CHAPTER X.
MR. MARTIN AGAIN APPEARS ON THE SCENE.
The success of the periodical store put Rufus into good spirits. He sawthat it would yield him, if only the present degree of prosperitycontinued, at least three hundred dollars a year, which would make quitea handsome addition to his income. He felt justified in going to alittle extra expense, and determined to celebrate his good luck bytaking Martha and Rose to a place of amusement. It happened that at thistime a company of Japanese jugglers were performing at the Academy ofMusic, which, as my New York readers know, is situated on FourteenthStreet.
Meaning it to be a surprise, he said nothing to Rose or Martha, butbefore going down town the next day, went to the box-office, and securedthree reserved seats in an excellent situation. They were expensive;but Rufus was resolved that he would not spare expense, for thisoccasion at least.
When he reached home at half-past five in the afternoon, he went up atonce to Martha's room.
"Miss Manning," he said, "have you any engagement this evening?"
"It is hardly necessary to ask, Rufus," she replied; "my company is notin very great demand."
"You have heard of the Japanese jugglers at the Academy of Music?"
"Yes; Mrs. Florence was speaking of them this morning. She and herhusband went last evening."
"And we are going this evening. Wouldn't you like to go, Rosy?"
"Ever so much, Rufie. Will you take me?"
"Yes, I have got tickets: see here;" and Rufus drew out the threetickets which he had purchased in the morning.
"Thank you, Rufus," said Miss Manning; "I shall like very much to go. Itis long since I went to any place of amusement. How much did the ticketscost?"
"A dollar and a half apiece."
"Isn't that rather extravagant?"
"It would be if we went every week; but now and then we can afford it."
"You must let me pay for my ticket, Rufus."
"Not if I know it," said Rufus. "It's a pity if a Wall Street bankercan't carry a lady to a place of amusement, without charging her for theticket."
"If you put it that way, I suppose I must yield," said Miss Manning,smiling.
Rose was highly excited at the idea of going to see the Japanese, whosefeats, as described by Mrs. Florence at the breakfast-table, hadinterested her exceedingly. The prospect of sitting up till eleven inthe evening also had its charm, and she was quite too excited to eatmuch dinner.
"Really," said Mrs. Clifton, "I quite envy you, Miss Manning. I tried toget Mr. Clifton to buy tickets, but he hasn't done it."
"First time I heard of it," said her husband.
"You pay very little attention to what I ask,--I am aware of that," saidMrs. Clifton, in an aggrieved tone.
"We'll go now, if you say so."
"We couldn't get any decent seats. When did you buy yours, Mr. Rushton?"
"This morning."
Mrs. Clifton, who was thoroughly selfish, hinted that probably Rosewouldn't care about going, and that she should be glad to buy theticket, and accompany Rufus and Miss Manning; but this hint failed to betaken, and she was forced unwillingly to stay at home.
To tell the truth, Miss Manning was scarcely less pleased than Rose atthe idea of going. Until recently she had been a poor seamstress,earning scarcely enough to subsist upon, much less to pay foramusements. Sometimes in the early evening she had passed the portals ofplaces of amusement, and wished that she were able to break the tediousmonotony of her daily life by entering; but it was quite out of thequestion, and with a sigh she would pass on. Now she was verydifferently situated, and her life was much pleasanter.
"Can I wear my new dress, Martha?" asked Rose.
"Yes, Rosy. It was fortunate that I got it finished to-day."
"And will you wear yours, too, Martha?"
"Yes, I think so," she said. "Rufus has bought us nice seats, and wemust look as well as we can."
When both were dressed, they surveyed themselves with satisfaction. MissManning was not above the weakness, if it is a weakness, of liking toappear well dressed, though she was not as demonstrative as Rose, whodanced about the room in high enjoyment.
When they were quite ready, Rufus came into the room. He had a pair ofkid gloves in his hand, which he twirled about in rather an embarrassedway.
"I can't get the confounded things on, Miss Manning," he said. "I'vebeen trying for some time, but it's no go. The fact is, I never owned apair of kid gloves before. I'd enough sight rather go without any, but Isuppose, if I am going to sit in a fashionable seat, I must try to lookfashionable."
Miss Manning soon explained to Rufus how the gloves should go on. Thistime the success was better, and he was soon neatly gloved.
"They are pretty gloves, Rufus," she said.
"I don't like the feeling of them," said Rufus; "they feel strange."
