The Debtor's Daughter CHAPTER 16.
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On the day following this interview of Grace with Mr. Markle, as old Mr. Putnam was preparing to go out for the purpose of again trying to get some employment, a letter was brought to him.
"Who is that from?" asked Mrs. Putnam, as she saw her husband's countenance change while glancing over its contents.
"It is from a gentleman named Markle," replied Mr. Putnam.
"What has he to say?"
"He wishes to see me."
"Ah? For what purpose?"
"He says, that he can probably find an opening for me in a business which will just suit me."
"Oh, Herman! If this is so — how thankful I will be!" said Mrs. Putnam in a voice that trembled from a sudden excitement of feeling. "If you find employment, you will no longer object to remaining here."
"I cannot remain to be dependent."
"But, if independent, through your own efforts?"
"That will alter the case," replied Mr. Putnam.
"See Mr. Markle at once."
"I will call upon him immediately. Ah! I already begin to fear that these suddenly excited hopes are doomed to disappointment."
"Come home early," said Mrs. Putnam, laying her hand upon the arm of her husband, as he was about to leave, soon after the receipt of the note from Mr. Markle. "I shall be as restless as the wandering dove, until I see you again. Oh! that this new hope may not prove vain."
Three hours elapsed before Mr. Putnam returned. There was a light in his countenance as he entered the room where his wife sat alone, that said "good news!" before his lips had time to give utterance to a word.
"Better than I expected," said he, in a low voice, as he sat down beside her, and looked calmly in her face.
"Have you found employment," she said, striving, as she spoke, not to let the trembling expectation of her heart betray itself too fully in her voice.
"Yes," was his simple answer.
"Oh, I am so glad!" exclaimed Mrs. Putnam, clasping her hands together, "I am so glad! But what kind of employment?"
"I called to see Mr. Markle, as he desired," said Mr. Putnam, "and was met by him with a kindness not manifested before for years. Indeed, the last time I saw him, his manner was so repulsive as to be almost insulting. Now, he was considerate, and treated me with much delicacy. He said that a gentleman was in the city for the purpose of creating an agency for a manufacturing establishment to which he belonged, and had asked him to find, if possible, an individual who could be entrusted with the business. 'I have already mentioned to him your name,' said he, 'and have sent for you in order that we might confer on the subject. Are you doing anything?"
"Nothing," I replied.
"'How would you like an agency and commission business?'" he inquired.
"I am ready for anything within the range of my ability," I promptly answered.
"'I think, then, that this would suit you,' said he; and, if you desire it, I will send a note to the gentleman.' This was accordingly done. The interview resulted as I desired. We entered into an engagement before separating. A store is to be taken immediately, and a consignment of goods sent on as soon as he returns east. All expenses are to be guaranteed to me for the first year, and money to begin with, to be left in the hands of Mr. Markle. The commission is liberal, and will, I do not in the least doubt, give me a handsome income."
"Oh! How thankful I am!" said Mrs. Putnam, when her husband ceased speaking, and her eyes looked upwards, as her heart lifted itself in acknowledgments to Heaven.
Not once did it cross the mind of Mr. Putnam, that for this favorable turn of fortune — he was indebted to the intercession of Grace. It never occurred to him while he talked to her of the good prospects opening before him, that her hand had removed obstructions from his way, and made the course plain before him.
From that time, the families became one. Mr. Putnam, though he still felt reluctant to make a part of his son's family, lest it should seem as if he were dependent upon the labor of Grace, had no longer, any reasons to urge against the arrangement, and did not, therefore, make any opposition. Moreover, his two sweet grand-children had made their way into his heart, and their love had thrown itself in chains around him. Grace, too, interested him more and more. There was a beauty in her goodness, which put on some new charm daily, and made him feel happiest when near her.
In due time, Mr. Putnam opened his place of business and commenced receiving goods. Once more he appeared among his old business friends, and, as he came to them as the agent of an extensive manufacturing establishment, and with goods to dispose of that many of them needed, he brought a passport to their respect. He was no longer poor old Putnam, the humble suppliant for employment, but Mr. Herman Putnam, Agent for the Manufacturing Company. Some few thought proper to remember him as a broken down merchant, by whom they had, aforetime, lost heavily — but the majority waived the past, and took him for just what he was worth in the present.
By the end of a year, it was plain to Mr. Putnam that the agency he had taken, was going to turn out far better than he had anticipated. His clear profit had been over fifteen hundred dollars, and his salary was rapidly on the increase. The health of Ralph having improved, he now went every day to his father's business, and worked for a few hours, thus rendering him desirable aid, and receiving therefor a certain share of the profit.
