Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1890-09-04
A VERY OLD FRIEND.


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 a frank expression of
pleasure and held out his hand. saying,
Hello, old fellow, who'd have thought
of seeing you here?" 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
as profoundly astonished if they meet
I you in Il restaurant as if they had run
I 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 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 of chance for
which it is hopeless to seek to assign any
reasonable law. gave him few
sec0rsstss-rzssEe--5a SIS astonisltment, and
then. feeling that the>S >Ssilence was be-
coming little embarrassing, said in
consequently, well, what hSye you
been doing all this time" "We1f:s% he
replied, "rve been in Australia, yoN>
know" "Oh, abr 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, 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 a time havoyou hadf' "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. I'm
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, L 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
firmed in the idea that if | let things
slide little longer his name would re-
cur to my mind
He 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, he
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
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 a
playfully solicitous manner. "And how
are they all?'
ooh, they are all tiptop-all except the
colonel, after pause and with slightly
subdued air; Il don't think he has ever
quite got over that affair"
"Ah," rejoined, shaking my head
sympathetically, zone doesn't get over
that sort Of thing in a day: but the
othersg'
What others?" he said bluntly.
hesitated, and rejoined vaguely:
Were there not some others?''
He pondered heavily for few sec
onds before replying, Eyes, | believe
there were some others, but they made
DO difference
was just murmuring, Very likely
nct, when he turned to me abruptly
and said, 81 hope you don't think he
came badly out Of that business:"
His hand seemed to relax its pressure
on my arm, as if he was preparing HIM
self for some censure or coldness on my
part.
felt touched by this little proof of his
sensitiveness to my good opinion, and
pressed his fingers as l rejoined warmly,
II never heard any one speak otherwise
than highly of his conduct in the mat
ter"
He stopped and said shortly; why,
who knows anything about it?
thought you and I had it all to our
selves.
4 Eyes, yes" faltered, and added, in
consequently, "you know you have been
away for some time, old fellow"
+ 1t did not seem to fit in very we'll; but
heaccepted it as an argument, and said:
! "There is something in that, but don't
let people talk about it. know he re-
lies upon you and me.
There was something SO touching in
the reliance Of this unknown that glow
of sympathetic affection warmed my
heart, and resolved ON the spot that
his confidence should not be misplaced.
Come what might. the secret of that old
mans life should never be betrayed by
me. Others might make it a subject of