登陆注册
4710000000073

第73章

At this moment Mrs. Crawford re-entered the room.

"What brings you here?" she demanded, coolly, of Carl.

"I came here because this is my father's house, madam."

"You have behaved badly to me," said Mrs. Crawford.

"You have defied my authority, and brought sorrow and distress to your good father. I thought you would have the good sense to stay away."

"Do you indorse this, father?" asked Carl, turning to Dr. Crawford.

"No!" answered his father, with unwonted energy.

"My house will always be your home."

"You seem to have changed your mind, Dr. Crawford," sneered his wife.

"Where did you pick up the report of Carl's being killed on the railroad?" asked the doctor, sternly.

"Peter heard it in the village," said Mrs. Crawford, carelessly.

"Did it occur to you that the sudden news might injure your husband?" asked Ashcroft.

"I spoke too impulsively. I realize too late my imprudence," said Mrs. Crawford, coolly. "Have you lost your place?" she asked, addressing Carl.

"No. I have just returned from Chicago."

His stepmother looked surprised.

"We have had a quiet time since you left us," she said.

"If you value your father's health and peace of mind, you will not remain here."

"Is my presence also unwelcome?" asked Ashcroft.

"You have not treated me with respect," replied Mrs. Crawford. "If you are a gentleman, you will understand that under the circumstances it will be wise for you to take your, departure."

"Leaving my old friend to your care?"

"Yes, that will be best."

"Mr. Ashcroft, can I have a few minutes' conversation with you?" asked Carl.

"Certainly."

They left the room together, followed by an uneasy and suspicious glance from Mrs. Crawford.

Carl hurriedly communicated to his father's friend what he had learned about his stepmother.

"Mr. Cook, Peter's father, is just outside," he said.

"Shall I call him in?"

"I think we had better do so, but arrange that the interview shall take place without your father's knowledge. He must not be excited.

Call him in, and then summon your stepmother."

"Mrs. Crawford," said Carl, re-entering his father's room, "Mr. Ashcroft would like to have a few words with you. Can you come out?"

She followed Carl uneasily.

"What is it you want with me, sir?" she asked, frigidly.

"Let me introduce an old acquaintance of yours."

Mr. Cook, whom Mrs. Crawford had not at first observed, came forward. She drew back in dismay.

"It is some time since we met, Lucy," said Cook, quietly.

"Do you come here to make trouble?" she muttered, hoarsely.

"I come to ask for the property you took during my absence in California," he said. "I don't care to have you return to me----"

"I obtained a divorce."

"Precisely; I don't care to annul it. I am thankful that you are no longer my wife."

"I--I will see what I can do for you. Don't go near my present husband. He is in poor health, and cannot bear a shock."

"Mrs. Crawford," said Ashcroft, gravely, "if you have any idea of remaining here, in this house, give it up. I shall see that your husband's eyes are opened to your real character."

"Sir, you heard this man say that he has no claim upon me."

"That may be, but I cannot permit my friend to harbor a woman whose record is as bad as yours."

"What do you mean?" she demanded, defiantly.

"I mean that you have served a term in prison for larceny."

"It is false," she said, with trembling lips.

"It is true. I visited the prison during your term of confinement, and saw you there."

"I, too, can certify to it," said Cook.

"I learned it two years after my marriage.

You will understand why I am glad of the divorce."

Mrs. Crawford was silent for a moment. She realized that the battle was lost.

"Well," she said, after a pause, "I am defeated.

I thought my secret was safe, but I was mistaken.

What do you propose to do with me?"

"I will tell you this evening," said Ashcroft.

"One thing I can say now--you must not expect to remain in this house."

"I no longer care to do so."

A conference was held during the afternoon, Dr Crawford being told as much as was essential. It was arranged that Mrs. Crawford should have an allowance of four hundred dollars for herself and Peter if she would leave the house quietly, and never again annoy her husband. Mr. Cook offered to take Peter, but the latter preferred to remain with his mother.

A private arrangement was made by which Dr.

Crawford made up to Mr. Cook one-half of the sum stolen from him by his wife, and through the influence of Ashcroft, employment was found for him. He is no longer a tramp, but a man held in respect, and moderately prosperous.

Carl is still in the employ of Mr. Jennings, and his father has removed to Milford, where he and his son can live together. Next September, on his twenty-first birthday, Carl will be admitted to a junior partnership in the business, his father furnishing the necessary capital. Carl's stepmother is in Chicago, and her allowance is paid to her quarterly through a Chicago bank. She has considerable trouble with Peter, who has become less submissive as he grows older, and is unwilling to settle down to steady work. His prospects do not look very bright.

Mr. Jennings and Hannah are as much attached as ever to Carl, and it is quite likely the manufacturer will make him his heir. Happy in the society of his son, Dr. Crawford is likely to live to a good old age, in spite of his weakness and tendency to heart disease, for happiness is a great aid to longevity.

