CHAPTER IX. OWEN RUGGLES PAYS WALTER A VISIT.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 210, 9 July 1887, Page 6

CHAPTER IX. OWEN RUGGLES PAYS WALTER A VISIT.

"That is a queer specimen of humanity who has just left us, Miss Ruby," remarked Edmund Carpenter, as he followed her into the diawing-room. " Queer '! -well, perhaps he may be somevhat'peculiar, but I am sure he is a noble man at heart," she replied, thoughtfully. •' What is your idea of a ' noble man,' Mi=s Gordon?"' asked Edmund, with a sarcastic smile. Ruby turned and looked him straight in the eyes. "One who would never be guilty of a mean or cruel act : one who possesses a kind and generous heart, and is courteous towaid every one, whether he is rich or poor, high or low." Her companion winced. "Your standard is a high one," heremarked, with a somewhat crestfallen air. "It is not my ' standard,' Mr Carpenter ; it is the standard of One who ever taught lessons of nobility and of charity ; who commanded us to love our neighbours as our&ehes, and to do unto others as we would wish to be done by," the lovely girl replied, with a gentle gravity that was very impressive. Edmund Carpenter regarded her with a feeling of uneasiness. He would have given a good deal to know if she had overheard much of his conversation with Owen Ruggles. He was sure, from her manner, that she had heard something he would have preferred she had not, for "her bearing was reserved and cold toward him. "Do you imagine that a man like Mr Ruggles can be susceptible to the proprieties and etiquette of high life?" he asked. " Why certainly, Mr Carpenter. He proved that to-night by his evident appreciation of a conrteousreception. He may not be able to practise them himself— he may not have had the social and educational advantages that have fallen to our lot ; but he certainly has a tender heart and oae that is keenly alive to what is good and beautiful ; else he would never love the poems of Mr Whitfield as he appears to. I believe we should treat everyone, without regard to externals, as we desire and expect to be treated ourselves." " 4nd would you like to go to Redville * Did you really mean that you would enjoy making him a visit next summer ?" Edmund Carpenter asked, curiously. j •' Indeed I did ; surely you do not imagine that X wovdd. tell the man an un- ] trutli *" returned Ruby, colouring. 11 No ; pardon me. But yet, one gets in the habit of saying pleasant, things as a matter of form." Ruby thought this could not be laid to his charge as a rule ; but she answered with a trifle of hauteur in her manner : "lam sorry to know that you judge so sceptically of people ; I fear your faith in the honesty of humanity is not very strong. But, Mr Carpenter, I despise anything which savours of untruthfulness or deceit, and I never say what I do not mean." Ruby saw one of her friends beckoning to her just then, and she was not sorry to have the interview interrupted. Her respect for her companion had rapidly diminished during the last half hour. "Excuse me, Florence Partridge wants me," she said, and flitted from his side without further ceremony, leaving him greatly disturbed and crestfallen. He saw no more of her thao evening, except to receive a brief " good -night," as he made his adieus. He went home very angry with Owen Ruggles for having come there in that strange fashion, which had so resulted in his own discomfiture. He was angry with himself also for having treated him so surlily. Such treatment was entirely uncalled for ; he need not have seen him at all, and he knew he had rendered himself contemptible in Ruby Gordon's sight, while, if Owen Rugg-les's story was true, he was destined to be a very rich man, and he, the son of the half-brother whom he had dearly loved, might have become his heir, perhaps, if he had played his cards differently. Then, too, he feared he had made an egregio : - Munder in the sarcastic pro posal he had made, that M r Ruggles should adopt Walter— for the man had evidently seized it with eagerness He so nated the young man— as one who .toes another an injury always hates object— that he felt it would be a most mortifying and humiliating blow to have him stop in between s him and a large inheritance, even though he had an abundance without it. He resolved, however, to do what lie could toward making amends for his rudeness ; to remain at home the following day and exert himself to entertain his uncouth visitor ; while later, he would run up to

