Walter Sherwood's Probation by Jr. Horatio Alger (good romance books to read txt) ๐
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- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
Read book online ยซWalter Sherwood's Probation by Jr. Horatio Alger (good romance books to read txt) ๐ยป. Author - Jr. Horatio Alger
โYou want to be a professor some time, Gates, don't you?โ
โYes,โ answered his chum, his face flushing, โI should be proud to become a professor in old Euclid.โ
โIt would be awfully slow, I think,โ returned Walter, stifling a yawn.
โWhat then, is your ambition?โ
โI want to go out among men. I want to take an active part in the world.โ
โYou will have to work harder than you do in college, then.โ
โI suppose I shall. But I am young, Gates. I am only seventeen.โ
โAnd I am nineteen, and look twenty-one.โ
โAll the better! The older you look the better, If you are going to be a college instructor. I would have to wait a long time if I wanted to, even if I were a good deal wiser than I am now. I am so young, in short, that I can afford to have a good time.โ
โIt seems to me that is all you think of, Sherwood.โ
โOh, well, I'll reform in time and become a sober old duffer like you,โ and Walter Sherwood laughed carelessly.
โI hope, at any rate, that you will change your views of life. You know what Longfellow says: 'Life is real! Life is earnest!'โ
โOh, yes, I know that by heart. But it's no use, Gates, you can't make an old man of me before my time. Will it disturb you if I play a tune or two on my violin?โ
โWell, to tell the truth, it will. I want to get my Greek lesson, and you had better do the same.โ
โNo, I will read a novel, and you can read over the Greek to me when you have dug it out.โ
โI will if you wish, but I am afraid I am spoiling you by doing your studying for you.โ
โRemember, I was out late last night.โ
โYou have something almost every evening, Walter.โ
โOh, well, I'll turn over a new leaf next term.โ
โWhy not begin now?โ
โIf you knew how stupid I feel you wouldn't ask.โ
Walter stretched himself out on a comfortable lounge, and took up a new novel which he had partially read, while Gates spread the big Greek lexicon on the study-table, and opening his Aristophanes, began slowly and laboriously to translate it into English.
Fifteen minutes passed when a knock was heard at the door.
โCome in!โ called out Walter.
He looked up eagerly, hoping the visitor might prove to be one of his jovial comrades of the night before. But he did not look so well pleased when, as the door opened, he caught sight of the pudgy figure and shrewd face of Elijah Daniels, the proprietor of the Euclid Hotel.
โGood morning, Mr. Daniels.โ he said, rather apprehensively. โSo you have found me out.โ
โNo, I have found you in,โ returned the landlord, with a smile. โI hope I don't intrude upon, your studies, young gentlemen.โ
โWell, I am taking a little rest from my labors,โ said Walter.
โYou were up rather late last evening, Mr. Sherwood.โ
โThat's a fact, and you gave us a first-class supper, Daniels. You did yourself proud.โ
โI did my best, Mr. Sherwood, and I am glad you were satisfied.โ
โAll the fellows praised the supper.โ
โThat's good. I know what you young gentlemen like, and I get it, no matter what it costs. I don't make much on the suppers I give the college boys, but of course I like to please them.โ
โYour price is quite reasonable, I think.โ
โI am glad you do. I have brought in the bill for last night's entertainment, and if you can let me have the money, I shall be glad.โ
โWell, the fact is, Daniels, I haven't got the money by me this morning.โ
The landlord's countenance changed.
โI like prompt pay,โ he said. โIt is a good deal of trouble, and, as I said, there isn't much money to be made.โ
โThat's all right. You won't have to wait long.โ
โHow long, Mr. Sherwood?โ
โI expect a check for a hundred dollars from my guardian to-day. I wrote three days since, for I knew you wouldn't like to wait.โ
โA hundred dollars!โ repeated the landlord, feeling a little easier in mind.
โYes.โ
โPerhaps your guardian may object to sending it.โ
โOh, no! He's a nice old fellow, Doctor Mack is. He is very indulgent.โ
โWhat name did you mention?
โDoctor Mack. Ezekiel Mack.โ
โIndeed! Why, we had a gentleman stopping at the hotel last night of that name.โ
โWhat!โ ejaculated Walter, in astonishment. โDo you mean to tell me that Doctor Mackโmy guardianโwas at the hotel last night? It can't be. He would have called on me.โ
โIt may not have been the same man. Now I come to think of it, he didn't put himself down on the book Doctor Mack. He just put himself down E. Mack. He seemed a plain sort of man.โ
โWhere did he register from?โ asked Walter eagerly.
โFrom Albany.โ
โIs he at the hotel now?โ
โHe went away by the morning train.โ
โThen it couldn't have been he,โ said Walter, in a tone of relief. โHe doesn't live in Albany. Besides, he would have called on me. No, it must have been some other Mack.โ
โPerhaps you wouldn't have liked to have him catch you at a gay supper, Mr. Sherwood?โ said the landlord shrewdly.
โWell, no, I'd a little rather receive him in my room, with a book open before me.โ
โHe might object to pay out money for such doings.โ
โHe won't know anything about it. Just leave your bill, Mr. Daniels, and as soon as I get the check I'll call round and pay it.โ
โThere's another bill, too, a livery bill. I brought that along, too.โ
โHow much is it?โ asked
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