CHAPTER III.
HARRY STUMBLES UPON AN ACQUAINTANCE.
After supper Harry went round to the tavern to see about his trunk.A group of young men were in the bar-room, some of whom looked up ashe entered. Among these was Luke Harrison, who was surprised and byno means pleased to see his creditor. Harry recognized him at thesame instant, and said, "How are you, Luke?"
"Is that you, Walton?" said Luke. "What brings you to Centreville?Professor Henderson isn't here, is he?"
"No; I have left him."
"Oh, you're out of a job, are you?" asked Luke, in a tone ofsatisfaction, for we are apt to dislike those whom we have injured,and for this reason he felt by no means friendly.
"No, I'm not," said Harry, quietly. "I've found work in Centreville."
"Gone back to pegging, have you? Whose shop are you in?"
"I am in a different business."
"You don't say! What is it?" asked Luke, with some curiosity.
"I'm in the office of the 'Centreville Gazette.' I'm going to learnthe printing business."
"You are? Why, I've got a friend in the office,--John Clapp. Henever told me about your being there."
"He didn't know I was coming. I only went to work this afternoon."
"So you are the printer's devil?" said Luke, with a slight sneer.
"I believe so," answered our hero, quietly.
"Do you get good pay?"
"Not much at first. However, I can get along with what money I have,_and what is due me_."
Luke Harrison understood the last allusion, and turned away abruptly.He had no wish to pay up the money which he owed Harry, and for thisreason was sorry to see him in the village. He feared, if theconversation were continued, Harry would be asking for the money, andthis would be disagreeable.
At this moment John Clapp entered the bar-room. He nodded slightlyto Harry, but walked up to Luke, and greeted him cordially. Therewere many points of resemblance between them, and this drew them intohabits of intimacy.
"Will you have something to drink, Harrison?" said Clapp.
"I don't mind if I do," answered Luke, with alacrity.
They walked up to the bar, and they were soon pledging each other ina fiery fluid which was not very likely to benefit either of them.Meanwhile Harry gave directions about his trunk, and left the room.
"So you've got a new 'devil' in your office," said Luke, afterdraining his glass.
"Yes. He came this afternoon. How did you hear?"
"He told me."
"Do you know him?" asked Clapp, in some surprise.
"Yes. I know him as well as I want to."
"What sort of a fellow is he?"
"Oh, he's a sneak--one of your pious chaps, that 'wants to be anangel, and with the angels stand.'"
"Then he's made a mistake in turning 'devil,'" said Clapp.
"Good for you!" said Luke, laughing. "You're unusually brilliantto-night, Clapp."
"So he's a saint, is he?"
"He set up for one; but I don't like his style myself. He's as meanas dirt. Why I knew him several months, and he never offered totreat in all that time. He's as much afraid of spending a cent as ifit were a dollar."
"He won't have many dollars to spend just at present. He's workingfor his board."
"Oh, he's got money saved up," said Luke. "Fellows like him hang onto a cent when they get it. I once asked him to lend me a fewdollars, just for a day or two, but he wouldn't do it. I hate suchmean fellows."
"So do I. Will you have a cigar?"
"I'll treat this time," said Luke, who thought it polite to take histurn in treating once to his companion's four or five times.
"Thank you. From what you say, I am sorry Anderson has taken thefellow into the office."
"You needn't have much to say to him."
"I shan't trouble myself much about him. I didn't like his lookswhen I first set eyes on him. I suppose old Mother Anderson willlike him. She couldn't abide my smoking, and he won't trouble herthat way."
"So; he's too mean to buy the cigars."
"He said he couldn't afford it."
"That's what it comes to. By the way, Clapp, when shall we takeanother ride?"
"I can get away nest Monday afternoon, at three."
"All right. I'll manage to get off at the same time. We'll go toWhiston and take supper at the hotel. It does a fellow good to getoff now and then. It won't cost more than five dollars apiecealtogether."
"We'll get the carriage charged. The fact is, I'm little low onfunds."
"So am I, but it won't matter. Griffin will wait for his pay."
While Harry's character waa being so unfavorably discussed, he wastaking a walk by himself, observing with interest the main featuresof his new home. He had been here before with Professor Henderson,but had been too much occupied at that time to get a very clear ideaof Centreville, nor had it then the interest for him which it hadacquired since. He went upon a hill overlooking the village, andobtained an excellent view from its summit. It was a pleasant,well-built village of perhaps three thousand inhabitants, withoutlying farms and farm-houses. Along the principal streets thedwellings and stores were closely built, so as to make it seem quitecity-like. It was the shire town of the county, and being thelargest place in the neighborhood, country people for miles aroundtraded at its stores. Farmers' wives came to Centreville to makepurchases, just as ladies living within a radius of thirty milesvisit New York and Boston, for a similar purpose. Altogether,therefore, Centreville was quite a lively place, and a town ofconsiderable local importance. The fact that it had a weekly paperof its own, contributed to bring it into notice. Nor was that all.Situated on a little hillock was a building with a belfry, whichmight have been taken for a church but for a play-ground near by,which indicated that it had a different character. It was in factthe Prescott Academy, so called from the name of its founder, who hadendowed it with a fund of ten thousand dollars, besides erecting thebuilding at his own expense on land bought for the purpose. Thisacademy also had a local reputation, and its benefits were notconfined to the children of Centreville. There were about twentypupils from other towns who boarded with the Principal or elsewherein the town, and made up the whole number of students inattendance--about eighty on an average.
Standing on the eminence referred to, Harry's attention was drawn tothe Academy, and he could not help forming the wish that he, too,might share in its advantages.
"There is so much to learn, and I know so little," he thought.
But he did not brood over the poverty which prevented him fromgratifying his desire. He knew it would do no good, and he alsoreflected that knowledge may be acquired in a printing office as wellas within the walls of an academy or college.
"As soon as I get well settled," he said to himself, "I mean to getsome books and study a little every day. That is the way Franklindid. I never can be an editor, that's certain, without knowing morethan I do now. Before I am qualified to teach others, I must knowsomething myself."
Looking at the village which lay below him, Harry was disposed tocongratulate himself on his new residence.
"It looks like a pleasant place," he said to himself, "and when I geta little acquainted, I shall enjoy myself very well, I am sure. Ofcourse I shall feel rather lonely just at first."
He was so engrossed by his thoughts that he did not take heed to hissteps, and was only reminded of his abstraction by his foot suddenlycoming in contact with a boy who was lying under a tree, and pitchingheadfirst over him.
"Holloa!" exclaimed the latter, "what are you about? You didn't takeme for a foot-ball, did you?"
"I beg your pardon," said Harry, jumping up in some confusion. "Iwas so busy thinking that I didn't see you. I hope I didn't hurtyou."
"Nothing serious. Didn't you hurt yourself?"
"I bumped my head a little, but it only struck the earth. If it hadbeen a stone, it might have been different. I had no idea there wasany one up here e
xcept myself."
"It was very kind of you to bow so low to a perfect stranger," saidthe other, his eyes twinkling humorously. "I suppose it would onlybe polite for me to follow your example."
"I'll excuse you," said Harry laughing.
"Thank you. That takes a great burden off my mind. I don't like tobe outdone in politeness, but really I shouldn't like to tumble overyou. My head may be softer than yours. There's one thing clear. Weought to know each other. As you've taken the trouble to come uphere, and stumble over me, I really feel as if we ought to strike upa friendship. What do you say?"
"With all my heart," said our hero.