Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-03-24
THE MAN FROM S0LANO.
BY BRETT HARTE.

He came toward me out of an opera
lobby, between the acts-a figure as re-
markable us anything in the perform
ancc. His clothes, no two articles of
which were of the same color, had the
appearance of having been purchased
and put on only an hour or two before
fact more directly established by the
clothes dealers ticket which still ad-
hered to his coat collar, giving the num-
ber, size and general dimensions of that
garment somewhat obtrusively to an un-
interested public. His trousers had Il
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. / may add that there
was no consciousness Of this in his face,
which was good natured, and but for
certain squareness in the angle of his
lower jaw utterly uninterest;ng and com
monplace.
"You disremember me-" he said,
briefly, as he extended his hand -' but
I'm from Solano, in Californy. I met
you there in the spring of '57. I was
tendin' sheep and you was. burnin' char
coal"
There was not the slightest trace of
any intentional rudeness in the remind
er. 1t was simply statement of fact,
and as such to be accepted.
"What hailed ye for was only this, -
he said, after had shaken hands with
him. "I saw you a minnit ago standin'
over in yon box-chirpin' with a lady-a
young lady, .peart and pretty. Might yc
be telling me her name ?"
1 gave him the name of a certail
noted belle of a neighboring city, who
had lately stirred the hearts of the me-
tropolis, and who was especially admired
by the brilliant and fascinating young
Dashboard who stood beside me.
The Man from Solano mused for {
moment, and then said: "Thets SO
thets the name It's the same gal p'
"You have met her, then ?" asked
in surprise.
"Ye-es," he responded slowly. &C.
met her about fower months ago. She't
bin maxim tour of Californy with som,
friends, and L first saw her aboard tn
cars this side of Reno. She lost her bag
gage checks, and I found them on tn
floor, gave 'em back to her, and sh
thanked me. [ reckon now it would b.
about the square thing to go in over tina
and sorter recognize her." He stoppe,
moment and looked at us inquiringly
"My dear sir, struck in the brillian
and fascinating Dashboard, ''if your hes
itation proceeds from any doubt of tn
propriety of your attire, 1 beg you
dismiss it from your mind at once. TIL
tyranny of custom, it is true compel
your friend and myself to dress peculiar
ly, but | assure you nothing could b
finer than the way that the olive green {
your coat melts in the delicate yellow {
your cravat, or the pearl gray of you
trousers blends with the bright blue {
your waistcoat and lends additional bri
liancy to that massive oroide watch chai
which you wear. y
To my surprise, the Man from Solar
did not strike him. He looked at I'll
ironical Dashboard with grave earhes
mes, and then said quietly:
"Then I reckon you'd wouldn't min
shewin me in thar ?"
Dashboard was, | admit, little sta,
gered at this. But he recovered himsel
and, bowling ironically, led the way
the box. | followed him and the Ma
from Solano.
Now, the belle in question happene
to be gentlewoman-descended fro
gentlewomen-and after Dashboard
ronical introduction, in which the Mf
from Solano was not spared, she compr
hended the situation instantly.
Dashboard's surprise she drew chair
her side, made the Man from Solano s
down, quietly turned her back on Das
board, and in full view of the brillia
audience and the focus Of q hundr,
lorgnettes, entered into conversation wi
him.
Here, for the sake of romance, shou
like to say he became animated, and e
hibited some trait of excellence-sor
rare wit or solid sense. But the fact
he was dull and stupid to the last deere
He persisted in keeping the oonversatit
upon the subject Of lost baggage cheol
and every bright attempt Of the lady