For John's Sake Part 7

"It's you, is it?" said the foreman; "ain't you satisfied with your change?"

"No," said John, with emphasis; "I'd rather sweep a crossing. I suppose you've filled my place."

The foreman nodded, and jerked his thumb in the direction of a young man who was leisurely serving a customer.

"Do you really want work, man, or is it only 'come and go' again?" asked he, seeing that John looked disappointed.

"Mr. Smith, I'd give anything for a chance to work. I'm sick of knocking about."

"Well, look here! he ain't up to much good," and the shopman was again indicated; "got no 'go' in him, and you always suited me. You may come and show him how to do business in my line, but you'll have to start with lower wages, eh?"

John thankfully accepted the offer. "Now for Ruth and a home of my own!"

he said the next morning, when beginning his work.

It was scarcely a wise decision he had made, not to write to her until he was ready to send for her; but a certain feeling of pride held him back, for he said: "She doubted me once, and now I'll wait till I can prove myself worthy of her trust."

Meanwhile, in heart-sickening suspense, Ruth waited mail after mail for an answer to her letter. At last there came one for her, bearing the Australian postmark. She tore it open in fear, for the handwriting was strange. It ran as follows:

"Dear Miss,

"I am sorry to send you bad news, but you must take it kindly from one who wishes you well. The truth is, that Jack is going to the bad as fast as he can, which I'm sorry to say of my own brother.

I was downright ashamed of the way he went on, after reading a letter you sent him. He got real mad over it, and swore he'd have nothing to do with a canting Methodist, and a deal more which I won't write, not wis.h.i.+ng to put you about. Last of all, he tore the letter up. I write these few lines to save you from expecting to hear any more of him, as he's off on his own hook, and I wash my hands of the scamp.

"Hoping you are in health, I remain, "Your obedient servant, "R. GREENWOOD."

Ruth sat stunned. The bell rang, but she heeded not. Alice came up, but she took no notice of her anxious inquiries. Hearing of her condition, Harry Groombridge left the dinner-table and went to her.

"She's had some shock; this letter doubtless! May I read it, Ruth?" he asked.

The girl mutely a.s.sented.

The young man glanced through the contents, and handed it to his mother, who had followed him. She read it, and they exchanged looks. Then Mrs.

Groombridge took one of Ruth's cold hands in hers, and said:

"Ruth, my dear girl, this letter is a hoax, I am persuaded, for you know John's brother is an unprincipled man. I think he has quarrelled with John, and then revenged himself by writing to you in this cruel way. I can't think John has gone so far wrong as to talk of you before his brother in such a manner. My impression is, that he was glad to get your letter, and left his brother, resolving to prove himself worthy of you yet."

"That's about it," remarked Harry.

Ruth gasped with a sense of relief.

"Oh, if I could but think so; but then, why doesn't he write himself?"

she said.

"I can't say, but trust him a little longer, Ruth. When did his parents last hear from him?"

"I don't know, ma'am. Lately I've felt I couldn't go there."

"You shall run down to-night; or stay, you are not fit to go. Harry, will you go at once to Mrs. Greenwood, and ask her to bring John's last letters?"

"With pleasure, mother." He soon returned with Mrs. Greenwood.

"You've had a letter from d.i.c.k, my dear, that's upset you, so the young gentleman says. I hope he's all right, for it's long since we had a line, though we hear every other mail from John," she said.

"Do tell me where he is, and what he is doing, for d.i.c.k says he is going to the bad fast, and I can't believe it," said Ruth.

"That I'm sure he isn't," cried the mother; "he left the store to go with d.i.c.k, but he's gone back now, for he says it was a wild life that didn't suit him, and he got into a bad set; but he's doing well now, and living quiet and respectable, and tells us he has signed the pledge, and--and--but oh, my dear, I wasn't to tell you this; for he meant to write himself and tell you all about it, but you were so anxious, what could I do?"

Ruth's eyes filled with happy tears. How abundantly her prayers were being answered she only found when she came to read John's letters!

"I must wait patiently till he writes to me; but why doesn't he reply to my letter?"

"Depend upon it, Ruth, he never had it, or he would at least have mentioned it when writing home. It must have fallen into his brother's hands," replied Mrs. Groombridge.

"I don't believe d.i.c.k is as bad as that," said the mother, when Ruth's mistress had left the room.

"My dear," said Mr. Groombridge, after hearing the story; "I shall persuade Ruth to go out at once. Our friends, the Grahams, who find it so difficult to secure good servants in Melbourne, will be only too glad of Ruth's help until John can make her a home, and she will be a strength and stay to him, and all suspense for her will be over."

"I don't like to part with Ruth a day before I'm obliged, but I think your plan excellent," returned his wife.

It was discovered that, when consulted, Ruth's opinion coincided exactly with that of her mistress, and a month afterwards she bade farewell to her friends and sailed for Australia.

"You've a young man named Greenwood in your employ, I believe?" said a gentleman, walking into the store where John was engaged.

"Yes, I have, sir."

"Can you spare him an hour or two? I want him to meet a friend who is coming in by the steamer to-day from England."

"Certainly, sir. Here, John, this gentleman wants you to go down with him to the Docks."

John looked surprised, but, supposing it to be a business call, put on his coat and hat and walked out.

"Are you expecting a friend from England?" asked the stranger.

"No, sir, I wish I was," was John's involuntary reply.

"I had a letter from my old friend Mr. Groombridge, of Bristol, and he asked me to call for you on my way to the Docks, as some one you once knew was coming in by the steamer."

"Who did he say it was, sir?" asked John, with a sudden tumultuous beating of the heart.

"He did mention the name, I believe; but, dear me, I've left the letter at home. It's no matter, though, you will soon learn," said Mr. Graham, with an amused smile, as he watched John's face.

"It couldn't be, of course," argued John to himself; but as the steamer came in he eagerly scanned the faces of the pa.s.sengers, with but one thought.

No, she was not there, and with a bitter feeling of disappointment he fell back.

"John! Oh, John!"