CHAPTER XXV.
BEN MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN.
Ben went out into the street with two bundles under his arm. Onecontained the ragged clothes which he had just taken off. The other,which was much smaller, contained his extra shirts and stockings. Thefirst he did not care to keep. He therefore lost no time in throwing itinto an alley-way.
"It'll be a lucky chap that finds it," thought Ben.
He next put on his gloves, and considered what he should do next. It washalf-past twelve o'clock already, for he had not been able to get hismoney from the bank till ten, and the purchases and bath, as well as thehair-cutting, had taken up considerable time. He began to feel hungry,and appetite suggested that he should first of all go to a restaurantand get some dinner.
On the way thither he met two of his street acquaintances, who passedhim without the slightest mark of recognition. This pleased Ben, for itassured him that the change which he had effected in his appearance wasa considerable one.
While eating dinner, he deliberated what he should do. It was Saturday,and it would be almost too late to start for his Pennsylvania home. Hedecided to go to his sister's house on Madison Avenue, and make himselfknown there first of all. He was influenced to this partly by the desirehe had to meet his cousin, who, as he knew, was making his home, whileattending school, at the house of Mr. Abercrombie. He had more than oncebeen up to that part of the city in the hope of catching a glimpse ofthe cousin for whom he retained his old, boyish love; but he had alwaysshrunk, even when seeing him, from attracting his observation. He didnot wish to be remembered in his rags, and so denied himself thepleasure for which he yearned. But now he was satisfied with hisappearance. He felt that he was as well dressed as Charles himself, andwould do no discredit to him if they were seen in the street together.
He got on board an omnibus, and took his seat. A lady soon afterentered, and sat down beside him She drew out some money from herpurse, and, passing it to Ben, said, "Will you have the kindness to passup my fare, sir?"
"Certainly," said Ben, politely.
It was a small incident, but he felt, from the young lady's manner ofaddressing him, that she looked upon him as her equal socially, and thisafforded him not a little pleasure. He wondered how he could have beencontent to drift about the streets so long, clothed in rags. New hopesand a new ambition had been awakened within him, and he felt that a newlife lay before him, much better worth living than the old life.
These thoughts occupied him as he rode up Broadway.
At length he left the omnibus, and took the shortest route to hissister's house. When he ascended the steps, and rang the bell, he feltrather a queer sensation come over him. He remembered very well the lasttime he had ascended those same steps, carrying his cousin's valise. Hisheart beat quick with excitement, in the midst of which the door wasopened by the servant.
He had already decided to ask for his cousin, preferring to make himselfknown to him first.
"Is Charles Marston in?" he inquired.
"Yes, sir," said the servant. "Won't you come in?"
She threw open the door of the parlor, and Ben, entering, seated himselfin an arm-chair, holding his hat in his hand.
"I wonder if she'd asked me in here if I'd come in my rags?" he askedhimself, with a smile.
The servant went upstairs, where she found Charles in his own room,writing a French exercise.
"Master Charles," she said, "one of your school-mates is in the parlor.He wants to see you."
"All right. I'll go right down."
The mistake was quite a natural one, as boys who attended the sameprivate school frequently called for Charles.
Charles went downstairs, and entered the parlor. Ben rose as he entered.
"How are you, Charlie?" said Ben, rising, and offering his hand.
Charles looked in his face with a puzzled expression. It was not one ofhis school-mates, as he had supposed; but it must be some one that knewhim intimately, or he would not have addressed him so familiarly.
"I ought to know you," he said, apologetically; "but I can't think whoit is."
"Don't you remember your Cousin Ben, Charlie?" asked our hero.
"Ben!" exclaimed Charles, in the greatest astonishment. He lookedeagerly in our hero's face for a moment, then impulsively threw his armsaround Ben's neck, and kissed him.
"I am so glad to see you, Ben," he said. "Where have you been all thetime?"
"Then you didn't forget me, Charlie?" said Ben, returning the embrace.
"No, Ben. I've thought of you many and many a time. We used to be suchgood friends, you know. We will be again,--will we not?"
"I hope so, Charlie. That was one of my reasons for coming back."
"How did you know I was here?"
"I will tell you some time, Charlie; but not now. Is my sister at home?"
"Yes. I will call her. She will be very much surprised. We all thoughtyou--"
"Dead, I suppose."
"Yes; but I always hoped you would come back again."
"Don't tell Mary who it is. See if she recognizes me."
Summoned by Charles, Mrs. Abercrombie came down to the parlor. She wasmerely told that a gentleman desired to see her.
When she entered the parlor, Ben rose from his seat.
She looked at him for a moment, and her face lighted up.
"It's Ben," she said. "O Ben, how could you stay away so long?"
"What, do you remember me, Mary?" asked our hero, in surprise.
"Yes. I knew you by your resemblance to Charles. We always remarked itwhen you were young boys together."
As the two boys were standing side by side, the resemblance of which shespoke was quite striking. Ben was the larger of the two; but theirfeatures were similar, as well as the color of the hair and eyes, andthe similarity of their dress completed the illusion. Mrs. Abercrombiesurveyed her brother with satisfaction. She had been afraid he would becoarse and vulgar after so many years of neglect, if he should everreturn; but here he was, to all appearance, a young gentleman of whomshe need not feel ashamed.
"Ben must share my room, Cousin Mary," said Charles. "We've got so muchto say to each other."
"I didn't know I was to stay," said Ben, smiling.
"You mustn't leave us again, Ben," said his sister. "Monday you muststart for home. Poor mother has mourned for you so long. She will beoverjoyed to see you again."
When Mr. Abercrombie came home, his new brother-in-law was introduced tohim. He received Ben cordially, and in a way to make him feel at home.In the course of the morning Mr. Sampson called, and Ben was introducedto him.
"There's something in your brother's voice that sounds familiar," hesaid to Mrs. Abercrombie. "I think I must have met him before."
"He has not been with us for some years," said Mrs. Abercrombie, who didnot care to reveal that Ben was a returned prodigal.
"Probably I am deceived," said Mr. Sampson.
Ben, however, knew that Mr. Sampson had good cause to remember him. Hewas afraid the servant who had brought him his breakfast some monthsbefore in the basement might remember him; but there was no danger ofthat. She never dreamed of associating the young gentleman, hermistress's brother, with the ragged and dirty boy who had brought thevalise for Master Charles.
Ben, the Luggage Boy; Or, Among the Wharves Page 25
