A COLD RECEPTION
"I DON'T think she is," said Abel, reddening with mortification.
Just then Mrs. Lane's voice was heard from the head of the stairs.
"Who are you talking with, Abel?"
"It's me, Melindy—your brother Alonzo," said Mr. Crane.
Mrs. Lane descended the stairs slowly, looking very much annoyed. She
was ashamed of her plebeian brother, and very much disturbed that Gerald
should have seen him. It occurred to her to deny the relationship, but
this seemed impracticable. So she said with an ill grace, not even
offering her hand:
"What brought you here, Alonzo?"
"I reckon the cars brought me here, Melindy. It does me good to see you
well fixed. You have feathered your nest well, I must say."
Mrs. Lane bit her lips.
"You can come in and sit down," she said. "I shall be glad if you will
talk more like a gentleman."
"But I'm not a gentleman, Melindy. I am an honest, hard-working
blacksmith. Carrie and the children send their love."
"I am obliged to them," said Mrs. Lane, stiffly. "I wonder you could get
away from your work for a visit."
"Well, the truth is, Melindy, I'm in hard luck. My shop burned down day
before yesterday, and I need money to build it up again."
"Wasn't it insured?" asked his sister, coldly.
"The insurance ran out a month ago. So I naturally thought of my only
sister who is a rich woman, and I've come to ask a loan of two hundred
dollars. That, I calculate, will set me on my feet again."
"The estate is not yet settled, and even if it were I should not feel at
liberty to take Mr. Lane's money for such a purpose."
"I reckon you'll spend it on yourself and Abel, Melindy."
"My husband left a son."
"I know that, and he's a gentleman, too," said Mr. Crane, with a kindly
glance at Gerald. "If he had money I am sure he would help me."
"Yes, Mr. Crane; I would," said Gerald.
"We won't discuss that matter now, Alonzo. As you are here, you can stay
for the balance of the day."
"I shall have to stay till to-morrow, as there is no train from
Portville till then. I hope you won't forget the help I gave you and
Abel when you were first left a widder."
"It isn't very becoming to twit me with any little favors I may have
accepted from you in the past," said Mrs. Lane. "If you want me to
receive you in a friendly way, you must behave and talk differently."
As Mr. Crane went into the house, following his not over-cordial
relative, Gerald walked away. He felt that he had no place in the family
conclave, and was only sorry that it was not likely to prove very
satisfactory to his new acquaintance.
He walked away, and, having nothing else to occupy his time, went to the
lake and got into his rowboat. He rowed about lazily for half an hour
when he heard a voice from the bank.
Looking up, he saw Alonzo Crane standing on the blink of the pond.
"Hello, Gerald!" he called out, "won't you give me a ride in your boat?"
"Certainly, Mr. Crane," and he rowed up to a little pier near where his
new acquaintance was standing.
Alonzo Crane stepped into the boat and took a seat near the stern.
"This is a nice dory of yours," he said. "I always liked a rowboat, but
I've been too busy in my business to use one. I don't think I've been in
a boat for five years. Did my sister give it to you?"
"No," answered Gerald, hastily; "it was a gift from my father."
"I suppose, from what Melindy says, he left you most of his property?"
"She doesn't say that to me. She says it is all hers, and that I am
entirely dependent upon her."
"Whew! Well, that beats all. Wasn't your father friendly to you?"
"I always found him the best of fathers, and that makes me wonder at his
leaving me dependent upon Mrs. Lane."
Alonzo Crane looked thoughtful.
"You don't suspect nothing?" he said, interrogatively.
"What should I suspect?" asked Gerald.
"Well," said Alonzo, slowly, "Melindy always was tricky. She was always
set on gettin' money, and I don't think she'd be over scrupulous. There
might be such a thing as forgin' a will, though I don't know as I ought
to say that considerin' that Melindy is my sister."
"Thank you for suggesting it, at any rate, Mr. Crane. The time may come
when I shall look into the matter. At present I am only a boy——"
"And a boy ain't no match for a woman like Melindy. Oh, she's cunning!
