CHAPTER XVI
BLIGH MAKES A FRIEND
"Well, Robert Drake, I'm glad to see you; I was hoping you might comeover this afternoon," exclaimed Helen Blunt as Robert appeared on theporch of her home; "suppose we go out for a walk. I want to do an errandfor mother in Conduit Street; and then suppose we walk over the bridgeand go through Eastport; there are some gorgeous woods beyond there.Come along."
"That's just what I wanted to do," replied Robert as they started off."But did you really expect me to-day? To tell you the truth, Stonewelland I first intended to spend the afternoon in the woods across theriver, but he found he had to write some letters, so he decided not togo out to-day."
"So I come next after Stonewell, do I, Robert?" queried Helen.
"I'll tell you where you stand--as one of the best friends a fellow everhad," replied Robert earnestly. "It is not a question of standing nextto Stonewell; he's just like a big brother to me; do you know, Helen, heis one of the most remarkable characters alive; why, if he had studiedlaw I believe he would some day be President of the United States. Heexcels in everything, and besides all that he is just the best fellowimaginable."
"He is indeed a splendid, a most superior man, Robert, but I believe Mr.Stonewell isn't really as ambitious as you are, that he is moreinfluenced by your extravagant opinion of him than he is by the abstractdesire to excel as a naval officer. You see it is so easy for him toexcel if he only half tries. But, Robert, as much as I admire him, I donot feel that I really know him. And come now, after rooming with himfor four years, do you feel you know his intimate thoughts? Are youreally certain that you know Mr. Stonewell just as he knows you?"
"Indeed I do," Robert stoutly maintained. "I know all about him. I knowhe's one of the finest fellows that ever lived."
"And you know all about him, do you?"
"Of course I do."
"And he couldn't go walking with you to-day because he had some lettersto write?"
"That was the reason; but, Helen, it seems to me you are asking somevery odd questions."
"I know I am, but while we've been walking down here, you have beenlooking this way. Suppose you look around in the other direction andtell me who you see walking at such a rapid rate--I don't mean on MainStreet, but down Conduit Street, where we will turn in a minute."
Robert did so, and to his intense surprise saw Stonewell. The latterevidently had not seen Helen or her companion. He was swinging downConduit Street with rapid strides, perhaps a hundred yards ahead ofthem. Robert was so amazed that he could say nothing. It was now evidentto him that Stonewell had received news of some nature that caused himto break his engagement to go walking, news that brought him in thisgreat hurry on Conduit Street, a part of Annapolis not much frequentedby midshipmen; and news that he certainly did not care to discuss withhis most intimate friend.
"Now what do you think of that, Mr. Robert?" cried Helen triumphantly."He broke his engagement to write some letters, and as soon as you leavehe rushes out to Conduit Street. There, he's gone into that big yellowhouse. Now, do you think you know as much about Mr. Stonewell as he doesabout you?"
Robert was silent. He too thought it was queer. He was too loyal in hisfriendship to Stonewell to tell Helen of the misgivings he had feltsince he had seen his roommate so affected by that morning letter. AndStonewell's action now was decidedly mystifying. Robert instinctivelyknew his roommate was in deep trouble and he longed to know of theburden upon him and to share it with him.
"Do forgive me, Robert," said Helen a little later, noticing how soberhe had become. "I'm awfully sorry I called your attention to Mr.Stonewell; I know how devoted you are to your friends. Let's try andforget about it and be happy. We'll go into the woods and gather someviolets and dogwood--the woods are so pretty now--full of moss andferns--let's walk fast."
Robert was cheered up a bit, and when they had finished their errand onConduit Street they hastened to the woods. Leaving their troubles behindthem, these young people were soon in a happy, merry mood. The woodswere soon deep about them, and they drank deep breaths from theforest-perfumed air. Robert told Helen the great secret of his gun drilland the means he had taken to win the flag.
"And, Helen, if my company wins it I am going to ask you to present it;if we win it that will be my privilege."
Helen was enthusiastic, of course, for the greatest glory a girl everwins at Annapolis is to be chosen to present the colors to the winningcompany.
"You'll win it, I'm sure you will," she cried; and then, woman-like, sheimmediately became deeply pensive.
"Why so quiet?" queried Robert.
"Oh, I was thinking about what kind of a dress I shall wear, and I musthave a new hat too,--I'm sure you'll win, Robert, just as sure as thoughit had really happened."
Mr. Henry Bligh continued to lead, in a crowded community oflight-hearted young men, a solitary life. He commenced to experience acertain kind of cruel pleasure in being the martyr he considered himselfto be. Calm though he outwardly was his mind was in a continual ferment,with a direct result that he was never in a humor to study; naturally hedid poorly in his daily recitations and worse in examinations. The timefor the annual examinations was now near and Bligh knew he had butlittle hope of passing. Only by heroic effort could he hope to make asatisfactory mark for his final average and thus become a thirdclassman. Bligh was in no mental state to make this required heroiceffort. In fact it was practically certain that he would fail and berequired to resign.
