CHAPTER V.
THE LAST EVENING IN FRANKLIN STREET.
Though Rufus felt sorry for Mr. Martin's misfortune, there was at leastone satisfaction connected with it. He would doubtless be sent toBlackwell's Island for three months, and of course when there he wouldbe unable to annoy Rose, or contrive any plots for carrying her off.This would be a great relief to Rufus, who felt more than ever how muchthe presence of his little sister contributed to his happiness. If hewas better than the average of the boys employed like himself, it was ina considerable measure due to the fact that he had never been adrift inthe streets, but even in the miserable home afforded by his step-fatherhad been unconsciously influenced towards good by the presence of hismother, and latterly by his little sister Rose. He, in his turn, hadgained a salutary influence among the street boys, who looked up to himas a leader, though that leadership was gained in the first place byhis physical superiority and manly bearing.
It occurred to him, that perhaps, after all, it might not be necessaryfor Rose and Miss Manning to move from Franklin Street at present, onaccount of Mr. Martin's arrest. He was rather surprised, when, onentering the little room, after hurrying upstairs two or three steps ata time, he saw Miss Manning's trunk open and half packed, with variousarticles belonging to herself and Rose spread out beside it.
"Hallo!" he exclaimed, stopping short on the threshold, "what are youdoing?"
"Getting ready to move, Rufus," answered the seamstress.
"So you've found a place?"
"Oh, such a nice place, Rufie!" chimed in little Rose; "there's a nicecarpet, and there's going to be a sofa, and oh, it's beautiful!"
"So you're going to live in style, are you?" said Rufus. "But how aboutthe cost, Miss Manning?"
"That's the pleasantest part of it," was the reply; "it isn't going tocost me anything, and I am to be paid two dollars a week besides."
Rufus looked bewildered.
"Can't I get a chance there too?" he asked. "I'd be willin' to give 'emthe pleasure of my society for half a price, say a dollar a week,besides a room."
"We are to be boarded also," said Miss Manning, in a tone ofsatisfaction.
"If it's a conundrum I'll give it up," said Rufus; "just tell a fellerall about it, for I begin to think you're crazy, or else have comeacross some benevolent chap that's rather loose in the upper story."
Hereupon Miss Manning, unwilling to keep Rufus longer in suspense, gavehim a full account of her morning's adventures, including her engagementwith Mrs. Colman.
"You're in luck," said Rufus, "and I'm glad of it; but there's one thingwe'll have to settle about."
"What's that?"
"About Rose's board."
"Oh, that is all settled already. Mrs. Colman is to pay for her board aswell as mine."
"Yes, I know that; but it is your teachin' that is to pay for it."
"Yes, I suppose so."
"Then I must pay you for her board. That will make it all right."
"Oh, no, Rufus, I couldn't accept anything. You see it doesn't cost meanything."
"Yes, it does," persisted the newsboy; "if it wasn't for that, you wouldbe paid more money."
"If it wasn't for her, I should not have applied for board in thatplace; so you see that it is to Rose, after all, that I am indebted forthe situation."
"I see that you are very kind to Rose, Miss Manning, but I can't haveyou pay for her board. I am her brother, and am well and strong. I canafford to pay for Rose, and I will. Now how much will it be?"
Miss Manning persisted that she was not willing to receive anything; butupon this point the newsboy's pride was aroused, and finally thisarrangement was made: Miss Manning was to receive three dollars a week,and for this sum she also agreed to provide Rose with proper clothing,so that Rufus would have no responsibility or care about her. He wantedthe seamstress to accept four dollars; but upon this point she was quitedetermined. She declared that three dollars was too high, but finallyagreed to accept it.
"I don't want to make money out of Rose," she said.
"It'll take some time to get ahead of A. T. Stewart on three dollars aweek."
"I shall have five dollars a week."
"But you will have to buy clothes for Rose and yourself."
"I shall make them myself, so that they won't cost me more than half ofthe money."
"Then you can save up the rest."
"But you will only have five dollars left to pay your expenses, Rufus."
"Oh, I can get along. Don't mind me."
"But I wanted you to come and board with us. Mrs. Clayton has a hallbedroom which she would let to you with board for five dollars a week.But that would leave you nothing for clothes."
"I could earn enough some other way to pay for my clothes," said Rufus;"but I don't know about going to board with you. I expect it's afashionable place, and I shouldn't know how to behave."
"You will know how to behave as well as I do. I didn't think you werebashful, Rufus."
"No more I am in the street," said the newsboy; "but you know how I'velived, Miss Manning. Mr. Martin didn't live in fashionable style, andhis friends were not very select. When I took breakfast at Mr. Turner's,I felt like a cat in a strange garret."
