Her only reply was to weep quietly. Mrs. Harkins took her in her arms and soothed her with motherly kindness. Herbert felt quite awkward at this scene. First he stood on one foot and then on the other. Finally for want of something to say he exclaimed:
“You can rest assured that I have no feelings of resentment toward your father or Arthur. I was angry with them, very angry; but I am not vindictive.”
He did not add that the fact that she was the daughter of one and the sister of the other caused him to utter such a generous sentiment.
“Have you any idea where Arthur has gone?” he asked a moment later.
“No,” she replied; “that is what makes it so distressing. If it were not for the uncertainty we might feel resigned.”
“We are not sure, but he was seen with Harry Adler just before he left.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Herbert. “Then it’s ten to one he has gone to New York. Adler has a perfect mania for that place.”
“I’m sorry,” ejaculated Mrs. Harkins, “because if that’s so, Arthur is in very bad company in a very wicked place.”
In spite of himself, Herbert had to laugh at the vehemence with which his mother uttered her sentiments. After some further conversation he said:
“I may be able to help you, Mary. You know Mr. Anderson has gone to New York to accept a position as teacher in a private academy. I’ll write to him and ask him to keep on the lookout for Arthur. Of course New York is a big city and it seems like looking for a needle in a haystack, but it’s just possible he may run across him. Anyhow it will do no harm to try.”
The letter was dispatched that night. As he posted it Herbert little thought it was to be the messenger which was to summon him to newer, higher and more responsible duties. But a kind fate which conceals from us the misfortunes we are to undergo also hides from us the path which is to lead to happiness and prosperity. Although Noah Brooks had returned to the office and was able to resume his work, he insisted that Herbert should continue the writing he had been doing so well.
Three days later Herbert received a letter postmarked New York. He rightly surmised that it was from Mr. Anderson. It was brief and cordial. It said that he had heard nothing of Arthur Black, but that if he should run across him in the future he would immediately notify the family at Cleverly. There was a postscript to the letter, and unusual for a man’s postscript, it contained the most important thing of all. Mr. Anderson said that he had become acquainted with the city editor of the Argus, one of the important daily newspapers of the metropolis, and that he had the disposal of a position on the local staff which would pay fifteen dollars a week at the start, with a prospect for promotion and increased salary at an early date. The teacher said that Herbert’s letter had reached him opportunely and that he had strongly recommended his young friend for the position. The city editor, he added, would give him one week in which to either accept or decline the offer.
