Part 2 (1/2)
”What of that?”
”You forget your place.”
”My place was at Hester Paine's side, since she had accepted my escort.”
”It was very presumptuous in a factory boy like you offering your escort to a young lady like Miss Paine.”
”I don't see it,” said Robert, independently; ”and I don't think it struck Hester in that light. We had a very agreeable walk.”
Halbert was provoked and inflamed with jealousy, and the look with which he regarded our hero was by no means friendly.
”You mustn't regard yourself as Miss Paine's equal because she condescended to walk with you,” he said. ”You had better a.s.sociate with those of your own cla.s.s hereafter, and not push yourself in where your company is not agreeable.”
”Keep your advice to yourself, Halbert Davis,” said Robert, hotly, for he felt the insult conveyed in these words. ”If I am a factory boy I don't intend to submit to your impertinence; and I advise you to be careful what you say. As to Miss Hester Paine, I shall not ask your permission to walk with her, but shall do so whenever she chooses to accept my escort. Has she authorized you to speak for her?”
”No; but----”
”Then wait till she does.”
Halbert was so incensed that, forgetting Robert's superior strength, evident enough to any one who saw the two, one with his well-knit, vigorous figure, the other slender and small of frame, he raised his cane and struck our hero smartly upon the arm.
In a moment the cane was wrested from his grasp and applied to his own person with a sharp, stinging blow which broke the fragile stick in two.
Casting the pieces upon the ground at his feet, Robert said, coolly:
”Two can play at that game, Halbert Davis. When you want another lesson come to me.”
He pa.s.sed his discomfited antagonist and hastened to the little cottage, where his mother was wondering what made him so much behind time.
CHAPTER III.
THE SPECIAL DEPOSIT.
Stung with mortification and more incensed against Robert than ever, Halbert hastened home. The house in which he lived was the largest and most pretentious in Millville--a large, square house, built in modern style, and with modern improvements, accessible from the street by a semi-circular driveway terminating in two gates, one at each end of the s.p.a.cious lawn that lay in front. The house had been built only three years, and was the show-place of the village.
Halbert entered the house, and throwing his hat down on a chair in the hall, entered the dining-room, his face still betraying his angry feelings.
”What's the matter, Halbert?” asked his mother, looking up as he entered.
”Do you see this?” said Halbert, displaying the pieces of his cane.
”How did you break it?”
”I didn't break it.”
”How came it broken, then?”
”Robert Rushton broke it.”