The letter alluded to in the last chapter ran thus. It was written fromMr. Newman's house in Madison Avenue, though inclosed in a businessenvelope:
"MASTER HECTOR ROSCOE: I learn that I am indebted to you for the rescueof my little daughter from imminent peril during my absence from homeyesterday. A friend who witnessed her providential escape has given mesuch an account of your bravery in risking your own life to save that ofan unknown child, that I cannot rest till I have had an opportunityof thanking you in person. You will do me a favor, if not otherwiseengaged, if you will call at my house this evening, about eight o'clock.Yours gratefully,
"Titus NEWMAN."
It is needless to say that Hector read this letter with feelings ofgratification. It is true, as we are often told, that "virtue is its ownreward," but it is, nevertheless, pleasant to feel that our efforts todo well and serve others are appreciated.
"No bad news, I hope, Hector?" said Walter.
"No," answered Hector. "You may read the letter, if you like, Mr. Ross."
Mr. Ross did so, and aloud, much to the surprise of everyone at table.
"You did not tell me of this," said Walter, in astonishment.
"No," answered Hector, smiling.
"But why not?"
"Because Hector is modest," Mr. Ross answered for him. "Now, if you haddone such a thing, Walter, we should have been sure to hear of it."
"I don't know," returned Walter, comically. "You don't know how manylives I have saved within the last few years."
"Nor anyone else, I fancy," replied his father. "By the way, Hector,there is a paragraph about it in the Herald of this morning. I readit, little suspecting that you were the boy whose name the reporter wasunable to learn."
Hector read the paragraph in question with excusable pride. It was, inthe main, correct.
"How old was the little girl?" asked Walter.
"Four years old, I should think."
"That isn't quite so romantic as if she had been three times as old."
"I couldn't have rescued her quite as easily, in that case."
Of course, Hector was called upon for an account of the affair, whichhe gave plainly, without adding any of those embellishments which someboys, possibly some of my young readers, might have been tempted to putin.
"You are fortunate to have obliged a man like Titus Newman, Hector,"said Mr. Ross. "He is a man of great wealth and influence."
"Do you know him, papa?" asked Walter.
"No--that is, not at all well. I have been introduced to him."
Punctually at eight o'clock Hector ascended the steps of a handsomeresidence on Madison Avenue. The door was opened by a colored servant,of imposing manners.
"Is Mr. Newman at home?" asked Hector, politely.
"Yes, sar."
"Be kind enough to hand him this card?"
"Yes, sar."
Presently the servant reappeared, saying:
"Mr. Newman will see you, sar, in the library. I will induct youthither."
"Thank you," answered Hector, secretly amused at the airs put on by hissable conductor.
Seated at a table, in a handsomely furnished library, sat a stoutgentleman of kindly aspect. He rose quickly from his armchair andadvanced to meet our hero.
"I am glad to see you, my young friend," he said. "Sit there," pointingto a smaller armchair opposite. "So you are the boy who rescued my dearlittle girl?"
His voice softened as he uttered these last few words, and it was easyto see how strong was the paternal love that swelled his heart.
"I was fortunate in having the opportunity, Mr. Newman."
"You have rendered me a service I can never repay. When I think that butfor you the dear child--" his voice faltered.
"Don't think of it, Mr. Newman," said Hector, earnestly. "I don't liketo think of it myself."
"And you exposed yourself to great danger, my boy!"
"I suppose I did, sir; but that did not occur to me at the time. It wasall over in an instant."
"I see you are modest, and do not care to take too great credit toyourself, but I shall not rest till I have done something to express mysense of your noble courage. Now, I am a man of business, and it is mycustom to come to the point directly. Is there any way in which I canserve you."
"Yes, sir."
"I am glad to hear it. Name it."
"I am looking for a situation in some mercantile establishment, Mr.Newman."
"Pardon me, but, judging from your appearance, I should not suppose thatit was a matter of importance to you."
"Yes, sir; I am poor."
"You don't look so."
"You judge from my dress, no doubt"--Hector was attired in a suit offine texture--"I suppose I may say," he added, with a smile, "that Ihave seen better days."
"Surely, you are young to have met with reverses, if that is what youmean to imply," the merchant remarked, observing our hero with somecuriosity.
"Yes, sir; if you have time, I will explain to you how it happened."
As the story has already been told, I will not repeat Hector's words.
Mr. Newman listened with unaffected interest.
"It is certainly a curious story," he said. "Did you, then, quietlysurrender your claims to the estate simply upon your uncle's unsupportedassertion?"
"I beg pardon, sir. He showed me my father's--that is, Mr.Roscoe's--letter."
"Call him your father, for I believe he was."
"Do you, sir?" asked Hector, eagerly.
"I do. Your uncle's story looks like an invention. Let me think, wasyour father's name Edward Roscoe?"
"Yes, sir."
"And in what year were you born?"
"In the year 1856."
"At Sacramento?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then I feel quite sure that I made your father's acquaintance in thesucceeding year, and your own as well, though you were an infant--thatis, you were less than a year old."
"Did my father say anything of having adopted me?"
"No; on the contrary, he repeatedly referred to you as his child, andyour mother also displayed toward you an affection which would have beenat least unusual if you had not been her own child."
"Then you think, sir--" Hector began.
"I think that your uncle's story is a mere fabrication. He has contriveda snare in which you have allowed yourself to be enmeshed."
"I am only a boy, sir. I supposed there was nothing for me to do but toyield possession of the estate when my uncle showed me the letter."
"It was natural enough; and your uncle doubtless reckoned upon yourinexperience and ignorance of the law."
"What would you advise me to do, sir?"
"Let me think."
The merchant leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and gave himselfup to reflection. In the midst of his reverie the pompous servantentered, bringing a letter upon a silver salver.
"A letter, sar," he said.
"That will do. You can go, Augustus."
"Yes, sar."
Mr. Newman glanced at the postmark, tore open the letter, read it with afrown, and then, as if he had suddenly formed a resolution, he said:
"This letter has helped me to a decision."
Hector regarded him with surprise. What could the letter have to do withhim?
"Have you any objection to going out to California by the next steamer?"asked Mr. New-man.
"No, sir," answered Hector, with animation "Am I to go alone?"
"Yes, alone."
CHAPTER XXXII. A WAYWARD YOUTH.