"That is because you are not used to them. You'll like them bettersoon."
"I wonder what some of my old street friends would say to see me now,"said Rufus, smiling. "They'd think I was a tip-top swell."
Though the gloves did not feel comfortable, Rufus looked at his handswith satisfaction. Step by step he was getting into the ways ofcivilized life, and he was very anxious to leave as far behind him aspossible his street experiences.
Soon after dinner they left the house, and, proceeding to Broadway,walked up as far as Union Square. Then they turned down FourteenthStreet, and a few minutes brought them to the Academy of Music.
The entrance and vestibule were brilliantly lighted. On the steps and infront were a number of speculators, who were eagerly offering theirtickets to those who appeared unprovided.
Rufus pushed his way through, with Martha and Rose at his side. Histickets were taken at the gate, but the portion indicating the numberof their reserved seats was torn off, and given back to them. On showingthem to the usher, they were conducted to their seats, which were in thesixth row from the stage, and fronting it.
"We'll have a good view here, Miss Manning," he said.
Soon the curtain rose, and the performance commenced. To those who havenot seen the Japanese in their peculiar performance, it is enough to saythat they show marvellous skill and agility in their feats, some ofwhich are so difficult as to seem almost impossible.
All three enjoyed the performance. Miss Manning, though so much older,was almost as much unaccustomed as little Rose herself to such scenes,and took a fresh interest in it, which those who go often cannot feel.Every now and then, little Rose, unable to restrain her enthusiasm,exhibited her delight openly.
I should like, for the benefit of my younger readers, to give a detailedaccount of some portions of the performance which seemed most wonderful;but my memory is at fault, and I can only speak in general terms.
It was a little after ten when the curtain finally fell.
"Is that all?" asked Rose, half in disappointment.
"That's all, Rosy. Are you sleepy?"
"Not a bit," said Rose, vivaciously; "I should like to stay here an hourlonger. Wasn't it perfectly beautiful, Rufie?"
"Yes; it was very good," said Rufus; "I don't know but I like it almostas well as the Old Bowery."
Though he had risen in the social scale, he had not quite lost hisrelish for the style of plays for which the Old Bowery, the favoritetheatre with the street boys, is celebrated. But that he had a suspicionthat it was not exactly a fashionable place of amusement, he would liketo have taken Rose and Miss Manning there this evening. He would hardlyhave liked to mention it at the table afterwards, however.
The audience rose from their seats, and Rufus with them. Slowly theymoved towards the door, and at last made their way to the entrance. HadRufus known who was waiting there, he might have felt a little nervous.But he did not know, and it devolves upon us to explain.
Three days before, Mr. Martin, who had been sentenced to thepenitentiary for three months, on account of his attempt at pickingpockets, which we have already chronicled, was released. To say thel
east, he left the prison no better than he had entered it. Better inone sense he was, for he had been forced for three months to abstainfrom drink, and this he felt to be a great hardship. But it had afavorable influence upon his health, and his skin was clearer, and hisnose not quite so ruddy as when he was arrested. But so far as goodintentions went, he had not formed any during his exile from society,and now that he was released he was just as averse to living by honestindustry as before.
However, his resources were still limited. Money had never been veryplentiful with him, and just at present he was not encumbered with any.It did not occur to him that the shortest way to obtain some was to goto work; or, if it did, the suggestion did not strike him favorably. Itdid occur to him, however, that there were charitable persons in themetropolis who might be induced to help him, and he resolved to act uponthis suggestion. Accordingly, he haunted the neighborhood of the Academyof Music, until the stream of people began to pour out from it, and thenhe felt that the time had come for him to carry out his plans.
He went up to a gentleman who was coming out with a young lady leaningon his arm.
"Will you listen to me a minute, sir?" he said, in a whining tone. "Ihaven't eaten anything since yesterday, and I have no money to pay for anight's lodging."
"Why don't you go to work?" said the gentleman.
"I can't get anything to do, sir. I've been trying for something allday."
The fact was that Mr. Martin had been lounging about a low bar-room allday.
"Here, take this, and clear the way."
The gentleman, more to get rid of him than anything else, dropped fivecents into his hand, and passed on.
"He might have given a quarter," grumbled Martin; "it wouldn't have hurthim."
He looked up, intending to make a similar application to the nextperson, when he uttered an exclamation of surprise and exultation. Closebefore him he saw Rufus and his little sister, accompanied by MissManning.