Ben Receives a Commission
In due time a letter came from Montreal. It was brief and not
overcourteous. From it Ben learned that Mr. Baldwin had been
dead for three weeks, and that all his property was left to a young
man who claimed to be a distant relative. The name of the heir was
John Tremlett. The letter concluded: "I can find nothing in the
papers of the deceased confirming your statement that your aunt
was allowed to occupy her house rent free. If you hold any proof
of your assertions, you may forward it. Otherwise Mr. Tremlett
will insist upon his claim."
This letter reached Ben on a Friday. It naturally caused him anxiety.
He obtained permission to go to Milltown Saturday afternoon and
spend Sunday. He desired himself to institute a search for the letter
of which his aunt had spoken.
His aunt received him in tearful despondency.
"Oh, what shall we do, Benjamin?" said the widow.
"First, we must search for that letter of Uncle Matthew's."
"I know I'm to blame, Benjamin. I have brought ruin upon you and
my poor, innocent Tony."
"You haven't ruined me, so you need not trouble yourself about that.
Even if the letter cannot be found, I guess we shall live through it."
They hunted high and low; but the letter was not to be found. Ben
was a good deal disappointed, but did not venture to say so, not
wishing to increase his aunt's despondency. On Monday morning
he went back to Boston, and told the bookkeeper.
"It seems quite desirable that you should go to Montreal, Ben," said
young Porter.
"Of course that is out of the question, Mr. Porter."
"No; I think it can be managed."
Ben looked, as he felt, not a little surprised.
"It is some time," explained the bookkeeper, "since we sent an agent
to Montreal. We have been thinking of sending some one up there,
stopping at the principal towns on the way. You are rather young,
but if I recommend you I presume my uncle will let you go."
Of course Mr. Porter, senior, had to be consulted. Though not a
little doubtful about the expediency of sending so young a
representative of the house, he finally gave his consent, which was
communicated to Ben.
Ben was summoned to the countingroom, and received his
instructions, with a sum of money for expenses. At three o'clock
in the afternoon he was dismissed, though he was not to start till
the next morning.
Old Mr. Benton's door was open when Ben returned.
"What brings you home so soon?" he inquired.
"I am going to Montreal," said Ben.
"Come in and tell me about it."
The old man, clad in a ragged dressing-gown, was sitting in a
rocking-chair by the fire. The day was not cold, but his blood
was thin, and he felt the need of some artificial heat. He was
smoking a common clay pipe.
"Isn't this sudden--your going to Montreal?" asked Mr. Benton.
"Yes, sir; I think young Mr. Porter has made business there in order
to give a chance to go?"
"What do you mean to do?"
"I shall attend first to the business of the firm, and then call on this
lawyer, Mr. Brief."
"It is well thought of, and, Benjamin, try to get a chance to see the
new heir, Mr. Tremlett, and find out what use he is making of his
property."
"Yes, sir, I will."
"Have you money enough to pay your expenses, Benjamin?" asked
the old man, rather hesitatingly.
"Oh, yes, sir; the firm provides for that."
"To be sure. Of course they ought to do it," said Mr. Benton,
appearing to feel relieved.
"How long do you expect to be gone, Benjamin?"
"I don't know, sir; I am to stop in Burlington and one or two other
places. I may be gone ten days."
"I shall feel lonely without you, Benjamin."
"I am glad you value my society so much."
"I am a lonely man, Benjamin; I have never had many friends, and I
have outlived nearly all of those."
"You ought to have married, Mr. Benton; then you would have
children and grandchildren to comfort you in your old age."
"I wish I had, Benjamin; but it is too late now."
"It is never too late to mend, Mr. Benton," said Ben. "Men older
than you have married."
"Then they were fools," said Mr. Benton bluntly.
"Suppose you should be sick, sir?"
"I would hire a nurse. I am not rich, but I have enough to provide
for the few years I have remaining."
"I must ask you to excuse me now, sir," said Ben. "I must buy a few
things which I shall need."
Ben wrote briefly to his aunt, to let her know that he was about to
start for Montreal. Mrs. Bradford was not a little discomposed.
"It's tempting Providence to send a child like Benjamin to a foreign
country," she remarked to Mrs. Perkins, who had dropped in for a
neighborly chat.
"Do you know how far it is, Mrs. Perkins?"
"About a thousand miles," answered her visitor, whose ideas about
geography were rather misty.
"Suppose Ben should lose his way."
"Like as not he will," observed Mrs. Perkins.
"I shan't sleep a wink till Ben gets back. They ought to have sent
somebody with him."
"Ben can get along," said Tony, who had implicit confidence in his
big cousin. "He won't get lost."
"What does a child like you know about it?" said Mrs. Perkins
rebukingly. "You shouldn't put in your oar when your mother and
me are talking."