Frank's Campaign [37]
you, sir," said Frank; "I will mention it to my mother, and let you know in the course of to-morrow."
CHAPTER XVII. A SHADE OF MYSTERY
Frank found little difficulty in persuading his mother to accept young Morton's proposition. From her son's description she felt little doubt that he would be a pleasant addition to the family circle, while his fund of information would make him instructive as well as agreeable.
There was another consideration besides which determined her to take him. Five dollars a week would go a great way in housekeeping, or, rather, as their income from other sources would probably be sufficient for this, she could lay aside the entire amount toward paying the mortgage held by Squire Haynes. This plan occurred simultaneously to Frank and his mother.
"I should certainly feel myself to blame if I neglected so good an opportunity of helping your father," said Mrs. Frost.
"Suppose we don't tell him, mother," suggested Frank; "but when he gets home surprise him with the amount of our savings."
"No," said Mrs. Frost, after a moment's thought, "your father will be all the better for all the good news we can send him. It will make his life 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 is already 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 seat beside Frank.
Arrived at the farmhouse, Frank introduced the new boarder to his mother.
"I hope we shall be able to make you comfortable," said Mrs. Frost, in a hospitable tone.
"I entertain no doubt of it," he said politely. "I am easy to suit, and I foresee that Frank and I will become intimate friends."
"He was very urgent to have you come. I am not quite sure whether it would have been safe for me to refuse."
"I hope he will be as urgent to have me stay. That will be a still higher 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 the house. The furniture was neat and comfortable, though not pretentious.
"I like this," said the young man, surveying his new quarters with an air of satisfaction. "The sun will find me out in the morning."
"Yes, it will remain with you through the forenoon. I think you will find the room warm and comfortable. But whenever you get tired of it you will be welcome downstairs."
"That is an invitation of which I shall be only too glad to avail myself. Now, Frank, if you will be kind enough to help me upstairs with my 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 room look social and cheerful," said Mr. Morton. "I have some books and engravings 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 the owner--an offer which Frank gratefully accepted.
The engravings were tastefully framed in black walnut. One represented one of Raphael's Madonnas. Another was a fine photograph, representing a palace in Venice. Several others portrayed foreign scenes. Among them was a street scene in Rome. An entire family were sitting in different postures on the portico of a fine building, the man with his swarthy features half-concealed under a slouch hat, the woman holding a child in her lap, while another, a boy with large black
CHAPTER XVII. A SHADE OF MYSTERY
Frank found little difficulty in persuading his mother to accept young Morton's proposition. From her son's description she felt little doubt that he would be a pleasant addition to the family circle, while his fund of information would make him instructive as well as agreeable.
There was another consideration besides which determined her to take him. Five dollars a week would go a great way in housekeeping, or, rather, as their income from other sources would probably be sufficient for this, she could lay aside the entire amount toward paying the mortgage held by Squire Haynes. This plan occurred simultaneously to Frank and his mother.
"I should certainly feel myself to blame if I neglected so good an opportunity of helping your father," said Mrs. Frost.
"Suppose we don't tell him, mother," suggested Frank; "but when he gets home surprise him with the amount of our savings."
"No," said Mrs. Frost, after a moment's thought, "your father will be all the better for all the good news we can send him. It will make his life 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 is already 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 seat beside Frank.
Arrived at the farmhouse, Frank introduced the new boarder to his mother.
"I hope we shall be able to make you comfortable," said Mrs. Frost, in a hospitable tone.
"I entertain no doubt of it," he said politely. "I am easy to suit, and I foresee that Frank and I will become intimate friends."
"He was very urgent to have you come. I am not quite sure whether it would have been safe for me to refuse."
"I hope he will be as urgent to have me stay. That will be a still higher 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 the house. The furniture was neat and comfortable, though not pretentious.
"I like this," said the young man, surveying his new quarters with an air of satisfaction. "The sun will find me out in the morning."
"Yes, it will remain with you through the forenoon. I think you will find the room warm and comfortable. But whenever you get tired of it you will be welcome downstairs."
"That is an invitation of which I shall be only too glad to avail myself. Now, Frank, if you will be kind enough to help me upstairs with my 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 room look social and cheerful," said Mr. Morton. "I have some books and engravings 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 the owner--an offer which Frank gratefully accepted.
The engravings were tastefully framed in black walnut. One represented one of Raphael's Madonnas. Another was a fine photograph, representing a palace in Venice. Several others portrayed foreign scenes. Among them was a street scene in Rome. An entire family were sitting in different postures on the portico of a fine building, the man with his swarthy features half-concealed under a slouch hat, the woman holding a child in her lap, while another, a boy with large black