The union of the two families had grown more and more perfect, and there was a mutual dependence among them, which drew them closer and closer together. Grace gave herself up entirely to her school, in which she now had the assistance of Clara, while Mrs. Putnam took charge of the whole household, as if it had been her own. Their evening re-unions, when the labor of the day was done, were happy seasons.
If there was one restless heart among them all, it was the heart of old Mr. Putnam. Gradually, as it grew better and better with him in external things, and he felt more and more hisindependence — a latent desire to separate from his son's family fixed itself in his heart. All the pride of his character, had not been crushed out. He had been driven by the force of circumstances, whose power he tried in vain to resist, into a temporary dependence upon his daughter-in-law. In the utmost extremity, help had come from her willing hands. It seemed to him, at times, as if everybody not only knew this, but was ever thinking about it; and the better the new business became; and the brighter the prospects that opened before him — the more did these thoughts disturb him. Strange as it may seem, as this state of mind continued, something like a thin veil was drawn before his eyes when he looked at Grace, and it hid a portion of her loveliness. The obligations that he and his family were under to her, at first felt by him to be of the highest character, assumed an appearance of less importance.
Remotely did Mr. Putnam at length begin to hint at his desire to be again in his own house. His wife, who understood him, affected not to perceive, at first, his meaning. But, in time, he made it so plain, that she was forced to remark upon the subject. He then said, plainly, that he thought it would be better for them to be to themselves once more.
"I shall feel a great deal more independent," said he, "than I have ever felt here."
"But, Herman," replied Mrs. Putnam, "you forget how really necessary our presence is here. Grace could not get along without us."
"How did she get on before we came?" returned Mr. Putnam, rather coldly.
"She was worn down with care, added to severe toil; and her children were unkindly treated by servants, while she was absent in school."
"She will have to be more judicious in her selection of servants. Good ones are certainly to be found. Let her get a competent housekeeper to see to everything. Someone who will take your place."
"There is no one who can really take my place."
"I can't see any reason why you should be compelled to be a servant here," said Mr. Putnam, with some asperity of manner.
"Don't speak in that way, Herman! I am no servant; but at the head of this dear family, and I do my work with a loving spirit. And as for our obligations to Grace, they are so great, that we can never repay them."
"What obligations, please," said Mr. Putnam sharply.
"She saved the life of our son by her womanly courage and devotion. For that, I can never sufficiently love her, or repay her. Acting from the same brave and noble spirit, she provided a home for him and his children, and an asylum for us when the storm of adversity beat so sharply upon us. Ah, Herman — "
"No!" said Mr. Putnam, quickly interrupting his wife, "I will not admit this. We came here on a visit, and she managed to keep us here, much against my will, for several days. At the end of that time, I got my present situation, which I would have obtained anyhow. No! We are not under such great obligations to her. She is a good girl. She has done nobly; I will admit all that. But I don't feel under obligation to her personally. No, no!"
Mrs. Putnam sighed heavily, but made no reply. A brief silence ensued, and then he went away.
During the morning, business led Mr. Putnam to the store of Mr. Markle, who had a good many inquiries to make in regard to his success, and the prospect before him. During the conversation which ensued, some allusion was made to Grace —
"Do you know," said Markle, smiling, "that you are entirely indebted to this excellent woman for your present business?"
"I do not," replied Mr. Putnam, with a sudden expression of surprise.
"Well, you are."
"How so? Will you explain?"
"Upon her personal application to me, and earnest solicitation in your behalf — I procured you the agency you now hold."
"You cannot be in earnest!" said Mr. Putnam, in a voice which fell suddenly almost to a whisper.
"Entirely in earnest," replied Mr. Markle. "But for her, you would never have been even thought of, in this business. Ah sir! You were fortunate in having such an angel to take up your cause; for an angel she is. Not content with securing you this desirable place, she wished me to communicate with you in such a way as not to leave room for a suspicion in your mind, that she had any agency in the affair."
"And why?" Mr. Putnam spoke with earnestness.
"She wished to save your feelings. To remove all cause for a sense of obligation towards her. I shall never forget my interview with her on that occasion! I have tried to be a better man since. Happy are you and yours, in dwelling under the same roof with her; in breathing the atmosphere of goodness that surrounds her."
"For some time, Mr. Putnam stood lost in thought. Then bowing, he turned away and retired without uttering a word. The weak pride of the old man's heart was completely subdued. The thin, obscuring veil which had, for some time, been drawn between him and Grace, was torn away, and he saw her, as before — but increased in loveliness.
A few years have passed. The family of father and son still gather at one fireside, which is made bright and warm by the presence of her to whom all owe so much. And yet, she seems unconscious of having done more than a loving duty, for which she has already received an abundant reward.
And here the curtain drops!
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