Jr. Horatio Alger

“ Yet, had it been otherwise, perhaps Ruth would have made me a better wife than some graduate of a fashionable young ladies' seminary with her smattering of French, and superficial knowledge of the various ologies taught in high-class schools. The young woman from Macy's, though she probably knew nothing of political economy, was doubtless skilled in household economy and able to cook a dinner, as in all probability my wife would find it necessary to do. ”

“ Out of compliment to our friend, Prof. Poppendorf, who, I hope, will win a success."
"I thank you," said the Professor, "but I should be glad to have you honor my lecture with your presence."
"I feel no particular interest in 'The Material and the Immaterial,'" said Mrs. Blagden. "Besides I am not sure whether I should get any clearer ideas respecting them from attending your lecture."
"You do not flatter the Professor," said Mrs. Wyman, appearing shocked.
"No, I never flatter any one. Why should I?" returned the Disagreeable Woman.
"I like to be flattered," said the widow, simpering. ”

“ Prof. Poppendorf took his place behind a desk on the platform and looked about him. There were scarcely a hundred persons, all told, in the audience. The men, as a general thing, were shabbily dressed, and elderly. There were perhaps twenty women, with whom dress was a secondary consideration.
"Did you ever see such frights, Doctor?" whispered the widow.
"You are the only stylishly dressed woman in the hall."
Mrs. Wyman looked gratified. ”

“ It was evident that the excitement had been too much for him.
"Miss Blagden," I said, "I think you must go. Our patient is too weak to stand any more excitement or agitation."
"Can I not stay here as his nurse?" she pleaded.
"It will be better to have a trained nurse—one who will not agitate him."
"As you think best, doctor," she said, meekly, "but I will stay in the house. How soon can you send a nurse?" ”

“ Disagreeable Woman.
CHAPTER I. A SOCIAL MYSTERY.
"If I live till next July, I shall be twenty-nine years old," simpered the young widow, and she looked around the table, as if to note the effect of such an incredible statement.
"You look much older," said the Disagreeable Woman, looking up from her tea and buttered toast.
There was a general silence, and the boarders noted with curiosity the effect [Pg 8] of this somewhat unceremonious remark.
Mrs. Wyman, the young widow, flushed and directed an angry and scornful look at the last speaker. ”

“ It is all very well to be a young minister, but a young doctor does not inspire confidence."
[Pg 48]
"I am sure I would rather call in a young doctor unless I were very sick."
"There it is! Unless you were very sick."
"But even then," said the widow, coquettishly, "I am sure I should feel confidence in you, Dr. Fenwick. You wouldn't prescribe very nasty pills, would you?"
"I would order bread pills, if I thought they would answer the purpose."
"That would be nice. But you haven't answered my question. What were you and Miss Blagden talking about?" ”

“ Miss Blagden subscribed for two copies.
"One is for you, Dr. Fenwick!" she said, in a low tone.
"Thank you, Miss Blagden. You are very kind. Am I expected to read it?"
"If you can," she responded with a grim smile.
The other boarders were asked, but each had some excuse.
"I have just bought a new hat," said Mrs. Wyman.
"I no understand English," said the Count.
"Do you think I ought to subscribe, Miss Blagden?" asked Ruth.
"No, child. Why should you? You have a use for your money. Besides, you would not understand it. If you wish, I will buy one for you?" ”

“ I was sensible that I must not take up the time of one of the salesladies—I [Pg 63] believe that the genteel designation of this class—without some pretense of business, so, after greeting Ruth Canby, I said:
"You may show me some of your handkerchiefs, please."
"Do you wish something nice?" she asked.
"I wish something cheap," I answered. "It doesn't matter much what a forlorn bachelor uses."
"You may not always be a bachelor," said Ruth, with a suggestive smile.
"I must get better established in my profession before I assume new responsibilities." ”

“ Depew kick football?" asked the young woman from Macy's.
"I think not," I ventured to say. "Gentlemen over forty seldom indulge in athletics."
"I am so sorry you can't get Mr. Depew," said Mrs. Wyman. "I should so like to hear him."
"You will hear me," said Prof. [Pg 24] Poppendorf, with dignity, "if you will kindly buy a ticket."
Mrs. Wyman looked embarrassed. She had a fair income, but carried economy to a fine point.
"Perhaps," she said, with a hesitating glance at the person of whom she spoke, "Miss Blagden will give me one of her tickets, as she does not intend to use either." ”

