The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-13
A VERY OLD FRIEND.


had Just come out Of the postofice,
when caught sight of face that seemed
familiar to me. 1t was that of man Of
about my own age, with bronzed feat
ures and a somewhat attenuated figure.
AS Twas 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 q frank expression of
pleasure and held out his hand, saying,
Hello, old fellow, who'd have thought
of seeing you here?" ldon't know why
ne said this, and of course | don't at
tempt to defend it, but it is a style of
address affected by some men who are
as 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, if
you come to that, who'd have thought
of seeing you here?"
We stood opposite each other for a few
seconds; l 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 of chance for
which it is hopeless to seek to assign any
reasonable law. | gave him a few
seconds to digest his astonishment. and
then. feeling that the silence was be-
coming little embarrassing, said in
consequently, We'll. what have you
been doing all this timel' We'll" he
replied, I've been in Australia, you
know" "Oh. ahp' calculated, as if it
had for a moment slipped my memory;
"why, you went there and | hesi-
tated. as though calculating the exact
day of his departure. Three years
ago" he put In shortly. ''and 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
panlon; so, to gain time and to gather
fresh information, asked, And what
sort of a time havoyou had?" "Oh, much
about the same as before" he answered,
with a 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. I'm
fortunately, l 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 as our providential meeting
that my lips were sealed and l felt con-
frmed in the idea that if let things
slide little longer his name would re-
cur to my mind.
lie had slipped his arm through mine
as we walked up town, with an easy
sense of good fellowship, and said: "Of
course you'll dine with me this evening.
Now, don't you say you are engaged, ," ne
added, as hesitated for an instant be-
tween my desire to have more Of my
companion and my disinclination TO dine
under false pretences: you know they'll
be awfully disappointed if they hear 1
have met you and let you off without
long talk and join them tomorrow"
felt constrained to consent against
my better Judgment and added, in
playfully soicitous manner, And how
are they all:'
"Oh. they are all tiptop-all except the
colonel, after a pause and with slightly
subdued air: Il don't think he has ever
quite got over that affair"
All" / rejoined. shaking my head
alphabetically, "one doesn't get over
that sort Of thing in q day; but the
others"
What others" he said hluntlv.
hesitated, and rejoined vaguely:
Were there not some others
he pondered heavily for a few sec
onds before replying. Yes, | believe
tHeIe were SCALS OlLGlsi OUL NAtl LAduS
no difference.
| was just murmuring, VERY likely
not" when be turned 10. me abruptly
and said. Il hope YOU don't think he
came badly ont of that business"
His hand seemed To relax its pressure
on my arm. rs if he was preparing him
self for some censure or GOODNESS on my
part
| felt touched by this little proof Of his
seusitiveness TO nv good opinion. and
pressed his fingers as reioined warmly.
Il never heard any one speak otherwise
than highly of his conduct in the mat
ter"
Re stopped and said shortly: why,
who knows anything about il? !
thought you and l had il all 10 our
selves"
Yes. yes" falterei. and added, in
consequently. you know you have been
away for some time. old fellow
II did not seem 70 e. il very well: but
he acceUted II a. ~ as1ument and sid;