CHAPTER XVII
DICK AT THE STANHOPE COTTAGE
"The villain!"
Such were the words which sprang involuntarily to Dick's lips ashe gazed at the scene before him. He was filled with bitterindignation and could hardly resist the temptation to break in thewindow and leap to Dora's assistance.
As he paused, he saw Dora push Crabtree back and leap to theopposite side of the center table.
"Don't you dare to touch me, Mr. Crabtree!" came loud enough forDick to hear quite, plainly.
"I want you to behave yourself, young lady," stormed JosiahCrabtree.
"I know how to do that without your advice."
"No, you don't. You have set your mother against me. If ithadn't been for you, we would be married long ago."
"I believe a daughter has a right to advise her mother concerninga stranger, Mr. Crabtree."
"A stranger!"
"Well, an outsider--if you like that better."
"I am no outsider. I've known your mother for years. I mighthave married her, instead of your father doing so, if he hadn'tplayed an underhanded trick which--"
"Stop, Sir. You shall not say a word against my father."
"Good for Dora!" thought Dick. "She's the right kind."
"Your mother is quite willing to marry me, and as a dutifuldaughter you should bow to her wishes."
"Mother is not herself, Mr. Crabtree. Ever since father died shehas been upset by business matters, and you have pestered the lifeout of her. If you would only go away for a month or so and giveher time to think it over, I am sure she would end this matterbetween you."
"Tut, tut, child, you do not know what you are talking about!Your mother has given me her word, and you ought to bow to theinevitable."
"She has not yet married you, Sir, and until she is actually boundto you there will still be hope for her."
"This is--is outrageous!" cried Josiah Crabtree wrathfully. "Doyou think I will allow a mere slip of a girl to stand between meand my plans? Just wait until I am your father--"
"You shall never take the place of my dear dead father, Mr.Crabtree--never!" and now Dora's eyes filled with tears. "He wasten thousand times better than you can ever be!"
"I must admit I can't see it. He had not half the education Ipossess," answered Josiah Crabtree conceitedly.
"Perhaps not, but he had an honest, warm heart, and that countsfor more than a mere book education. I fancy many men aresmarter, even in book learning, than Mr. Josiah Crabtree; whotried last week for an opening at Columbia College and failed tomeet the requirements."
"Ha! who told you that?"
"Mother told me."
"She is foolish to take you into her confidence. It was not myfault that I failed of the opening--merely the pig-headedness ofthose having the matter in charge. However, I do not care much.As soon as your mother and I are married, I shall make somechanges here, put up a fine brick building, and open a rivalschool to Putnam Hall."
"Gracious, here is news!" thought Dick. "Wonder what CaptainPutnam will say to that?"
"Will you?" ejaculated Dora. "And who will give you permission tomake alterations here?"
"Mrs. Crabtree--that is soon to be."
"Do you know that she holds this property in a trust for me, Mr.Crabtree? It will be hers only if I die before I become of age.Her own shares of papa's estate is situated further up the lake,at Berryport."
At this announcement Josiah Crabtree started back. "You--youare not telling the truth," he faltered.
"I am."
"But your mother is the executrix of your father's will."
"Yes."
"Exactly. Consequently she has full control of all the propertyuntil you are twenty-one."
"She has--but certain changes suggested by you or her would besubject to the approval of the court or the surrogate, so I havebeen told," answered Dora quietly.
Josiah Crabtree glared at the girl, and then began to pace thefloor impatiently. "Dora, see here," he said finally. "Let uscome to terms."
"What terms?"
"Your mother and I are bound to get married. Remove youropposition to this, and I will promise not to interfere with youin the least. You can do as you please and go where you please,and you shall have all the spending money from time to time thatthe estate can afford."
At this the girl's lip curled proudly. "I do not thank you foryour offer, Mr. Crabtree. The whole difficulty is just here--Ido not like you; and my mother shall never marry you so long as Ican prevent it."
"You--you saucy minx!" he snarled and leaping around the table caughther by the wrist again. "I'll tame you before I am done with you, markmy words! If you dare to talk to your mother again--Hullo, who isthis?"
"Dick Rover!" cried Dora in amazement and in delight.
