CHAPTER XXV.
PRIVATE SECRETARY TO A MILLIONAIRE--STUDYING AT EVENING SCHOOL--LIVING AMID ELEGANT SURROUNDINGS.
IT was now September. Archie had been in New York the whole summerthrough, attending carefully to his work on the Evening Enterprise, andcontinuing his study of stenography. He had taken occasional trips toLong Branch and Asbury Park on Saturday afternoons, but every other dayhe spent in working up ideas for the paper, and each evening he devotedto the shorthand school. By this time, though, he felt that he knew allthat was necessary of shorthand, and found himself more free to go aboutin the evenings. He visited his friends more frequently, and sometimesspent whole evenings in studying works on English literature, for he wasambitious to know more of the great work he had decided to make his own.This study was not really work to him, for his interest in everythingconnected with literature was so great that he found a pleasure inreading even the most classical books on the subject, and of course somuch reading of this sort did a great deal to educate his mind alongthis line of work.
One evening in the early fall, Archie decided to accept the invitationof Mr. Depaw, the railway president, to call. So he carefully dressedhimself in the best he had, and walked up Fifth Avenue and into the sidestreet where the great man had his home. He rang the bell and presentedhis card, and waited in the drawing-room for an answer. The footman wasgone but a moment, and returning, announced that the family would bedown directly. Archie was very much pleased that he was to meet theentire family, and looked about him with great interest at the elegantfurnishings of the room in which he sat. He couldn't help thinking howlovely it must be to have so many books, so many pictures, and so manyworks of art of every kind. The boy thought then that he would like tobe a wealthy man, just to be able to gratify his desires for beautifulthings.
He had to wait only a short time before the genial Mr. Depaw entered theroom, accompanied by several members of the family. Archie was greetedvery warmly, and introduced to every one, and then they immediatelybegan an animated conversation, in which Archie soon found himselftaking an active part, much to his surprise. He felt that he hadnever before realised what a great gift it is to be able to talkentertainingly, and this evening was a revelation to him in the ways ofgood society. He found that every one was much interested in the storyof his adventures, and he talked more about them than for a long timepast. He was now beginning to feel that his Philippine experiences werean old story, but he learned that they were quite as entertaining asever to these people. But they did not talk entirely about Archie. Theyrealised that this would be embarrassing to him, and they were carefulto guide the conversation into a discussion of music and literature, andwhatever else they imagined him to like. And so it was that the eveningpassed very quickly, and it was time to leave before he knew it. Then hewas asked to be sure to call again, and Mr. Depaw, as he accompaniedhim to the door, requested him to call at his office on the followingWednesday, if possible. Archie promised, and walked home down theavenue, wondering what it could be that Mr. Depaw wanted to talk to himabout. He didn't worry long about it, however, but went home and tobed as quickly as possible, for he had formed a habit of rising at sixo'clock in the morning to study.
The days passed quickly until Wednesday, and the afternoon of that dayfound Archie in the waiting-room of Mr. Depaw's office. He had not longto sit there after sending in his card, for the busy man received him assoon as he could get rid of his present visitor. He shook Archie warmlyby the hand as he entered, and then, pulling two chairs together, theysat down. "I have been thinking for some time," said Mr. Depaw, "thatI need a sort of private secretary. Of course I have men here at theoffice who take dictation from me, and who fulfil the duties of asecretary to a certain extent, but I want a young man who can attendsomewhat to my personal affairs; I want one whom I can trust, and onewho is likely to grow as he works along, so that eventually he maybe able to fill any place I may have open for him." Then he stopped amoment, and Archie felt his heart beating very fast beneath his coat. Hewaited almost breathlessly to hear what Mr. Depaw would say next.
"Ever since I met you first," he at last went on, "I have somehowthought that you are the kind of a young fellow I would like. You areambitious, you are persevering, and you are willing to learn. You say,too, that you know shorthand, and I know that you are a good penman. Youhave seen quite a little of the world, I am sure, and I think youcan prove yourself equal to almost any occasion. The only question iswhether you will care to give up reporting for a position of this kind.I can assure you that I will pay you as much as you are earning now, andI shall be glad to offer you a home at my house, because I shall wantyou at my right hand all the time. Do you think you will care to takethe place?"
Archie could hardly speak, it was all so wonderful, but finally herecovered himself sufficiently to explain his hesitancy in acceptingthe position. "I would like just one day," he said, "to consult with myfriends on the newspaper. You see Mr. Jennings and Mr. Van Bunting havebeen very good to me, and I shouldn't care to leave them now if theyobject very strongly."
