CHAPTER XX
BEARDING THE LION
Luke Shepard went back to Grantham with Cecile in a mood that caused hissympathetic sister to speak upon mere commonplace subjects and scarcelymention the friends with whom they had spent the week. She knew Luke wasplowing deep waters, and whether his judgment was wise or not, sherespected his trouble.
The young man believed he had no right to present his case to RuthKenway if he had no brighter prospects for a future living than what hecould make by his own exertions. Necessarily for some years afterleaving college this would be meager. Without his elderly friend'spromised aid how could he ask the oldest Corner House girl to share hisfortunes?
As for tying her to a long engagement--the most heart-breaking of allhuman possibilities--the young man would not do it. He told himself halfa hundred times an hour that the thought could merely be born into hismind of his own selfishness.
The Kenways had suffered enough in poverty in the past. He knew allabout their hard life after Mr. Kenway had died, for Ruth had told himof it herself. Until Luke could get into business after his college dayswere ended and make good, he would have little to offer Ruth Kenway ofeither luxuries or comforts.
So, the young fellow told himself, it all depended upon NeighborNorthrup, who had promised to do so much for him, provided Luke gave nosign of desiring the company of a wife through life.
"He's just a ridiculous, crabbed old man," Luke told himself. "I neverpaid much attention to Neighbor's crotchets before I met Ruth. Didn'tsuppose I'd ever really care enough about a girl to risk displeasinghim.
"Of course, he's been awfully kind to me--and promises to be kinder. Ibelieve I am named in his will. Yet, I wonder if it's much to brag offor a fellow with all his limbs sound, presumably his share of brains,and all that, to be expecting a lift-up in the world. Maybe I'm ratherleaning back on the old gentleman's promises instead of looking ahead topaddling my own canoe. Anyway I'm not going to spoil my whole life justbecause of such nonsense."
Luke Shepard felt immensely superior at this time to Mr. Northrup withhis crotchets and foibles. The latter's rooted objection to women seemedto the young collegian the height of folly.
Aunt Lorena's was quite a little house beside Mr. Henry Northrup'sabode. Whereas the flower-beds, and hedge, and the climbing roses aboutthe spinster's cottage made a pleasant picture, the old Northrup housewas somber indeed. The bachelor's dwelling, with its padlocked frontgate, did not look cheerful enough to attract even a book agent.
For some years Luke had spent quite as much time on Neighbor's premisesas he had with his aunt and Cecile. There were many little things hecould do for the old man that the latter could not hire done. Samri, asthe Japanese butler was called, could not do everything.
Arriving at Grantham in the late afternoon, Luke stopped only a momentto greet Aunt Lorena before hurrying across the line fence intoNeighbor's yard.
"For the good land's sake!" sighed Miss Shepard, who was very precise,if not dictatorial, "it does seem as though that boy might stay with usa minute. Off he has to go at once to Neighbor. You would think theywere sweethearts--Luke and that crabbed old fellow."
Cecile winced. "Luke has something on his mind, Auntie--something thathe thinks he must tell Neighbor at once," and she, too, sighed. "Oh,dear! how it is all coming out I really don't know. I am almost sorry wewent to the Kenways' to visit."
"Why, Cecile! didn't they treat you nicely?"
"Splendidly. They are all dears--especially Ruthie. But it is because ofher I am worried."
"Indeed?"
"She and Luke have become very friendly--oh, entirely too friendly, ifnothing is to come of it."
Aunt Lorena dearly loved a romance. Her eyes began to sparkle and afaint flush came into her withered cheek.
"You don't mean it, Sissy!" she gasped. "Not our Luke? The dear boy!Think of his having a sweetheart!"
"Oh, but I don't know that he _has_ one! I am afraid he ought not evento think of it!" cried Cecile.
"Nonsense! Why not? Your father was married when he was no older thanLuke. And of course the dear boy would wait till he graduates."
"And for a long time after, I fear," said Cecile, shaking her head. Shereally saw the folly of such an idea much more quickly than Aunt Lorena.
"Is this Ruth Kenway a nice girl?" queried Aunt Lorena eagerly. "And isLuke actually fond of her?"
"As fond as he can be I do believe," admitted the sister, still shakingher head.
"And--and do you suppose Miss Kenway appreciates our Luke?"
"I guess she likes him," said Cecile, smiling a little at the question."I am sure she does, in fact. But Luke will say nothing to her unlessNeighbor agrees."