Renville and interest himself in his plans for business. But Owen Ruggles did not trouble his half-brother's son for entertainment j he did not go out to Forestvale at all. The next morning, while Walter was busily engaged upon some fine finishing upon the inside of the building where ho was working, Mr Wayland came to him and informed him that some one wanted to Bee him below. He immediately went down to ascertain [ who it was, and his face lighted Jvifch real pleasure as he recognised Owen Ruggles. He knew that he was rude and uncultivated in manner, but that his heart was as kind and gentle as a woman's He had won Walter's heart while lie was a boy, when he went to spend a few weeks at the farm, by making a companion of him, interesting himself in his boyish pleasures, and, more than all, by listening to his cherished reminiscences of his mother and discussing her virtues with him with as much feeling as if h 3 had been pcr*smally acquainted with and fond of her. " Oh, Mr Ruggles," he cried, giving his old friend a hearty shake of the hand, "how glad I am to see you. When did you come to the city, and why have you not been to see us before ? I was so sorry you could not come when Uncle Ralph died," lie added, in a low grave tone. "1 believe you are glad to sec me, Walter," said Mr lluggles, earnestly scanning his face. " Why, of course I am ; why shouldn't I be? I have not forgotten how kind you have always been to me. Come in heic and rest for a few minutes ; then I will show you around our new block." He led the way into a room that was nearly finished, seated him upon a nail keg, and, occupying another, chatted with him for a little while, after which he took him to Mr Wayland, to whom he introduced him. He then showed him over the building*, and during his tour of inspection Mr Ruggles endeavoured to sound Walter regarding his plans for the future. | "Itis a great pity, Walter, that you had to give up college. I cannot understand I it. I know that Ralph set a sight by you, ; and ho always told me that he should fc>er\ c you like a son." I " And so he did, Mr Ruggles, as long as ' he lived, and I loved him like a father,'' Walter answered. "A= for college — well, I should have enjoyed completing my course, but I could not, *o I must make the most of what education I have obtained." " Bub wouldn't you like to go back now ? Say the word, my boy, ami you diall go," said Owen Ruggles, searching the young man's face with an eager look. " I think it would hardly be wise for me to do that under existing circumstances. I want to bo a business man and get to doing something for myself as soon as possible. After Uncle Ralph died and I found that I must look out for myself, I wished to enter an architect's office and fib myself iov that profession ; but Mr Conant, to whom I applied, advised me to learn all that 1 could about carpentering first, so I have been hard at work at it during the la>t year. There is a little more that I \\i-\\ to learn before I go into the office for «?ood, which will be very soon — indeed, I am there a good deal of my time now." "Do you like carpentering?"' asked his companion. "I have been growing to like it better during the last few months. I am eonihlenh that it is going to be of .great practical use to me, though I know that office-work will be more to my taste." "Edmund ought to have helped you," l'emarked Mr Ruggles with a grave shake of the head, "He did not .seem willing to," returned Walter. "He wanted me to go into the counting-room ; but I could not bring my mind to that, so I preferred to accept Mr Conant's offer. It ha^ been rather up-hill work. It was pretty tough on my buck and hands at first, for I was so unused to anything of the kind ; but I have been growing stronger all the time, find my courage has been pood, for 1 heave felt that every day of faithful, honest work was bringing me nearer the goal that I am anxious to reach." Owen Ruggles looked in the frank, manly faco beside him with admiration. [ " With that spirit, you are sure to win your way in life," he said ; " but Walter, I I don't exactly like it, to have you drudging j like this, when you've always had everything you wanted, and Edmund is living in clover. Why didn't you come to mo foi help ?" "I did not think of it, sir ; and, besides — if it had occurred to me, I doubt if I could have asked you. I have always had an idea that life has been something of a struggle for you. " Farmer Rugejles chuckled at this. " I guess you aint the only one that's had that notion," lie said, with a wise look ; '• but I've had more of this world's goods all along than most people have jjiven me uralib for ; and now, I reckon, I sil^'n't want? for anything that I choose to set my heart on for the rest of my life." Walter looked astonished at this information, and Mr Ruggles proceeded to toll him of the discoveries that had been made on his farm during the last; year or two. " And now," he concluded, " if you want to set up for