One Saturday in the middle of May, Bligh went out in the city ofAnnapolis and walked around in an aimless way. He wandered in the StateHouse grounds and finally sat down on an iron bench near the statue ofChief Justice Taney.
After a few minutes he observed a young man approach on the walk thatled by his bench. Bligh gave him a careless glance, and as the youngman passed he happened to look at him again. And then a startling changecame over Mr. Henry Bligh. His eyes seemed to bulge from their sockets;involuntarily he half arose from his seat; his breath came in quickgasps; he gave every evidence of complete amazement. Then he suddenlysank back, relaxed and gave himself over to uncontrolled merriment.
"Oh, what a joke," he cried; "oh, my, oh, my!--who would believe it?"
It had been long since Bligh had laughed so heartily. And it was strangeindeed, because there was nothing particularly remarkable in theappearance of the young man who had so affected Bligh. He was dressed ina well made gray suit and wore a straw hat. His features were undeniablyhandsome. He had a broad forehead, and under heavy eyebrows theregleamed a pair of thoughtful gray eyes; he was tall and powerfullybuilt, and walked with a swinging gait. Before the civilian had gonefar, Bligh arose, in a hesitating way, and half-heartedly followed him.The stranger walked around State House Circle into Main Street, andturned down that street; Bligh followed. Soon he apparently gatheredcourage and drew nearer to the man ahead. The latter went into a drugstore, stopped at the fountain and seemingly ordered a summer drink.Bligh had a good look at him through the open door, pausing there for amoment; then he went inside and stood by the counter and ordered anorange phosphate.
_HE HALF AROSE FROM HIS SEAT_]
"It's a good cooling drink for warm weather," he observed to the youngman on his right, looking squarely at him.
"Indeed it is," replied that person, looking at Bligh with friendlyinterest; "but try a lime phosphate some time; the West Indian lime isvery cooling."
"I will," replied Bligh heartily. "You're a stranger here, aren't you?"
"Yes, and I see you are a midshipman. I've heard lots about the NavalAcademy; it's a fine place, isn't it? I imagine midshipmen live a mostinteresting life."
"Some do, I suppose; I know others who don't. Some fellows here make afalse start, slip up on something, you know, and get in a bad light, andafter that they have no chance; everybody gets down on them." Blighspoke bitterly.
"That's pretty hard luck," observed the stranger; "my sympathy alwaysgoes to a fellow in that fix. Even if he does slip up on
ce there may belots of good left in him, and a man should not be utterly condemned forone mistake. That isn't fair at all. If I had to choose a friend betweentwo men, one of whom had been careless in some act and acknowledged it,and the other was of the I-am-better-than-thou-class, I'd take the firstfellow for a friend every time. But my thoughts can hardly interestyou,--I don't suppose they apply to you at all," and the speaker turneda thoughtful, penetrating glance upon Bligh.
Tears suddenly gushed from Bligh's eyes, and in a broken voice he said:"See here, you are the first man that has spoken to me in a friendly wayfor months."
Bligh showed genuine emotion and feeling when he spoke. He was totallyfriendless, and he suddenly felt great pity for himself.
"Why, my dear fellow," exclaimed his newly-made acquaintance, "you willpardon me for my inadvertent remarks--but suppose we take a walk; comeover to my rooms, and if you feel like it talk things over with me--Idon't know you, but I want to know you. I don't believe I see anythingbad in your face, though I imagine there is sadness there."
These kind words were to Bligh like heaven-sent manna. Until this momenthe had no conception of how he yearned for just one single friend, oneperson who believed there was good in him, one to whom he could open hisheart and pour out its griefs. Instantly this newly-made friendshipbecame precious, and he felt brighter and happier than he had formonths. Sincerity and kindness were written in the features of this newfriend.
Bligh spent several hours with him in his rooms, and acquainted him withthe troubles, mistakes and heartburnings that were his daily portion inhis now unfortunate condition; in doing this he saw himself in a newlight; and now when his new friend pointed out where he was blameworthy,where he had been wrong, he eagerly assented. For this grave friend,sympathetic though he was to the sad story that rushed from Bligh'slips, in a kindly spirit severely criticized Bligh for his wrongactions. He laughed heartily at Bligh's woeful story of how he hadlowered himself in the ventilating shaft. "That was good, Mr. Bligh," hesaid; "but it's a great pity that you were caught."
When Bligh returned to his quarters he was like a different man; morehappiness to his wounded spirit had come to him this day than he had hadfor months.
"If I had only had a friend like this when the year commenced," hereflected, "my life here would have been different. But now I'm afraidit's too late; I'm pretty sure to bilge."