the fortunes of oliver horn-第22节
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young man about Oliver's own age was rapidly walking up the path； with a quick； springy step； whistling as he came。 The dog； with a sudden movement； squirmed himself from under Oliver's arm and sprang toward him。
〃Oh； it's you； Mr。 Fred； is it？〃 broke out the woman； 〃and it's Miss Margaret's dog； too。 Of course it's her dog； an' I was that dumb I didn't know it。 But it's not me ye can thank for savin' its skin it's the young gintleman here。 Them divils would have killed it but for him。〃
〃Is the dog yours； sir？〃 asked Oliver； raising his hat with that peculiar manner of his which always won him friends at first sight。
〃No； I wish it were。 It's Miss Margaret Grant's dogone of our students。 I am taking care of it while she is away。 The little rascal ran out and got into the Square before I knew it。 I live right across the streetyou can see my house from here。 Miss Grant will be ever so much obliged to you for protecting him。〃
〃Oh； don't mention it。 I got hold of him just in time； or these ruffians would have hurt him。 I think the old lady here； however； is most to be thanked。 We might both have been locked up；〃 he added； smiling； 〃if she had not interfered。 You know her； it seems。〃
〃Yes； she's Mother Mulligan； as we call her。 She's janitress of the Academy of Design； where I draw at night。 My name's Fred Stone。 Come over to where I liveit's only a step；〃 and he looked straight into Oliver's face； his big blue eyes never wavering。
〃Well； I will if you don't think it's too late；〃 and the two young fellows； with a wave of their hands to the old woman； left the Square； the dog bounding before them。
Within the hourin less time indeed； for the friendly light in the eyes of his new…found friend had shone straight into our boy's soul； warming and cheering him to his finger…tips； opening his heart； and bringing out all his secretsOliver had told Fred the story of his fruitless tramps for work； of his mother's hopes and fears； of his own ambitions and his aims。 And Fred； his own heart wide open； had told Oliver with equal frankness the story of his own struggles； of his leaving his father's farm in the western part of the State； and of his giving up everything to come to New York to study art。
It was the old； old story of two chance acquaintances made friends by reason of the common ground of struggle and privation on which they stood； comrades fighting side by side in the same trenches for the same end； and both dreaming of the morrow which would always bring victory and never death。 A story told without reserve； for the disappointments of life had not yet dulled their enthusiasm； nor had the caution acquired by its many bitter experiences yet checked the free flow of their confidences。
To Oliver； in his present despondent mood； the hand held out to him was more than the hand of a comrade。 It was the hand of a strong swimmer thrust into the sea to save a drowning man。 There were others then besides himself； he thought； as he grasped it； who were making this fight for bread and glory； there was something else in the great city besides cruelty and misery； money…getting and money… spendingsomething of unselfishness； sympathy and love。
The two sat on the steps of Fred's boarding…house that house where Oliver was to spend so many happy days of his after…lifeuntil there was only time enough to catch the barge。 Reluctantly he bade his new…found comrade good…by and； waving his hand； turned the corner in the direction of the dock。
The edge of Oliver's cloud had at last caught the light！
CHAPTER VIII
AN OLD SONG
Not only had the sunshine of a new friendship illumined the edge of Oliver's clouds； but before the week was out a big breeze laden with success had swept them so far out to sea； that none but the clearest of skies radiant with hope now arched above his happy face。
A paste…board sign had wrought this miracle。
One day he had been tramping the lower parts of the city； down among the docks； near Coenties Slip； looking up the people who on former visits had said： 〃Some other time； perhaps；〃 or 〃If we should have room for another man we will be glad to remember you；〃 or 〃We know Mr。 Cobb； and shall be pleased；〃 etc。； etc。； when he chanced to espy a strange sign tacked outside a warehouse door； a sign which bore the unheard…of…announcementunheard of to Oliver； especially the last word； 〃Shipping Clerk WANTED。〃
