CONCLUSION.
Rupert was walking down Broadway some two months later when he came
unexpectedly upon Julian Lorimer.
Julian was swinging a light cane, and wore a "stunning" necktie. He
glanced superciliously at Rupert, and was about to pass without
recognition, but curiosity overcame pride, and he called out,
"Halloo, Rollins!"
"Halloo, Lorimer!" answered Rupert.
Julian frowned slightly. It was all very well for him to say "Rollins,"
but he expected Rupert to say "Mr. Lorimer."
"I haven't seen you for some time," he said. "Are you still a bell-boy?"
"No."
"Got sacked, eh?"
"I sacked myself."
"What are you doing, then?"
"Going to a commercial school."
Julian looked surprised.
"Who pays your expenses if you are earning nothing?"
"I pay my own bills, thank you."
"It's very foolish for you to give up work. You will spend all your
money, and what will you do then?"
"Perhaps apply to your father for a situation," said Rupert, smiling.
"I don't think he needs any cash-boys at present.
"Are you working?"
"Yes, I am with Ward & Weston, Wall Street brokers."
"I hope you like it."
"I do. When I am twenty-one pop will buy me a seat on the brokers'
board, and I will go in for myself."
"I wish you success, Julian."
"You are very kind," said Julian, ironically. "I guess there's no doubt
of that. We have a great many influential friends. I go into the best
society," he added, pompously.
"You must enjoy it."
"I do. A week from this evening I am to attend a party at the house of
Albert Fraser. His father is a rich merchant in the China trade."
Rupert's face lighted up with amusement.
Albert Fraser was his most intimate friend, being a student at the same
commercial college, and he, too, had received an invitation to the
party.
"Julian will be astonished to see me there," he thought.
"Is Albert Fraser a nice fellow?" he asked, demurely.
"First class."
"I wish you would introduce me to him, Julian."
"You!" said Julian, contemptuously. "Didn't you hear me say that his
father was a wealthy merchant?"
"Yes."
"I shouldn't feel at liberty to introduce you," said Julian, haughtily.
"Why not?"
"Because there is a great difference between a boy in his position and
one in yours."
"I don't see why."
"Aren't you an ex-bell-boy?"
"Yes."
"That's enough."
"For all that, I think Albert Fraser and I will some time be friends."
"You are foolish. Bell-boys and bootblacks don't associate with
gentlemen's sons."
"Yet I associate with you, Julian."
"I look upon you as an humble acquaintance."
"Then I suppose I ought to feel complimented by your condescending to
notice me."
"I think I must leave you, as I have an engagement."
"Very well. I will meet you at Albert Fraser's party."
"I suppose that is meant for a joke. It isn't a very good one."
When the evening of the party came, Julian got himself up regardless of
expense. He had never before attended a party on Madison Avenue, and he
was particular about his appearance.
Entering the house, he was directed to the gentlemen's dressing-room.
What was his surprise--it might almost be called dismay--to find Rupert
Rollins arranging his toilet before the mirror.
"Good evening, Julian!" said Rupert, half turning.
"What are you doing here?" demanded Julian abruptly.
"Getting ready to go down stairs. Shall I wait for you?"
"But what calls you to this house, any way?"
"An invitation! Didn't I tell you that I would meet you here this
evening?"
"Do you mean to tell me that you know Albert Fraser?"
"Certainly. Shall I wait for you?"
"No."
Rupert smiled and went down stairs by himself. He was talking with
Albert Fraser when Julian entered. The latter half drew back when he saw
the two boys together. He had tried to persuade himself that Rupert was
an unauthorized intruder.
"Good evening," he said with a ceremonious bow.
"Good evening," responded Albert.
Rupert bowed slightly, smiling as he did so.
"Ha! are you two acquainted?"
"Yes," answered Julian superciliously. "I knew Mr. Rollins when he was a
bell-boy at the Somerset Hotel."
"And I knew Mr. Lorimer years before that, when his father and my father
were partners in Buffalo."