"Then it's time you got used to better society," said Miss Manning. "Youwant to rise in the world, don't you?"
"Of course I do."
"Then take my advice, and come with us. You'll soon get used to it."
"Maybe I will. I'll come round to-morrow, and see how I like it."
"Remember you are in business in Wall Street, and ought to liveaccordingly. Don't you think Mr. Turner would prefer to have you boardin a good place rather than sleep at the Lodging House, without any homeof your own?"
"Yes, I suppose he would," said Rufus.
The idea was a new one to him, but it was by no means disagreeable. Hehad always been ambitious to rise, but thus far circumstances hadprevented his gratifying this ambition. His step-father's drunkenhabits, and the consequent necessity he was under of contributing to hissupport as well as that of Rose, and his mother when living, haddiscouraged him in all his efforts, and led him to feel that all hisefforts were unavailing. But now his fortunes had materially changed.Now, for the first time, there seemed to be a chance for him. He feltthat it was best to break off, as far as possible, his old life, andturn over a new leaf. So the advice of his friend, Miss Manning,commended itself to his judgment, and he about made up his mind tobecome a boarder at Mrs. Clayton's. He would have the satisfaction ofbeing in the same house with his little sister Rose, and thus of seeingmuch more of her than if he boarded down town at the Lodging House. Itwould cost him more to be sure, leaving him, as Miss Manning suggested,nothing for his clothes; but, as his duties in Wall Street did notcommence until nine o'clock, and terminated at five, he felt sure thatin his leisure time he would be able to earn enough to meet thisexpense. Besides, there would be the interest on his five hundreddollars, which would amount to not less than thirty dollars, andprobably more, for, with the advice of Mr. Turner, he was about topurchase with it some bank shares. Then, if it should be absolutelynecessary, he could break in upon his principal, although he would besorry to do this, for, though he did not expect to add to it for a yearto come, he hoped to keep it at its present amount.
These thoughts passed rapidly through his mind, and, when little Rose,taking his hand, said, pleadingly, "Do come and live with us, Rufie!" heanswered, "Yes, Rosy, I will, if Mrs. Clayton will make room for me."
"Oh, that will be so nice, won't it, Miss Manning?" said Rose, clappingher hands.
"Perhaps Mr. Martin will come and board with us," said Rufus, jestingly;"wouldn't you like that, Rose?"
"No," said Rose, looking frightened; "do you think he will find outwhere we are?"
"Not for some time at least," said her brother. "By the way, I saw himto-day, Miss Manning."
"Did you speak with him, Rufus?"
"Did he try to carry you off, Rufie?" asked Rose, anxiously.
"You forget, Rose, that I am rather too big to carry off," said Rufus."No, he did not say anything to me. The fact is, he has got into ascrape, and has enough to do to think of himself."
"Tell us about it, Rufus."
"I saw him, just as I was coming home, in the hands of the police. Iheard that he had tried to rob a gentleman of his pocket-book."
"What will they do to him?"
"I suppose he will be sent to the Island."
"I am sorry for him, though he has not treated you and Rose right."
"Yes, I am sorry too; but at any rate we need not feel anxious about hisgetting hold of Rose."
They had a very pleasant supper together. It was the last supper in theold room, and they determined that it should be a good one. Rufus wentout and got some sirloin steak, and brought in a pie from the baker's.This, with what they had already had, made a very nice supper.
"You won't have any more cooking to do for some time, Miss Manning,"said Rufus; "you'll be a lady, with servants to wait on you. I hope thetwo little girls won't give you much trouble. If they do, that might beharder work than sewing."
"They seem to be quite pleasant little girls, and they will be a gooddeal of company for Rose."
"How did you like them, Rosie?" asked her brother.
"Ever so much. Jennie,--that's the oldest, you know, she's almost as bigas me,--said she would give me one of her dolls. She's got four."
"That's quite a large family for a young lady to have. Don't you thinkshe would give me one of them?"
"Boys don't have dolls," said Rose, decidedly. "It aint proper."
Rufus laughed.
"Then I suppose I must do without one; but it would be a great deal ofcompany for me when I go down town to business. I could put it in mypocket, you know."
"You're only making fun, Rufie."
"I suppose you think of going up to Mrs. Clayton's the first thing inthe morning," said Rufus, turning to Miss Manning.
"Yes," she answered; "I can send up my trunk by a city express, and Roseand I can go up by the horse-cars, or, if it is pleasant, we will walk."
"I will go up with you, and look at the room you spoke of, if you willgo early enough for me to be down at the office at nine o'clock."
Miss Manning assented to this arrangement, and Rufus left FranklinStreet at nine, and repaired to the Newsboy's Lodging House, to sleepthere for the last time.