Part 27 (1/2)
Michael slowly shook his head.
”No one could do it for pay,” he said with conviction. ”It must be done from--perhaps it is love--I do not know. But anyway, no one was doing it, and I must, for THEY ARE MY PEOPLE!”
As he said this the young man lifted his head with that angel-proud look of his that defied a universe to set him from his purpose, and Endicott while he secretly reveled in the boy's firmness and purpose, yet writhed that he could not control this strength as he would.
”Your people! Bos.h.!.+ You don't even know that! You may be the son of the richest man in New York for all you know.”
”The more shame mine, then, if he left me where you found me! Mr. Endicott, have you ever been down in the alley where I used to live? Do you know the conditions down there?”
”No, nor I don't want to go. And what's more I don't want you to go again.
Whatever you were or are, you ought to see that you are mine now. Why, youngster, how do you know but you were kidnapped for a ransom, and the game went awry? There are a thousand explanations of your unknown presence there. You may have been lost--”
”Then have I not a debt to the people with whom I lived!”
”Oh, poppyc.o.c.k!” exclaimed the man angrily. ”We'd better close the conversation. You understand how I feel. If you think it over and change your mind come back and tell me within the week. I sail Sat.u.r.day for Europe. I may not be back in three or four months. If you don't make up your mind before I go you can write to me here at the office and my secretary will forward it. You have disappointed me beyond anything I could have dreamed. I am sure when you think it over you will see how wrong you are and change your mind. Until then, good-bye!”
Michael arose dismissed, but he could not go that way.
”I shall not change my mind,” he said sadly, ”but it is terrible not to have you understand. Won't you let me tell you all about it? Won't you let me explain?”
”No, I don't want to hear any explanations. There is only one thing for me to understand and that is that you think more of a set of vagabonds in an alley than you do of my request!”
”No! That is not true!” said Michael. ”I think more of you than of any living man. I do not believe I could love you more if you were my own father. I would give my life for you this minute--”
”There is an old word somewhere that says, 'To obey is better than sacrifice.' Most people think they would rather be great heroes than do the simple every-day things demanded of them. The test does not always prove that they would--”
Michael's head went up almost haughtily, but there were great tears in his eyes. Endicott dropped his own gaze from that sorrowful face. He knew his words were false and cruel. He knew that Michael would not hesitate a second to give his life. But the man could not bear to be withstood.
”If you feel that way I cannot take this!” Michael sadly, proudly held out the check.
”As you please!” said Endicott curtly. ”There's the waste-basket. Put it in if you like. It isn't mine any longer. You may spend it as you please. My conditions have nothing to do with what is past. If you do not prize my gift to you by all means throw it away.”
With a glance that would have broken Endicott's heart if he had not been too stubborn to look up, Michael slowly folded the check and put it back into his pocket.
”I do prize it,” he said, ”and I prize it because you gave it to me. It meant and always will mean a great deal to me.”
”H'm!”
”There is one more thing perhaps I ought to tell you,” hesitated Michael ”The farm. I am using it in my work for those people. Perhaps you will not approve of that--”
”I have nothing further to do with the farm. You bought it, I believe. You desired to pay for it when you were earning enough money to be able to do so. That time has not yet come, therefore nothing further need be said. It is your farm and you may use it as a pleasure park for pigs if you like. I don't go back on my bargains. Good afternoon.”
Endicott turned to the 'phone, took up the receiver and called up a number.
Michael saw that the conversation was ended. Slowly, with heavy step and heavier heart, he went out of the office.
There were new lines of sadness on Michael's face that day, and when he went down to the alley that evening his gentleness with all the little ”kids,” and with the older ones, was so great that they looked at him more than once with a new kind of awe and wonder. It was the gentleness of sacrifice, of sacrifice for them, that was bringing with it the pain of love.
Old Sal who came over to ”look in” that evening, as she put it, shook her head as she stumped back to her rejuvenated room with its gaudy flowered wall, bit of white curtain and pot of flowers in the window, all the work of Michael and his follower Sam.