SOME OLD ACQUAINTANCES.
We will now return to America, and for the benefit of those readers who
are not familiar with Harry's early adventures, as narrated in the story
of "Facing the World," I will give a brief account of his story before
setting out on the voyage to Australia.
Left an orphan, with a scanty patrimony amounting to three hundred
dollars, Harry left it all in the hands of his father's friend, Mr.
Benjamin Howard of Ferguson, and set out, not in quest of a fortune, but
of a livelihood. He had been recommended by his father to seek a cousin
of his, John Fox of Colebrook, and place himself under his guardianship.
He visited Mr. Fox, but found him so mean and grasping that he left him
after a brief stay, preparing to face the world without assistance. Mr.
Fox, who had two children, Joel and Sally, was greatly disappointed, as
he bad hoped to get control of the boy's slender property, and convert
it to his own use. He pursued Harry, but was unable to overtake and
capture him.
Months passed, and John Fox heard nothing of his wandering relative.
One day, however, he came home triumphant.
"Well, Maria," he said, addressing his wife, "I've heard of Harry
Vane."
"You don't say!" ejaculated Joel, his face screwed up into an expression
of curiosity. "What did you hear? Where is he?"
"Joel," answered his father, with an attempt at solemnity, "the
judgments of the Lord have fallen upon your unhappy cousin."
"What do you mean, Mr. Fox?" asked his wife, showing curiosity in turn.
"I mean that he is lying dead at the bottom of the sea."
"Don't be so tantalizing, Mr. Fox. If you know anything about the boy,
out with it!"
When Mrs. Fox spoke in this tone her husband knew that she would not
stand any nonsense. So he answered without delay. "Soon after he left
our happy home, Maria, he shipped on board the _Nantucket_, as a common
sailor, I presume, and the ship was lost off in the Southern Ocean with
all on board."
"How awful, pa," said Sally, who alone of all the family had felt kindly
toward Harry, "and he was so good-looking, too!"
"He wasn't a bit better looking than Joel," said her mother sharply.
"Oh, ma!"
"It's true. I never could see any good looks in him, and it doesn't
become you, miss, to go against your own brother. How did you find it
out, Mr. Fox?"
"I came across an old copy of the _New York Herald_, giving an account
of the disaster, and mentioning Harry Vane as one of the passengers. Of
course it's a mistake, for he must have been one of the common
sailors."
"Well, I reckon there's no call for us to put on mourning," said Mrs.
Fox.
"I don't know about that. It might look better."
"What do we care about Harry Vane?"
"My dear, he left property," said Mr. Fox significantly. "There's three
hundred dollars in the hands of that man in Ferguson, besides the money
he got for saving the train, as much as two hundred dollars. As we are
his only relatives, that money ought to come to us by rights."
"That's so, husband. On the whole, I'll put a black ribbon on my
bonnet."
"And I'll wear a black necktie," said Joel. "How much of the money am I
to have?"
"Wait till we get it," said his father shortly.
"What steps do you propose to take in this matter, Mr. Fox?" queried his
wife.
"I'm going to Ferguson to-morrow, to see Mr. Benjamin Howard. Of course
he won't want to give up the money, but I'll show him I mean business,
and am not to be trifled with."
"That's right, pa," said Joel approvingly.
"Five hundred dollars will give us quite a lift," said Mrs. Fox
thoughtfully.
"So it will, so it will, my dear. Of course, I'm sorry to hear of the
poor boy's death, but I shall insist upon my rights, all the same."
Mrs. Fox warmly approved of her husband's determination, being quite as
mean and money-loving as he.