“ Mrs. Wyman surveyed her with a contemptuous glance, and no doubt mentally contrasted her plainness with her own showy apparel. But the Disagreeable Woman's eye seemed to rest approvingly on her young companion. They started out ahead of the rest of us.
"What a very plain person Miss Canby is!" said the widow, as we emerged into the street, her arm resting lightly in mine.
"Do you refer to her dress or her face and figure?"
"Well, to both."
"She dresses plainly; but I suspect that is dictated by economy. She has a pleasant face."
[Pg 36]
"It is the face of a peasant." ”

“ Mrs. Gray kept a large boarding-house on Waverley Place. Some fifteen boarders were gathered about the large table. I may have occasion to refer to some of them later. But first I will speak of myself.
I was a young medical practitioner, who after practising for a year in a Jersey village had come to New York in quest of a metropolitan practise and reputation. I was not quite penniless, having five hundred dollars left over from the legacy of an old aunt, the rest of which had been used to defray the expenses of my education. ”

“ A physician understands his own limitations better than any outsider."
"Come, I think you will do," she said, [Pg 45] pleasantly. "If I am ill at any time I shall probably call you in."
"Thank you."
"And I should criticise your treatment. If you gave me any bread pills, I should probably detect the imposture."
"I should prefer, as a patient, bread pills to many that are prescribed."
"You seem to be a sensible man, Dr. Fenwick. I shall hope to have other opportunities of conversing with you. Let me know from time to time how you are succeeding." ”

“ Poppendorf, deliberately. "Bismarck was not a great student. He would not study. Bismarck was wild."
"Did he drink beer?" asked the widow.
"Of course," answered the Professor, surprised; "why should he not? I drank beer myself."
"Is it possible? I would not have believed it. Fie, Professor!"
"Beer is a very good thing," said the [Pg 26] Professor, gravely. "There were not many of the students who could drink as much as Bismarck."
"And did Bismarck care for young ladies?"
"I should think so. I had a duel with Bismarck myself about a young mädchen."
More than one of the boarders smiled. ”

“ The busy day at Macy's was over. Troops of young women passed through the doors, in street costume, and laughing and chatting, made their way up or down Sixth Avenue, or turned into Twenty-third street. Among them was Ruth Canby, and it was to her that her friend Maria Stevenson addressed the above exclamation. ”

“ You can cook, can you not, Mees Ruth?"
"Yes, I know how to cook, but—"
"Ah, that is well," said the Professor, in a tone of satisfaction. "All the German ladies can cook. Frau von Bismarck, the wife of my old friend, is an excellent cook. I haf dined at Bismarck's house."
"But," said Ruth, firmly, "I can not [Pg 134] think of becoming your wife, Prof. Poppendorf."
"Ach, so!" said the Professor, in a tone of disappointment. "Do not make such a mistake, my dear Mees Ruth. Is it nothing to become Mrs. Professor Poppendorf. You will take a good place in society. ”

“ It was pleasant to find that he was becoming interested in me.
"You enjoy Patti?" he said. "But [Pg 140] then I hardly need ask that. Your presence here is sufficient evidence."
"I have no doubt I shall enjoy Patti," I answered. "I have never heard her."
"Indeed? How does that happen?"
"Because I have been only three months in New York. I came here from the country, and of course I had no chance to hear her there."
"Excuse my curiosity, but you do not look like a business man."
"I am not. I am a practising physician."
"Indeed!" he replied, with interest. "I wish you could cure my rheumatism." ”

“ But, Mrs. Gray, I am going to ask you a great favor."
"What is it?"
"Let me sit beside the Count. I wish to make his acquaintance. He will be reserved and silent with most of the boarders. I will try to make him feel at home."
"I thought you wished to sit beside Dr. Fenwick."
"So I did, but he and I are friends, and he won't mind my changing my seat."
When I came to supper that evening I was not wholly surprised to find myself removed to the opposite side of the table, but this I did not regret when I found that I was now next neighbor to the Disagreeable Woman. ”

“ CHAPTER XI. A POOR PATIENT.
I was accustomed to remain in my office till about four o'clock in the afternoon waiting for possible patients. It was a long and weary wait, and oftentimes not a caller rewarded me. I suppose it is the usual fortune of young medical practitioners who are comparatively unknown. When four o'clock came I went out for a walk. Generally my steps tended to Sixth Avenue where there was some life and bustle.
I was compelled to practise the most rigid economy, but I could not deny myself the luxury of an evening paper. ”

