"Alger Jr, Horatio - The Young Explorer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Alger Horatio Jr)

making himself liable to arrest for aiding and abetting Miss Sinclair's flight.
"You have no cause for alarm. He has no legal control over me, though by the
terms of my father's will he retains charge of my property till I attain my
twenty-fifth year. Before this, fourteen months must elapse. Meanwhile he is
exerting all his influence to induce me to marry his son, so that the large
property of which I am possessed may accrue to the benefit of his family."
"He couldn't force you to marry his son, could he?" asked Ben.
"No, but he has made it very disagreeable to me to oppose him, and has even gone
so far as to threaten me with imprisonment in a madhouse if I do not yield to
his persuasions."
"He must be a rascal!" said our hero indignantly.
"He is," said Miss Sinclair quietly.
"I don't see how he can do such things in a free country."
"He has only to buy over two unscrupulous physicians, and in a large city that
can easily be done. On their certificate of my insanity I might any day be
dragged to a private asylum and confined there."
"I don't wonder you ran away, Ida."
"I feel perfectly justified in doing so. Liberty and the control of my own
person are dear to me, and I mean to struggle for them."
"What makes you think of going to California? is it because it is so far off?"
"Partly; but there is another reason," said Miss Sinclair. "I will not conceal
from you that there is a person there whom I wish to meet."
"Is it a young man?" asked Ben shrewdly.
"You have guessed it. Richard Dewey is the son of a former bookkeeper of my
father. He is poor, but he is a gentleman, and there is a mutual attachment
between us. Indeed, he asked my guardian's consent to his suit, but he was
repelled with insult, and charged with being a fortune-hunter. That name would
better apply to my guardian and his precious son."
"Is Mr. Dewey in California?"
"Yes; he went out there some months since. He promised to write me regularly,
but I have not heard a word from him. I know very well that he has written, and
that my guardian has suppressed his letters."
"That is shameful!" said Ben warmly.
"It is indeed; but with your help I think I can circumvent Mr. Campbell yet."
"Mr. Campbell is your guardian, I suppose, Ida?"
"Yes."
"You may reply upon me to help you in every way possible, Miss Sinclair."
"Ida," corrected the young lady.
"I mean Ida."
"That's right, Cousin Ben."
Now that Miss Sinclair's veil was removed, our hero could see that she was very
pretty, and perhaps he felt all the more proud of being selected as her escort.
But on one point he was in the dark.
"May I ask you a question, Ida?" he said. "How is it that you have chosen me-a
stranger, and so young-as your escort? I am only a green country boy."
"Partly because I like your looks; you look honest and trustworthy."
"Thank you, but I am only a boy."
"That's all the better for me. It would not do for me to accept the escort of a
man, and it would be awkward for me to propose it even if it would do."
"At any rate, I am lucky to be selected. I hope you will be satisfied with me."