ree dollars a week. It
required only her mornings, and a couple of hours at the close of the
afternoon, and she was very glad to convert so much time into money.

"It makes me feel more independent," she said. "I don't want to
feel that you do all the work, Herbert, and maintain the family
single-handed."

The same evening Herbert broached the plan of traveling with Mr.
Melville. As might have been expected, his mother was at first startled,
and disposed to object, but Herbert set before her the advantages, both
to himself and the family, and touched upon the young man's need of a
companion so skillfully and eloquently that she was at last brought to
regard the proposal favorably. She felt that George Melville was one to
whom she could safely trust her only boy. Moreover, her own time would
be partly occupied, owing to the arrangement she had just made to assist
in the post office, so that Herbert carried his point.

The tenth of October arrived, the date which George Melville had fixed
upon for his departure. Mrs. Carr had put Herbert's wardrobe in order,
and he had bought himself a capacious carpetbag and an umbrella, and
looked forward with eagerness to the day on which their journey was to
commence. He had long thought and dreamed of the West, its plains and
cities, but had never supposed that it would be his privilege to make
acquaintance with them, at any rate, until he should have become twice
his present age. But the unexpected had happened, and on Monday he and
George Melville were to start for Chicago.

CHAPTER XX. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE IN CHICAGO.

In due time our travelers reached Chicago, and put up at the Palmer
House. Herbert was much impressed by the elegance of the hotel, its
sumptuous furniture, and luxurious table. It must be considered that he
was an inexperienced traveler, though had he been otherwise he might be
excused for his admiration.

"I have some business in Chicago, and shall remain two or three days,"
said George Melville.

Herbert was quite reconciled to the delay, and, as his services were not
required, employed his time in making himself familiar with the famous
Western city. He kept his eyes open, and found something new and
interesting at every step. One day, as he was passing through the lower
portion of the city, his attention was called to a young man wheeling a
barrow of cabbages and other vegetables, a little in advance of him.
Of course, there was nothing singula