He started early in September, accompanied by Morris, who now confessed
that he had long pined for the orange groves, the perpetual sunshine
of southern California; and as far as the station by the stoical but
cheerless Jeff. Christina embarrassed him by a farewell embrace and
a tear, while promising him a monthly box of good things. Morris
requested him to take no clothes but those he was obliged to wear,
but he stuffed his sweaters among his books; he could imagine himself
permanently in no less elastic envelope. In spite of remonstrance he
also packed his axe. He was quick and eager for the change, and, with
the ingratitude of man, left even _Pocahontas_ with little reluctance;
his imagination pictured the great gates of the world at the foot of
the Adirondacks; and at last he was to pass through them and into that
infinite beyond where all dreams were realities.
Morris had chosen the night train for obvious reasons; and when they
reached the station in New York he hurried his young mountaineer into a
cab and drove to the best of the tailors, who met the immediate demand.
The necessary autumn and winter wardrobe he bought for his charge
called forth a vigorous remonstrance; Fessenden had never imagined
such reckless extravagance; but when his mentor had reassured him,
he further indulged himself in several sweaters. He was the proud
possessor of a hundred dollars, made in sugar, and his fingers tingled
with the new pleasure of spending.
From the shop they drove directly back to the station to catch the
morning train for the West. Fessenden grumbled, for he wanted to see
New York; every nerve had sprung to greet the great city, and he hung
out of the cab in spite of remonstrances and to the amusement of
passers-by.
“I know how you feel,” said Morris. “I should like it myself, but I
dare not linger in New York an hour--its air is fatal to me--so near
the Atlantic--you will see enough of New York in the future--I am sure
you will not mind.” And Fessenden submitted with what grace he could
muster. As they were standing in the station awaiting the announcement
of their train, Fessenden, to the alarm of Morris, suddenly darted from
his side and disappeared in the crowd. Morris suspected the cause and
turned pale with anxiety. The color the mountains had given him came
back as he saw his charge returning alone. Fessenden’s face, however,
was flushed, his eyes were as bright as tears.
“I saw my father!” he exclaimed, with a complete disregard of the
bystanders that was quite superb. “I know I saw him! Why does he act
like this? I was sure he would come to meet me. Why should he look at
me and go away?”
“It could not have been Mr. Abbott,” said Morris soothingly, and
taking his arm he hurried him through open gates. “It is doubtful if
he is in New York, and he is not the man to do anything so silly and
sentimental. He is very busy working out some idea which requires all
his energies--he dares venture upon no distraction--there, I have told
you that much--your unerring instinct has kept you from doubting that
he loves you.”
“Is he an inventor?” asked Fessenden eagerly. “Is that the mystery? Is
that the reason he wants me to study all these new things--that I may
be of use to him?”
“Well, he is something of an inventor, and you certainly can be of
great use to him--more than anybody on earth can be.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that before? Now I have a double object. I’ll
work like a logger. What’s his line?”
Morris groaned; but as he disposed his hand-baggage neatly about him
he had another inspiration. “All!” he announced. “That is to say, a
combination of all this very modern university can teach you. The
result may be extraordinary.”
Fessenden fell back on his seat and stared out of the window,
seeing nothing. His imagination was fired with the vision of his
lonely potential devoted father experimenting in obscurity with a
revolutionizing idea, whose bare elementary threads--awaiting himself
in the Northwest--filled him with such excitement and exhilaration that
he wanted to get out and race the train. Fortunately his deep emotions
always rendered him speechless, and Morris was permitted to sleep
peacefully during the greater part of the journey.