CHAPTER XVII. A SHADE OF MYSTERY
Frank found little difficulty in persuading his mother to accept youngMorton's proposition. From her son's description she felt little doubtthat he would be a pleasant addition to the family circle, while hisfund of information would make him instructive as well as agreeable.
There was another consideration besides which determined her to takehim. Five dollars a week would go a great way in housekeeping, or,rather, as their income from other sources would probably be sufficientfor this, she could lay aside the entire amount toward paying themortgage held by Squire Haynes. This plan occurred simultaneously toFrank and his mother.
"I should certainly feel myself to blame if I neglected so good anopportunity of helping your father," said Mrs. Frost.
"Suppose we don't tell him, mother," suggested Frank; "but when he getshome surprise him with the amount of our savings."
"No," said Mrs. Frost, after a moment's thought, "your father will beall the better for all the good news we can send him. It will make hislife more tolerable."
Frank harnessed his horse to a light wagon and drove down to the tavern.
Henry Morton was sitting on the piazza, as the day was unusually-warm,with a book in his hand.
"Well," he said, looking up with a smile, "I hope you have come for me."
"That is my errand, Mr. Morton," answered Frank. "If your trunk isalready packed, we will take it along with us."
"It is quite ready. If you will come up and help me downstairs with it,I will settle with the landlord and leave at once."
This was speedily arranged, and the young man soon occupied a seatbeside Frank.
Arrived at the farmhouse, Frank introduced the new boarder to hismother.
"I hope we shall be able to make you comfortable," said Mrs. Frost, in ahospitable tone.
"I entertain no doubt of it," he said politely. "I am easy to suit, andI foresee that Frank and I will become intimate friends."
"He was very urgent to have you come. I am not quite sure whether itwould have been safe for me to refuse."
"I hope he will be as urgent to have me stay. That will be a stillhigher compliment."
"Here is the room you are to occupy, Mr. Morton," said Mrs. Frost,opening a door at the head of the front stairs.
It was a large square room, occupying the front eastern corner of thehouse. The furniture was neat and comfortable, though not pretentious.
"I like this," said the young man, surveying his new quarters with anair of satisfaction. "The sun will find me out in the morning."
"Yes, it will remain with you through the forenoon. I think you willfind the room warm and comfortable. But whenever you get tired of it youwill be welcome downstairs."
"That is an invitation of which I shall be only too glad to availmyself. Now, Frank, if you will be kind enough to help me upstairs withmy trunk."
The trunk was carried up between them, and placed in a closet.
"I will send for a variety of articles from the city to make my roomlook social and cheerful," said Mr. Morton. "I have some books andengravings in Boston, which I think will contribute to make it so."
A day or two later, two large boxes arrived, one containing pictures,the other books. Of the latter there were perhaps a hundred and fifty,choice and well selected.
Frank looked at them with avidity.
"You shall be welcome to use them as freely as you like," said theowner--an offer which Frank gratefully accepted.
The engravings were tastefully framed in black walnut. One representedone of Raphael's Madonnas. Another was a fine photograph, representinga palace in Venice. Several others portrayed foreign scenes. Among themwas a street scene in Rome. An entire family were sitting in differentpostures on the portico of a fine building, the man with his swarthyfeatures half-concealed under a slouch hat, the woman holding a childin her lap, while another, a boy with large black eyes, leaned his headupon her knees.
"That represents a Roman family at home," explained Henry Morton.
"At home!"
"Yes, it is the only home they have. They sleep wherever night findsthem, sheltering themselves from the weather as well as they can."
"But how do they get through the winter? should think they wouldfreeze."
"Nature has bestowed upon Italy a mild climate, so that, although theymay find the exposure at this season disagreeable, they are in no dangerof freezing."
There was another engraving which Frank looked at curiously. Itrepresented a wagon laden with casks of wine, and drawn by an ox anda donkey yoked together. Underneath was a descriptive phrase, "Caro divino."
