Still, courage did not fail him; but, on the contrary, he seemed to fi

in torrents against the windows, and the wind howled in the chimneys and swayed the trees as if it was about to blow down the house. The violence of the tempest began to make me somewhat anxious, when suddenly the door-bell was p

stance, imploring me, by every passionate appeal she could think of, to save her husband's life, and

us with more anxiety for her husband than his losses; for, overcome by the certainty of a dishonored name, haunted by the reflection that law and justice would soon overtake him, my poor brother had made an attempt upon his life! The hand of God had providentially guided his wife to

s at my feet, bathed in tears, sobbing, screaming, beseeching me to accompany her to town. Could I-did I-hesitate? Your tender mother, who saw at once the frightful condition of the family, and sympathized as w

f it, for it was indeed frightful, and you can never know the impression it made on me: these whit

ts. Nothing could be spared; our ancestral manor-lands, your mother's marriage-portion, your moderate dowry,-all were ventured with the certainty that the greater part would unquestionably be lost! On these hard conditions my brother's honor might be saved; and, if that could be rescued, he was willing to renounce the determination to esca

med Lenora, "you

s he met the questioning glance of

child, much more. The sacrifice demanded of me by his

h, God!" so

as present in the bankrupt's chamber; but generosity conquered in the awful trial, and at daylight I sought out the pr

lieved from a horrible nightmare. "Bless you, ble

a glowing kiss with as much solemnity as if she had been anxious to endu

said he, with eyes foil of gratitude, "fo

, what would I not have suffered in doubting the goodness of my parent's heart! Now, now, I love you

bles. Yes; society regards poverty as a crime, and it treats us like outcasts. Our equals avoid us in order not to be confounded in our misery; while peasants and tradesmen laugh at our misfortune

rked hard and gained hardly enough to support a miserable existence. His wife died during the voyage. And, as to ourselves, we no longer possess any thing; for Grinselhof

r ancestral name from contempt, we were forced to part with the last ounce of our silver to pay the interest on our debts. Gradually our horses and servants disappeared; the paths that led to our neighbors soon became grass-grown; and we declined all social invitations, so as to avoid the necessity of returning the compliment. A rumor about us began to spread through the village and

which almost unnerves me. My story has reached the most pa

suffused her cheeks. As I saw her fading,-fading,-the wife whom I had loved more than life,-as I gazed on those death

trove to repress. Her father stopped a moment, almost overcome by the recital; but,

arms and sent out of the house. It was midnight, and I was alone with her whose icy lips had already imprinted on mine their last sad kiss. My heart bled. Oh, God! how wretched-how wretched-were those parting hours! My beloved wife lay there before me as if already a corpse, while the tears yet trickled down her hollow cheeks and she strove to utter your name with her expiring breath. Kneeling beside her, I

r life should be happy! A heavenly smile illuminated her eyes, and she believed my promise. With an effort, she lifted her thin hands once mo

ok his hand without uttering a word; and, for a long time, nothing was heard in that

it concerns only myself. Perhaps it would be better if I said nothing about it; but I need a friend who poss

What should I do to fulfil it? Quit my hereditary estate? wander away seeking my fortune in foreign lands, and work for our mutual support? That would not do, for it would have devoted you at once to the chan

ompensate in society for the portion that was denied you. Thus was it, my child, that I thought in time, you would make a suitable alliance which would restore you to the position you hold by birth. For ten years, Lenora, this has been my occupation and my hope. What I had forgotten or never learned, I studied at night to teach you next morning; I labored hard that I might not only instruct you wisely but that you might acquire easily; and, at the same time, I strove by every honest means to conceal from you every thing that

s moistened by compassion. De Vlierb

ich cured them. One little smile of thy gentle face was sufficient to make me pour forth an ejaculat

d all my hopes, had not been sufficient to overwhelm me, I learned, almost at the same time, that the friend who loaned me four thousand francs, with the right to renew my obligation to him every year, had died in Germany, and that his heirs demanded the payment of the debt! I ran all over town, rapped at every friendly door, ransacked heaven and earth in my despair, to escape this last ignominy; but all my efforts were fruitless. To-morrow, perhaps, a placard

? Have you no other grief? Does your heart c

ld. You know

low like this as a frightful misfortune; but how can it affect us? You even appear cal

, whom God has given me as a shield against every ill! Well, I will encounter ruin without bowing my head, and submit with resignation to the hand of God! Alas!" continued he, sadly, "who can tell what sufferings are yet in stor

a curtain over her father's face. She grasped his hand tenderly,

me able to instruct others in the arts and sciences you have taught me. I shall be strong and active enough for both of us, and God will bless my labor. Behold us, father, peacefully at home, with tranquil hearts and always together in our neat apartment: we will love one another, set misfortune at

on, that tears of joy filled his eyes. With one hand he drew Lenora to his bosom, and, placing the other on her forehead, he looked to heaven with religious fervor. A silent pray