同类推荐
  • 指瑞篇

    指瑞篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 世纬

    世纬

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 感类篇

    感类篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 东岩集

    东岩集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 藏海诗话

    藏海诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 美男危险诱爱:情遇腹黑神秘邪少

    美男危险诱爱:情遇腹黑神秘邪少

    "五年前,她带他逃离魔窟,被一位神秘温柔的帅哥所救。二男一女亲如家人,谁知五年后爆出一切都是惊天阴谋?他与他,都渴求她的身心。但无论她选择哪个,都会害死另一个?!爱,即是抛弃;救人,即是杀人,她该如何抉择?"--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 扶苏难解

    扶苏难解

    江湖是非,恩怨难了,也许每个人都有不一样的故事,也许每个人都有不一样的未来。苏扶羽原本仅仅想做个过客,做他们人生中的一次旁观者,可命运似乎总喜欢把她牵扯其中。然而这一次她想做他生命中的参与者,可命运却总把她拒之门外,尽管那个人也不想让她伤痕累累,但她依旧义无反顾地扑向其中。“也罢,那这一次就为了你,不信命吧。”
  • 绝世皇后:步步陷情

    绝世皇后:步步陷情

    步步为营,是为了谁做嫁衣?心心算计,为何算不过自己的心?她为暗杀营的杀手,奉苏太后之命代昭阳公主嫁往别国,只为倾覆他的国;不曾想这场任务中,她一步步陷入了他用温柔织就的情网;初见,繁华的街市上,她为躲避追兵而跳上了他的马,提出让他策马以甩掉她身后追兵的条件,“什么条件,你才能让你的马跑起来甩掉追我的人?”“记住你欠我的”语气轻挑,噪音却是极好听,似山涧流水般的悦耳。他策马疾驰,甩开追兵,提出的条件却是,“你的名字?”碧落街,姻缘会上,他为她点燃一星空的烟花,她的心开始沦陷而不自知;本以为不会再相见,冥冥中却早有安排,再一次的相见时,他成了她的夫君,她成了他的皇后;月色风华绝代,月色般绝世容颜如他。当他的眼眸在深情凝望她时,她明白他是她逃不开的诱惑;津山悬崖上,他为她纵身一跳。死里逃生后,他说:“无论碧落还是黄泉,只要有你在,走一遭又何妨?”为了这句话,她甘愿抛却杀手的身份,生死追随于他;只是宫阙深深,算计层层,她始终算不了他的心,最终情伤累累的她以一杯假死药远离了宫阙,远离了他;本不欲再靠近宫廷靠近情爱,奈何却阴差阳错回到故国被人设计再入宫门,陷入苏太后的另一个阴谋中;她离去后,他方知自己对她的爱早已融入了骨血,最终为再度得到她,他为她散尽后宫,用温柔与深情再次朝她洒下情网;千帆过尽,他做到了誓不负她。
  • 青春明媚半忧伤

    青春明媚半忧伤

    在她的青春中,遇到了很多极其重要的人,他们在她的人生中留下了或轻或重的足迹,陪她度过了青春中最美好的岁月。有借着男闺蜜的身份默默守候她的蓝颜知己,有以同事名义关心呵护她的亲密搭档,有让她神魂颠倒、遥不可及的男神,还有以她意想不到的方式闯进她生活的学弟。他们都是那么的与众不同,而又是那么不约而同地出现在她的青春里,暗恋、等待、追求,崇拜、呵护、依赖、离别、伤害,成为她回忆中不可或缺的一部分。在他们身上又都上演着不同的故事,故事可能与她有关,也可能没有;故事里的主角是她,是他,也是他们。新学期伊始,所有的故事也都将——拉开帷幕……
  • 昌吉县呼图壁乡土志

    昌吉县呼图壁乡土志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 华娱之梦

    华娱之梦

    好春光,不如梦一场,梦里青草香。千禧年初春,林木落脚到了四九城外的村子里。然后一切都开始变得像是一场梦一样。一场如梦似幻的华娱之梦!---------ps:已完本240W同类型《华娱》,欢迎开杀,信誉保证。
  • 思忆漫长

    思忆漫长

    从学校到家,需要经过三条马路,两条小巷。你总是在我前方陪我走过半程。三年的时光,在那个六月我们彼此分离。我去了你的城市,想让你知道我这个女孩。
  • 总裁抱抱举高高

    总裁抱抱举高高

    第一回合,苏怡提出跟唐少卿离婚,并给出了离婚协议书,唐少卿说没空看.第二回合,苏怡追唐少卿签离婚协议书,唐少卿悠悠来一句不想离了,还让她查查第二春目前的状况,雷得苏怡外焦里嫩。第三回合,苏怡直接放弃面子揭露他红颜知己怀孕的事,让唐少卿签字离婚,唐少卿竟然开出条件生完两个孩子就离婚,苏怡直接想倒。苏怡觉得,离婚这一刻才真正认识唐少卿,太极品了!他的红颜知己怀了他的孩子,作为正妻的她主动让位,结果唐少卿还不依不饶了。原本想甩他一个高傲离开的背影,然后去寻找第二春的,可是后来苏怡只想求唐少卿说行行好赶紧休了她吧。
  • 鄂州龙光达夫禅师鸡肋集

    鄂州龙光达夫禅师鸡肋集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 城市麻辣烫

    城市麻辣烫

    冬天的太阳落得早,墙上的挂钟才指着五点,窗外已经是模模糊糊的一片,脱去了白天的亮丽,又还没来得及落下黑色的帷幕,整个世界显出了赤裸裸的形骸。戴杰揉了揉惺忪的睡眼,转头看着外面的冬景,光秃秃的梧桐树杆张牙舞爪地伸着,很像一幅出自名家手笔的印象画,只是布景和色调上都冷了点,让人一看到就想继续裹在暖烘烘的被窝里赖床。不过戴杰睡到现在可不是这个原因,戴杰有个特别的生活习惯,那就是每天都比前一天晚睡一个小时,当然第二天就要晚起一个小时。如是轮回一圈,同是一天七小时的睡眠时间,戴杰就是比别人少睡了一天。