The increase of Claire's family had caused him, some time before, to
remove from the two comfortable rooms in which were passed the first
pleasant years of his married life. He now occupied a small house in
a retired street, the rent of which, though moderate, drew pretty
heavily on his income. But he had managed, through the prudent
co-operation of his wife, not only to keep even with the world, but to
lay by a small sum of money.
Few homes, in the large city wherein dwelt this obscure family, were
so full of all the elements of happiness. If, sometimes, the spirit of
Claire was overshadowed by passing clouds--as would unavoidably happen
from his contact with the world, and his own variant states--the
evening's return to the bosom of his family, generally made all bright
again.
Little Fanny Elder, now ten years of age, had been steadily growing
into his affections from the first. It is questionable whether his
love for his own children was a purer passion. Older, by several
years, than Edith, she had been to him more companionable; and had
ever greeted his return at evening with warmer expressions of pleasure
than were manifested by Edith, or the two younger children who had
been added to the number of his household treasures.
On this evening, as Claire drew nearer and nearer to his home, and
his thoughts began to make pictures of the scene within, its light
and warmth penetrated his feelings, and when he opened, at length, the
door, he was himself again.
First to bound into his arms was Fanny Elder. What a beautiful,
fairy-like creature she was! How more than fulfilled the promise of
her early childhood! Next came Edith, now six years of age, side by
side with her brother Harry, a wild little rogue, and were only a few
seconds behind Fanny in throwing themselves upon their father; while
little baby Mary, as she sat on the carpet, fluttered her tiny arms,
and crowed out her joyous welcome.
What a merry romp they all had for the next two or three minutes.
When quiet came back again, baby was sitting on one knee, Harry on the
other, and Fanny leaning her face on the shoulder of her "father"--for
so she called him with the rest--while her glossy curls were resting
in sunny clusters upon his bosom. The memory of the child's former
home and parents seemed to have faded almost entirely. If the past
ever came back to her, like a dream, with its mingled web of sunshine
and tears, she never spoke of it. Fully had she been taken into the
hearts and home of her now parents; and she rested there as one having
a right to her position.
And the pure spirit who presided over this little Paradise, where was
she? Present--observing all, and sharing in the delight her husband's
return had occasioned. The expected kiss had not long been kept from
her loving lips.
Happy household! What have its inmates to envy in those around
them? Within the circle of many squares were none so rich in all the
elements of happiness.
Soon after the evening meal was over, the children, after another
merry romp with their father, went off to bed. When Mrs. Claire
returned from the chamber, whither she had accompanied them, she held
a letter in her hand.
"I had forgotten all about this letter, Edward," said she. "It was
left here for you, this afternoon."
Claire took the letter and broke the seal, running his eye down to the
signature as he unfolded it.
"Leonard Jasper! What is this?"
His brow contracted instantly, as he commenced reading the letter. It
was brief, and in these words--
"MR. EDWARD CLAIRE--_Sir_: From this time I relieve you of the burden
of my ward, Fanny Elder. Mrs. Jasper and myself have determined to
take her into our own family, in order that we may give the needful
care to her education. Call around and see me to-morrow, and we will
arrange this matter. Yours, &c. LEONARD JASPER."
The face of the young man had become pale by the time he had finished
reading this letter; but that of his wife, who did not yet know a word
of its contents, was almost white--the effect produced on her husband
filling her with a vague alarm.
"What is it, Edward?" she asked, in a low, eager whisper.
"Jasper wants us to give up Fanny."
Edith sank into a chair, exclaiming--
"Oh, Edward!"
"But she is only ten years of age," said the husband, "and our
contract is to keep her until she is twelve."
"We cannot give her up," murmured Edith, tears already beginning to
flow over her cheeks. "I never thought of this. What can it mean?"
"Some sudden determination on the part of Jasper, and based on nothing
good," was the reply. "But, as I said, our contract is binding until
Fanny is twelve years of age, and I will never consent to its being
broken. He was over anxious to hold me in writing. He did not value
his own word, and would not trust mine. It was well. The dear child
shall remain where she is."
"But, after she is twelve, Edward? What then? Oh, I can never part
with her," said Mrs. Claire, now weeping freely.
"Two years will pass ere that time. Jasper may have other purposes in
view when our present contract expires."
"You will see him in the morning?"
"O yes. I must understand all about this matter. What can it mean?
