a tall man, with a sallow complexion, and heavily-bearded face, stood on the deck of a cunard steamer,only a few miles distant from new york harbor.
``it's three years since i have seen america,'' hesaid to himself, thoughtfully. ``i suppose i ought tofeel a patriotic fervor about setting foot once moreon my native shore, but i don't believe in nonsense.
i would be content to live in europe all my life, ifmy uncle's fortune were once in my possession. iam his sole heir, but he persists in holding on tohis money bags, and limits me to a paltry three thousanda year. i must see if i can't induce him to giveme a good, round sum on account--fifty thousand,at least--and then i can wait a little more patientlytill he drops off.''
``when shall we reach port, captain?'' he asked,as he passed that officer.
``in four hours, i think, mr. wade.''
``so this is my birthday,'' he said to himself.
``thirty five years old to-day. half my life gone,and i am still a dependent on my uncle's bounty.
suppose he should throw me off--leave me out inthe cold--where should i be? if he should find theboy--but no, there is no chance of that. i havetaken good care of that. by the way, i must lookhim up soon--cautiously, of course--and see whathas become of him. he will grow up a laborer ormechanic and die without a knowledge of his birth,while i fill his place and enjoy his inheritance.''
at six o'clock the vessel reached the quarantine.
most of the passengers decided to remain on boardone night more, but john wade was impatient, and,leaving his trunks, obtained a small boat, and soontouched the shore.
it was nearly eight when john wade landed inthe city. it was half-past eight when he stood onthe steps of his uncle's residence and rang the bell.
``is my uncle is mr. wharton--at home?'' heasked of the servant who answered the bell.
``yes, sir.''
``i am his nephew, just arrived from europe. lethim know that i am here, and would like to seehim.''
the servant, who had never before seen him,having only been six months in the house, regarded himwith a great deal of curiosity, and then went to dohis biddng.
``my nephew arrived!'' exclaimed mr. wharton, insurprise. ``why, he never let me know he was coming.''
``will you see him, sir?''
``to be sure! bring him in at once.''
``my dear uncle!'' exclaimed john wade, witheffusion, for he was a polite man, and could act when itsuited his interests to do so, ``i am glad to see you.
how is your health?''
``i am getting older every day, john.''
``you don't look a day older, sir,'' said john, whodid not believe what he said, for he could plainlysee that his uncle had grown older since he last sawhim.
``you think so, john, but i feel it. your comingis a surprise. you did not write that you intendedsailing.''
``i formed the determination very suddenly, sir.''
``were you tired of europe?''
``no; but i wanted to see you, sir.''
``thank you, john,'' said his uncle, pressing hisnephew's hand. ``i am glad you think so much ofme. did you have a pleasant voyage?''
``rather rough, sir.''
``you have had no supper, of course? if you willring the bell, the housekeeper will see that some isgot ready for you.''
``is mrs. bradley still in your employ, uncle?''
``yes, john. i am so used to her that i shouldn'tknow how to get along without her.''
hitherto john wade had been so occupied with hisuncle that he had not observed frank. but at thismoment our hero coughed, involuntarily, and johnwade looked at him. he seemed to be singularlyaffected. he started perceptibly, and his sallow faceblanched, as his eager eyes were fixed on the boy'sface.
``good heavens!'' he muttered to himself. ``who isthat boy? how comes he here?''
frank noticed his intent gaze, and wondered at it,but mr. wharton's eyesight was defective, and hedid not perceive his nephew's excitement.
``i see you have a young visitor, uncle,'' said johnwade.
``oh, yes,'' said mr. wharton, with a kindly smile.
``he spends all his evenings with me.''
``what do you mean, sir?'' demanded john wade,with sudden suspicion and fear. ``he seems veryyoung company for----''
``for a man of my years,'' said mr. wharton,finishing the sentence. ``you are right, john. but, yousee, my eyes are weak, and i cannot use them forreading in the evening, so it occurred to me to engagea reader.''
``very true,'' said his nephew. he wished toinquire the name of the boy whose appearance had sopowerfully impressed him but he determined not todo so at present. what information he sought hepreferred to obtain from the housekeeper.
``he seemed surprised, as if he had seen me somewhere before, and recognized me,'' thought frank,``but i don't remember him. if i had seen his facebefore, i think i should remember it.''
``don't come out, uncle.'' said john wade, whensummoned to tea by the housekeeper. ``mrs. bradleyand i are going to have a chat by ourselves, andi will soon return.''
``you are looking thin, mr. john,'' said mrs bradley.
``am i thinner than usual? i never was verycorpulent, you know. how is my uncle's health? hesays he is well.''
