He was quite ready to agree to Frank's surrender of the college plan fortwo reasons.
A college course would be expensive. Again, should he turn his attentionto the law, he might hereafter give him trouble about the estate.
"I don't think I should throw away my time, for, if I went to college, Ishould go there to work faithfully; but I have a fancy for a morestirring life."
"It might be a good plan for you to learn a trade," said Mr. Manning,reflectively.
"Learn a trade!" exclaimed Frank, in surprise.
"Yes; it would always enable you to earn a living."
"Do you intend Mark to learn a trade?" asked Frank, quickly.
"No; his case is very different from yours."
"Why it is different?"
"It is not necessary for me to explain," answered his stepfather,stiffly.
"If there were any need of it, Mr. Manning, I would not object to learna trade," said Frank. "I have no false pride on the subject. But mytastes are more for mercantile business."
"I may be able to find you a place somewhere. I have a friend in thedry-goods business, who would receive you at my recommendation."
"Thank you!" said Frank, hastily. "But if you will allow me, I wouldprefer to look around for myself."
"What is it you want, then?"
"Your permission to go out into the world, and try to make a living."
"And if you don't," said Mr. Manning, "I suppose you expect me todefray your expenses?"
"If I did have such an expectation, I think I should be justified, inview of the large property which my mother left," said Frank, pointedly.
"She left it to me," said his stepfather.
"So it appears, at any rate. But I shall not call upon you to pay myboard. Give me your permission to go where I please, with a small sum ofmoney to start me, and I shall be satisfied."
"And what will the world say? That I, your stepfather, to whom you havea right to look for maintenance, had driven you out to earn your living!It would be unjust, of course, but the world is ever unjust."
And Mr. Manning assumed a look of wronged innocence, which would haveimposed on anyone who knew him but slightly.
"I shall defend you from any such charge," said Frank. "I shall say thatyou were only yielding to my request."
"I will think of it, my dear boy," said Mr. Manning, graciously. "Ialready feel inclined to grant it, because it is your request. I shallbe sorry to be separated from you; but I am willing to sacrifice my ownfeelings, if it will give you pleasure."
This did not impose upon Frank, who had a correct idea of the degree offondness which Mr. Manning had for his society, but he was too wellsatisfied with the prospect of obtaining the permission he desired toimply any doubts.
"Again," continued his stepfather, "whatever you may say to thecontrary, I know that the world will censure me; but I shall have theapproval of my own conscience, and with that I can defy the world."
Mr. Manning certainly did look like a righteous man when he said this,and he beamed upon his stepson with a glance that was actuallyaffectionate.
"Go back to school," ho said, "and when you return I shall be able togive you a definite answer."
Indeed, nothing could have suited Mr. Manning's plans better. He wouldget rid of the care and nearly the whole expense of his obnoxiousstepson, while with his son Mark he would be spending the revenues ofthe estate which belonged to Frank.
During the coming week he arranged his plans for a prolonged absencefrom the Cedars. He wrote to New York to engage passage on a steamerbound for Liverpool, and quietly waited for the end of Frank's schoolterm to release him from a care which had grown burdensome.
Frank returned to the Bridgeville Academy without Mark. As may besupported, however, he did not feel the loss of his society.
He at once communicated to his chosen friend, Herbert Grant, hisprobable departure from school.
"I am sorry to hear it, Frank," said Herbert, soberly. "Do you think youare acting wisely?"
"I am not acting as I would have done had my mother lived," answeredFrank; "but you must remember that my position in life has very muchchanged. I am a poor boy."
"Hardly that, when there is so much property in the family."
"I know Mr. Manning too well to believe that I shall derive muchbenefit from it. No, Herbert, I have my own living to make, and I wantto make it in my own way."
"It is a sad change for you, Frank."
"No, I can't say that. I don't know how it is, Herbert, but I am ratherglad to have all this thrown upon me. I enjoy feeling that I have got towork."
"I have a chance of enjoying the same feelings," said Herbert, with asmile.
"I wish we could start together, Herbert. Couldn't you go with me?"
Herbert shook his head.
"Father has a plan for me," he said. "I am to learn his trade, and shallcommence next week. I don't particularly like it, but it is well to havea trade to fall back upon."
"Mr. Manning wanted me to learn a trade."
"There is no occasion for your doing so."
"I don't know about that. If I had a particular fancy for any, Iwouldn't mind choosing it, but I am better suited for something else."
"What is your plan? What will you do first?"
"My father has a cousin in the city of Newark, New Jersey, only a fewmiles from New York. Four years ago, he and his family made us a visit,and he was urgent then that we should return the visit. I will, first ofall, go to him, and ask his advice. He is a business man, and he may beable to put me in the way of obtaining a position."
"I think you will succeed, Frank, but it will be harder than you thinkfor. You don't know what poverty is yet. I have never known anythingelse."
"If I do succeed, Herbert, I may be able to find something for you."
"I wish you might," Herbert replied; but he was not as sanguine asFrank.
He understood, better than his friend, that for a boy to set out aloneinto the great world to earn a living is a serious undertaking.
