CHAPTER XI
JOHN WADE
A tall man, with a sallow complexion, and heavily-bearded face, stoodon the deck of a Cunard steamer, only a few miles distant from New Yorkharbor.
"It's three years since I have seen America," he said to himself,thoughtfully. "I suppose I ought to feel a patriotic fervor aboutsetting foot once more on my native shore, but I don't believe innonsense. I would be content to live in Europe all my life, if myuncle's fortune were once in my possession. I am his sole heir, buthe persists in holding on to his money bags, and limits me to a paltrythree thousand a year. I must see if I can't induce him to give me agood, round sum on account--fifty thousand, at least--and then I canwait a little more patiently till he drops off."
"When shall we reach port, captain?" he asked, as he passed thatofficer.
"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 adependent on my uncle's bounty. Suppose he should throw me off--leave meout in the cold--where should I be? If he should find the boy--but no,there is no chance of that. I have taken good care of that. By the way,I must look him up soon--cautiously, of course--and see what hasbecome of him. He will grow up a laborer or mechanic and die withouta knowledge of his birth, while I fill his place and enjoy hisinheritance."
At six o'clock the vessel reached the Quarantine. Most of the passengersdecided to remain on board one night more, but John Wade was impatient,and, leaving his trunks, obtained a small boat, and soon touched theshore.
It was nearly eight when John Wade landed in the city. It was half-pasteight when he stood on the steps of his uncle's residence and rang thebell.
"Is my uncle is Mr. Wharton--at home?" he asked of the servant whoanswered the bell.
"Yes, sir."
"I am his nephew, just arrived from Europe. Let him know that I am here,and would like to see him."
The servant, who had never before seen him, having only been six monthsin the house, regarded him with a great deal of curiosity, and then wentto do his biding.
"My nephew arrived!" exclaimed Mr. Wharton, in surprise. "Why, he neverlet me know he was coming."
"Will you see him, sir?"
"To be sure! Bring him in at once."
"My dear uncle!" exclaimed John Wade, with effusion, for he was a politeman, and could act when it suited his interests to do so, "I am glad tosee you. How is your health?"
"I am getting older every day, John."
"You don't look a day older, sir," said John, who did not believe whathe said, for he could plainly see that his uncle had grown older sincehe last saw him.
"You think so, John, but I feel it. Your coming is a surprise. You didnot write that you intended sailing."
"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 his nephew's hand. "I amglad you think so much of me. Did you have a pleasant voyage?"
"Rather rough, sir."
"You have had no supper, of course? If you will ring the bell, thehousekeeper will see that some is got ready for you."
"Is Mrs. Bradley still in your employ, uncle?"
"Yes, John. I am so used to her that I shouldn't know how to get alongwithout her."
Hitherto John Wade had been so occupied with his uncle that he had notobserved Frank. But at this moment our hero coughed, involuntarily, andJohn Wade looked at him. He seemed to be singularly affected. He startedperceptibly, and his sallow face blanched, as his eager eyes were fixedon the boy's face.
"Good heavens!" he muttered to himself. "Who is that boy? How comes hehere?"
Frank noticed his intent gaze, and wondered at it, but Mr. Wharton'seyesight was defective, and he did not perceive his nephew's excitement.
"I see you have a young visitor, uncle," said John Wade.
"Oh, yes," said Mr. Wharton, with a kindly smile. "He spends all hisevenings with me."
"What do you mean, sir?" demanded John Wade, with sudden suspicion andfear. "He seems very young company for----"
"For a man of my years," said Mr. Wharton, finishing the sentence. "Youare right, John. But, you see, my eyes are weak, and I cannot use themfor reading in the evening, so it occurred to me to engage a reader."
"Very true," said his nephew. He wished to inquire the name of the boywhose appearance had so powerfully impressed him but he determined notto do so at present. What information he sought he preferred to obtainfrom the housekeeper.
"He seemed surprised, as if he had seen me some where before, andrecognized me," thought Frank, "but I don't remember him. If I had seenhis face before, I think I should remember it."
"Don't come out, uncle." said John Wade, when summoned to tea by thehousekeeper. "Mrs. Bradley and I are going to have a chat by ourselves,and I will soon return."