Albert Fraser looked from one to the other and smiled at Julian's angry
confusion.
"Rupert," he said, "let me take you up to my sister and introduce you.
The grand march will soon begin."
"Thank you, Albert."
Rupert and Edith Fraser led the march, while Julian followed
considerably behind, with a fat, red-headed girl of very limited
attractions.
It was hard upon poor Julian, and his enjoyment was quite taken away by
the social success of his quondam friend Rupert. Rupert, on the other
hand, enjoyed himself immensely, and was treated very graciously by his
fair partner.
* * * * * * *
Six months later Mr. Packard called Rupert aside. He was evidently
nervous and ill at ease.
"Rupert," he said, "I am going to ask your advice."
"If you think my advice worth asking, I shall be glad to give it."
"I want you to be plain with me, Rupert Do you think I am too old to be
married?"
"Certainly not, Mr. Packard."
"I am forty-five, and I never was very good-looking."
"You are a good, kind-hearted man, and any woman ought to be happy with
you. But I didn't know you had made many lady acquaintances."
"I haven't, but there is one lady I should like to marry. I may as well
come out with it, Rupert. Do you think your mother would marry me?
But--I see you look surprised. I suppose I am a great fool."
"You mistake me, Mr. Packard. I am surprised, for the idea never
entered my head before."
"I suppose you wouldn't like the idea," said Giles Packard nervously.
"On the contrary, I approve it. Of course I don't know how mother may
look upon it."
"But you don't object to it?"
"No, Mr. Packard, I wish you success."
Mrs. Rollins was surprised to receive an offer of marriage from Mr.
Packard, but she had learned to know his many good qualities and was
grateful to him for his kindness to Rupert, and after a brief time for
consideration she gave her consent.
There was little change in their way of living, but of course there was
an end of pecuniary cares and anxiety for the future.
Mr. Packard decided to go into business in New York on his own account.
Rupert is his confidential clerk, and has a handsome salary. Mr.
Packard's natural shrewdness has made his venture a success from the
start He sold out his Colorado cattle ranch on very favorable terms to
two parties from the East, and now his time is exclusively employed in
his New York business.
Some time since the _Evening World_ contained the following
announcement:
"Mr. Stephen Lorimer, the well-known dry-goods merchant of Third
Avenue, is reported in difficulties. A meeting of his creditors has
been called, but so serious are his embarrassments that it is
doubted whether he will be permitted to go on."
This prediction was verified. Mr. Lorimer now occupies a position as
salesman in a dry-goods house in Chicago, not being willing to fill such
a place in any city where he had been in business for himself, and is
obliged to live in a very plain way.
There was little sympathy felt for him by those who had been in his
employ. He had done nothing to win their favor. But Julian is very
discontented. He is working in an office at four dollars a week, and
feels that life is not worth living under his altered circumstances.
Rupert's real estate has increased largely in value, and he is worth
quite a competency in his own right. His young charge, Fred, has
developed a taste for study, and Rupert intends to have him prepare for
college.
"You ought to have gone to college yourself," said Mr. Packard.
"No," answered Rupert. "I am cut out for business. Fred must be the
scholar, and I will be the business man."
Frank Sylvester, Rupert's first friend, has returned from Europe, and
the friendship between them has been renewed. Though Rupert has been so
prosperous, he is never ashamed to refer to the time when he was a
bell-boy.
Nor does he forget his old friends. Recently he met Leslie Waters
standing in front of the Coleman House looking seedy and dilapidated.
"How is the world using you, Leslie?" he asked.
"Badly, my dear boy," answered Leslie, mournfully. "Our company was
stranded at Pittsburg and I had to walk all the way to New York. The
profession isn't what it was."
"Then why not leave it? I think I can get you a business position."
But Leslie Waters was too much enamored of the stage to forsake it.
When he is in hard luck Rupert always helps him, and he still works on,
hoping some day to achieve eminence. But the prospect does not look
encouraging.