CHAPTER XIV
GOOD-BYE
Frank had fixed upon the Tuesday morning succeeding the close of theacademic term for his departure from home. Monday was devoted to a fewnecessary preparations and a few calls on old friends, among them Col.Vincent, the owner of Ajax.
"My dear Frank," said the colonel, kindly, "I feel a strong interest inyour welfare, more especially because of the wrong which I do notscruple to say has been done you. What does Mr. Manning say to yourplan?"
"He makes no objection," said Frank.
"Suppose he had done so?"
"I would not have run away. He is my stepfather and guardian, and Iwould have endured staying at home as well as I could."
"There you are right, Frank. Though I have a poor opinion of Mr.Manning, he is not likely to treat you in a manner to justify your goingaway without his permission. From what I have heard within the lastweek, I suspect that he feels relieved to have you go."
"What have you heard, sir?"
"That Mr. Manning will shortly sail for Europe, taking Mark with him."
Frank was surprised, having no suspicion of this.
"Now are you not sorry that you have decided to go out into the world toearn a living when you might have seen something of the Old World?"
"Mr. Manning would never have taken me along," answered Frank, quietly,"nor should I have enjoyed traveling with him and Mark."
"Of the two, who would interfere the more with your enjoyment?"
"Mark."
"Then you prefer the father to the son?" said the colonel.
"The father has much more agreeable manners. I don't think Mark could beagreeable if he tried."
Col. Vincent smiled.
"Perhaps you are right, Frank," he said. "Now, as your father's oldfriend, I shall exact a promise from you."
"What is it, sir?"
"You are going out into the world to earn your own living. Boys of yourage are apt to think it an easy thing. I
have seen more of life, and Iam sure you will find it more difficult than you suppose. You may findyourself in difficulty, possibly in want. In that case, promise to letme know, and I will come to your assistance."
"I will, sir," answered Frank.
The time came for Frank to say good-bye to Mr. Manning and Mark, and thehouse which had been his home from infancy.
His stepfather handed him a small pocketbook.
"Frank," he said, "in this pocketbook you will find twenty-fivedollars. It is not much, but--"
"I am satisfied, sir," said Frank. "It won't be long before I am earningsomething."
"I hope your anticipations may be realized, but it is possible that youmay require help."
"I think not, sir."
"I will authorize my banker to pay you the same sum--twenty-fivedollars--every three months. Of course, it is not enough to support you;but, as you say it is your intention to procure a place--"
"Yes, sir."
"It will probably be enough to make up any deficiency that may exist inyour income. I am aware that you do not regard me as--as I would like tohave you; but I am resigned to be misunderstood, and I merely call yourattention to the fact that I have given you my free permission to carryout your own plans and have given you more assistance than you askedfor."
"That's true, sir."
"Should anyone in your hearing condemn me for what I have done, I dependupon your defending me."
"I will state the facts, sir. I will take the entire responsibility foranything that may result from the step I have taken."
Mr. Manning looked well pleased. Things were taking the course hedesired, and for the paltry sum of one hundred dollars a year, he wasgetting rid of an obnoxious stepson, while appearing to confer a favorupon him.
"Perhaps you are right, Frank," said his stepfather, disguising thesatisfaction he felt. "If, however, you should find that you have made amistake, you will do me the justice to remember that I gave you yourchoice."
Knowing, as he did, that the offer was not genuine, Frank remainedsilent. He could not make up his mind to express gratitude, andtherefore said nothing.
Here the carriage drove up to the door to convey Frank to the railwaystation. Mindful of appearance, Mr. Manning accompanied him to the cars,and in presence of several neighbors bade him an effusively affectionatefarewell.
So Frank was fairly started on his campaign.
CHAPTER XV
ERASTUS TARBOX, OF NEWARK
Erastus Tarbox kept a dry-goods store in the city of Newark, New Jersey.He was well to do, not so much because of his enterprise and skill as amerchant as because of his extreme poverty. Some people called itparsimony. He only employed two clerks to assist him in his store, andthey, as well as the boy who carried out parcels and ran the errands,were paid scarcely more than two-thirds the rates paid in neighboringstores.
Mr. Tarbox prided himself upon his relationship to the Courtneys. Theywere rich, and riches, in his eyes were a great merit. He often sighedto think that there was no chance for him to benefit by a share of thelarge property owned by his cousins. Without hope of personal advantage,however, he had always been obsequious to them, and often took occasionto mention them, by way of enhancing his own social credit somewhat.
Mr. Tarbox had heard of Mrs. Courtney's death, but had not heard theparticulars of the will. He took it for granted that Frank was soleheir, and it did cross his mind more than once how very agreeable itwould be if he could be selected as guardian of the rich young heir. Ofcourse, he knew that there was no probability of it, since thestepfather would undoubtedly be appointed to that position.
Mr. Tarbox had just sold a calico dress pattern to a poor woman, whenhis attention was drawn to the entrance of Frank Courtney, who enteredhis store, valise in hand.
Mr. Tarbox was rather short-sighted, and did not immediately recognizethe son of his rich cousin.