"That's quite right, quite right," said Mr. Depaw. "I can appreciateyour feelings, and you can tell the editor that you will have some timefor writing, and that you will contribute occasional articles to hispaper." Archie was now delighted. "Oh, thank you," he cried. "I am sureI can come now."
"Well, come in at this time to-morrow," said Mr. Depaw, "and let me knowwhat you have decided to do."
Archie hurried at once to Mr. Jennings's office to tell him the goodnews. He wondered how his friend would take it, but all his fearswere soon put at rest. "Archie," said Mr. Jennings, "this is the bestopportunity you can ever have to improve yourself in every way. Mr.Depaw is a man highly respected all over the country, and a man who isknown to be extraordinary in many ways. Association with such a man willdo more for you than four years in college, and you will make a mistakeif you do not accept his offer. Of course we shall all be sorry to loseyou here, but, as Mr. Depaw says, you will have some time for writing,and we hope you will always continue to do some work for us."
Archie could almost have thrown his arms about Mr. Jennings's neck tohug him for his splendid feeling, and when, a little later, Mr. VanBunting said practically the same thing, he felt that he had never knowntwo such men. He assured them both that he would never forget them, butwould try and spend as much time as possible in the Enterprise office.
The next day he called again on Mr. Depaw, and told him of his decisionto accept the place, and the good man seemed overjoyed. "I will see thatyou never forget it, Archie," he said. It was arranged for him to beginwork the very next day. "You can transfer your things to my house assoon as you like, for your room is waiting for you, and I will beginto-morrow to teach you how to do things."
And now Archie found it hard to leave the dear little room in the quaintold square, which was looking now just as when he saw it first. Theleaves in the trees were turning brown and gold, and Archie realisedthat he had been away from home more than a year. "Oh, I must go backsoon," he said to himself, "or I shall simply die of homesickness."
In a couple of days he was installed as a member of the Depaw household,and he soon felt at home there. Every one was very kind to him, he wasgiven a handsome room, and everything seemed almost perfect. One of thebest things about it all was that he had access to the fine library,and he longed for the long winter evenings when he could devour the manyinteresting books he saw there. He was soon initiated into his work, andit was much easier than he had expected. Mr. Depaw, of course, startedhim very gradually, so that he learned as he went along. Every morningat eight o'clock he was in the library with Mr. Depaw, taking dictation,and receiving instructions for the day. They remained together hereuntil ten o'clock, when Mr. Depaw either walked or drove to his office.Archie always accompanied him, and took charge of some of the mailthere, attending to it during the morning. Then at noon he returned tothe house, where he spent the afternoon in writing the letters which hadbeen dictated in
the morning, and in doing various things for Mr. Depaw.The evenings he always had to himself, and he had no difficulty infinding enough to do at home without going out. He almost invariablypassed the evenings in reading, but occasionally he was asked toaccompany the family to some musical event at the opera house, for theyhad soon learned of his love for music.
In work and study the winter passed quickly and happily for Archie, whonow felt quite at ease amid his elegant surroundings. His only wish wasthat he might go home, and as spring approached Mr. Depaw promised himthat he should have a short vacation. The suggestion of Mr. Depaw thatArchie's mother come to New York for a week was heartily accepted byArchie, but when he wrote home Mrs. Dunn replied that she would ratherwait for Archie at home. She had never visited New York, and felt thatshe wouldn't like it.
Bill Hickson came over very often from the navy yard, and was always awelcome visitor at Mr. Depaw's office. He didn't seem to care for hiswork in Brooklyn, however, and Archie finally requested a place for himabout the elegant new station which the road had just constructed in thecity. Mr. Depaw very readily gave him an excellent position, one whichhe could keep always if he so desired. And Bill was highly pleasedwith his new work, so much so that he surprised them all one day in thespring by leading into the once a young lady whom he introduced as hiswife. Of course Archie was very much pleased at this new development,for he had often thought that his friend must be very lonely, living ina boarding-house.
The days were all busy ones for Archie now. He had learned the workso thoroughly that he was given more than ever to do, and he stillcontinued to write, too, for the Enterprise. He worked too hard,however, and in April he looked so thin that Mr. Depaw sent him home fora week's rest.
CHAPTER XXVI.