``he is pretty well, but he isn't as young as hewas.''
``i think he looks older,'' said john. ``but that isnot surprising--at his age. he is seventy, isn't he?''
``not quite. he is sixty-nine.''
``his father died at seventy-one.''
``yes.''
``but that is no reason why my uncle should notlive till eighty. i hope he will.''
``we all hope so,'' said the housekeeper; but sheknew, while she spoke, that if, as she supposed, mr.
wharton's will contained a generous legacy for her,his death would not afflict her much. she suspectedalso that john wade was waiting impatiently forhis uncle's death, that he might enter upon hisinheritance. still, their little social fictions must bekept up, and so both expressed a desire for his continuedlife, though neither was deceived as to theother's real feeling on the subject.
``by the way, mrs. bradley,'' said john wade,``how came my uncle to engage that boy to read tohim?''
``he was led into it, sir,'' said the housekeeper,with a great deal of indignation, ``by the boy himself.
he's an artful and designing fellow, you mayrely upon it.''
``what's his name?''
``frank fowler.''
``fowler! is his name fowler?'' he repeated, witha startled expression.
``yes, sir,'' answered the housekeeper, rathersurprised at his manner. ``you don't know anythingabout him, do you?''
``oh, no,'' said john wade, recovering his composure.
``he is a perfect stranger to me; but i onceknew a man of that name, and a precious rascal hewas. when you mentioned his name, i thought hemight be a son of this man. does he say his fatheris alive?''
``no; he is dead, and his mother, too, so the boysays.''
``you haven't told me how my uncle fell in withhim?''
``it was an accident. your uncle fell in gettingout of a broadway stage, and this boy happened tobe near, and seeing mr. wharton was a rich gentleman,he helped him home, and was invited in. thenhe told some story about his poverty, and so workedupon your uncle's feelings that he hired him to readto him at five dollars a week.''
``is this all the boy does?''
``no; he is cash-boy in a large store on broadway.
he is employed there all day, and he is here only inthe evenings.''
``does my uncle seem attached to him?'' askedjohn.
``he's getting fond of him, i should say. the otherday he asked me if i didn't think it would be a goodthing to take him into the house and give him aroom. i suppose the boy put it into his head.''
``no doubt. what did you say?''
``i opposed it. i told him that a boy would be agreat deal of trouble in the family.''
``you did right, mrs. bradley. what did my unclesay?''
``he hinted about taking him from the store andletting him go to school. the next thing would behis adopting him. the fact is, mr. john, the boy isso artful that he knows just how to manage youruncle. no doubt he put the idea into mr. wharton'shead, and he may do it yet.''
``does my uncle give any reason for the fancy hehas taken to the boy?'' demanded john``yes,'' said the housekeeper. ``he has taken itinto his head that the boy resembles your cousin,george, who died abroad. you were with him, ibelieve?''
``yes, i was with him. is the resemblance strong?
i took very little notice of him.''
``you can look for yourself when you go back,''
answered the housekeeper.
``what else did my uncle say? tell me all.''
``he said: `what would i give, mrs. bradley, ifi had such a grandson? if george's boy had lived,he would have been about frank's age. and,'' continuedthe housekeeper, ``i might as well speakplainly. you're my master's heir, or ought to be;but if this artful boy stays here long, there's noknowing what your uncle may be influenced to do.
if he gets into his dotage, he may come to adopt him,and leave the property away from you.''
``i believe you are quite right. the danger exists,and we must guard against it. i see you don't likethe boy,'' said john wade.
``no, i don't. he's separated your uncle and me.
before he came, i used to spend my evenings in thelibrary, and read to your uncle. besides, when ifound your uncle wanted a reader, i asked him totake my nephew, who is a salesman in the very samestore where that boy is a cash-boy, but although i'vebeen twenty years in this house i could not get him togrant the favor, which he granted to that boy, whomhe never met till a few weeks ago.''
``mrs. bradley, i sympathize with you,'' said hercompanion. ``the boy is evidently working againstus both. you have been twenty years in my uncle'sservice. he ought to remember you handsomely inhis will. if i inherit the property, as is my right,your services shall be remembered,'' said john wade.
``thank you, mr. john,'' said the gratified housekeeper.
``that secures her help,'' thought john, in his turn.
``she will now work hard for me. when the timecomes, i can do as much or as little for her as iplease.''
``of course, we must work together against thisinterloper, who appears to have gained a dangerousinfluence over my uncle.''
``you can depend upon me, mr. john,'' said mrs.
bradley.
``i will think it over, and tell you my plan,'' saidjohn wade. ``but my uncle will wonder at my appetite.
i must go back to the library. we will speakof this subject again.''
