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The Telegraph Messenger Boy; or The Straight Road to Success, a fiction by Edward Sylvester Ellis |
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Chapter 23. Face To Face |
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_ CHAPTER XXIII. FACE TO FACE
Suddenly, while Ben was looking at the youth he recognized him as Rutherford Richmond, with whom he had had several important meetings. "Why, Rutherford, you have grown so much I didn't recognize you; I am glad to see you; how have you been?" Ben reached his hand over the counter as he greeted the young man, but the latter affected not to hear him. Turning to the desk, he wrote out a message with great rapidity, wheeled about, and, without the slightest evidence of ever having seen Ben, handed him the paper and ordered the dispatch to be sent to New York. This was the telegram:
"Dolly and I reached here safe. Big party at Grandin's to-morrow; sure of grand time. Will take good care of Dolly. "Rutherford Richmond."
Ben was too shocked to salute her, and probably it was as well he did not do so, for she simply stared with scarcely less directness than did her companion. Only by the most supreme exertion was the youth enabled to choke down his rebellious emotions, so that none in the office noticed his excitement. It was the same on the morrow, and, as if the fates had combined to crush him in absolute wretchedness, he encountered Rutherford and Dolly riding out as he was making his way homeward. He affected not to see them, but he could not avoid furtively watching Dolly, who certainly was the most winsome-looking young miss he had ever seen. "To-night another party is given by the Grandins. Their girls are ladies, and they treated me well when I was there more than two years ago, but in this matter Dolly has had all to say--that is, she and Rutherford. Well, if she is that sort of girl, I don't want anything to do with her." That night, in spite of himself, Ben could not stay at home; he strolled along, a prey to his bitter thoughts, and mechanically walked in the direction of the splendid grounds of the wealthy jeweler, Mr. Grandin. The sound of music from within aroused him. He saw the lights glimmering through the beautiful shade trees, and could catch sight of the gayly-dressed figures flitting by the open windows. "I can't feel any worse," muttered Ben, walking through the open gate, confident that he would attract no special attention. He sauntered up the graveled walk, turning off to the right and moving slowly along, with his gaze fixed upon the gay lads and lasses within, who seemed to be in the very height of enjoyment. At that instant someone caught his arm, and Ben turned with an apology for his forgetfulness. "I beg pardon, but I was so interested in the scene that I did not notice where I stepped----" He paused, fairly gasping for breath, for there stood Dolly Willard at his side, with her hand upon his arm. The light streaming from the windows fell upon her charming face, on which there was an expression that young Mayberry did not understand. "Ben," said she, in a voice that sounded unnatural, "I've got something I want to say to you." "And I have a good deal that I would like to say to you," he retorted, firing up, now that the little empress stood before him. _ |
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