Try and Trust | Page 9

to
term it.
"I'll break his proud spirit," thought Abner Holden. "He'll find he's got
a master, if I get hold of him. He don't know me yet, but he will some
time."
Mr. Holden resolved to wait on Captain Ross at once, and conclude
arrangements with him to take Herbert before our hero had returned
from the mill village. He pictured, with a grim smile, Herbert's dismay
when he learned who was to be his future master.
With the help of a handkerchief dipped into a crystal stream at the
roadside, Abner Holden succeeded in effacing some of the muddy
stains upon his coat and pantaloons, and at length got himself into
presentable trim for calling upon a "selectman."
At length he came in sight of the house which had been described to
him as that of Captain Ross. There was a woman at the well-sweep
engaged in drawing water.
"Does Captain Ross live here?" he inquired.
"Yes, sir."
"Is he at home?"
"He's over in the three-acre lot. Was you wantin' to see him?"
"I should like to. Is the field far away?"

"No, it's just behind the house."
"Then I guess I'll go and find him. I want to see him on a little matter of
business."
Mr. Holden crossed a mowing-field, and then, climbing over a stone
wall, found himself at the edge of the three-acre lot. The captain was
superintending one or two hired men, and, as he had his coat off, had
probably been assisting them.
"Captain Ross?" said Abner Holden, interrogatively.
"That's my name."
"You are chairman of the selectmen, I believe?"
"Yes, sir."
"I understand that you have a boy that you want to bind out."
"I reckon you mean Herbert Mason."
"Yes, I believe that's the name I heard."
"Are you in want of a boy?"
"Yes, I am looking out for one."
"What is your business?"
"I keep a store, but I should want him to work on land part of the time."
"Do you live hereabouts?"
"Over at Cranston."
"If you'll come to the house, we'll talk the matter over. The boy's a
good boy, and we want to get a good place for him. His mother was a
widder, and he's her only son. He's a smart, capable lad, and good to

work."
"I've no doubt he'll suit me. I'll take him on your recommendation."
"We should want him to go to school winters. He's a pretty good
scholar already. His father was a larned man, and used to teach him
before he died. If he had lived, I reckon Herbert would certainly have
gone to college."
"I'll agree to send him to school in the winter for the next two years,"
said Holden, "and will give him board and clothes, and when he's
twenty- one a freedom suit, and a hundred dollars. Will that do?"
"I don't know but that's reasonable," said Captain Ross, slowly. "The
boy's a bit high-spirited, but if you manage him right, I guess you'll like
him."
"I'll manage him!" thought Abner Holden. "Can I take him with me to-
morrow?" he asked. "I don't come this way very often."
"Well, I guess that can be arranged. We'll go over to Dr. Kent's after
dinner, and see if they can get him ready."
"In the meantime," said Holden, afraid that the prize might slip through
his fingers, "suppose we make out the papers. I suppose you have full
authority in the matter."
Captain Ross had no objection, and thus poor Herbert was
unconsciously delivered over to the tender mercies of a man who had
very little love for him.

CHAPTER IV
A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE
After his collision with the traveler, Herbert hurried on to the mill,
intent upon making up for lost time. He was satisfied with having

successfully maintained his rights; and, as he had no reason to suppose
he should ever again see his unreasonable opponent, dismissed him
from his thoughts.
On reaching the mill, he found he should have to remain an hour or two
before he could have his grain ground. He was not sorry for this, as it
would give him an opportunity to walk around the village.
"I wish," he thought, "I could get a place in one of the stores here.
There's more going on than there is in Waverley, and I could go over
Sundays to see Dr. Kent's family."
On the spur of the moment, he resolved to inquire if some of the
storekeepers did not require help. There was a large dry-goods store--
the largest in the village--kept by Beckford & Keyes. He entered and
inquired for the senior partner.
"Mr. Beckford is not in," said the clerk. "Mr. Keyes is standing at that
desk."
Herbert went up to the desk, and said inquiringly, "Mr.