Helping Himself | Page 7

By this time they had reached the gate of the farmhouse where Carrie
was boarding, and Grant prepared to leave her.
"I think you are safe now," he said.
"Oh, but I shan't let you go yet," said the girl. "You must come in and
see mother."
Grant hesitated, but he felt that he should like to meet the mother of a
young lady who seemed to him so attractive, and he allowed himself to
be led into the yard. Mrs. Clifton was sitting in a rustic chair under a
tree behind the house. There Grant and his companion found her. Carrie
poured forth her story impetuously, and then drawing Grant forward,
indicated him as her rescuer.
Her mother listened with natural alarm, shuddering at the peril from
which her daughter had so happily escaped.
"I cannot tell how grateful I am to you for the service you have done
my daughter," she said, warmly. "You are a very brave boy. There is
not one in ten who would have had the courage to act as you did."
"You praise me more than I deserve, Mrs. Clifton. I saw the man was
drunk, and I did not really run much risk in what I did. I am very
thankful that I was able to be of service to Miss Carrie."
"It is most fortunate that you were at hand. My daughter might have
been killed."
"What do you think, mother? He is a minister's son," said Carrie,
vivaciously.
"That certainly is no objection in my eyes," said Mrs. Clifton, smiling,
"for I am a minister's daughter. Where does your father preach?"
"His church is only a mile distant, in the village."

"I shall hear him, then, next Sunday. Last Sunday Carrie and I were
both tired, and remained at home, but I have always been accustomed
to go to church somewhere."
"Papa will be here next Sunday," said Carrie. "He can only come
Saturday night on account of his business."
"Does he do business in New York?" asked Grant.
"Yes; his store is on Broadway."
"We live on Madison Avenue, and whenever you are in the city we
shall be very glad to have you call," said Mrs. Clifton, graciously.
"Thank you; I should like to call very much," answered Grant, who was
quite sincere in what he said. "But I don't often go to New York."
"Perhaps you will get a place there some time," suggested Carrie.
"I should like to," replied Grant.
"Then your father does not propose to send you to college?" It was Mrs.
Clifton who said this.
"He wishes me to go, but I think I ought to go to work to help him. He
has two other children besides me."
"Is either one a girl?" asked Carrie.
"Yes; I have a sister of thirteen, named Mary."
"I wish you would bring her here to see me," said Carrie. "I haven't got
acquainted with any girls yet."
Mrs. Clifton seconded the invitation, and Grant promised that he would
do so. In fact, he was pleased at the opportunity it would give him of
improving his acquaintance with the young lady from New York. He
returned home very well pleased with his trip to Somerset, though he
had failed in the object of his expedition.

CHAPTER V
MRS. THORNTON'S PEARLS

The next Sunday Mrs. Clifton and her daughter appeared at church, and
Grant had the pleasure of greeting them. He was invited with his sister
to take supper with them on the next Monday afternoon, and accepted
the invitation. About sunset he met his new friends walking, with the

addition of the husband and father, who, coming Saturday evening
from New York, had felt too fatigued to attend church. Mr. Clifton, to
whom he was introduced, was a portly man in middle life, who
received Grant quite graciously, and made for himself acknowledgment
of the service which our hero had rendered his daughter.
"If I ever have the opportunity of doing you a favor, Master Thornton,
you may call upon me with confidence," he said.
Grant thanked him, and was better pleased than if he had received an
immediate gift.
Meanwhile Deacon Gridley kept his promise, and advanced the
minister fifty dollars, deducting a month's interest. Even with this
deduction Mrs. Thornton was very glad to obtain the money. Part of it
was paid on account to Mr. Tudor, and silenced his importunities for a
time. As to his own plans, there was nothing for Grant to do except to
continue his studies, as he might enter college after all.
If any employment should offer of a remunerative character, he felt that
it would be his duty to accept it, in spite of his uncle's objections; but
such chances were not very likely to happen while