Barriers Burned Away Read online

  CHAPTER XVII

  RESCUED

  In a tone of suppressed excitement, which he tried in vain to rendersteady, Mr. Bruder said: "You haf der advantage of me, sir. I know notyour name. Vat is more, I am not fit for bissiness dis night. Indeed,I haf important bissiness elsewhere. You must excuse me," he added,sternly, advancing toward the door with the picture.

  "Pardon me, Mr. Bruder," said Dennis, politely. "I throw myself entirelyon your courtesy, and must ask as a very great favor that you will nottake away that picture till I see it, for that, in part, is what Icame for. I am in the picture trade myself, and think I am a tolerablyfair judge of paintings. I heard accidentally you had a fine one, andfrom the glimpse I catch of it, I think I have not been misinformed.If it is for sale, perhaps I can do as well by you as any one else.I am employed in Mr. Ludolph's great store, the 'Art Building.' Youprobably know all about the place."

  "Yes, I know him," said the man, calming down somewhat.

  "And now, sir," said Dennis, with a gentle, winning courtesy impossibleto resist, "will you do me the favor of showing me your picture?"

  He treated poor Bruder as a gentleman, and he, having really been one,was naturally inclined to return like courtesy. Therefore he said,"Oh, certainly, since you vish to see him. I suppose I might as vellsell him to you as any von else."

  Mr. Bruder was a man of violent impulses, and his mad excitement wasfast leaving him under Dennis's cool, business-like manner. To gaintime was now the great desideratum.

  The picture having been replaced upon the wall, Mr. Bruder held thelamp so as to throw upon it as good a light as possible.

  Dennis folded his arms calmly and commenced its study. He had meantto act a part---to pretend deep interest and desire for long criticalstudy---that he might secure more time, but in a few moments he becamehonestly absorbed in the beautiful and exquisitely finished landscape.

  The poor man watched him keenly. Old associations and feelings,seemingly long dead, awoke. As he saw Dennis manifest every mark oftrue and growing appreciation, he perceived that his picture was beingstudied by a discriminating person. Then his artist-nature began toquicken into life again. His eyes glowed, and glanced rapidly fromDennis to the painting, back and forth, following up the judgment oneach and every part which he saw written in the young man's face. Ashe watched, something like hope and exultation began to light up hissullen, heavy features; thought and feeling began to spiritualize andennoble what but a little before had been so coarse and repulsive.

  Ernst was looking at Dennis in rapt awe, as at a messenger from heaven.

  The poor wife, who had listened in a dull apathy to the conversation,raised her head in sudden and intelligent interest when the picturewas replaced upon the wall. It seemed that her every hope was boundup in that. As she saw Dennis and her husband standing before it---asshe saw the face of the latter begin to assume something of its formerlook---her whole soul came into her great blue eyes, and she watchedas if more than life were at stake.

  If that meagre apartment, with its inmates, their contrasts ofcharacter, their expressive faces, could have then been portrayed, itwould have made a picture with power to move the coldest heart.

  At last Dennis drew a long breath, turned and gave his hand to theman, saying with hearty emphasis, "Mr. Bruder, you are an artist."

  The poor man lifted his face to heaven with the same expression of joyand gratitude that had rested on it long, long years ago, when hisfirst real work of merit had received similar praise.

  His wife saw and remembered it, and, with an ecstatic cry that thrilledDennis's soul, exclaimed, "Ah! mine Gott be praised! mine Gott bepraised! his artist-soul come back!" and she threw herself on herhusband's neck, and clung to him with hysteric energy. The man meltedcompletely, and bowed his head upon his wife's shoulder, while hiswhole frame shook with sobs.

  "I will be back in half an hour," said Dennis, hastily, brushing tearsfrom his own eyes. "Come with me, Ernst."

  At the foot of the stairs Dennis said: "Take this money, Ernst, andbuy bread, butter, tea, milk, and coal, also a nice large steak, forI am going to take supper with you to-night. I will stay here andwatch, for your father must not be permitted to go out."

  "Oh, Gott bless you! Gott bless you!" said the boy, and he hurriedaway to do his errand.

  Dennis walked up and down before the door on guard. Ernst soon returned,and carried the welcome food upstairs. After a little time he stoledown again and said: "Father's quiet and queer like. Mother has giventhe children a good supper and put them to bed. Better come now."

  "In a few moments more; you go back and sit down quietly and saynothing."

  After a little Dennis went up and knocked at the door. Mrs. Bruderopened it, and held out her hand. Her quivering lips refused to speak,but her eyes filled with grateful tears. The children were tucked awayin bed. Ernst crouched by the fire, eating some bread and butter, forhe was cold and half-famished. Mr. Bruder sat in the dusky corner withhis head in his hands, the picture of dejection. But, as Dennis entered,he rose and came forward. He tried to speak, but for a moment couldnot. At last he said, hoarsely: "Mr. Vleet, you haf done me and minea great kindness. No matter vat the result is, I dank you as I neverdanked any living being. I believe Gott sent you, but I fear too late.You see before you a miserable wreck. For months and years I haf beena brute, a devil. Dot picture dere show you vat I vas, vat I might hafbeen. You see vat I am," he added, with an expression of intenseloathing. "I see him all to-night as if written in letters of fire,and if dere is a vorse hell dan der von I feel vithin my soul, Gottonly knows how I am to endure him."

