The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-09-13
A VERY OLD FRIEND.

A VERY OLD FRIEND.
had Just come out of the postofhce,
when | caught sight of face that seemed |
familiar to me- It was that of man OF
about my own age, with bronzed feat
ures and somewhat attenuated figure.
AS was trying to recall when and where
had seen him before, our eyes met, and
Immediately perceived that our recog-
milton had been mutual; for he came to-
ward me with frank expression OF
pleasure and held out his hand, saying,
''Hello, old fellow, who'd have thought
Of seeing you here2" ! don't know why
he said this, and of course | don't at
tempt to defend it, but it is style OF
address affected by some men who are
RS profoundly astonished if they meet
you in a restaurant as if they had run
across You in the mines of Siberia.
felt little bit annoyed at his want OF
originality; however smiled pleasant
ly and said as | shook hands, "Well, il
you come to that, who'd have thought
of seeing you here?"
We stood opposite each other for few
seconds; | simpering somewhat emptily
at the nature Of our greeting and strug-
Cling to recall his name; and he with his
head slightly ON one side and an ex-
preston of courteously suppressed amuse-
ment on his face, as if my presence on
the steps of the postoffice was one OF
those inexplicable freaks ofNchance for
which it is hopeless to seek to assign any
reasonable law. ! gave him few
seconds to digest his establishment, and
then, feeling that the silence was be-
coming little embarrassing, | said in
consequently, "Well, what have you
been doing all this timeJ" "Well," he
replied, 1--WE been in Australia, you
know" "Oh, ahl' calculated, as if it
had for moment slipped my memory;
why, you went there"-- and J hesi-
tated, as though calculating the exact
day of HE departure. Three years
ago." he put in shortly. land quite long
enough, too. )"
ran over in my mind my acquaintance
of three years ago, but could recall no
trace of a recollection of my new COM
panion; SO, to gain time and to gather
fresh information, asked, "And what
sort of time havoyou hadY "Oh, much
about the same as before" he answered,
with slightly puzzled air.
| candidly admit that the sensible
thing for me to have done would have
been to own up and admit that had
forgotten my friends personality. Un-
fortunately, am one of those painfully
constituted people who shrink with nerv-
GUS horror from anything in the nature
Of an explanation, and, in addition, felt
that had gone too far to cry off with
out some appearance Of sincerity, Be-
sides, he seemed to congratulate himself
so warmly upon what he insisted upon
looking ON rs our providential meeting
that my lips were sealed and | felt con
tirmed in the idea that if | let things
slide little longer his name would re-
cur to mymind.
He had slipped his arm through mine
as we walked up town, with an easy
sense of good fellowship, and said; "Oi
course you'll dine with me this evening
I Now, don't you say you are engaged, he
added, as | hesitated for an instant be
tween my desire to have more of my
T companion and my disinclipatiop to dine
under false pretences; You know they'll
be awfully disappointed If they hear
have met you and let you off without &
long talk and join them tomorrow"
felt constrained to consent against
u my better Judgment and added, in {
j playfully solicitons manner, "And how
are they allT
/ "Oh, they are all tiptop-an except the
colonel, after a pause and with slightly
subdued air; II don't think he has evel
quite got over that affair"
"Ah," | reioined, shaking my hea(
2 sympathetically, lone doesn't get owe
that sort Of thing in day; but tn,
. othersT'
"What othersT he said bluntly.
1 hesitated, and rejoiped vaguely
p Were there not some OtheTsT'
He pondered heavily for a few sec
y onds before replying, "Yes, belieV
there were some others, but they mad
no difference.
| was just murmuTing, 'Nery hkel
IS not, when he turned TO me abrupt
n and said, 81 hope you don't think h
!, came badly out Of that bnsinessY'
, His hand seemed to relax its pTessur
On my arm, as II he was preparing him
Self for some censure or cOldness on m
part.
felt touched by this little proof Of hi
sensluyeness TO my good oplmon, an
pressed his fingers as ! rejoined warmly
s. 81 never heard any one speak otherwis
s. than highly Of his conduct in the maj
,r ter"
p, He stopped and said shortly; "Why
N who knows anything about itS
thought you and had it all to oul
selves"
rs ''Yes, yes" falteTRd, and added, il
/. consequently, ''you know you have bee
6, away for some time, old fellow"
~ 1t did not seem to fit In very well; bu
4. he accepted it as an argument, and saiC
''There is something in that, but don
let people talk about it. know he n
,e lies upon you and me-"
N There was something so touching
the reliance Of this unknown that a glo'
y of sympathetic affection warmed m
u heart, and resolved ON the spot thu
TO his confidence should not be misplace,
IN Come what might, the secret of that ol
mans life should never be betrayed l
me. Others might make it q subject
IT. club gossip or tea table little tattle, bI
e. no word of mine should add one drop
II the cup of bitterness that had bee
he placed at his lips. There are passages
the lives OF all Of US which we Woul
wish TO have buried in obliYion-tl
10 thoughtless folhes Of youth, the ui
'ssarthy ambitions Of manhood and =