The Poor Gentleman

inserted in the papers and placarded over the city and neighborhood. The affair made some noi

nuine motive if the news had not come from Antwerp that De Vlierbeck had resolved to pay his debts and was wretchedly poor. The caus

anations. Resigned to his fate, he quietly awaited the day of sale; and, although his feelings often strove to master his resolutio

ng. He said with pain that all his efforts to change his uncle's determination had, up to that time, been fruitless. De Vlierbeck did not conceal from Lenora that he no longer had a hope of her union with Gustave, and that she ought to strive against this unhappy love in order to escape from greater disappointment. Indeed,

gh beneath the catalpa, as if anxious to trust the winds with a message of love to other lands! In her lonely walks she repeated h

d head, he received from America the news of his brother's death! The unfortunate wanderer died of exhaustion in the wilderness near Hudson's Bay. The poor gentle

rts of people, who, moved by curiosity or a desire to purchase, overran every

t in this labor; for, his funded property having been sold some days before at great loss, it was certain that the sale of all his remaining possessions would not exceed the amount of his debts. It was a noble sentiment of honor and probity that compelled him to sacrifice his rest for his creditors, so as to dim

s of both sexes were mixed up with brokers and second-hand dealers who had come to Grinselhof with the hope of getting bargains. Peasants might be seen talking

d at with insolent curiosity or with pity, but by the greater part with indifference or derision. Yet, whatever malicious feeling existed in the assembly, it did not last long; for the firm demeanor and imposing countenance of De Vlierbeck was never o

nd dignified, his heart was weighed down by absorbing grief. All that had belonged to his ancestors-articles that were emblazoned with the arms of his family and had been religiously preserved as heirlooms for several centuries-were sold at contemptible rates and passed into the hands of brokers. As each historical relic was placed on the table or held up by the auctioneer, the links of his illustrious race seemed to break off and depart. When the sale was nearly over, the portraits of the eminent men who had borne the name of De Vlierbeck were taken down from the walls and placed upon the stand. The fi

nd bonnet, her neck covered by a small square handkerchief. De Vlierbeck was buttoned up to the chin in a coarse black greatcoat, and wore a threadbare cap whose large visor nearly masked his features. Although it was evident that the homeless travellers had literally stripped themselves of all superfluities and had determined to go forth with the merest necessaries of decency, there was something in the manner in which they wore their humble costumes that distinctly marked their birth and breeding. The old man's features were not changed; but it was difficult to say whether they expressed p

ed their steps toward the farm-house, which they entered to bid its occup

De Vlierbeck, calmly, "we h

rtment; while the servant-maid leaned her head against the window-frame and began to sob as if her

voice,-"is it true that you are going to leave Grinse

as he took and pressed her hand; "don't weep on tha

egan to cry so violently that she could not utter a word. Her husband strove manfully to repr

, sir, to let me say a word

room, where he was followed by the

o mention my request; but will yo

friend," returned De

mercy and your favor have made us prosperous; while you, our benefactors, have become unfortunate and are forced to wander away from their home,-God knows where! You may be forced to suffer privation

hand of the rustic with a tr

; but I cannot accept your offer, my friend: keep what you have earned by the sweat of your brow, a

pened a drawer and pointed to a small heap of silver.-"See!" said he; "that is not the hundredth part of the good you have done us. Grant

and wrinkled cheeks of the p

must refuse it. All persuasion i

astonishment, "where do you inten

k, "for I don't know myself; and, even i

cenes; and accordingly, in a firm voice, he told her it was time to be gone. There were a few more tender and eager pressures of hands, a few more farewells, a few last looks at

lierbeck's heart. From a distant point on the road where the domain of Grinselhof was masked by thickets, the wanderer turned his eyes once more in the direction of the old chateau. Big tears stood in his eyes and slowly rolled down his hollow cheeks as he stood t