Barriers Burned Away Read online

  CHAPTER XIV

  SHE SPEAKS TO HIM

  After the plan for the re-arrangement of the store had been determinedupon, Miss Ludolph began to study its topography. She went regularlythrough the building, examining closely every part and space, sometimessketching a few outlines in a little gilt book. Apparently she wasseeking by her taste to make the show-rooms pictures in themselves,wherein all the parts should blend harmoniously, and create onebeautiful effect. Dennis saw what was coming. The carrying-out of theplan he had heard discussed, and he wished with intense longing thathe might be her assistant. But she would as soon have thought of sendingfor Pat Murphy. She intended to select one of the older clerks to aidher. Still Dennis hoped that by some strange and happy turn of fortunepart of this work might fall to him.

  Every spare moment of early morning and evening he spent in sketchingand studying, but he sadly felt the need of instruction, and of moneyto buy materials. He was merely groping his way as best he might; andhe felt that Miss Ludolph could teach him so much, if she would onlycondescend to the task! He was willing to be a very humble learner atfirst. If in some way he could only make known his readiness to pickup the crumbs of knowledge that she might be willing out of kindnessto scatter in his path, he might expect something from ordinary goodnature.

  But a week or two passed without his receiving so much as a glancefrom those cold blue eyes that rested so critically on all before them;and on an unlucky day in March all hope of help from her vanished.Under the influence of spring the streets were again becoming muddy,and his duties as bootblack increased daily. He had arranged to performthis menial task in a remote corner of the store, as much out of sightas possible. The duty had become still more disagreeable since theyoung lady haunted the place, for he feared she would learn to associatehim only with the dust-brush and blacking-brush.

  Just behind where he usually stood, a good picture had been hung, underMr. Schwartz's system, simply because it accurately fitted the space.It was in a wretched light, and could never be seen or appreciatedthere. Miss Ludolph in her investigations and plannings discoveredthis at a time most unfortunate for poor Dennis. While polishing awayone morning, he suddenly became conscious that she was approaching.It seemed that she was looking directly at him, and was about to speak.His heart thumped like a trip-hammer, his cheeks burned, and a blurcame over his eyes, for he was diffident in ladies' presence. Thereforehe stood before her the picture of confusion, with a big boot poisedin one hand, and the polishing-brush in the other. With the instinctsof a gentleman, however, he made an awkward bow, feeling, though, thatunder the circumstances his politeness could only appear ridiculous.And he was right. It was evident from the young lady's face that herkeen perception of the ridiculous was thoroughly aroused. But for thesake of her own dignity (she cared not a jot for him), she bit her lipto control her desire to laugh in his face, and said, rather sharply,"Will you stand out of my way?"

  _She had spoken to him._

  He was so mortified and confused that in his effort to obey he partiallyfell over a bronze sheep, designed to ornament some pastoral scene,and the heel of Mr. Schwartz's heavy boot came down with a thump thatmade everything ring. There was a titter from some of the clerks. Mr.Ludolph, who was following his daughter, exclaimed, "What's the matter,Fleet? You seem rather unsteady, this morning, for a church member."

  For a moment he had the general appearance usually ascribed to thesheep, his unlucky stumbling-block. But by a strong effort he recoveredhimself. Deigning no reply, he set his teeth, compressed his lips,picked up the boot, and polished away as before, trying to look andfeel regardless of all the world. In fact there was as much pride inhis face as there had ever been in hers. But, not noticing him, shesaid to her father: "Here is a specimen. Look where this picture ishung. In bootblack corner I should term it. It would not sell here ina thousand years, for what little light there is would be obscuredmuch of the time by somebody's big boots and the artist in charge. Ithas evidently been placed here in view of one principlealone--dimensions; its length and breadth according with the space inthe corner. You will see what a change I will bring about in a monthor two, after my plans are matured;" and then she strolled to anotherpart of the store. But, before leaving, Miss Ludolph happened to glanceat Dennis's face, and was much struck by its expression. Surely PatMurphy never would or could look like that. For the first time thethought entered her mind that Dennis might be of a different clay andcharacter from Pat. But the next moment his expression of pride andoffended dignity, in such close juxtaposition to the big boot he wastwirling almost savagely around, again appealed to her sense of theludicrous, and she turned away with a broad smile. Dennis, looking up,saw the smile and guessed the cause; and when, a moment after, Mr.Schwartz appeared, asking in his loud, blunt way, "My boots ready?"he felt like flinging both at his head, and leaving the store forever.Handing them to him without a word, he hastened upstairs, for he feltthat he must be alone.

  At first his impulse was strong to rebel--to assert that by birth andeducation he was a gentleman, and must be treated as such, or he wouldgo elsewhere. But, as the tumult in his mind calmed, the case becameas clear to him as a sum in addition. He had voluntarily taken PatMurphy's place, and why should he complain at Pat's treatment? He hadpledged his word that there should be no trouble from his being abovehis business, and he resolved to keep his word till Providence gavehim better work to do. He bathed his hot face in cool water, breatheda brief prayer for strength and patience, and went back to his tasksstrong and calm.