Jr. Horatio Alger

“ Thorne was the acknowledged bully of the school. He was a big, hulking fellow, with a heavy figure and a repulsive face, and small ferret eyes, emitting a cold and baleful light. He was more than a match for any of his fellow-pupils, and availed himself of his superior physical strength to abuse and browbeat the smaller boys. Knowing his strength he was not afraid of interference, and usually carried his point. If Cameron had not been particularly occupied playing marbles with a boy of his own age he would not have ventured to object to obey the despot. ”

“ Jasper Kent's attention was drawn to her, and he observed these peculiarities.
"By Jove!" he said to himself, "she walks just like the governess."
Still, having no reason to suspect the presence of Miss Thorne, as he called her, at the school, he would have thought the resemblance only accidental, but for a whiff of wind which blew the veil aside from her face. That face there was no mistaking.
"Miss Thorne!" he exclaimed, in surprise, advancing to meet her. ”

“ She considered Nicholas handsome, spirited, and amiable—indeed, as an unusually fascinating and attractive boy. To others he was big, overgrown, malicious, and stupid. But then mothers are apt to look through different spectacles from the rest of the world.
"I guess Jasper'll want to change his guardian," said Thorne, laughing. "You and he won't hitch horses very well."
"Don't use such a common expression, Nicholas. I want you to grow up a well-bred gentleman."
"Oh, well, I mean to. But I say, if his father liked him so much, what made him appoint you to take care of him?" ”

“ You would have done better to stay where you were."
"You don't seem to consider, Helen, that we hadn't met for years, and I wanted to see my only sister."
"Suppose I had had no money, would you have come then?" asked Mrs. Kent, with contemptuous incredulity.
"No; I couldn't have afforded it. But, Helen, fifty dollars is nothing at all. You might say a hundred."
"I might say a hundred, but there is no chance that I shall. Are you not ashamed—a great, strong man, as you are—not to be able to support yourself and wife without help from me?"
"Luck's been agin me," said Dick, sullenly. ”

“ His father married again, and he left in ignorance of his intention! Jasper felt hurt that his father, for whom he cherished so deep and warm an affection, should have taken such a step without apprising him of it in advance. If he was to marry, certainly his only son ought to have been present at the wedding.
"But it isn't father's fault," he thought, bitterly. "It's the fault of Miss Thorne. She is more artful and designing even than I thought. She has married my father for his wealth and position, and she was afraid I would dissuade him from such a step." ”

“ Unobserved by her husband, the wife made a warning sign to Jasper not to provoke the man, whose evil passion she so well knew.
Jasper comprehended the sign, but it did not influence him. Frank and fearless by temperament, he thought it his duty to stand between the little boy and this ruffian's brutality. Still he appreciated the woman's kindness, and resolved to bear it in mind. Indeed, he saw that she was rather to be pitied than blamed. Her natural instincts were good, but she was under the control of a bad man. ”

“ Go to school for the next two years. I will advance the money to pay your bills. If at the end of that time the paper is what I hope it is, you will then be able to pay me, and for the balance of your minority I can become your guardian."
"I wish you might, Mr. Miller; but I don't think, under the circumstances, I want to go back to school."
"What do you wish to do, Jasper?"
"I am young, and I would like to see something of the world. I would like to imagine myself a poor boy, as I really am just now, and see if I cannot make my own way." ”

“ As Jasper's schoolmate, and your nephew, he shall be doubly welcome."
"You are very kind, Mr. Kent," said his wife, in a tone which might well be mistaken for that of grateful emotion. "It will, indeed, be a treat to my poor Nicholas to come here, even for a day."
"He must spend his next vacation here, eh, Jasper? It will be pleasant for you to have a boy of your own age here."
"Do as you like, father," said Jasper, who didn't care to say how distasteful the proposition was to him, or to explain the nature of the relations between Nicholas and himself. ”

“ I'm doing well enough," said the boy, indifferently, for Nicholas Thorne's taste for study was very moderate. "Did you bring me any money, mother?"
"You have your regular allowance, Nicholas."
"It isn't enough. What's a dollar a week?"
"It is a good deal for me to pay," said his mother. "Remember, I have to pay your school bills, and my means are but small."
"A dollar a week is very small for a boy of my age," grumbled Thorne. "Why, some of the little boys get more; and there's that new boy, Jasper Kent, gets five dollars, so they say." ”

“ You didn't care what became of me."
"That is unjust, Nicholas. You must see that it is. Once we are married I shall have more control of money, and if Mr. Kent dies I shall be entitled to a third of his property."
"I wish he'd leave you the whole, and cut off that upstart Jasper," said Nicholas, frowning.
"There is not much chance of that. He thinks everything of Jasper. However, I don't think he'll live long, and I shall induce him, if possible, to name me as Jasper's guardian." ”

“ Jasper had been on the lookout, fearing that Thorne would take some opportunity to wreak vengeance on young Cameron when he was not present. But his fears were gradually allayed. Thorne seemed usually peaceable—so much so that his school-mates, who knew him well, thought he had turned over a new leaf, and speculated as to what had produced the change. But neither boys nor men change suddenly and completely, though policy and self-interest may for a time lead them to suppress the manifestation of their characteristic traits. ”

“ You shall work for me."
"That kind of work will do the world no good. I want to do something useful."
"So you shall. You shall help us bleed some of these bloated aristocrats. They've got more money than is good for them—more than they have any business to keep."
"I don't agree with you," said Jasper.
"You'd better. It is for your interest," said Jack, frowning.
"It can't be for my interest to become a law-breaker."
"Then you can stay here till you rot!" retorted the burglar, roughly. "You won't come out of this chamber till you have agreed to become one of us." ”