For Dick had suddenly thrown up the window sash, which wasunlocked, and leaped straight into the sitting room.
"Let her go, Josiah Crabtree!" ordered the young cadet. "Don'tyou dare to strike her, or I'll knock you flat!"
"One of the Rover boys!" muttered the ex-teacher. "What businesshave you here at this hour of the evening? Have you run away fromthe Hall?"
"Since you have been discharged, I do not feel called upon toanswer your question," answered Dick. "But you must let Doraalone, or there will be a broken head around here, I can tell youthat!"
At Dick's plain words Josiah Crabtree greatly paled. He haddropped the girl's wrist and now he fell back several steps.
"I was not harming the girl, only trying to reason with her."
"Oh, I know you well enough. I've heard you were the mostpigheaded teacher they ever had at Putnam Hall," rejoined Dickwarmly. "I shall take pains to let Mrs. Stanhope know what theythink of you, too."
"Was he discharged?" asked Dora. "He told mamma that he had leftof his own accord."
"He was discharged," answered Dick, who had got word through PelegSnuggers.
"It is not true!" stormed Josiah Crabtree. "This is a--a plotto injure me in the eyes of Mrs. Stanhope, and you shall paydearly for it, boy!" and he shook his fist in Dick's face.
"Don't do that again, Mr. Crabtree, or we may have a set-to righthere--begging Dora's pardon," answered Dick, his eyes flashingfire.
"That's all right--don't give in an inch to him, Dick,"whispered Dora. "I hate him--oh, more than words can tell!" andshe caught the youth's arm.
"I am not afraid of you, boy!" was the short return, but now theex-teacher turned to the hallway. "I was on the point of leaving,and now I will go, Dora. But I will be back in a day or two," andhe strode from the room. A moment later he had secured his hatand overcoat and taken his departure.
"Oh, what a dreadful man!" sobbed Dora, when he was gone. "DickRover, what shall I do?" and she looked at him pleadingly.
"It's a puzzle to me, Dora--worse than an example in cube rootin algebra!" He smiled sadly. "But if I was you I'd hold out andnever let him marry my mother."
"Oh, I will never consent to that--never! But he may marry heranyway."
"If he does, you can apply to the courts for another guardian--ifCrabtree doesn't treat you fairly."
"But I do not wish to separate from my mother."
"Well, the only thing to do is to keep fighting him off. In themeantime I'll try to get some folks who know Crabtree well to tellyour mother just what a mean, crabbed fellow he is. Undoubtedlyhe is after the money your father left."
"So I always supposed--but mother does not think so."
"How is your mother?"
"She is doing nicely, and may be out in a week or two. I amkeeping her in as long as possible, so that Josiah Crabtree cannotargue her into going off and getting married."
"You certainly have your hands full, Dora," answered the youngcadet. "I wish I could take this burden off your shoulders,indeed I do!" and impulsively he caught up her plump, hand andkissed it.
"Oh!" She snatched the hand away and blushed prettily, but was notangry. "I--I--; it's something
to know one has a friend,Dick," she said softly. "Can I come to you if I--that is if Iwant something done?"
"To be sure, Dora--I'll do anything in the wide world for youthere!" and he kissed her hand again.
At that moment an elderly lady who had been hired to wait on Mrs.Stanhope came in, and the conversation was changed. Dora askedabout life at the Hall, and Dick told of the football game and ofthe parts Tom and Sam had played in it.
"You are a great set of boys!" Dora smiled.
"I wish I had a couple of sisters."
"You have your two cousins, Nellie and Grace."
"Yes, but they are not as intimate as sisters would be--althoughthey are the best of cousins."
"What does Mr. Laning say of Crabtree?" Dick whispered, as thenurse left the room for a moment.
"Uncle does not like him, but he says the whole matter is none ofhis affair--and mother must do as she thinks best."
It was now growing late, and Dick took his departure, kissingDora's hand a third time as they stood in the darkness of theporch. "You're terrible!" she murmured, but it is doubtful if shemeant anything by it. Girls and boys are about the same the worldover and Dick's regard for Dora was of the manly sort that iscreditable to anybody.