MR. CRAVEN'S COURTSHIP.
When Katy left the room, Mr. Craven still kept his place at the side of
the widow.
"I hope," he said softly, "you were not very much annoyed at Katy's
sudden entrance?"
"It was awkward," said Mrs. Hunter.
"True, but, after all, is there anything to be ashamed of in our love?"
"I am afraid, Mr. Craven, I do not love you."
"Not yet, but you will. I am sure you will when you see how completely
I am devoted to you."
"It seems so sudden," faltered Mrs. Hunter.
"But, setting aside my affection, think how much it will relieve
you of care. Dear Mrs. Hunter, the care of your property and the
responsibility of educating and training your son is too much for a
woman."
"Frank never gives me any trouble," said Mrs. Hunter. "He is a good
boy."
"He is a disagreeable young scamp, in my opinion," thought Mr. Craven,
but he said, unwittingly speaking the truth:
"He is indeed a noble boy, with excellent qualities, but you will soon
be called upon to form plans for his future, and here you will need the
assistance of a man."
"I don't know but what you are right, Mr. Craven. I should have
consulted you."
"Only one who fills a father's place, dear Mrs. Hunter, can do him
justice."
"I am afraid Frank won't like the idea of my marrying again," said Mrs.
Hunter, anxiously.
"He may not like it at first, but he will be amenable to reason. Tell
him that it is for your happiness."
"But I don't know. I can't feel sure that it is."
"I am having more trouble than I expected," thought Mr. Craven. "I
must hurry up the marriage or I may lose her, and, what is of more
importance, the money she represents. By the way, I had better speak on
that subject."
"There are some who will tell you that I have only sought you because
you are rich in this world's goods--that I am a base and mercenary
man, who desires to improve his circumstances by marriage, but you, I
hope, dear Mrs. Hunter--may I say, dear Mary--will never do me that
injustice."
"I do not suspect you of it," said Mrs. Hunter, who was never ready to
suspect the motives of others, though in this case Mr. Craven had truly
represented his object in seeking her.
"I knew you would not, but others may try to misrepresent me, and
therefore I feel it necessary to explain to you that my wealth, though
not equal to your own, is still considerable."
"I have never thought whether you were rich or poor," said Mrs. Hunter.
"It would not influence my decision."
While she spoke, however, it did excite in her a momentary surprise
to learn that since Mr. Craven was rich, he should settle down in so
small and unimportant a place as Shelby, where he could expect little
business of a professional nature.
"I know your generous, disinterested character," he said; "but still
I wish to explain to you frankly my position, to prove to you that I
am no fortune-hunter. I have twenty thousand dollars invested in Lake
Superior mining stocks, and I own a small house in New York City, worth
about fifteen thousand dollars. It is not much," he added, modestly,
"but is enough to support me comfortably, and will make it clear that
I need not marry from mercenary motives. I shall ask the privilege of
assisting to carry out your plans for Frank, in whom I feel a warm
interest."
"You are very generous and kind, Mr. Craven," said Mrs. Hunter, "but
his father amply provided for him. Two-thirds of his property was left
to Frank, and will go to him on his twenty-first birth-day."
"Drat the boy," thought Mr. Craven, "he stands between me and a
fortune."
But this thought was not suffered to appear in his face.
"I am almost sorry," he said, with consummate hypocrisy, "that he is so
well provided for, since now he does not stand in need of my help, that
is, in a pecuniary way. But my experience of the world can at least be
of service to him, and I will do my best to make up to him for the loss
of his dear father."
These last words were feelingly spoken. She realized how much she
was wanting in the ability to guide and direct a boy of Frank's age.
Mr. Craven was a lawyer, and a man of the world. He would be able,
as he said, to relieve her from all care about his future, and it
was for Frank that she now lived. Her feelings were not enlisted in
this marriage with Mr. Craven. Indeed, on some accounts it would be a
sacrifice.
The result was, that twenty minutes later, when he started homeward,
Mrs. Hunter had ratified her promise, and consented to an early
marriage. Mr. Craven felt that he had, indeed, achieved a victory, and
left the house with a heart exulting in his coming prosperity.
Frank Hunter and Ben Cameron were on the lawn, conversing, when the
lawyer passed them.
"Good afternoon, Frank," he said with suavity.
"Good afternoon, sir," answered Frank, gravely.
"The old fellow is very familiar," said Ben, when Mr. Craven had passed
out of the gate.
"He is more familiar than I like," answered Frank. "I don't know why it
is, Ben, but I can't help disliking him."
He had reason to dislike Mr. Craven, and he was destined to have still
further cause, though he did not know it at the time.