The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-05-03
BY BRET HARTE.

He came toward me out of an opera lob
by, between the acts-a figure as remark
able as anything in the performance.
His clothes. no two articles of which were
of the same color, had the appearance OF
being purchased and put on only an hour
or two before-a fact more clearly estab-
lished by the clothes dealers ticket which
still adhered to his coat collar giving the
number, size, and general dimensions OF
that garment somewhat obtrusively to an
uninterested public. His trousers had
straight line down each leg as if he had
been born fiat, but had since developed,
and there was another crease down his
back like those figures children cut out
of folded paper. I may add that there
was no consciousness of this in his face,
which was good -natured, and but for a
certain squareness in the angle OF his
lower Jaw, utterly uninteresting and COM
mon-place.
You disremember me-" he said, briefly,
as he extended his hand, shut I'm from
Solano, in Californy. | met you here in
the spring of 81. l was tendin' sheep and
you was burnin charcoal"
There was not the slightest trace OF any
intentional rudeness in the reminder. II
was simply a statement of fact, and as such
to be accepted.
"What l hailed We for was only this,
he said, after l had shaken hands with
him. II saw you minnit ago standing
in yon box-chirpin' with lady, ayouns
lady-pert and pretty. Might you be
telling me her name9"
gave him the name of a certain belle
Of neighboring city who had lately
stirred the hearts of the metropolis, ano
who was especially admired by the bril-
liant and fascinating young DASHBOARD
who stood by me.
The man from Solano unused for a mo
mcnt and then said: "That's so! thet'
the same name It's the same gall"
~You have met her then2" l asked, il
surprise.
"Ye-es." he responded slowly. II me
her about four months ago. Shed bin
maxim tour of Californy with som
friends, and first saw her aboard the car
this side of Reno. She lost her baggag
checks and found them ON the floor, gay
'em back to her, and she thanked me.
reckon now it would be the square thin
to 60 in over thar and sorter recognl2
her." He stopped moment and locke
at us inquiringly.
my dear sir" struck in the brilliar
and fascinating Dashboard, $ if your hes
tation proceeds from any doubt of tt
propriety of your attire, beg you to di
miss it from your mind at once. tt
tyranny of custom. it is true, compels yo,
friend and myself to dress peculiarly. b.
assure you nothing could be finer ths
the way that the olive green OF your cravs
or the pearl gray of your trousers blen'
with the bright blue of your waistco
and lends additional brilliancy to that ma
sive oroide watch chain which you Wear
To nv surprise, the man from Solar
did not strike him. He looked at {
ironical Dashboard with grave earnestne
and then said quietly:
"Then / reckon you'd wouldn't mil
shewin' me in thar"
Dashboard was, / admit, a little stage
ed at this. But he recovered himself, Al
bowling ironically, led the way to the D
followed him and the Man from Solar
Now, the belle in question happened
agentlewoman-desc from gen,
woman-and after Dashboard's ironl
introduction, in which the Man from
lano was not spared, she comprehend
the situation instantly. To Dashboe1
surprise she drew chair to her side, m
the Man from Solano sit down, quit
turned her back on Dashboard, and, in
view Of the brilliant audience, and