“Well, Myles, any business that can so arouse your enthusiasm must possess merit, and I only hope you will stick to this one until you win success from it. By the way, what is your present ambition? Is it still to enter politics?”
“I think my present ambition is to get on space,” replied Myles, laughing. “Then I should like to be a special or foreign correspondent. If ever I get that far, then I will look ahead and see what comes next.”
The next day, as on the preceding Sunday, Myles accompanied his sister Kate to church. Somehow or other his changed conditions of life had become known throughout the little community, and many of those who had gazed admiringly at Myles Manning, the captain of the “‘Varsity” crew, the Sunday before, now looked at him with curiosity as a reporter. The former they could understand, but the latter was something to be wondered at as though it belonged to a strange and uncommon species of being.
As brother and sister left the church several of their acquaintances spoke to them, and one young woman said with a simper: “Oh, Mr. Manning, now that you are a reporter I hope you aren’t going to write us all up.”
Another asked: “Won’t you put a piece in your paper about my sewing-class, Mr. Manning? It would do so much good!” While still another, with a warning shake of her head: “Take care, Mr. Manning. We all know what naughty people you newspaper men are.”
To all these idiotic speeches Myles smiled and tried to return polite answers, but inwardly he fumed at their silliness. He was thankful enough to reach home and escape from this petty persecution. He afterward learned that all reporters are subject to the same sort of annoyance when in company with weak-minded people.
There was one bit of home news at which Myles hardly knew whether to be glad or sorry. It was that the house had been well rented for the season, and that the family was to remove at once to the gardener’s cottage. As he philosophically remarked, however: “If the rest could bear it cheerfully he certainly ought to be able to.”
Kate said:
“Perhaps some time, Myles, I’ll find a way to earn money as well as you, and then we’ll get the old house back again; won’t we, dear? I’m giving every spare minute to my drawing, and by the time you get to writing books perhaps I may be able to illustrate them.”
“So we will, my brick of gold!” answered Myles, drawing the girl to him and kissing her. “But you are doing your full share now, and if you become any more useful than you are, the first thing I know you will be taking care of me as well as of the rest of the family.”