Frank and Fearless; or, The Fortunes of Jasper Kent. Alger Horatio Jr.
won't flatter myself so far," he answered. "Jasper is an improvement on the parent stock. I see in him more manliness and self-reliance than I possessed at his age."
"May it not be parental partiality?" asked Mrs. Kent, who by no means enjoyed hearing Jasper's praises.
"No, I don't think so."
"You must let me believe that it is your modesty then. Jasper may be a fine boy, but he will do well if he grows up as good a man as you."
"Now you flatter me, my dear," said Mr. Kent, smiling. "You have too good an opinion of me."
"I don't know about that," said Mrs. Kent to herself. "I think you are an addle-headed old fool, but I won't say so."
Aloud she said, with a smile: "My marrying you is a proof of my good opinion, Mr. Kent."
"Thank you," said her husband, politely.
He was not a suspicious man—far from it—but even he knew that his wife only married him for a home and an establishment. But he never let his mind dwell on such things, and he quietly permitted his wife's assertion to go uncontradicted.
Meanwhile Jasper Kent had returned to his boarding-school. There was one who awaited his return with mingled curiosity and exultation.
This was Nicholas Thorne.
He had received his mother's letter, from which he learned, first, that her plan had succeeded, and she was now the wife of a rich man, and, secondly, that his own relationship to her must be changed in the eyes of the world.
"I suppose mother knows what is best," he said to himself. "So I'm to be her nephew, am I? Well, it's all one to me, as long as I fare the better for her good fortune."
For the moment it occurred to him that his mother might intend to throw him off—in a measure—but he quickly laid it aside. Bad as his mother was, she was yet devoted to him, and in so far was superior to him, for he cared for himself first and for no one second. The thought originated in his own base selfishness, and was laid aside only because he had received too many proof's of his mother's affection to doubt her.
When he heard that Jasper had got back he took pains to meet him.
"Well, Kent," he said, with a show of intimacy which Jasper found very disagreeable, "what news from home?"
Jasper was about to reply abruptly, when it occurred to him that, after all, Nicholas had an interest in the matter.
"I suppose you mean to ask if your mother is well?" he said, eyeing Jasper keenly.
But Nicholas was on his guard. His mother's letter had cautioned him.
"No, I don't," he answered, impudently. "She is your mother, not mine."
"My mother!" exclaimed Jasper, coloring.
"Yes, she's your father's wife, isn't she?" said Thorne, with a leer.
"Yes, but I acknowledge no such relationship as you suggest."
"She's your step-mother, whatever you say."
"I shall never call her so. You told me before I went that she was your mother."
"I have always called her so, because I have known no other," said Thorne, composedly. "She is really my aunt."
"It must be true, then," thought Jasper. "However, it is of little importance to me what the relationship may be."
"I suppose this match makes us relations," said Thorne, smiling disagreeably.
"I don't see that it does," said Jasper, coldly.
"You'd rather it wouldn't, I suppose," sneered Thorne, provoked.
"I don't know you well enough to desire so close a connection," said Jasper, in the same cold tone.
"We shall know each other well enough some time," said Thorne, with something of menace in his tone.
Jasper turned on his heel and walked away.
CHAPTER VIII.
SUDDEN DEATH
Two months later there was a vacation for a week. Nicholas expected to spend this with his mother, but for some reason Mrs. Kent gave him no invitation. Probably she thought that Nicholas, though a paragon in her eyes, was not likely to win favor in the eyes of Mr. Kent. His rough, brutal disposition would have repelled the sick man, who had become gentle in his enforced seclusion.
Thorne was disappointed, but his disappointment was softened by a timely remittance of ten dollars from his mother, which he spent partly in surreptitious games of billiards, partly in overloading his stomach with pastry and nearly making himself sick.
Jasper spent the week at home. His company was the source of great comfort and joy to his father, and this repaid him for the intrusion of his step-mother.
She treated him with politeness and apparent cordiality, but once or twice, when he chanced to look up unexpectedly, he detected her eyes fixed upon him with a glance that seemed to express detestation. On these occasions her expression changed instantly, and she addressed him in a soft, friendly voice.
All this puzzled him.
"Does she hate me or not?" he asked himself. "I certainly don't like her. Still, I shall force myself to treat her politely as long as she treats my father well."
His father seldom spoke of his wife to his son, but sometimes Jasper noticed that he breathed a sigh of relief when she left the room, as if her presence had been a restraint upon him.
He didn't like to ask his father any question directly as to the relations between them. He hoped that at least they did not add to his father's discomfort.
At the end of the week Jasper was about to return to school.
"How long before you have another vacation, Jasper?" asked his father, wistfully.
"Eleven weeks, father."
"It seems a long time, Jasper."
"I can come home during that time."
"To my mind such interruptions of study are bad for a boy," said Mrs. Kent.
"Perhaps they are," assented Mr. Kent, reluctantly.
"I won't let them be an interruption, father," said Jasper. "If you want me to come home, I will."
"I hope, Jasper, you will understand my motive for speaking," said Mrs. Kent, softly. "I should really be glad to see you, but sometimes we have to sacrifice our own inclinations—don't we, Mr. Kent?"
"Yes, my dear," said Mr. Kent, listlessly.
And he turned his eyes once more to Jasper, who had his overcoat on and was waiting for the carriage to convey him to the depot.
"Do you feel as well as usual, father?" asked Jasper, anxiously.
"Yes, I don't know but I do; perhaps a little more languid, but that is not unusual."
"Well, good-bye, father. If you want to see me at any time, write a line, and I'll come at once."
"Thank you, my dear boy. Don't overwork yourself at school."
There was a slight smile on Mrs. Kent's thin lips. Jasper noticed and mentally resented it. But the time had come for leave-taking, and he hurried away.
Six weeks passed. Jasper heard from home that his father was about the same, and this assurance relieved him of anxiety. Still, he made up his mind that he would spend the next Sunday at home. He would go on Saturday morning and come back on Monday morning, and he knew that his father would enjoy even this brief visit. But he was destined to go home quicker.
On Thursday afternoon a boy came up to the main entrance of Dr. Benton's school.
"It's the boy from the telegraph office," said Wilder to Jasper.
"I wonder whether he's got a message for the doctor or one of us boys?" said Jasper, not suspecting that it was for himself.
"I'll ask," said Wilder. "Here, you, boy! who's your telegram for?"
"For Jasper Kent," said the boy. "Will you call him?"
"I