"You are looking thin, Mr. John," said Mrs Bradley.
"Am I thinner than usual? I never was very corpulent, you know. How ismy uncle's health? He says he is well."
"He is pretty well, but he isn't as young as he was."
"I think he looks older," said John. "But that is not surprising--at hisage. 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 not live till eighty. I hopehe will."
"We all hope so," said the housekeeper; but she knew, while she spoke,that if, as she supposed, Mr. Wharton's will contained a generous legacyfor her, his death would not afflict her much. She suspected also thatJohn Wade was waiting impatiently for his uncle's death, that he mightenter upon his inheritance. Still, their little social fictions must bekept up, and so both expressed a desire for his continued life, thoughneither was deceived as to the other's real feeling on the subject.
"By the way, Mrs. Bradley," said John Wade, "how came my uncle to engagethat boy to read to him?"
"He was led into it, sir," said the housekeeper, with a great deal ofindignation, "by the boy himself. He's an artful and designing fellow,you may rely upon it."
"What's his name?"
"Frank Fowler."
"Fowler! Is his name Fowler?" he repeated, with a startled expression.
"Yes, sir," answered the housekeeper, rather surprised at his manner."You don't know anything about him, do you?"
"Oh, no," said John Wade, recovering his composure. "He is a perfectstranger to me; but I once knew a man of that name, and a preciousrascal he was. When you mentioned his name, I thought he might be a sonof this man. Does he say his father is alive?"
"No; he is dead, and his mother, too, so the boy says."
"You haven't told me how my uncle fell in with him?"
"It was an accident. Your uncle fell in getting out of a Broadway stage,and this boy happened to be near, and seeing Mr. Wharton was a richgentleman, he helped him home, and was invited in. Then he told somestory about his poverty, and so worked upon your uncle's feelings thathe hired him to read to 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 thereall day, and he is here only in the evenings."
"Does my uncle seem attached to him?" asked John.
"He's getting fond of him, I should say. The other day he asked me ifI didn't think it would be a good thing to take him into the house andgive him a room. 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 a great deal of trouble inthe family."
"You did right, Mrs. Bradley. What did my uncle say?"
"He hinted about taking him from the store and letting him go to school.The next thing would be his adopting him. The fact is, Mr. John, the boyis so artful that he knows just how to manage your uncle. No doubt h
eput the idea into Mr. Wharton's head, and he may do it yet."
"Does my uncle give any reason for the fancy he has taken to the boy?"demanded John.
"Yes," said the housekeeper. "He has taken it into his head that theboy resembles your cousin, George, who died abroad. You were with him, Ibelieve?"
"Yes, I was with him. Is the resemblance strong? I took very littlenotice 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, if I had such a grandson?If George's boy had lived, he would have been about Frank's age. And,"continued the housekeeper, "I might as well speak plainly. You're mymaster's heir, or ought to be; but if this artful boy stays here long,there's no knowing what your uncle may be influenced to do. If he getsinto his dotage, he may come to adopt him, and leave the property awayfrom you."
"I believe you are quite right. The danger exists, and we must guardagainst it. I see you don't like the boy," said John Wade.
"No, I don't. He's separated your uncle and me. Before he came, I usedto spend my evenings in the library, and read to your uncle. Besides,when I found your uncle wanted a reader, I asked him to take my nephew,who is a salesman in the very same store where that boy is a cash-boy,but although I've been twenty years in this house I could not get him togrant the favor, which he granted to that boy, whom he never met till afew weeks ago."
"Mrs. Bradley, I sympathize with you," said her companion. "The boyis evidently working against us both. You have been twenty years in myuncle's service. He ought to remember you handsomely in his will. IfI inherit the property, as is my right, your services shall beremembered," 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 time comes, I can do as much oras little for her as I please."
"Of course, we must work together against this interloper, who appearsto have gained a dangerous influence over my uncle."
"You can depend upon me, Mr. John," said Mrs. Bradley.
"I will think it over, and tell you my plan," said John Wade. "But myuncle will wonder at my appetite. I must go back to the library. We willspeak of this subject again."