"Mercy! He's not gone to tell that old man about the girl?"
"Of course."
"Well! Of all things! The ridiculous boy!" ejaculated Aunt Lorena. "Hemight know that Mr. Northrup will be greatly vexed. Why, he hateswomen!"
"Yes, I am afraid Luke will have a bad time with Neighbor," said Cecile,anxiously.
She was quite right in her supposition. Luke Shepard appeared before thegrim old man as the latter sat in his study and, being a perfectlycandid youth, he blurted out his news without much preparation.Immediately after shaking hands, and asking after Mr. Northrup's health,he said:
"Neighbor, I've got a great secret to tell you."
"Heh? A secret? What is it? Broke somebody's window, have you?" for hiselderly friend often seemed to think Luke still a small boy.
"That wouldn't be a great secret," the young man said quietly. "No. Itis the greatest thing that's ever come into my life."
The old man, who could look very sternly indeed from under his heavybrows, gazed now with apprehension at his young friend.
"You don't mean you think you've changed your mind about your collegework?"
"No, sir. But there is one thing I want to do after I get throughcollege that I never thought of doing before."
"What's the matter with you, boy?" demanded Mr. Northrup, exasperated.
"You know I have been away with Cecile to see some friends of ours. Andone of them, Miss Kenway--Ruth--is the nicest girl I ever met."
"A girl!" literally snorted Neighbor.
"Ruth Kenway is splendid," said Luke firmly. "She is lovely. And--and Ithink very, very much of her."
"What do you mean, boy?" the old man demanded, his deep-set eyes fairlyflashing. "Why do you tell me about any silly girl? Don't you know thatit offends me? I can, and do, endure your speaking of your sister. It isnot your fault you have a sister. But it will be your fault if you everallow yourself to become entangled with any other woman."
"But, Neighbor," said the young man desperately, "I couldn't help it. Itell you I admire Ruth Kenway immensely--immensely! I want to make hercare for me, too. I want-- I want--"
"The moon!" roared Mr. Northrup. "That's what you are crying for--likeany baby. And you'll not get it--neither the moon nor the girl. Whathave I always told you? If you are fool enough to get mixed up with anygirl, I wash my hands of you. Understand?"
"Yes," said Luke, flushing deeply during this tirade but holding his owntemper admirably in check. "Yes, I understand. But I'd like to talk withyou about it--"
"You can't talk to me about any girl!"
"But I must," insisted Luke. "You see, I--I love her. And if I canpossibly do it, I am going to win her for a wife--some day."
The old gentleman arose in anger.
"Do you mean to stand there and deliberately defy me?"
"I am not defying you, Neighbor; I'm only telling you," Luke said,rather doggedly, it must be confessed. But his own eyes were glowing.
"After my declaration to you that I will have nothing more to do withyou if you fool with any girls--"
"I'm not!" snapped Luke. "It is only one girl. The best girl in theworld. I wish you'd go to Milton to see her."
"Go to Milton? Indeed! I wouldn't go there--"
He stopped and glowered at Luke for a moment wit
hout speaking. Then heasked harshly:
"So this girl lives in Milton?"
"Yes, sir. At the old Corner House. And she is lovely--"
"Be still!" commanded the old man. "Young calf! Do you suppose _I_ aminterested in your protestations of silliness about a girl! I want tohear nothing more about it. You understand my wishes well enough. I willnever do a thing for you after you graduate-- I will strike you out ofmy will-- I'll close my door against you, if you entangle yourself inany way with this girl."
"Oh, Neighbor!" murmured Luke sadly, stepping back from the old man'swildly gesturing arm.
"I mean it. I always mean what I say," declared Mr. Northrup. "Youshould know me well enough by this time. A girl--faugh! You trouble meany more about this girl--or any other--and I'll have nothing more to dowith you."
"Very well, Mr. Northrup. Good-bye," said Luke, and turned toward thedoor.
"Where are you going, you young whippersnapper!" roared the old man.
"I have made up my mind. I will win Ruth if I can--though with my poorprospects I have no right to speak to her now. But it would not beright, when you feel as you do, for me to accept any further favors fromyou when I am determined in my heart to get Ruth in spite of you."
The door closed quietly behind him before the old man could utteranother word. He stared at the door, then sat down slowly and his facelost its angry color.
Mr. Henry Northrup was apparently both pained and amazed. Perhaps he wasmostly confused because Luke Shepard had taken him quite at his word.