“We’ll get there after a while, I hope. It won’t be long until we’re salesmen.”
“And after that we’ll be buyers,” declared Teddy eagerly. “Perhaps we’ll own a store like Martin Brothers’ some day, Harry.”
“Perhaps we will. At least, we’ve started on the long road to business and success, and it rests with us to keep in the middle of it. There’s a lot of hard work ahead of us.”
“I’m not afraid of hard work,” boasted Teddy. “Just watch me wade into it when I come back from my vacation.”
“I won’t have time,” retorted Harry, laughing. “I’ll be too busy myself.”
“My boy, I was very proud of you to-night!” a deep voice sounded at Harry’s elbow, causing him to turn quickly. His color rose as he recognized the pleasant tones of Mr. Rexford. He had scanned the audience anxiously during the evening, wondering if the man to whom he owed so much had been present at the exercises. He could not know that Mr. Rexford had learned beforehand from Mr. Keene that he, Harry Harding, had been chosen for the honor of delivering the welcome address. The book-buyer had lingered in the hall just long enough to hear the boy’s earnest little speech, then retired to his office to write letters. The task had taken him longer than he had expected, and he had left the store just in time to encounter the little group standing on the corner.
“Oh, Mr. Rexford! I’m so glad you happened to come this way!” cried Harry, extending his hand to meet that of his employer. “I tried to see you this afternoon to say good-bye, but couldn’t find you. I looked for you in the audience to-night, too, but I didn’t see you. This is my mother, and Mrs. Burke, and my chum, Theodore Burke.” Harry welcomed the opportunity of presenting his dear ones to the man he so greatly respected and admired.
“Allow me to congratulate you on your son, Mrs. Harding,” were Mr. Rexford’s first words after acknowledging the introduction.
“Thank you, Mr. Rexford.” Mrs. Harding’s brown eyes shone in appreciation of this praise of her boy. Although Harry still kept the secret of those dark days, long since passed, locked in his heart, she had daily heard him voice his gratitude for Mr. Rexford’s interest in him. “I must thank you, also, for your goodness to Harry,” she added.