DECIDES TO VISIT HOME--A GREAT RECEPTION IN THE TOWN--A PUBLIC CHARACTER NOW--DINNER TO THE HUT CLUB--DEMONSTRATION AT THE TOWN HALL-- A TELEGRAM FROM HIS EMPLOYER LEAVING FOR EUROPE.
IT was a beautiful April day. There had been a light shower in themorning, and now everything looked as fresh and green as possible allalong the railway. Archie lay back in his comfortable Wagner seat,admiring the beauties of spring, and thinking, too, of the days he spentin walking along this very road. It seemed hard to believe that hewas now secretary to the president of this railroad, and that he wasreturning home, after a year and a half, a very successful young man. Hehad much to think of in the hours it would take him to reach the littletown. He tried to remember everything about the place, and his mother ashe saw her last, and it wasn't at all difficult for him to do so. But,oh, how he hoped that things had not changed! He almost dreaded goinghome for fear he would find things different.
He had changed, that much was sure. He knew that he had grown tolook much older than his years, and he knew that he was not lookingparticularly strong. He used to be so sturdy, and he had such a splendidcolour in his cheeks. Mother would be sorry to see him now, but ofcourse he would be sure to improve very much during the week he was toremain among old friends.
He was very anxious to see his boy friends, the members of the HutClub, and the boys and girls who were in his class at school. He hadtelegraphed his mother that he was coming, so she would probably tellthe boys about it. He was sure they would be there.
Now the stations looked more familiar. This one just passed was nearthe Tinch farm, and Archie remembered the days he spent working for oldHiram, and how he had suffered. He wondered if the farmer had ever seenany copies of the Enterprise. It would be very interesting to him toknow that his chore-boy was now a secretary to a millionaire. This nextstation he remembered very well indeed, because he used to come hereevery fall to visit the county fair, where he marvelled at the wonderfulthings he saw in the side-shows.
And now the train was entering the limits of his own town. Here wasthe old elevator, and the machine shop near the railway track. And, oh,there was his own home, looking green and pleasant as the train sped by.It almost brought tears to Archie's eyes to think that he was so soon tosee his mother. Now they had reached the station, and he stood upon thecar platform ready to alight. My, what a crowd there was! and why didthey cheer as he made his appearance? All at once it dawned upon himthat all these people were here to meet him, and to bid him welcomehome. He could hardly speak as he found himself in his mother's arms,and then he began to shake the hands of the big crowd. They were allold friends, and then there was the mayor, and the superintendent ofschools, and quite a delegation of leading citizens. How nice it was ofthem to welcome him in this way!
After awhile the handshaking was over, and the mayor was able to geta few minutes with Archie. "We are all very proud of what you haveaccomplished," he said, "and we want to give you a public receptionto-morrow night in the town hall, if you don't object." Archie staredblankly at the mayor, and it was several moments before he realised themeaning of the words. Then he was almost overcome. It was almost toogood to be true, it seemed, but he warmly thanked the mayor, and toldhim how he appreciated the honour which they had done him. He said thathe would be glad to attend the reception.
The crowd was scattering now, and Archie, wild to reach home, took hismother to a carriage, in which they drove rapidly out to the littlehouse among the trees and arbours. The old town looked beautiful inevery way. The great maple and oak trees along the road were green withnew leaves, and every dooryard was bright with snowballs and yellowroses. "This is the very best time of the year," he said to his mother,"and I am the very happiest boy in all the world."
"And I am the happiest mother," was the answer. Then they sat in silenceuntil they reached the old home. They entered by the kitchen door, and,once inside, and seated in the old cane rocking-chair, Archie bowed hishead in tears of joy at being home with mother once again.
The hours which followed were sweet with joy. Mrs. Dunn busied herselfin preparing the supper, and Archie hung around the kitchen, tellingsome of the many things he had planned to tell. Mrs. Dunn was smiling,and Archie thought her the sweetest mother any boy could have. She waschanged somewhat, but she looked very young to-day.
Supper over, Archie went over the fence to see the Sullivan boys, andhe found them looking much the same. He was truly glad to see them, andthey, of course, were glad to see him, too, though at first they werejust a little bashful, remembering, no doubt, all the things which hadhappened to Archie since they saw him last. The boys were soon tellingall about the Hut Club, though, and Archie learned to his joy that itwas still a flourishing organisation. "We spoke of you every time wewere together," said Jack, "and we always wished you were back again."Archie was delighted to hear that he had been missed, and all at oncean idea came to him which he put into execution three days later. Hedetermined to give an elegant dinner to this club of boys, and the verynext day he sent to New York for a caterer to arrange it. He wantedit to be something finer than any of the boys had ever seen, and itcertainly turned out to be so. The caterer did his best, and when, threedays later, the Hut Club sat down together for the first time in morethan eighteen months, they partook of a dinner which would have donecredit to Mr. Depaw's table. It was a memorable night for them all, andevery boy enjoyed himself.