No one； for weeks； had WANTED anything that Oliver could furnish。 Strangely enough too； as he afterward discovered； the bullet…headed Dutch porter had driven the last tack into the clean； white； welcome face of the sign only five minutes before Oliver stopped in front of it。 Still more out of the common； and still more incomprehensible； was the reply made to him by the head salesman； whom he found just inside the doora wiry； restless little man with two keen black eyes； and a perfectly bald head。
〃Yes； if you can mark boxes decently； can show any references； don't want too much pay； and can come NOW。 We're short of a boy； and it's our busy season。〃
Oh！ blessed be Mr。 Crocker； thought Oliver； as he picked up a marking…brush； stirred it round and round in the tin pot filled with lamp…black and turpentine； and to his own and the clerk's delight； painted； on a clean board； rapidly and clearly； and in new letters toonew to the clerkthe full address of the bald…headed man's employers：
MORTON； SLADE & CO。； 121 PEARL STREET； NEW YORK。
More amazing still were the announcements made by the same bald…headed man after Oliver had shown him Amos Cobb's recommendations： Oliver was to come to work in the morning； the situation to be permanent provided Cobb confirmed by letter the good wishes he had previously expressed； and provided Mr。 Morton； the senior partner； approved of the bald… head's action； of which the animated billiard…ball said there was not the slightest doubt as he； the ball； had charge of the shipping department； and was responsible for its efficiency。
All of these astounding； incomprehensible and amazing occurrences Oliver had written to his mother； ending his letter by declaring in his enthusiasm that it was his art； after all； which had pulled him through； and that but for his readiness with the brush； he would still be a tramp； instead of 〃rolling in luxury on the huge sum of eight dollars a week； with every probability of becoming a partner in the house； and later on a millionnaire。〃 To which the dear lady had replied； that she was delighted to know he had pleased his employers； but that what had pleased her most was his never having lost heart while trying to win his first fight； adding： 〃The second victory will come more easily； my darling boy； and so will each one hereafter。〃 Poor lady； she never knew how sore that boy's feet had been； nor how many times he had gone with half a meal or none at all； for fear of depleting too much the small store she had given him when he left home。
With his success still upon him； he had sallied forth to call upon young Fred Stone who had grasped his hand so warmly the night he had rescued the dog from the street…boys； and whose sympathy had gone out to him so freely。 He had written him of his good fortune； and Fred had replied； begging him to call upon him； and had appointed this same Friday night as the night of all others when he could entertain him best。
But Oliver is not the same boy who said good…by to Fred that moonlight night the week before。 His eyes are brighter； his face is a…glow with ill…concealed pleasure。 Even his step shows the old…time spring and lightness of the days at homeon his toes part of the time； as if restraining an almost uncontrollable impulse to stop and throw one or two hand… springs just to relieve the pressure on his nerves。
When he reached the bench in the Square where he had sat so many nights with his head in his hands； one of those quick outbursts of enthusiasm took possession of him； the kind that sets young hearts singing with joy when some sudden shift of hope's kaleidoscope opens a wide horizon brilliant with the light of future success。 With an exclamation of boyish glee he plumped himself down upon the hard planks of the bench； and jumped up again； pirouetting on his toe and slanting his hat over one eye as if in a spirit of sheer bravado against fate。 Then he sauntered out of the iron gate to Fred's house。
Even as he waited on the stone steps of Miss Teeturn's boarding…house for the dowdy servant…girl's returnsuch dirty； unkempt steps as they were； and such a dingy door…plate； spotted with rain and dust； not like Malachi's； he thoughthe could hardly restrain himself from beating Juba with his foot； a plantation trick Malachi had taught him； keeping time the while with the palms of his hands on his shapely legs。
Meanwhile another young enthusiast is coming downstairs three steps at a time； this one bare… headed； all out of breath； and without a coat； who pours out his heart to the first Juba…beating enthusiast as the two climb the stairs together to the second enthusiast's room on the very top floor。 He tells him of his delight at seeing him again and of the lot of fellows waiting to welcome him under the skylight； and of what a jolly lot the 〃Skylarkers〃
