The Van Buren press., 1867-10-25
Why He Wouldn't Know Mel

who has the habit of scanning his fellow
passengers in an instant, and picking on
almost by instinct, his companions fol
the four or FIVE days trip to New Orleans
this of course was an item. lie was
rather tall, dark complexion, eyes almost
black, and most uneXceptionA dresser
affecting rather the clerical aS taught hl
Henry Ward Beccher, bordering some
what on the fast
The weather was very hot, and / mad,
it excuse, rs was mopping my face
TO address the gentlemen, though neve
coulI rightly understand why, when th,
weather does not suit us, we should
make our Neighbors the bearer of oul
complaints. He did not take eagerly to
my offer of conversation, but was rather
shy. In fact, found it troublesome to
draw him out, but at last he cast off some
little of his reserve and talked. lie spoke
of the early history of st Louis, Of the
Choteau family, of the first days of the
American Fur Company, and of many
things connected with the settling of the
country. that were deeply interesting and
yet spoke with quite Difference that
showed me he was not talking for display.
was naturally anxious to know who
my new made friend was, and as the boat
swept round the bend Of the river that
hid st. Louis from us, | asked the
straight question whether he was a native
of the city we had left behind. lie was
not. He was New Yorker, by birth, he
informed me, but citizen of the world
] was beginning to be charmed with
my new acquaintance, and axious to know
more of him, but in spite of my Yankee
proclivities and my knack ofasking ques-
tions, | could elicit nothing. He was go
ing to New Orleans, that he told me, no
thing more, save that when requested
his name he said "You may call me
Goldsmith ! had no absolute fault to
find with the name, but really it seemed
to me that such man should have been
callGl De Courcy, or De Mortimorc, or
Plamagenet, or something inthat style.
However, Goldsmith was a charming
companion. He was deep reader Of
humln nature and Of books. shall never
forget the delightful hours when we sat
together, or rather lolled, smoking some
come choice ConchGs and slipping an
AmogIllUo tit FOR kings, part Of his own
private ssores, while he read to me the
history Of those that passed about us,
from their faces interlarding it with
scrapes of poems and quotations from
old English authors. All, but he could
talk He had been everywhere and seen
everything, and now that he was fairly
drawn out, did not hesitate to fling the
pearls Of his experience broadcast
1t was clear to my mind that there was
a spice of romance about Mr.. Goldsmith
that | would have given my little finger
to lnravel, but the nearest guess that |
made to it was that woman was in the
case, and that Mr.. Goldsmith had been
crossed in love. and was perhaps travel
ling to drive away the memory. This |
concluded chiefly from the fact that he
avoided acquaintance with the faircr por-
tioi of society on board, and devoted the
large share Of such unbending to the
steiner sex.
Again | knew that Mr.. Goldsmith must
be rich, great charm in the eyes of
everybody, by the manner of his action
on tle occasion of very unpleasant af
fair, that for few hours disturbed the
serenity of cur passengers. Several
pockets were picked, among the rest my
own and Mr.. Goldsmths The amount
obtained, especially that from one of our
passengers, was large. My own loss was
considerable, that Of Mr.. Goldsmith not
very large from the fact, as he afterwards
assured me, of his never carrying more
in his pocket than enough for current ex
penses, always putting the balance Of his
funds in letters Of credit and bills of ex-
change, and dcpositing them in the cap
tain's safe when he came on board, His
funds, he declared, were at my service
! just mention the amount / wished and
| the captain would cash one of his bills in
moment | named a moderate sum,
but he seemed to think it too small, and
by persuation i was induced to make il
larger. The captain cashed one Of his
bills, and pocketed the money, not rs
much as | had lost, but enough for all
necessities.
The ways went rapidly and pleasantly
by, and we were running into New Or
leans.
"Where do you stop ?, / asked
"With a friend,' was the reply.
"When shall / see youI" said. :"
| 90 to the st. Charles
You will not see me again, my friend
after leave this boat" he said, quietly
looking toward the approaching city.
stared at him in astonishment. What
did he mean? He meant exactly what
| nc said There were reasons, vital rea
sons, why our acquaintance could not
continue in New Orleans. How, then
should | return the money | had bor
rowed. Oh, that was matter Of little
consequence, but he would write to me
ut the st. Charles, giving his reasons fol
his conduct, and telling me what to dc
about the money.