Archie enjoyed this Hut Club dinner more than anything else while hewas at home, though of course the great event of his stay was the publicreception at the Town Hall on the second evening after his arrival. Thiswas a truly grand affair. The town authorities hired a brass band, whichplayed inside the hall and out, and there was such a crowd in attendancethat many were turned away from the doors. It was a night that Archiewill never be able to forget. He sat on the platform, in company withthe mayor and other town officials, and he listened to several speechescongratulating him on what he had accomplished since leaving the town.Then he had to get up and tell them all of his experiences, from thetime he left until now. He told it in a simple manner, but from theclose attention he received it was evident his audience was deeplyinterested. When he had finished, there were calls for "three cheers forArchie Dunn," and they were
given with a will. Then Archie, risingfrom his seat, called for "three cheers for the President of the UnitedStates," and they, too, were given, for Archie had told them all hisfeelings on the subject of the President's policy in the war. After thisthere were three cheers for Mr. Depaw, whom one man said would be thenext United States Senator from the State. The meeting closed with somecheers for the New York Enterprise, and then followed a long siege ofhandshaking for Archie, who stood beside his mother on the floor infront of the platform. It was a happy night for them both, and Mrs. Dunnsaid afterward that she could never wish for anything more the rest ofher life.
The fourth day of his visit was a Sunday, and, to Archie's joy, braveBill Hickson and his wife came up from the city to spend the day. Whata jolly time they had, all day long! They went to church in the morning,where they saw all the people, it seemed, whom they hadn't seen before,and in the afternoon there were many callers at the little house. Theevening was spent quietly by the happy four, talking of old times andplans for the future. The town authorities were anxious to give BillHickson a reception while he was in town, but the bashful hero declinedthe honour, and returned with his wife to New York by the midnighttrain.
During the two succeeding days Archie talked a great deal with hismother, and finally gained her consent to come to New York to live ina year's time. Mrs. Dunn had never really understood that Archie had sogood a position, but now that she realised what a splendid beginninghe had made, she was very willing to come and keep house for him. Thisquestion settled, everything seemed wholly delightful in the cosy home,and Archie settled down to enjoy the two remaining days of his visit inquiet rest. He had already much improved during his stay, and was sureof going back to the city feeling much better than for a long time past,and this made Mrs. Dunn very happy.
But Archie didn't stay his week out at home. On the fifth night heattended a reception in his honour at one of the neighbours' houses, andhe was just in the midst of a description of Tokio when a messenger boyentered with a telegram for him. He opened it at once, and read it aloudto the company:
"Dear Archie," it said, "return as soon as possible. I sail for Europeon Saturday's steamer to remain six months, and wish you to accompanyme." It was signed by Mr. Depaw, and there was great applause from thecrowd when he finished reading it. But Archie's face was a study. Hewasn't sure whether he wanted to go to Europe or not, but of coursethere was no question about what he should do. He at once telegrapheda reply, saying that he would reach the city to-morrow at noon, leavinghome on the early morning train.
Of course the reception soon broke up, and Archie walked quietly homewith his mother, who was saddened at the prospect of losing him so soonagain. She soon brightened, however, and began to plan things for him todo abroad, and soon she entered into the preparation for his departurewith all her heart. But Archie was not so soon made glad, and he didn'trest until he made his mother promise to accompany him to the city onthe morrow to spend the two days previous to his departure in helpinghim get ready. Mrs. Dunn wasn't anxious to make the trip, but forArchie's sake she consented.
And early the next morning they left for the city, where the time passedrapidly until the hour of the steamer's sailing. At the pier they saidgood-bye. Archie could hardly speak, but Mrs. Dunn was brave. "Archie,"she said, "God has been with you so far and he will keep you yet. Andremember that a boy with honest ambition will always get along. Youare sure to have friends about you always, for you have proved thatyou possess energy, perseverance and a good heart." She said good-byewithout a tear, but as the steamer left the pier Archie saw, on lookingback, a sweet mother seated on a coil of rope, with her handkerchief toher eyes.
THE END.
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