Brave and Bold; Or, The Fortunes of Robert Rushton

by Jr. Horatio Alger

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  A VISIT TO THE LAWYER.

  Mrs. Rushton was braiding straw when Robert entered with his berries.

  "Couldn't you sell your berries, Robert?" she asked.

  "I haven't tried yet, mother."

  "The berrying season won't last much longer," said his mother,despondently.

  "Don't borrow trouble, mother. I am sure we shall get along well."

  "You feel more confidence than I do."

  "I just met Halbert Davis in the street."

  "Have you made up with him?"

  "It is for him to make up with me."

  "I am afraid you are too high-spirited, Robert. Did Halbert speak toyou?"

  "Oh, yes," said Robert, laughing. "He takes a great interest in myaffairs. He predicts that we shall come to the poorhouse yet."

  "He may be right."

  "Now, mother, don't be so desponding. We've got enough money to pay ourexpenses for more than a year, even if we both stop work."

  "What can you mean, Robert?" said his mother, looking up in surprise."You must be crazy."

  "Does that look like going to the poorhouse?" asked Robert, drawing outhis money.

  Mrs. Rushton uttered an exclamation of surprise.

  "Whose money is that, Robert?"

  "Mine!"

  "You haven't done anything wrong?"

  "No, mother; I thought you knew me too well for that. I see you areanxious to hear how I obtained it, so I'll tell you all about it."

  He sat down, and in brief words told his mother the story of the trainand its peril, how he had rescued it, and, lastly, of the generous giftwhich he had so unexpectedly received. The mother's heart was touched,and she forgot all her forebodings.

  "My son, I am proud of you," she said, her eyes moist. "You have done anoble deed, and you deserve the reward. But what a risk you ran!"

  "I know it, mother, but we won't think of that, now that it is over. Howmuch, money do you think I have here?"

  "Two or three hundred dollars."

  "Six hundred and thirty-five! So you see, mother, we needn't go to thepoorhouse just yet. Now, how much better off should I have been if I hadkept my place in the factory? It would have taken me more than two yearsto earn as much money as this. But that isn't all. I have been the meansof saving a great many lives, for the train was sure to be thrown downthe embankment. I shall remember that all my life."

  "We have reason to be grateful to Heaven that you have been the means ofdoing so much good, Robert, while, at the same time, you have benefitedyourself."

  "That is true, mother."

  "I shall be afraid to have so much money in the house. If it were known,we might be robbed."

  "I will leave it with Mr. Paine until I get a chance to put it in asavings bank. He has a safe in his office. At the same time I will carryhim some berries as a present. It won't be much, but I should like to doit on account of his kindness about the boat. I will offer now to bearthe expense of its repair."

  After washing his hands and adjusting his clothes a little, for Robert,though no fop like Halbert, was not regardless of appearances,especially as he thought Hester might see him, he set out for thelawyer's office.

  "Excuse my bringing in my berries," said Robert, as he entered theoffice, "but I want to ask your acceptance of them."

  Many persons, under the supposition that Robert was too poor to afford agift, would have declined it, or offered to pay for it, thinking theywere acting kindly and considerately. But Mr. Paine knew that Robertwould be mortified by such an offer, and he answered:

  "Thank you, Robert; I will accept your gift with thanks on onecondition."

  "What is it, Mr. Paine?" inquired our hero, a little puzzled.

  "That you will take tea with us to-morrow evening, and help us dojustice to them."

  "Thank you," said Robert, not a little pleased at the invitation, "but Ishouldn't like to leave my mother at home alone."

  "Oh, we must have your mother, too. Hester will call this evening, andinvite her."

  "Then," said Robert, "I can answer for myself, and I think for her, thatwe should both be very happy to come."

  The lawyer's social position made such an invitation particularlygratifying to Robert. Besides, he was led to value it more on account ofthe persistent efforts of Halbert to injure him in the generalestimation. Then, too, it was pleasant to think that he was to sit downto the same table with Hester, as her father's guest, and to receive acall from her at his own house. Nothing that Mr. Paine could have donewould have afforded him an equal amount of gratification.