“ On the fourth day, at noon, Jasper heard steps ascending the stairs. He supposed it to be the old man, with his dinner, and he looked up listlessly as the sliding-door was opened. But instead of the wrinkled face of Nathan he beheld the fresh face of a young girl, apparently about sixteen years of age. She regarded the prisoner with curiosity and surprise.
"Here's your dinner," she said.
"Thank you," said Jasper. "Where is the old man that generally comes up?"
"Uncle Nathan? Oh, he's gone out for a little while." ”

“ Meanwhile Jasper Kent had returned to his boarding-school. There was one who awaited his return with mingled curiosity and exultation.
This was Nicholas Thorne.
He had received his mother's letter, from which he learned, first, that her plan had succeeded, and she was now the wife of a rich man, and, secondly, that his own relationship to her must be changed in the eyes of the world.
"I suppose mother knows what is best," he said to himself. "So I'm to be her nephew, am I? Well, it's all one to me, as long as I fare the better for her good fortune." ”

“ Kent, who by no means enjoyed hearing Jasper's praises.
"No, I don't think so."
"You must let me believe that it is your modesty then. Jasper may be a fine boy, but he will do well if he grows up as good a man as you."
"Now you flatter me, my dear," said Mr. Kent, smiling. "You have too good an opinion of me."
"I don't know about that," said Mrs. Kent to herself. "I think you are an addle-headed old fool, but I won't say so."
Aloud she said, with a smile: "My marrying you is a proof of my good opinion, Mr. Kent."
"Thank you," said her husband, politely. ”

“ If I thought it were true I should never want to look at the woman again."
"Hush!" said Margaret, suddenly putting her hand on her lip.
Jasper understood her caution, when he saw his step-mother enter the kitchen. She looked from one to the other with a suspicious glance.
"This is a strange place for you, Jasper," said she, in slow, cold accents.
"I don't see why, madam," he answered, in a voice equally cold.
"I find you—a young gentleman—conferring with a servant."
"With a trusted servant, who has been in our family for years. ”

“ Jasper turned his glance upon Mrs. Kent.
"You needn't have introduced the subject, Nicholas," she said, with slight reproof.
"Why not, mother?"
"It isn't a proper subject to introduce at the supper-table."
"You see, Jasper didn't half believe what I told him."
"He may rely upon your statement," said Mrs. Kent.
"Am I to understand that my allowance is reduced to three dollars a week?" asked Jasper, who felt that he had been dragged into the discussion.
"Yes. I consider that three dollars a week is a liberal allowance for a boy of your age."
"My father gave me five." ”

“ Nicholas turned and saw his old antagonist. He was sorry to see him, but he could not well withdraw now.
"It's none of your business," he answered, sullenly.
"I shall make it my business to protect the weak," said Jasper, quietly.
"You may need to protect yourself," sneered Thorne.
"If necessary, I feel competent to do so. Cameron, come here."
"Don't you go!" said Thorne, menacingly.
The little boy looked in terror from one to the other. Evidently he dreaded that the immediate result of his obeying Kent would be to precipitate a blow from the bully. ”

“ He will be big warrior some day."
"I don't know about that, Monima. So your father is a chief?"
"Yes," said Monima, proudly. "Great chief."
"Did he give you this canoe?"
"Yes."
"Have you any brothers and sisters?"
"One brother, young man; no sister."
By this time they had reached the other side. Monima skilfully drew up the canoe alongside, and Jasper jumped out. He stood on the bank, and drew from his vest-pocket a silver half-dollar, which he handed to Monima.
"Monima no want money," said the girl, proudly.
"Keep it to remember white boy," said Jasper. ”

“ Does Jasper get the rest?"
"Yes."
"That's a shame. You ought to have had half."
"I shall have control of the whole till Jasper is of age. I am left his guardian."
"That's good, anyhow. You must make him toe the mark, mother."
"I mean to."
"He's always had his own way, and he may give you trouble. He feels high and mighty. I can tell you."
"I shall know how to deal with him," said Mrs. Kent, closing her thin lips resolutely. "He will find me as firm as himself."
"I guess that's so, mother. You'll prove a tough customer."
Mrs. Kent smiled, as if she enjoyed the compliment. ”

“ Kent. "I discard you. I no longer look upon you as my brother."
"If you had not turned me off with such a pittance it wouldn't have happened," he said, sullenly. "Out of your abundance you only gave me fifty dollars."
"And you a stout, broad-shouldered man, must accept charity or steal!" she said, sarcastically.
"Luck has always been against me."
"Your own bad habits have always been against you."
"Look here," said he, doggedly, "I won't stand any more of that, even from my own sister."
"Very well. What have you come here for?"
"I'm out of money." ”

“ Then, with sudden suspicion, he said, roughly:
"I believe you are lying. This Jasper Kent is rich—the heir of two-thirds of his father's property. You say you are penniless."
"That is true. Both stories are true. I am my father's principal heir, but your sister is my guardian. She has treated me in such a way that I left the house."
"Ran away, eh?"
"No, I gave her full notice of what I should do. I told her that if I were decently treated I would stay, but if she continued to insult me, and give the preference in all things to her own boy, Nicholas, I would go away." ”

“ Jasper told the story briefly and without excitement. It was only in his step-mother's presence that he felt disturbed.
"I have met your step-mother, but I know very little of her," said Mr. Miller. "She never impressed me very favorably, but I never dreamed that she would act in such an unreasonable manner. Perhaps even now matters are not as bad as you think. Sometimes people say things in anger which they repent of in their cooler moments."
"I don't think it is the case with Mrs. Kent."
"It is unfortunate, since she is your guardian."
"I wish you were my guardian, Mr. Miller." ”