“ When her husband died suddenly of apoplexy his fortune melted away, and she found herself possessed of expensive tastes, and a pittance of two thousand dollars.
She was practical, however, and with a part of her money bought an old established boarding-house on Waverley Place. This she had conducted for ten years, and it yielded her a good income. Her two [Pg 51] thousand dollars had become ten, and her future was secure.
Mrs. Gray did not class herself among boarding-house keepers. Her boarders she regarded as her family, and she felt a personal interest in each and all. ”

“ Wyman; I haven't thought very much about her so far, I have thought more of you."
"Oh, you naughty flatterer!" said the [Pg 49] widow, graciously. "Not that I believe you. Men are such deceivers."
"Do ladies never deceive?"
"You ought to have been a lawyer, you ask such pointed questions. Really, Dr. Fenwick, I am quite afraid of you."
"There's no occasion. I am quite harmless, I do assure you. The time to be afraid of me is when you call me in as a physician."
"Excuse me, doctor, but Mrs. Gray is about to make an announcement."
We both turned our glances upon the landlady. ”

“ Poppendorf a 'professional gentleman'," I said.
"Oh, how horrid! Who would marry such an old fossil?"
"It is well that the Professor does not hear you."
Perhaps this conversation is hardly worth recording, but it throws some light on the character of the widow. Moreover it satisfied me that should I desire [Pg 38] to marry her there would be no violent opposition on her part. But, truth to tell, I would have preferred the young woman from Macy's, despite the criticism of Mrs. Wyman. One was artificial, the other was natural. ”

“ The rent comes due next week, and—"
"How much is it?" asked Miss Blagden, interrupting me.
"Seven dollars."
She drew a ten dollar bill from her pocket-book and extended it to me.
"Give that to Mrs. Mills," she said.
"You make me very happy as well as her; I am beginning to find how kind and charitable you are."
"No, no," she said gravely. "There are few of us of whom that may be said. [Pg 127] How soon do you think your patient will be able to resume work?"
"Next Monday, I hope. She is gaining rapidly."
"How thick you are with the Disagreeable Woman!" said Mrs. Wyman, when she next met me. ”

“ Wyman asked the question directly.
"Where do you live, Miss Blagden, if you will allow me to ask?"
"I will allow you to ask," returned the [Pg 158] Disagreeable Woman, coolly. "Do you propose to call on me?"
"If you will permit me."
"It is hardly necessary. We meet at the table every day. I am a hermit," she added after a pause, "I do not care to receive visitors."
"I once heard of a hermit who lived in one of the cottages on the rocks near Central Park," said the widow, rather impertinently.
"I don't live there!" said the Disagreeable Woman, composedly. ”

“ There was some further conversation, and Prof. Poppendorf promised that his next lecture should be upon Bismarck.
[Pg 29]
CHAPTER IV. PROF. POPPENDORF'S LECTURE.
We all sat at supper on Thursday evening. There was a general air of expectation. It was on this evening that Prof. Poppendorf was to give his lecture. We all gazed at him with more than ordinary interest. The old Professor, gray and grim-visaged, sat more than usually erect, and his manner and bearing were marked by unusual dignity. He felt himself to be the hero of the hour. ”

“ We are so apt to live for ourselves."
"I also mentioned the case to Mrs. Wyman," I added.
"Well?" she asked, curiously.
"She said she was very poor, and wanted to buy a ticket to Patti's concert."
Miss Blagden smiled.
"I am not surprised to hear it," she said. "Did you ever hear Patti, Dr. Fenwick?"
"No, Miss Blagden. I am new to the city, and I am cut off from expensive amusements by my limited means."
"Do you like music?"
"Very much. When Patti gives a concert at fifty cents, I may venture to go."
At supper Miss Blagden placed something in my hand. ”

“ We are very poor, and now that [Pg 106] sister isn't working I don't know how we shall get along. There is no one to earn money except me, and I don't make more than thirty cents a day."
"If I were rich, Frank, I would help you."
"I am sure you would, sir, for you look like a kind gentleman."
This simple tribute went to my heart. The boy felt that I was a friend, and I determined that I would be one so far as I was able.
"Still I can do something for you. I am a doctor, and if you will take me round to your house I will look at your sister and see if I can do anything for her." ”