  "There is one other matter I wanted to speak to you about, Mr. Paine,"he said. "Will you take care of some money for me until I get a chanceto deposit it in the savings bank?"

  "Certainly, Robert," was the reply, but the lawyer's manner showed somesurprise. He knew the circumstances of the Rushtons, and he had notsupposed they had any money on hand. "How much is it?"

  "Six hundred and thirty-five dollars," answered Robert, producing it."Will you count it, and see if it is all right?"

  "Is this your money?" asked the lawyer, laying down his pen and gazingat Robert in astonishment.

  "Yes, sir," said Robert, enjoying his surprise. "I will tell you how Igot it."

  So the story was told, with a modest reserve as to his own courage, butstill showing, without his intending it, how nobly he had behaved.

  "Give me your hand, Robert," said Mr. Paine, cordially. "You have shownyourself a hero. We shall be proud of your company to tea to-morrowevening."

  Robert flushed with gratification at the high compliment conveyed inthese words.

  What did he care then for Halbert Davis and his petty malice! He had theapproval of his own conscience, the good opinion of those whom he mostrespected and a provision against want sufficient to avert all presentanxiety.

  "There is one thing more, Mr. Paine," he added. "It's about the boatWill was kind enough to lend me."

  "Have you seen the carpenter about repairing it?"

  "Yes, sir, and he will attend to it as soon as he can spare the time.But that was not what I wanted to say. I think I ought to bear theexpense of repairing it. I would have spoken about it at first, but thenI had no money, and didn't know when I should have any. Will you be kindenough to take as much of my money as will be needed to pay Mr. Plane'sbill when it comes in?"

  "Certainly not, Robert. It was not your fault that the boat wasinjured."

  "It wouldn't have happened if I had not borrowed it. It isn't right thatthe expense should fall on you."

  "Don't trouble yourself about that, Robert. I am able and willing to payit. It is very honorable in you to make the offer, and I like you thebetter for having made it. Won't you need any of this money for presentexpenses?"

  "Perhaps I had better take the thirty-five dollars. Mother may be inwant of something."

  Robert received back the sum named, and returned home, much pleased withhis interview.

  About seven o'clock, sitting at the window of the little cottage, he sawHester Paine opening the front gate. He sprang to his feet and openedthe door.

  "Good-evening, Robert," she said. "Is your mother at home?"

  "Yes, Hester. Won't you come in?"

  "Thank you, Robert. Father has been telling me what a hero you were, andit made me feel proud that you were a friend of mine."

  Robert's face lighted with pleasure.

  "You compliment me more than I deserve," he answered, modestly; "but itgives me great pleasure to know that you think well of me."

  "I am sure that there is no boy in Millville that would have dared to dosuch a thing. Good-evening, Mrs. Rushton. Are you not proud of yourson?"

  "He is a good son to me," said Mrs. Rushton, with a glance of affection.

  "It is such a splendid thing he did. He will be quite a hero. Indeed, heis one already. I've got a New York paper giving an account of thewhole thing. I brought it over, thinking you might like to read it."

  She displayed
a copy of a great city daily, in which full justice wasdone to Robert's bravery. Our hero listened with modest pleasure whileit was being read.

  "I don't deserve all that," he said.

  "You must let us judge of that," said Hester. "But I have come thisevening, Mrs. Rushton, to ask you to take tea with us to-morrow evening,you and Robert. You will come, won't you?"

  Mrs. Rushton was pleased with this mark of attention, and after a slightdemur, accepted.

  I do not intend to give an account of the next evening, and how Robert,in particular, enjoyed it. That can be imagined, as well as Halbert'schagrin when he heard of the attention his rival was receiving in aquarter where he himself so earnestly desired to stand well. I must passon to a communication received by Mrs. Rushton, a communication of avery unexpected character, which had an important effect upon thefortunes of our hero.