THE PRODIGAL'S RECEPTION
"Don't you know me, Aunt Eliza?" asked Warner Powell casting down his
eyes under the sharp glance of the old lady.
"So it is you, is it?" responded Mrs. Merton, in a tone which could
not be considered cordial.
"Yes, it is I. I hope you are not sorry to see me?"
"Humph! It depends on whether you have improved or not."
Luke Walton listened with natural interest and curiosity. This did not
suit Mrs. Tracy, who did not care to have a stranger made acquainted
with her brother's peccadilloes.
"Warner," she said, "I think Aunt Eliza will do you the justice to
listen to your explanation. I imagine, young man, Mrs. Merton will not
require your services any longer to-day."
The last words were addressed to Luke.
"Yes, Luke; you can go," said the old lady, in a very different tone.
Luke bowed and left the house.
"Louisa," said Mrs. Merton, "in five minutes you may bring your
brother up to my room."
"Thank you, aunt."
When they entered the apartment they found the old lady seated in a
rocking-chair awaiting them.
"So you have reformed, have you?" she asked, abruptly.
"I hope so, Aunt Eliza."
"I hope so, too. It is full time. Where have you been?"
"To Australia, California, and elsewhere."
"A rolling stone gathers no moss."
"In this case it applies," said Warner. "I have earned more or less
money, but I have none now."
"How old are you?"
"Thirty."
"A young man ought not to be penniless at that age. If you had
remained in your place at Mr. Afton's, and behaved yourself, you would
be able to tell a different story."
"I know it, aunt."
"Don't be too hard upon him, Aunt Eliza," put in Mrs. Tracy. "He is
trying to do well now."
"I am very glad to hear it."
"Would you mind my inviting him to stay here for a time? The house is
large, you know."
Mrs. Merton paused. She didn't like the arrangement, but she was a
just and merciful woman, and it was possible that Warner had reformed,
though she was not fully satisfied on that point.
"For a time," she answered, "till he can find employment."
"Thank you, Aunt Eliza," said the young man, relieved, for he had been
uncertain how his aunt would treat him. "I hope to show that your
kindness is appreciated."
"I am rather tired now," responded Mrs. Merton, as an indication that
the interview was over.
"We'd better go and let aunt rest," said Warner, with alacrity. He did
not feel altogether comfortable in the society of the old lady.
When they were alone Mrs. Tracy turned to her brother with a smile of
satisfaction.
"You have reason to congratulate yourself on your reception," she
said.
"I don't know about that. The old woman wasn't very complimentary."
"Be careful how you speak of her. She might hear you, or the servants
might, and report."
"Well, she is an old woman, isn't she?"
"It is much better to refer to her as the old lady--better still to
speak of her as Aunt Eliza."
"I hope she will make up her mind to do something for me."
"She has; she gives you a home in this house."
"I would a good deal rather have her pay my board outside, where I
would feel more independent."
"I have been thinking, Warner, you might become her secretary and man
of business. In that case she would dispense with this boy, whose
presence bodes danger to us all."
"I wouldn't mind being her man of business, to take charge of her
money, but as to trotting round town with her like a tame poodle,
please excuse me."
"Warner," said his sister, rather sharply, "just remember, if you
please, that beggars can't be choosers."
"Perhaps not, but this plan of yours would be foolish. She wouldn't
like it, nor would I. Why don't you put Harold up to offering his
services? He's as large as this boy, isn't he?"
"He is about the same size."
"Then it would be a capital plan. You would get rid of the boy that
way."
"You forget that Harold has not finished his education. He is now
attending a commercial school. I should like to have him go to
college, but he doesn't seem to care about it."
"So, after all, the boy seems to be a necessity."
"I would prefer a different boy--less artful and designing."
"How much does the old woman--beg pardon, the old lady--pay him?"
"I don't know. Harold asked Luke, but he wouldn't tell. I have no
doubt he manages to secure twice as much as his services are worth.
He's got on Aunt Eliza's blind side."
"Just what I would like to do, but I have never been able to discover
that she had any."
"Did you take notice of the boy?"
"Yes; he's rather a good-looking youngster, it seems to me."
"How can you say so?" demanded Mrs. Tracy, sharply. "There's a very
common look about him, I think. He isn't nearly as good-looking as
Harold."
"Harold used to look like you," said Warner, with a smile. "Natural
you should think him good-looking. But don't it show a little
self-conceit, Louisa?"
"That's a poor joke," answered his sister, coldly. "What are you going
to do?"
"Going out to see if I can find any of my old acquaintances."
"You had much better look out for a position, as Aunt Eliza hinted."
"Don't be in such a hurry, Louisa. Please bear in mind that I have
only just arrived in Chicago after an absence of five years."
"Dinner will be ready in half an hour."
"Thank you. I don't think I should like a second interview with Aunt
Eliza quite so soon. I will lunch outside."
"A lunch outside costs money, and you are not very well provided in
that way."
"Don't trouble yourself about that, Louisa. I intend to be very
economical.
"My estimable sister is about as mean as anyone I know," said Warner
to himself, as he left the house. "Between her and the old woman, I
don't think I shall find it very agreeable living here. A cheap
boarding house would be infinitely preferable."
On State Street Warner Powell fell in with Stephen Webb, an old
acquaintance.
"Is it you, Warner?" asked Webb, in surprise. "It's an age since I saw
you."
"So it is. I haven't been in Chicago for five years."
"I remember. A little trouble, wasn't there?"
"Yes; but I'm all right now, except that I haven't any money to speak
of."
"That's my situation exactly."
"However, I've got an old aunt worth a million, more or less, only she
doesn't fully appreciate her nephew."
"And I have an uncle, pretty well to do, who isn't so deeply impressed
with my merits as I wish he were."
"I am staying with my aunt just at present, but hope to have
independent quarters soon. One trouble is, she takes a fancy to a boy
named Luke Walton."
"Luke Walton!" repeated Stephen in amazement.
"Do you know him?"
"Yes, my uncle has set me to spy on him--why, I haven't been able to
find out. So he is in favor with your aunt?"
"Yes, he calls at the house every day, and is in her employ. Sometimes
she goes out shopping with him."
"That's strange. Let us drop into the Saratoga and compare notes."
They turned into Dearborn Street, and sat down to lunch in the
Saratoga.