What do you think she said to get rid of lendin' me any money?"
"I can't guess."
"She said that she must provide for you."
Gerald smiled, bitterly.
"Because it would serve her purpose," he responded. "She has given Abel
my place in the house. She has taken from me the large room I have for
years occupied—given it to Abel—and put me in a small hall bedroom
adjoining."
"That's too bad! Abel is a mean, conceited little upstart, who don't
treat me half decent, though he would more than once have gone without a
meal but for the help I gave his mother."
"Has Mrs. Lane refused to loan you money to rebuild your shop?"
"Yes; she won't think of it. She says I must have been careless, or the
fire wouldn't have happened. It hasn't done much good to come to
Portville. The only pleasure I've got out of it is meeting you."
"Thank you, Mr. Crane. I wish your sister were more like you."
"I'm a rough man, Gerald. There ain't much polish about me, but nobody
can charge me with being mean and ungrateful. Some time I hope you'll
come and see me."
"Thank you, Mr. Crane. It may come about some day. Is there no one in
your town who will lend you money to rebuild your shop?"
"No; there ain't much money in Hillsdale. It's just a common country
town, and the people are mostly farmers. I don't know what to do." And a
look of sadness overspread his rugged countenance.
"You are no worse off than I am, Mr. Crane. I have lost an indulgent
father, and am left dependent upon a woman I cannot like or respect."
"It does seem hard."
"But I have faith that some time things will come out for the best."
Gerald spoke gravely and calmly. He had been brought up to trust in God,
and to have faith in His goodness. His words, young as he was, seemed to
have a cheering effect on Mr. Crane.
"You're right, Gerald," he said, "and I'll try to believe things are
comin' out right, though I can't see how."
"Why did you leave the house so soon, Mr. Crane? I thought you would
have a long conversation with your sister and Abel."
"I thought so, too, but Melindy didn't seem to hanker much after my
company. About fifteen minutes after you went out, she said: 'I shall
have to leave you, as I have an errand in the village. Perhaps Abel will
stay with you?'"
"'No, I can't,' said Abel. 'I'm going to play ball with some of the
boys.'"
Gerald smiled.
"None of the boys have invited Abel to play ball. They don't like him."
"Well, it don't make no difference. He wouldn't have been any company to
me. It's strange that you seem a good deal nearer to me than my own
kin."
"I am very glad of that. I wish I were in a position to help you."
"Perhaps you will be some day. If there's anything crooked about that
will of your pa's, it'll come out right some time. Well, when Melindy
and Abel had left me I thought I'd go out and take a walk. I strayed
down to the lake and saw you rowing. I made bold to call to you. Would
you mind my trying the oars to see if I've forgot how to row?"
"Take them and welcome."
Mr. Crane took the oars, and, though he was at first awkward, he soon
showed that he had not altogether forgotten his old skill.
"Well, I can row a little," he said, complacently.
"Yes, Mr. Crane, you can row better than Abel. He went out with me a day
or two ago, and upset the boat."
"Did he tumble out?" asked Mr. Crane, laughing.
"Yes; and as he can't swim, he might have drowned if I hadn't got hold
of him."
"Did he thank you for saving his life?"
"No."
"And he never will. It isn't in his nature."
"So far from that, he tried to make out that I upset the boat by moving
about in it. That's what he told his mother to account for his wet
clothes."
"Just like him. I'm ashamed to have such a nephew. It would have served
him right if you had left him to his fate."
"You wouldn't have advised that, I am sure, Mr. Crane."
"No, I don't know as I would; though it makes me mad to see a boy so
mean and ungrateful."
For half an hour they remained in the boat talking about various
subjects. Alonzo Crane evidently enjoyed the trip.
"I'm glad I came to Portville after all," he said.
But there was a sudden and startling interruption. From a large house a
hundred feet from the lake a sheet of flame became visible. Gerald saw
it first.
"Mr. Nugent's house is on fire!" he exclaimed. "Let us land and see if
we can give any assistance."
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