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Frank Merriwell's Son; or, A Chip Off the Old Block, a fiction by Burt L. Standish |
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Chapter 2. The Birthmark |
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_ CHAPTER II. THE BIRTHMARK "Where are Bart and Elsie, Frank?" asked Inza. "They're in the library." "I want them to come up. Tell Lizette to call them." The soft-footed nurse flitted from the room, and a few moments later Elsie Bellwood and Bart Hodge appeared. Hodge followed Elsie with an air of reluctance and confusion, which caused Inza to smile. In a moment the golden-haired girl was bending over the bed, caressing her bosom friend, and murmuring soft words of affection. "You're such a brave, brave woman, Inza!" she exclaimed. "Oh, you make me feel like a coward!" "Come here, Hodge," urged Frank, drawing his friend round to the other side of the bed. "Here's the boy. Here he is--Frank Hodge Merriwell." "Frank Hodge Merriwell?" echoed Bart, fumbling for Merry's hand and grasping it with an almost savage grip. "You've given him my name?" "We did it--both of us together, old man." "Merry, I--I don't know what--to say," stammered Bartley. "You've completely upset me. It's the greatest honor----" "There, there," smiled Frank, "don't splutter and mumble like that, old fellow. You don't have to say a word. Just make a bow to the new-born king." Elsie was not one to gush, but, with clasped hands and flushed face, she expressed her admiration for the child. "You ought to feel proud, Bart," she said. "You ought to feel almost as proud as Frank." "Proud?" laughed Hodge. "Why, I--I---- My chest has expanded three inches in the last thirty seconds. Proud? I'll bet my hat won't fit me! He's a star, the little rascal!" "He has ze star on his left shouldaire," said Lizette. "Shall I show it, madame? Shall I show zem ze beautiful mark?" "Please do," said Inza. The nurse loosened the child's clothes and exposed the small, shapely shoulder. There, at the very base of the arm, was a small, perfectly formed pink, five-cornered star. "I was right!" cried Hodge. "There's been a wonderful addition to the universe! A new star has risen!" "It's a birthmark," said Frank. "Oh, isn't it very strange!" breathed Elsie. "It gives me a superstitious feeling of awe. It seems to me that he is marked by fate to be something grand and wonderful." "It was so good of you, Elsie, to come to me when I wanted you," breathed Inza. "And Hodge--he traveled so far." "Oh, everything is coming as smoothly as possible at the mines," declared Bart. "There's a first-class foreman at both the Queen Mystery and the San Pablo. I could leave as well as not, and the old trains couldn't run fast enough to bring me here after I received the wire from Frank, saying that Elsie would be here. You bet I was glad to shake the alkali dust out of my clothes." "You've done great things for me at the mines, Bart," said Merry. "Everything now seems to be going right for me everywhere in the world. The Central Sonora Railroad is practically completed, and the San Pablo is paying enormously. But these are not things to speak of on an occasion like this." After a few minutes Bart and Elsie retired, the nurse took the baby, and Frank lingered a while longer at the side of his wife. On returning to the library, Elsie stood at one of the large windows and looked out upon the grounds and across the broad road toward the handsome buildings of Farnham Hall. There was a strange expression of mingled happiness and regret on her fair face. Something like a mist filled her eyes. Hodge came up behind her and put his arms round her. "A penny for your thoughts, Elsie," he said. "I don't think I could express them in words," she confessed. "Do you think me a jealous person, Bart?" "Jealous?" he exclaimed. "Far from it!" "But I am--I'm jealous. I'm dying of envy." "You--you jealous--of whom?" "Inza. Look how all the best things of life have come to her. She has a grand husband, who is doing a magnificent and noble work. Look at those splendid buildings. Every one acknowledges now that Frank has done and is doing more for the upbuilding and the uplifting of American boys than any person has ever before done in all history. Inza is his wife, and they have a son." Bart's arms dropped at his sides, and he turned away. In surprise, Elsie turned and saw him move from her. In a moment she had him by the arm. "What is it, Bart?" she exclaimed, in dismay. He shook his head, seeming unable to speak. "Tell me what it is. Tell me what I did to hurt you," she commanded. He faced her again, looking deep into her blue eyes. "You called up the past, Elsie," he said, in a low tone. "I can't forget that once I thought Frank loved you--and you loved him. You've confessed a feeling of jealousy toward Inza." "Oh, no, no, no!" she said quickly. "You didn't understand me, Bart--truly you didn't! It was not the sort of jealousy you mean. I'm not jealous of her because she is Frank's wife--never! never!" He seemed puzzled. "Then what did you mean--what did you mean?" he asked. "Why, can't you understand? Can't you see how it is? Fortune or fate, or whatever you may call it, has been against me--against us, Bart. Have you forgotten how we planned on a double wedding? Have you forgotten----" "Forgotten?" cried Hodge. "I should say not! It was the bitterest disappointment of my life! You know I urged you, Elsie--I used every persuasion in my power." "But I could not consent. I was an invalid, and I feared my health would never return." "It has returned, little sweetheart. You're well again. You're stronger and handsomer than ever before in all your life. You put me off then, but you can't do it now! I won't let you!" "You mean that----" "I mean that when I left Mexico I made a resolve--I swore an oath. If I go back there--if Frank wants me to go--you will go with me." "Bart!" "You must go with me," he repeated. "Must?" "I have said it. Look here, Elsie, I know you're not jealous of Inza because Merry is rich." "Oh, no, no!" "As a rule, I have told you everything, my girl, but I now confess that there is one thing that I have not told you. I have a secret." "A secret from me?" "Yes, a secret from you. You heard Frank state how well the San Pablo is paying. You heard him say that I had been faithful in my work for him. Perhaps you do not know that ere we entered into an agreement by which I took charge of his two mines and acted as overseer for both of them--perhaps you do not know that we nearly quarreled." Elsie looked astounded. "Nearly quarreled?" she exclaimed. "Yes." "Why, how could you?" "Because he insisted on a certain condition in our agreement. Because he insisted that, after a lapse of time and at the completion of the Mexican railroad, I should accept a third interest in the San Pablo Mine. I fought against it. I told him it was not right. I even threatened to quit and have nothing to do with the work he wished me to perform. He was inexorable, unyielding. I pointed out that my service was not worth what he offered. I showed him that he could get experienced and expert men to do the work for an infinitesimal part of what he proposed to give me. He asserted that he was not giving me this merely for my labor, but on account of past favors and things I had done for him which could not be paid for in money. Even though I did not permit him to force me into consenting to take this share of his mine, I finally remained and did my best. I arrived in Bloomfield three days ago. The day I reached here he placed a paper in my hands. That paper makes me one-third owner of the San Pablo. I'm rich, Elsie. The future is assured for me and for you. That very day I went to the town clerk and had another paper made out. Here it is." He took a document from his pocket, opened it, and placed it in her hands. "Why--why, what----" faltered Elsie. "It's a marriage license," said Bart. "I've made all arrangements, and to-morrow, God willing, you and I will be made man and wife." It was even as Hodge had said. On the morrow, at her request, they were married in Inza's chamber. _ |
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