  "Mr. Bruder, you say I have done you a favor."

  "Gott knows you haf."

  "I want you to do me one in return. I want you to let me be yourfriend," said Dennis, holding out his hand.

  The man trembled, hesitated; at last he said, brokenly, "I am notfit--to touch--your hand."

  "Mr. Bruder," said Dennis, gently, "I hope that I am a Christian."

  "Still more, den, I am unfit efer to be in your presence."

  "What! am I greater than my Master? Did not Christ take the hand ofevery poor, struggling man on earth that would let Him? Come, Mr.Bruder, if you have any real gratitude for the little I have done toshow my interest in you and yours, grant me my request."

  "Do you really mean him?" he gasped. "Do you really vant to be drunkenold Berthold Bruder's friend?"

  "God is my witness, I do," said Dennis, still holding out his hand.

  The poor fellow drew a few short, heavy breaths, and then graspedDennis's hand, and clung to it with the force of a drowning man."Oh!" said he, after a few moments of deep emotion, "I feel dot I hafa plank under me now."

  "God grant that yon may soon feel that you are on the Rock ChristJesus," said Dennis, solemnly.

  Fearing the reaction of too great and prolonged emotion, Dennis nowdid everything in his power to calm and quiet his new-found friends.He told them that he boarded at a restaurant, and he asked if he mighttake supper with them.

  "Him is yours already," said Mr. Bruder.

  "No, it isn't," said Dennis--"not after I have given it to you. ButI want to talk to you about several matters, for I think you can beof great service to me;" and he told them of his experience during theday; that he had been promoted, and that he wanted Ernst to come andaid him in his duties. Then he touched on the matter nearest hisheart--his own wish to be an artist, his need of instruction--and toldhow by his increase of pay he had now the means of taking lessons,while still able to support his mother and sisters.

  "And now, Mr. Bruder, I feel that I have been very fortunate in makingyour acquaintance. You have the touch and tone that I should beoverjoyed to acquire. Will you give me lessons?"

  "Yes, morning, noon, and night, vithout von shent of pay."

  "That will not do. I'll not take one on those terms."

  "I vill do vatever you want me to," said the man, simply, "I vish Icould be led and vatched over as a little child.
"

  Dennis saw his pathetic self-distrust, and it touched him deeply.

  "As your friend," he said, with emphasis, "I will not advise you todo anything that I would not do myself."

  So they arranged that Ernst should go to the store in the morning, andthat Dennis should come three nights in the week for lessons.

  All made a hearty supper save Mr. Bruder. He had reached that desperatestage when his diseased stomach craved drink only. But a strong cupof tea, and some bread that he washed down with it, heartened him alittle, and it was evident that he felt better. The light of a fainthope was dawning in his face.

  Dennis knew something of the physical as well as moral Struggle beforethe poor man, and knew that after all it was exceedingly problematicalwhether he could be saved. Before he went away he told Mrs. Bruder tomake her husband some very strong coffee in the morning, and to lethim drink it through the day. As for Bruder, he had resolved to dierather than touch another drop of liquor.

  But how many poor victims of appetite have been haunted to the graveby such resolves--shattered and gone almost as soon as made!

  After a long, earnest talk, in which much of the past was revealed onboth sides, Dennis drew a small Testament from is pocket and said:"Mr. Bruder, I wish to direct your thoughts to a better Friend thanI am or can be. Will you let me read you something about Him?"

  "Yes, and dank you. But choose someding strong--suited to me."

  Dennis read something strong--the story of the Demoniac of Gadara, andleft him "sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind."

  "Mr. Bruder, permit me as your _friend_ to say that I think that is theonly safe place for you. Your better self, your true manhood, has beenoverpowered by the demon of intemperance. I do not undervalue human willand purpose, but I think you need a divine, all-powerful Deliverer."

  "I know you are right," said Mr. Bruder. "I haf resolved ofer andofer again, only to do vorse, and sink deeper at der next temptation,till at last I gave up trying. Unless I am sustained by some strengthgreater dan mine, I haf no hope. I feel dot your human sympathy andkindness vill be a great help to me, and somehow I dake him as anearnest dot Gott vil be kind to me too."

  "Oh, Mr. Fleet!" he continued, as Dennis rose to go, "how much I oweto you! I vas in hell on earth ven you came. I vould haf been in hellbeneath before morning. I proposed, from the proceeds of dot picture,to indulge in von more delirium, and den seek to quench all in dervaters of der lake."

  Dennis shuddered, but said: "And I believe that God purposes that youshould have a good life here, and a happy life in heaven. Co-work withHim."

  "If He vill help me, I'll try," said the man, humbly. "Good-night, andGott bless you;" and he almost crushed Dennis's hand.

  As the young man turned to Mrs. Bruder, he was much struck by herappearance: she was very pale, and a wonderful light shone from hereyes. She took his hand in both of hers, and looked at him for a momentwith an expression he could never forget, and then slowly pointedheavenward without a word.

  Dennis hastened away, much overcome by his own feelings. But the silent,deserted streets seemed luminous, such was the joy of his heart.