'Needful care to her education!' A mere hypocritical pretence. What
does he care for her, or her education? What, in fact, does he know of
her? Nothing at all. Has he ever called to see her? Has he ever made
the first inquiry after her? No. There is something wrong, without
doubt. This movement bodes no good to our dear child. But she has one
friend who will stand between her and harm--who will protect her, if
need be, at the risk of his own life."
Claire, as his words indicate, had suffered himself to become much
excited. Seeing this, his wife recovered, to some extent, her own
self-possession, and spoke to him soothingly.
"We will wait and see what it means," said she. "Mr. Jasper cannot
force her away from us now, if he would."
"After seeing him to-morrow, you can understand better what we are to
expect. This note may have been written from some momentary feeling. I
cannot think that he has a settled purpose to take the child from us."
"Time will show," was the abstracted response.
Not for years had so unhappy an evening been spent by Edward Claire
and his wife; and when they retired, it was to pass the night in
broken intervals of sleep.
Early on the next morning, Claire called at the store of Jasper, who
received him with cold politeness, and at once came to the matter
uppermost in both their thoughts, by saying--
"You received my note?"
"I did," was the reply.
"Well? All right, I suppose?"
"Fanny is not twelve years of age yet!"
"Isn't she? Well, what of that?" There was some impatience in the
manner of Jasper.
"I agreed to take the care of her until she was twelve."
"Well--well--suppose you did? I'm her guardian, and wish to have her
now in my own family. If you agreed to keep her, I did not say that
she should positively remain."
"There was a contract signed to that effect," firmly replied Claire.
"A contract! Humph! Are you sure?"
"Very sure. You drew it yourself."
"Have you a copy of it?"
"I have."
Jasper seemed thrown aback by this. He had not forgotten the contract,
for all his affected ignorance thereof. He only hoped that Edward had,
through carelessness, lost his copy. But he was mistaken.
"A contract! A contract?" said Jasper, as if communing with his own
thoughts. "I do remember, now, something of the kind. And so there was
a written contract?"
"Yes, sir; and I have a copy in your own hand."
"And I am to understand, Edward, that notwithstanding my wish, as
the child's legal guardian, and, therefore, the representative of
her parents, to have her in my own family, that you will interpose a
hasty-signed contract?"
"Mr. Jasper," said the young man, changing his manner, "we have had
this child in our family for over five years, and have grown strongly
attached to her. In fact, she seems to us as one of our own children;
and we, to her, are in the place of parents. To remove her would,
therefore, be doing a great violence to our feelings, and I know it
would make her unhappy. Let her remain where she is, and you may rest
assured that she will be cared for as tenderly as our own."
"No, Edward, it is no use to talk of that," replied Jasper,
positively. "I wish, now, to have her in my own family, and trust that
you will not stand for a moment in the way."
"But, Mr. Jasper"--
"It will be of no avail to argue the point, Edward," said the
merchant, interrupting him. "I was fully in earnest when I wrote to
you, and am no less in earnest now. I am certainly entitled to the
possession of my ward, and will not bear, patiently, any attempt on
your part to deprive me of that right."
There was an angry quivering of the lips, and a stern knitting of the
brows, on the part of Jasper, as he closed this emphatic sentence.
Claire felt excited, yet was so fully conscious of the necessity of
self-control, that he quieted down his feelings, and endeavoured to
think calmly.
"Well, what do you say?" imperatively demanded Jasper, after waiting
some moments for a reply.
"We cannot part with the child," said the young man, in a low,
appealing voice.
"You _must_ part with her!" was the quick, resolute response.
"Must? That is a strong word, Mr. Jasper." Claire's manner underwent
another change, as was shown by the firm compression of his lips, and
the steady gaze of his eyes, as he fixed them on the merchant.
"I know it is strong, but no stronger than my purpose; and I warn you
not to stand in my way. I've got an old grudge against you, so don't
provoke me too far in this matter. A pretty affair, indeed, when _you_
attempt to come between me and my legal rights and duties."
"Duties!" There was a stinging contempt in the young man's voice. The
manner of Jasper had chafed him beyond all manner of self-control.
"You forget to whom you are speaking," said the latter, offended now,
as well as angry. "But we will not bandy words. Will you, without
further trouble, give into my hands the child of Mr. Elder?"
"I cannot do it, Mr. Jasper."
"Speak positively. Will you, or will you not do as I wish?"
"I will not," was the decided answer.
"Enough." And Jasper turned away, muttering in an undertone, "We'll
soon see who is to be master here."
Claire lingered a short time, but, as Jasper showed no disposition
to renew the conversation, he left the store, greatly disturbed and
troubled in his mind.