yourself in the architect business, you can do it, and I'll be your backer as long as you need one. You've got the true grit about you, and you've always been a favourite of mine. I'd just enjoy helping you over the ground a little foster than you'd be able to go alone, and show Edmund that there are other folks to appreciate and look after you, if he dossnV Walter coloured crimson afc this offer, j He was deeply touched, for, aside from good Mrs Coxon, who had shown him many little favours during the past year, there had been no one to take a friendly interest in him since Mr Carpenter's death. u You are very kind," he said, in a voice that \yaB a trifle unsteady; "and, 1 suppose, if you had made me this offer at the outset, I should have asked you to help me through college, and then let me study in some architect's office. I asked Edmund to lend me the money for that purpose, i promising to return it as soon as I could earn it " "And wouldn't he?" demanded Mr Ruggles, in a sharp tone, while his small, round grey eyes glistened with resentment. " No. He was offended because 1 would not do as he wished, and told me to go my own way ; he should wash his hands of me entirely. Perhaps I should not tell yoia ! this. I know I have had a great deal done I for me in the past, and I would not appear ungrateful." "Well," returned Mr Ruggles, after thinking a moment, " what hinders you from letting me help you now ?" " I was going to say, sir," Walter continued, "that since * have begun for myself and gone:; well so iar, i might as wg!\ continue- in tlio »^e way. i rather onjoy the independence o "oking out for number one ; and, though in., .salary is small, I have managed very comfortably, and I shall soon be receiving more I snail need to remain with Mr Conant a year or two longer before I shall he fit to attempt business for my»e»f, 1 guess I'll keep on as I have begun, ana iui/ 1 upon my jivh foundation. I am very grautful to you, though," he concluded, " and I hope I may

in the future bo able to do something to prove it." " I haven't a child in the world, Walter, as you know," the man said sadly, " and 1 would be right glad to do something for you. But, perhaps, you are right. At any rate, I admire your pluck, and I know you'll come out all right, only remember this— if you ever need a friend, Owen Tlnggles is your man." " Thank you, sir ; and now, can I do anything for you while you are in the city ?" " Well, I did think I'd like to see a little of it before I went home, and I meant to ask Edmund to take me about some ; but I guess I won't to-day. I'll manage by daylight to get about myself. But if you know of anything interesting that's going on in the evening, I wish you'd mention it and come along with me. " Walter's face brightened. He had rarely attended a lecture or a concert during the last year, and therefore Mr lluggles's proposal was very inviting. Ho mentioned several attractions, and his friend finally decided to go and see Booth in ''Hamlet" at the Chestnut-street Theatre, and arranged for "Walter to dine with him at sly at the hotel where he was stopping, after which he bade him a cordial good-day, and went upon an exploring expedition about the city. The day was a brighter one to Walter than he had known for a long time, for he had something pleasant to look forward to in the evening, while he had been greatly cheered by the friendly interest Mr Ruggles manifested in him. During dinner the farmer entertained him with an account of his adventure the previous day at Mr Gordon's, and our young friend w.r nearly convulsed with meiriment over the description, quaint and original as it was, of his experiences. He could readily imagine the whole affair — that brilliant assemblage of guests who had come to pay honour to one of the country's sweetest of poets : tho appearance of the uninvited stranger, with his peculiar dre>s and manner, and the shock which Edmund Carpenter's fastidiousness must have received upon beholding him seated in that elegant drawing-room among the best society of the city. But his heart was thrilled with admiration and tenderness for the lovely girl who had conducted her.self with such true hospitality and kindness toward him ; who had (lone her utmost to make him feel welcome and at ease, and to shield him from any unpleasantness and disappointment. All the evening, as he watched the performance of America's great tragedian, he seemed to see that slight, graceful figure Hitting in and out "among her guests and showering her divine charity upon one whom othcis would have slighted and neglected ; and in hi^ heart he blessed her for her gnodne»s and almost felt a-* if it was a link to bind her closer to him than he hat? ever dared to hope for.