Driven from Home | Page 9

would invite you to dinner, but Mrs.
Crawford seems to be suffering from a nervous attack, and it might not
be pleasant."
"I agree with you, sir."
Just then Peter entered the room, and looked at Gilbert with surprise
and wrath, remembering his recent discomfiture at the hands of the
young visitor.
"My stepson, Peter," announced Dr. Crawford.
"Peter and I have met before," said Gilbert, smiling.

"What are you here for?" asked Peter, rudely.
"Not to see you," answered Gilbert, turning from him.
"My mother'll have something to say to you," went on Peter,
significantly.
"She will have something to say to you," retorted Gilbert. "She has
found out who stole her money."
Peter's face turned scarlet instantly, and he left the room hurriedly.
"Perhaps I ought not to have said that, Dr Crawford," added Gilbert,
apologetically, "but I dislike that boy very much, and couldn't help
giving him as good as he sent."
"It is all very unpleasant," responded Dr. Crawford, peevishly. "I don't
see why I can't live in peace and tranquility."
"I won't intrude upon you any longer," said Gilbert, "if you will kindly
tell me whether you will consent to make Carl a small weekly
allowance."
"I can't say now. I want time to think. Give me your address, and I will
write to Carl in your care."
"Very well, sir."
Gilbert left the house and made arrangements to have Carl's trunk
called for. It accompanied him on the next train to Warren.
CHAPTER VI.
Mrs. CRAWFORD'S LETTER.
"How did you like my stepmother?" asked Carl, when Gilbert returned
in the afternoon.
"She's a daisy!" answered Gilbert, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't

think I ever saw a more disagreeable woman."
"Do you blame me for leaving home?"
"I only wonder you have been able to stay so long. I had a long
conversation with your father."
"Mrs. Crawford has made a different man of him. I should have no
trouble in getting along with him if there was no one to come between
us."
"He gave me this for you," said Gilbert, producing the ten-dollar bill.
"Did my stepmother know of his sending it?"
"No; she was opposed to sending your trunk, but your father said
emphatically you should have it."
"I am glad he showed that much spirit."
"I have some hopes that he will make you an allowance of a few dollars
a week."
"That would make me all right, but I don't expect it."
"You will probably hear from your father to-morrow or next day, so
you will have to make yourself contented a little longer."
"I hope you are not very homesick, Mr. Crawford?" said Julia,
coquettishly.
"I would ask nothing better than to stay here permanently," rejoined
Carl, earnestly. "This is a real home. I have met with more kindness
here than in six months at my own home."
"You have one staunch friend at home," said Gilbert.
"You don't allude to Peter?"

"So far as I can judge, he hates you like poison. I mean Jane."
"Yes, Jane is a real friend. She has been in the family for ten years. She
was a favorite with my own mother, and feels an interest in me."
"By the way, your stepmother's charge that you took a wallet
containing money from her drawer has been disproved by Jane. She
saw Peter abstracting the money, and so informed Mrs. Crawford."
"I am not at all surprised. Peter is mean enough to steal or do anything
else. What did my stepmother say?"
"She was very angry, and threatened to discharge Jane; but, as no one
would be left to attend to the dinner, I presume she is likely to stay."
"I ought to be forming some plan," said Carl, thoughtfully.
"Wait till you hear from home. Julia will see that your time is well
filled up till then. Dismiss all care, and enjoy yourself while you may."
This seemed to be sensible advice, and Carl followed it. In the evening
some young people were invited in, and there was a round of
amusements that made Carl forget that he was an exile from home,
with very dubious prospects.
"You are all spoiling me," he said, as Gilbert and he went upstairs to
bed. "I am beginning to understand the charms of home. To go out into
the world from here will be like taking a cold shower bath."
"Never forget, Carl, that you will be welcome back, whenever you feel
like coming," said Gilbert, laying his band affectionately on Carl's
shoulder. "We all like you here."
"Thank you, old fellow! I appreciate the kindness I have received here;
but I must strike out for myself."
"How do you feel about it, Carl?"
"I hope for the best. I am young, strong and willing to work. There

must