Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-27


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quality which Law beneath his many tricks
and oddities-thc soil from which they
drew their vitality-was shyness.
II was in the highest degree improbable
that a shy man would attire himself as IL
he ran q circus in the boundless prairie,
and. thus conspicuous. would tread the
park at this most fashionable hour. The
idea was intolerable. ! whistled it down
tle wind. and turned my attention 10 the
minuter peeuliarities of persons less high
Nv colored | wished that could whistle
Tom Bolivar down the wind; it would
have required May hurricane. With
Tom still dragging at my arm turned,
and again | encountered the Mexican
stranger. As | met him. he glanced at
me from the corner of his eve. and quickly
averted his head. | knew the movement;
my vague fancies leaped together and
were certainty; it was the old gentleman.
II was impossible. but true. Tom gave a
hoarse laugh to show his appreciation OF
the unusual costume | shook him on
and started in pursuit of my friend. Tom
said ''IIalloa,'' and followed me. Push
ing somewhat roughly through the saun-
tering crowd came to the side of the old
gentleman The old color came up into
the thin lined cheek, but with a strange
difference : it was no wonder that he looked
younger. for he was deliberately made up.
| took his arm, rs did SO. beard kind
of roar of establishment behind me.
turned my head and saw Tom Bolivar
standing open-lneuthed For a moment
he s.ooa like beast in a slaugter house.
a. 10 al \ AZ Ton, Tho
which took was trembling; the color had
ehhrd from the cheek and lefs il ghast-
IL, for all its decoration. The old gentle
muttered something. and interpreting his
speech to suit my wishes. ! hurried him
out of the crowd. There were people all
about us staring cad laughed; police
man made a very witty remark aiterward.
| remembered these triiles. At the time
/ thought of nothing but the old gentman.
who seemed about to faint | helped him
into cab, and followed him, though he
made feeble gesture oil eXpostulatlon. J
asked for his address lie fumbled in his
old coat. and with a poor imitation OF his
ancient flourish gave me a card grown
dirty and limp about the corners on it was
written in pencil an address his dwelling
was in the dreariest street in Soho. He
had bedroom in a mean house-bedroom
to the corners of which the brush of the
slattern paid angel visits; whence. when
the faded, stained blind and gone up
cooked, one could discern smudged back
window, two irregular chimney pots. some
defective states, probably a cat. In his
room in Soho saw the last of the old gen
tleman. lie liked my visits; | used to
send out for a moderate supply of whisky.
Under our influence he made IA few re-
marks. He said that he could not under
stand why managers had suddenly ceased
to offer him engagements. "Soon after
my daughter left me- he said. II fell out
OF employment. | have never been able
to understand the reason. | feel that
have it in me to act as well as ever" lie
had Just finished his first tumbler. On
another occasion he begged me not to sup
pose his daughter was unkind. asked
ii she had not been able TO help him. He
pushed his tremulous right hand into the
breast of his coat, and in an attitude of
pride said. "Under the circumstances, |
did not feel that could accept pecuniary
assistance" Then his hand came ont from
his chest he seemed to shrink IN his chair;
he bowed his head almost to his knees,
and heard him muttering. .'God forgive
me !" he said Ct felt that he had forgotten
my presence) 'Icould nottake the money.
l tried-God forgive me but could
not
When last visited him, he was wand
ering a little he was nervous and iidgety.
He muttered fragments of PRAYERS and
plays and broke off again and again to ask
if it were not time to go to the park. 81
mustn't miss the park he said, ''every-
body'll be there--the public--I can't do
without the public Afterwards he be-
gan to prattle as if he werestalking to
child. could not hear much but at last
he spoke out very clearly and said. 'Baby
must clapher hands to pretty mamma when
the big curtain goes up" After that he
said nothing. He would not touch his
whisky; and l knew that the end was
near