“a dispatch for me?” cried mr. w——.

“yes, sir. here it is, prepaid, o. k., all hunky, and so forth,” cried the lad, and as mr. w—— took the dispatch, away he went, on the run, to deliver more.

mr. w——, to the disappointment of mr. jones and the others, did not open and read his dispatch then and there, but, with a pale face, and quick, nervous step, went with it, unopened in his hand, to his office, and shut himself in. and there he read these strange and startling words:

“no. — beacon st., boston.

“kindest of friends:—both my parents are dead. my mother, reconciled, died, blessing me. there is a very large estate to receive, and i alone can arrange for its care in my absence, for i shall return to my position, and occupy it until you return, successful or not, from that mission to california. pardon the suggestion that you go on immediately. you will find me at the bindery when you come back. keep the confidence i bestowed upon you, especially as to what i send in this dispatch, even from the friends on fifth avenue. only say to all i am well, and will soon return.

“faithfully yours,

“g. e. l.”

“[answer.]”

“wonderful! what a comprehensive dispatch!” murmured mr. w——, as he folded it and placed it inside his pocket-book.

and, writing this answer, he sealed and sent it at once to the telegraph office:

[189]

“g. e. l., no. — beacon st., boston:

“your dispatch received. every wish expressed shall be faithfully carried out. i will leave to-morrow for california, and return as soon as my mission is fulfilled.

“edward w——.”

and when the dispatch was gone, mr. w—— went out to his foreman, and said:

“mr. jones, i have heard from miss butler. she is well. her mother is dead. she will remain in boston a few days, and then return to her duties here. you are at liberty to say this to our people here. to-morrow i shall leave for california, to establish a branch bindery there. you will remain in charge here. father will come down to see you once in a while, perhaps; but he will not interfere with the work. when miss butler returns give her all the time she wishes out of the bindery, and make her duties easy and pleasant as you can. she is a noble girl.”

“that she is, mr. w——. i’m sorry you are going, but i will do my very best while you are gone, and try to keep everything moving brisk and right.”

“i know you will, mr. jones. i have every confidence in you. i also increase your wages on the pay-roll ten dollars a week in consequence of your increased responsibilities. miss butler had better come into the office with her work now, and she will help you with the pay-rolls. i shall leave checks to an amount which will keep you square with the hands, no matter what comes in. if more stock is wanted father will see to it.”

“oh, mr. w——, you are too good. ten dollars a week more will make the little woman at home feel as rich as a vanderbilt.”

“so much the better, mr. jones. your baby is[190] growing, and so will your expenses increase. go on with everything. i have a great deal to do to get ready—have to go home, and up town to see mr. legare, and shall be out most of the day.”

“i’ll do my best, sir, and i think i’ll please you,” said the happy foreman, as he turned and left the office.

within ten minutes the news had spread all over the shop. there was a little buzz of excitement, but the discipline of the establishment was perfect, and the work went on as steadily and smoothly as ever.

mr. w—— spent an hour or more over his books and pay-rolls, then he wrote and sealed a long letter, which was to be given to miss butler when she returned, and a separate open note, asking her to take a table in the office when she came back, and to help mr. jones with his accounts and pay-rolls.

this done, mr. jones was again called, the letters handed to him, all explanations made, and then mr. w—— left for his home to make preparations there, and have a small trunk packed with necessary clothing, and to go up to fifth avenue to carry the news, which he was permitted to reveal, from miss butler, as she was still to be known until she chose to throw off her incognito, and to tell them of his sudden intention to leave for california, to there extend his business.

his own family, having often discussed this trip to california, were not at all surprised at his decision to start at once, for he was one of those prompt, decisive men in business who take things sharply and move without making any noise about it.

his father gave him a little advice, and an unlimited letter of credit.

his sisters wept a little, but packed his trunk[191] nicely, for though they often had little jars with him, he was a good brother, and very dear to them.

when he had seen to all these things, and knew that he was ready to start on the earliest train next day, he took the carriage and rode up to the mansion of mr. legare.

all were at home, and his welcome, as usual, was cordial.

“any further news from my dear, dear friend?” was the first question that left the lips of lizzie.

“of course he has. she’d let him know how she was, before any of us!” said frank, almost too jealous to live.

“as her oldest acquaintance in the city, perhaps she thinks me the one that she ought to communicate with, especially as her business is with our firm,” said mr. w——, gravely. “but in a dispatch that i received this morning, announcing the death of her mother, and asking a few days longer leave of absence, in consequence, she begged me especially to come up here, tell her friends she was well, and would soon return to new york, and would make her first and only call away from business on them.”

“oh, thank you—thank you, mr. w——. all read the paper this morning. frank says he don’t know hardly how to begin, but he means to write a romance about it. he is going to call it ‘the angel of the storm; or, the pilot’s timely warning.’”

“that will sound very grand,” said mr. w——, with a smile. “it seems to me i saw a dime novel, published by one of our city small fry, called ‘the angel of the washtub—a romance of soap-suds and starch.’ it must have sold hugely.”

[192]

“there you are laughing at me again!” said frank.

“no, brother, he is only encouraging you in your first literary effort. every one must have a start, you know, even if it is down hill.”

mrs. emory came into the room now with jessie, and the latter ran and shook hands with the friend of her dear hattie.

mr. w—— told mrs. emory that he had heard from hattie. she was well, and would soon return, and then, the elder legare coming in, he broached the subject of his going to california.

frank’s eyes flashed joyfully when he heard of it, for he was, in truth, fearfully jealous of mr. w——, and he thought if the latter was absent he might stand some chance to win the affections of hattie, whom he thought he loved more than ever since her heroism had made her famous.

lizzie seemed sorry, and asked if his intention had not been formed suddenly. but he told her it had not. his father had long desired to have him go, and he had come to the conclusion that the sooner he went the better.

he spent but an hour there with those pleasant friends, and then, on the plea of preparing for his departure, bade them farewell.