"What can I do for you, young man?" he asked, in his business tone.
"This is Mr. Tarbox, I believe?" said Frank, who did not know hisrelatives very well.
"Yes, that is my name."
"I am Frank Courtney."
"Bless my soul!" ejaculated Mr. Tarbox, surprised and delighted. "Whendid you arrive in Newark?"
"I have only just arrived."
"I do hope you are going to make us a visit," said Mr. Tarbox,cordially.
"Thank you!" answered Frank, cheered by this warm reception. "If you aresure it won't inconvenience you."
"Inconvenience me! We shall be delighted to have you with us."
"You must come up and see Mrs. Tarbox. She will be delighted to seeyou."
Mr. Tarbox lived over his store. There was a door from the streetadjoining the shop front. Mr. Tarbox opened it with a pass-key, andconducted Frank upstairs, ushering him into a gloomy parlor, with stiff,straightbacked chairs, ranged at regular intervals along the sides ofthe room, and a marble-topped center table, with two or three bookslying upon it. There was a framed engraving, representing Washingtoncrossing the Delaware, over the mantel, and two plaster figures andsimilar ornaments on the mantelpiece. The whole aspect of the roomchilled Frank.
"Wait here, and I will call my wife," said Mr. Tarbox.
Frank sat down on a hard sofa and awaited the entrance of Mrs. Tarbox.
She came in, a tall, thin woman, about as handsome for a woman as herhusband was for a man. Indeed, they were very well matched. She wasquite as mean as he, and between them they managed to make annually asensible addition to their world possessions.
Mr. Tarbox privately hinted his hopes respecting Frank to his wife, andshe instantly agreed that it would be a most eligible arrangement.
"We must make him contented, my dear," said her husband. "Give him thebest bedroom, and I think it might be well to have something a littleextra for supper."
"I did intend to put on the rest of that cold mutton," said Mrs. Tarbox,doubtfully.
"It won't do, Martha. There is only a little of it, you know, and theboy has been traveling, and, of course, is hungry. What do you say, now,to some nice beefsteak?"
"Beefsteak is high now," said Mrs. Tarbox. "Still, if we buy roundsteak--that is cheaper than sirloin or tenderloin."
"And quite as good," said her economical partner. "We can tell Frank,however, that no sirloin was to be had so late in the day at themarkets."
Mrs. Tarbox nodded her head, approving the suggestion.
This little matter being adjusted, the husband and wife entered theparlor where our hero was waiting patiently.
"This is our young cousin, Martha," said Mr. Tarbox, smiling pleasantly.
"Welcome to Newark," said Mrs. Tarbox, extending her hand. "And how didyou leave your stepfather?"
"He is well," said Prank, coolly.
The two exchanged glances. It was clear that Frank did not like hisstepfather, and this was satisfactory to them. There was the more chanceof his leaving him and boarding with them.
"The children will be so glad to see you," said Mr. Tarbox; "won't they,Martha?"
"Delighted!" assured the lady.
"Pliny must be about your age. How old are you, by the way?"
"Sixteen."
"Just Pliny's age. Do you remember him?"
Frank remembered a tall, thin stripling who had accompanied his parentsto the Cedars, and who appeared to have an inexhaustible appetite.
"Yes, I remember him. Does he go to school?"
"No; Pliny is in a store," answered Mr. Tarbox.
"Your store?"
"Oh, no! I thought it would be better for him to enter the employ of astranger. He is in a bookstore."
There was one great advantage in Pliny's entering the employ of astranger. He was paid four dollars a week, whereas Mr. Tarbox paid hisboy but two. Here, then, was a clear gain of two dollars a week.
"But you must be tired," said Mrs. Tarbox. "You will see the children atsupper. Martha, I think Frank would like to go to his room."
The best bedroom was over the parlor. It w
as rather more cheerful,because lighter.
"Here," said Mr. Tarbox, "you must make yourself at home. Martha, isn'tone of the drawers in that bureau empty? I thought so. Take your clothesout of the valise and put them away. Now, is there anything you wouldlike?"
"Only a little water to wash in," said Frank. "You are both very kind."
"We hope to make you comfortable. You are our relative, you know."
The water was brought up by Mrs. Tarbox herself, and Frank was leftalone, on the whole well pleased with his reception.
CHAPTER XVI
AN UNPLEASANT DISCOVERY
It never occurred to Frank that his cordial reception was wholly due tohis supposed wealth. Had he known the Tarbox family better, he wouldhave had no uncertainty on this point. As it was, the discovery was soonmade.
"All my olive branches are for you, my dear young cousin," said Mr.Tarbox, waving his hand. "A peaceful, happy family. Children, this isour esteemed relative, Frank Courtney. You remember visiting hisdelightful home, the Cedars."
"Yes, pa," said Julia.
Pliny said nothing, but stared at Frank, inwardly considering whether itwould be possible to borrow some money of him.
"I am glad to meet you all. I hope we shall become better acquainted,"said Frank politely.
"No doubt you will," said Mr. Tarbox. "They are rather bashful, but theylong to know you."