Sam's Chance, and How He Improved It

  CHAPTER XX.

  TOO LATE FOR THE TRAIN.

  A stateroom had been engaged for Julia, but Sam did not feel justifiedin paying a dollar extra for such a luxury, when he was alreadyentitled to a comfortable berth.

  "Do you know when we reach Fall River?" asked the young lady.

  "About half-past four in the morning, and the cars start by five."

  "That's awful early!" exclaimed Julia, in dismay. "How shall I wake upin time?"

  "The gong will sound," answered Sam; "but if that don't wake you, I'llpound on your door."

  "I wish you would. What should I do if I were left?"

  "You could wait for the next train."

  "But I should not have you to go with me, Sam--Mr. Barker, I mean."

  "I wish you would call me Sam. I like it better than Mr. Barker."

  "Then I will," said Julia, frankly. "It does seem stiff to call youMr. Barker."

  "If you should be too late for the first train, I will wait, too,"said Sam, answering what she had said before.

  "Will you? I should like that; but won't it put you out?"

  "Oh, no," said Sam, laughing; "there isn't any very important businessto call me early to Boston. I had just as lieve wait as not."

  "But you won't have to. I am sure the gong will wake me up. But you'llcome to the door, and go into the cars with me."

  "Oh, yes, I'll be on hand."

  "Then, good-night, Sam. I hope you'll have a good sleep."

  "I shall sleep like a top; I always do. Good-night, Julia."

  So they parted.

  "He seems to be a real nice boy, and very polite," thought Julia. "Ishould feel very lonely without him."

  "She's a tiptop girl," thought Sam. "I never saw one I liked so wellbefore."

  Sam had never had a sister, and his acquaintance with girls had beenexceedingly limited. This was necessarily the case in the rough streetlife he had led in New York. Julia was a new revelation to him. He wasquite too young to be in love, but he certainly liked Julia very much,and thought how pleasant it would be to have such a sister.

  "She says she's got a brother," thought Sam. "I wonder what sort of aboy he is, and whether he will like me? I suppose I never shall seehim though, or Julia either, after we get to Boston."

  This thought was rather disheartening, and made Sam feel sober. Buthe brightened up at the thought that he should be in the same city,and should, therefore, have some chance of meeting his prettytraveling acquaintance.

  The berth Sam was to occupy was on one side of the dining-room. Thetables were now cleared, and there was nothing to prevent hisretiring. He took off his shoes and his coat, and, without undressinghimself any further, got into the berth. It was not long before he wasasleep. He did not wake until morning, and then not voluntarily. Onopening his eyes he saw one of the attendants on the boat at hisbedside.

  "You must sleep pretty sound," said the attendant.

  "Did you wake me up?" asked Sam.

  "Yes; but I had hard work to do it."

  "Is it time to get up?"

  "I should think it was. Didn't you hear the gong?"

  "No."

  "It sounded loud enough. Well, you'd better hurry, or you'll be toolate for the cars."

  This roused Sam. He thought of Julia, and jumped out of the birth. Hequickly put on his coat and shoes, and went up two flights of stairsto the saloon, on either side of which were the staterooms.

  He went to Julia's--No. 11--near the forward end of the boat, andfound the door shut.

  He knocked, but was not immediately answered.

  "Julia must have overslept herself, too," he thought.

  He knocked again, and presently he heard her ask, in the tone of onejust waking up, "Who's there?"

  "It's I--it's Sam," he answered. "Are you dressed?"

  "No. What time is it?"

  "It's very late. Didn't you hear the gong?"

  "No; is it morning?"

  "The cars are almost ready to start."

  "Oh, dear; what shall I do?" exclaimed Julia, in dismay.

  "Dress as quick as you can, and we may be in time."

  After the lapse of five minutes the door opened, and the young ladyappeared.

  "I'm so sorry, Sam," she said, excusing herself. "Shall we be intime?"

  "We'll go down and see," said Sam.

  They went below, and out over the gangway, but were only just in timeto see the long train speeding on its way.

  "We are left!" said Julia, mournfully.

  "Well," said Sam, philosophically, "it can't be helped, can it?"

  "Shall we have to stay here all day?" inquired the young lady,alarmed.

  "Oh, no; there is another train at half-past six, but it is a slowertrain than this."

  "When will it reach Boston?"

  "At nine o'clock. I asked the steward just now. It won't make verymuch difference. We'll get to the city pretty early."

  "Father will be down to the depot, and when he doesn't see me he'llthink I am not coming. Then how am I to get home?"

  "I'll be with you," said Sam, valiantly. "I'll see that you get homeall right."

  "Will you?" said Julia, brightly. "Then I don't mind so much. Howstupid I was not to wake up!"

  "I didn't wake up either. One of the men woke me up. I ran up as quickas I could, but it was too late."

  "I got very tired yesterday," said Julia, apologetically. "That waswhat made me sleep so sound. When did you say the next train went?"

  "At six-thirty."

  "What shall we do till then?"

  "You can lie down if you want to, and I will call you in time."

  "I don't dare to," said Julia. "Besides, I don't feel sleepy now."

  They decided to sit down and while away the time, and were not at aloss for topics of conversation. At half-past six they had taken theirplaces in the cars, in the full anticipation of a pleasant journey.