"You don't see such teams in this country," said Mr. Morton, smiling."In Italy they are common enough. In the background you notice a priestwith a shovel-hat, sitting sideways on a donkey. Such a sight is muchmore common there than that of a man on horseback. Indeed, this stubbornanimal is found very useful in ascending and descending mountains, beingmuch surer-footed than the horse. I have ridden down steep descentsalong the verge of a precipice where it would have been madness toventure on horseback, but I felt the strongest confidence in the donkeyI bestrode."
Frank noticed a few Latin books in the collection. "Do you read Latin,Mr. Morton?" he inquired.
"Yes, with tolerable ease. If I can be of any assistance to you incarrying on your Latin studies, it will afford me pleasure to do so."
"I am very much obliged to you, Mr. Morton. I tried to go on with it bymyself, but every now and then I came to a difficult sentence which Icould not make out."
"I think we can overcome the difficulties between us. At any rate, wewill try. Have no hesitation in applying to me."
Before closing this chapter, I think it necessary to narrate a littleincident which served to heighten the interest with which Frank regardedhis new friend, though it involved the latter in a shadow of mystery.
Mrs. Frost did not keep what in New England is denominated "help." Beingin good health, she performed the greater part of her household tasksunassisted. When washing and house-cleaning days came, however, sheobtained outside assistance. For this purpose she engaged Chloe to cometwice a week, on Monday and Saturday, not only because in this way shecould help the woman to earn a living, but also because she found her avaluable and efficient assistant.
Henry Morton became a member of the little household at the farm onThursday, and two days later Chloe came as usual to "clean house."
The young man was standing in the front yard as Chloe, with a whiteturban on her head, for she had not yet laid aside her Southern mode ofdress, came from the street by a little path which led to the back door.Her attention was naturally drawn to the young man. No sooner did sheobtain a full view of him, than she stopped short and exclaimed withevery appearance of surprise, "Why, Mass' Richard, who'd'a' thought tosee you here. You look just like you used to do, dat's a fac'. It doesmy old eyes good to see you."
Henry Morton turned suddenly.
"What, Chloe!" he exclaimed in equal surprise. "What brings you up here?I thought you were miles away, in Virginia."
"So I was, Mass' Richard. But Lor' bless you, when de Linkum sogerscome, I couldn't stay no longer. I took and runned away."
"And here you are, then."
"Yes, Mass' Richard, here I is, for sure."
"How do you like the North, Chloe?"
"Don't like it as well as de Souf. It's too cold," and Chloe shivered.
"But you would rather be here than there?"
"Yes, Mass' Richard. Here I own myself. Don't have no oberseer to crackhis whip at me now. I'se a free woman now, and so's my little Pomp."
The young man smiled at the innocent mistake.
"Pomp is your little boy, I suppose, Chloe."
"Yes, Mass' Richard."
"Is he a good boy?"
"He's as sassy as de debble," said Chloe emphatically. "I don't knowwhat's goin' to 'come of dat boy. He's most worried my life out."
"Oh, he'll grow better as he grows older. Don't t
rouble yourself abouthim. But, Chloe, there's one favor I am going to ask of you."
"Yes, Mass' Richard."
"Don't call me by my real name. For some reasons, which I can't atpresent explain, I prefer to be known as Henry Morton, for some monthsto come. Do you think you can remember to call me by that name?"
"Yes, Mass'--Henry," said Chloe, looking perplexed.
Henry Morton turned round to meet the surprised looks of Frank and hismother.
"My friends," he said, "I hope you will not feel distrustful of me, whenI freely acknowledge to you that imperative reasons compel me for a timeto appear under a name not my own. Chloe and I are old acquaintances,but I must request her to keep secret for a time her past knowledgeconcerning me. I think," he added with a smile, "that she would havenothing to say that would damage me. Some time you shall know all. Areyou satisfied?"
"Quite so," said Mrs. Frost. "I have no doubt you have good andsufficient reason."
"I will endeavor to justify your confidence," said Henry Morton, anexpression of pleasure lighting up his face.