Strong and Steady. Alger Horatio Jr.Читать онлайн книгу.
IV.
JACOB DRUMMOND, OF STAPLETON
Jacob Drummond kept a dry-goods store in the village of Stapleton. As the village was of considerable size, and he had no competitors, he drove a flourishing trade, and had already acquired quite a comfortable property. In fact, even had he been less favorably situated, he was pretty sure to thrive. He knew how to save money better, even, than to earn it, being considered, and with justice, a very mean man. He carried his meanness not only into his business, but into his household, and there was not a poor mechanic in Stapleton, and scarcely a poor laborer, who did not live better than Mr. Drummond, who was the rich man of the place.
No one, to look at Jacob Drummond, would have been likely to mistake his character. All the lines of his face, the expression of his thin lips, his cold gray eyes, all bespoke his meanness. Poor Mrs. Drummond, his wife, could have testified to it, had she dared; but in this house, at least, the husband was master, and she dared not express the opinions she secretly entertained of the man to whom she was bound for life.
At five o'clock on the afternoon of the day after Mr. Conrad's death, Mr. Drummond entered the house, which was on the opposite side of the street from the store.
This was the supper hour, and supper was ready upon the table.
A single glance was sufficient to show that Mr. Drummond was not a man to indulge in luxurious living. There was a plate of white bread, cut in thin slices, a small plate of butter, half a pie, and a plate of cake. A small pitcher of milk, a bowl of coarse brown sugar, and a pot of the cheapest kind of tea completed the preparations for the evening meal. Certainly there was nothing extravagant about these preparations; but Mr. Drummond thought otherwise. His attention was at once drawn to the cake, and instantly a frown gathered upon his face.
"Are we going to have company to-night, Mrs. Drummond?" he asked.
"Not that I know of," answered his wife, in some surprise.
"Then why is it that you have put both pie and cake on the table?"
"There was only half a pie, Mr. Drummond," said she, nervously.
"Well, there are but three of us. You can get three good-sized pieces from half a pie. That will be one for each of us. What would you have more?"
"The cake is a cheap kind."
"No cake is cheap, Mrs. Drummond. I take it you used eggs, butter, and sugar in making it."
"Yes, but—"
"No buts, if you please, Mrs. Drummond. You are probably not aware that all these articles are very dear at present. Until they get lower we need not have cake, except when company is present."
That being the case, Mr. Drummond was not likely to be put to much expense on this score. They seldom had company, and those who came once were not anxious to come again. For even on such occasions Mr. Drummond could not forget his ruling principle. The overflowing hospitality which even in the humblest village households crowns the board with plenty when visitors are present, was never to be found there; and, besides, the visitors could not help having an uneasy suspicion that their host grudged them the niggardly entertainment he did provide. So for three years the Stapleton Sewing Circle had met but once at the Drummonds', and there was no immediate prospect of their meeting there for another three years.
It may be supposed that Mr. Drummond was not fond of good eating. This, however, would be quite a mistake. When he dined or took tea out, he always did full justice to the different dainties which were provided, and quite seemed to enjoy them as long as they were furnished at the expense of another.
"Take away the cake, if you please, Mrs. Drummond," continued her husband. "You can save it for Sunday evening."
"I am afraid it will be dried up by that time."
"If it is dry, you can steam it."
"That spoils cake."
"You seem very contrary to-night, Mrs. Drummond. I have continually to check you in your extravagant tastes. Cake and pie, indeed! If you had your way, you would double my household expenses."
Mrs. Drummond rose from the table, and meekly removed the offending cake.
Just then the third and only other member of the family entered.
This was Joshua Drummond, the only son, now eighteen years of age, though he looked scarcely more than sixteen. He inherited his father's meanness, but not his frugality. He was more self-indulgent, and, though he grudged spending money for others, was perfectly ready to spend as much as he could get hold of for himself.
CHAPTER V.
JACOB DRUMMOND—CONTINUED
Over Joshua Mr. Drummond had less control than over his wife. The latter gave way meekly to his unreasonable requisitions; but Joshua did not hesitate to make opposition, being as selfish and self-willed as his father, for whom he entertained neither respect nor affection.
Joshua looked around him disdainfully.
"Is this Fast Day?" he asked.
"You know very well that Fast Day comes in April," said his father.
"I only judged from the looks of the table," said Joshua, not very respectfully. "You don't mean that we shall any of us suffer from the gout."
"Bread and butter and pie are good enough for anybody," said Mr. Drummond, stiffly.
"I don't see any pie. Excuse me, there is a little,—so little that I did not at first see it."
This was too much for Mr. Drummond's temper.
"Unmannerly boy!" he exclaimed; "if you are dissatisfied with the fare you get at home, you can engage board elsewhere."
"I would like to," muttered Joshua, in a low voice, which his father chose not to hear.
In silence he helped himself to bread and butter, and in due time accepted a piece of pie, which Mrs. Drummond made larger at the expense of her own share.
Harmony thus being restored, Mr. Drummond remarked, "I've had a telegram to-day from Willoughby."
"From Willoughby?" repeated his wife. "Isn't that where your cousin William Conrad lives?"
"He doesn't live there any longer. He's dead."
"Dead! When did he die?"
"I don't know. Yesterday, I suppose. The funeral is to be day after to-morrow."
"Shall you go?"
"Yes. It will cost me considerable; as much as five dollars or more; but he was my cousin, and it is my duty to go," said Mr. Drummond, with the air of a man who was making a great sacrifice.
"He was rich, wasn't he?" asked Joshua, becoming interested.
"Probably worth a hundred thousand dollars," said his father, complacently.
"I should think he might have left me something," said Joshua.
"He never saw you, Joshua," said his mother.
"Joshua stands a better chance of getting a legacy from one who doesn't know him, than from one who does," said Mr. Drummond, with grim pleasantry.
"He leaves children, doesn't he, Mr. Drummond?"
"One child—a boy. Let me see, he must be fifteen by this time."
"And his mother isn't living?"
"No."
"Poor boy!"
"He'll be a rich boy, Mrs. Drummond, and I'll tell you what, I shouldn't wonder if we had a good chance to know him."
"How so?"
"It's likely I will be appointed his guardian. I'm the nearest relative, so that will be the most proper course."
"Will he come here, then?" asked Joshua.
"Very probably."
"Then I hope you'll live better, or he won't stand it."
"When I require any advice from you, Joshua, I will apply for it," said his father.
Joshua inwardly