Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-05-10
The Mysterious Old Gentleman
ny rIETCALF RUSSELL.

/
Hello, Gedney. where are you 60
ing? Come up and lunch with me.
Oh, come oni'
I'm Obliged 10 you, Wheeler, but |
can't. I'm bound your way, though.
and will go up with you if you will
walk ! think it will do me good"
Come on; | am with you. How
goes it, old boy? BY the way, who
was that old gentleman you were going
up Beacon street with, yesterday fore
noon? didn't know you had any old
relatives in Boston"
You want 90 set down IA good mark
for me, Wheeler. | smile at my own
good nature. As was going down
Bowdoin street yesterday, thinking of
my summer trip. | saw, some little dis
lance in front of me, the old gentleman
you speak of fall backwards.
"A negro across the street went over
and took hold of the old fellows hand,
and tried TO pull him up, but it didn't
work.
Il saw the old man couldn't help
himself, 50 ran down and picked him
up.
when he got on his feet, he chung
hold of both of us.
After walking a few steps, the
darkey said he would have 20 go, and
Immediately put his words into action,
and left me all alone with the old gen.
tleman.
II saw he was too weak or too un-
nerved by his fall TO get along alone.
Besides, he put his hand through my
arm. and chung like little child.
well, what could / do but go along
with him? | can't say | particularly
fancied the position, for you know I'm
not much in the charity line. Still,
couldn't see the old man totter along
alone, so let him keep his hold. And,
do you know, I'm not sorry. The little
incident has given me lots to think of.
He had considerable to say, in desulto-
ry sort of way. He struck me right away
as rich old codger, and what made
Inc think SO the most, was because he
was so poorly dressed, relatively speak
ing, | mean. His clothes were good
enough-the covered up natures de-
formities but they were old and
somewhat worn. His shoes think
il was his shoes-settled the fact Of his
riches in my mind. | don't know that
] ever saw a pair just like them. You
know my popularity about shoes.
Well these are a different variety
from anything yet, They were both
worn as though the mans feet We're
three-cornercd. Then they were taken
care of as our grandfathers used to
take care OF theirs-no backing, not IA
particle, but plenty of grease. I'd like
to get hold of them, for "a picture.
The old fellow wanted to know
where lived. and | was beginning TO
fear that he purposed rewardiag me,
then and there. But the shoes cured
me of my momcntary fright.
Another reason for my belief that
he was little short of "a miser Che had
previously told me, that he ought not
To be out alone) was, that when we got
along TO Somerset street 1--WE went
through Ashburton place. where the
demolition of the old houses is going
on TO give place to the new court house,
YOU know. he said. in voice chuck
/ full of regret, that it was too bad To
! pull down those nice houses, | argued
with him that a better one would be
! built. and that it would increase the
value of property Whereabouts. Then,
! as "a sort of fecler. said. i'm an in
different tone: IF you have any
property in this vicinity, you'll be the
gamer by the change
The temptation was too strong for
him. He told me that he had lived in
his own house on Temple street for
forty years. That was just what |
wanted. ! knew the old chap was rich
! said:
well, those houses will have 10 give
way 10 offices, and il you don't get any
benefit from the new order OF things,
your heirs will!'
I'VE slowly ambled down Somerset
street TO Beacon, for he was not a
rapid traveller, as you may imagine.
He would give short, nervous clutches
at my arm with his fingers, rs if to see
whether he had a good hold. He told
me, in reply TO my query, that he was
from New Hampshire. and had lived
in Boston fifty years.
IL asked him how old he was. and he
spoke up with that pride all old people
have in their age, and said that he was
seventy-seven.
"IIe looked it.
"As we came into Beacon street,
began to feel that perhaps any good
Samaritanism was going little toe
far, so asked him how far he was go
ing. Then thought what a perverse
old fellow he was. Why, instead oil
going home after his fall. which was
really nearer. he persisted in keeping
on to his premeditated destination. He
had found free escort in me, and he
xyaonff ooino IN losa fha onnottiinit.r
Oh. he is rich old ccdger, mark my
word!
"'Yell 4" make short story. foI