"All right," said young Lockman. "Will you come to-morrow morning, and
we'll fix things up?"
"I'll come," said Samuel.
"What are you going to do with him?" asked the girl.
"He likes to take care of horses," said Lockman.
"No," exclaimed the other promptly, "that won't do."
"Why not?" asked he.
"Because, Bertie, you don't want to make a stable boy out of him. He
has too many possibilities. For one thing, he's good looking."
Samuel flushed scarlet and dropped his eyes. He felt again that
penetrating gaze.
"All right," said Lockman. "What can you suggest?"
"I don't know, I'm sure. But something decent."
"He doesn't know enough to be a house servant, Glad--"
"No--but something outside. Couldn't he learn gardening? Are you fond
of flowers, Samuel?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Samuel quickly.
"Well, then, make a gardener out of him," said Miss Wygant; and that
settled Samuel's destiny.
The boy took his departure and went home, almost running in his
excitement. He was transported into a distant heaven of bliss; he had
been seated among the gods--he was to dwell there forever after!
His new patron had given him a five-dollar bill; and before he
reached the Stedman home he stopped in a grocery store and loaded up
his arms with bundles. And then, seized by a sudden thought, he went
into a notion store and set down his bundles and purchased a clean,
white linen collar, and a necktie of royal purple and brilliant
green--already tied, so that it would always be perfect in shape.
Pages:
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89