The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-11-14
Alislella11enms.
A Very Old Friend.

caught sight OF lace that seemed familiar
to me. 1t was that of a man about my own
age, with bronzed features and somewhat at
tentuated figure. AS l was trying to recall
when and where had seen him before, our
eyes met. and Immediately perceived that
our recognition had been mutual for he came
towards me with a frank expression of plea
sure 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 attempt to defend it, but it
is a style of address affected by some men
who are as profoundly astonished if they
meet YOU in restaurant as if they had run
across you in the mines of Siberia. l felt a
little bit annoyed at his want of originality !;
however | smiled pleasantly and said as
shook hands, "Well, if you come 10 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 struggling
to recall his name; and he with his head
slightly on one side and an expression of
courteously suppressed amusement en- his
face rs if my presence on the steps ofthe
postoffice was one of those inexplicable freaks
of chance for which it is hopeless to seek to
assign any reasonable law. l gave himsa
few seconds 10 digest his establishment, and
then feeling that the silence was becoming a
little embarrassing, l said inconsequently,
"Well, what have you been doing all this
timer WELL" he replied, 'Pve been in
Australia, you know" 'Oh, all | tjaculat-
ed, as if it had for moment slipped my
memory; why, you went there-and L
hesitated, 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 wears ago, but could recall no trace ola
recollection of my new companion SO, 10
gain time and to gather fresh information, l
asked, And what sort of a time have you
had ?" "Oh, much about the same as be-
fore" 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. Unfortunately, l am one OF
those painfully constituted people who shrink
with nervous horror from anything in the
nature of an explanation, and, in addition, |
felt that l had gone too far to cry off with
out some appearance OF sincerity. Besides,
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 confirmed in the idea that if
1 let things slide little longer his name
would recur to my mind.
He had slipped his arm through mine as
we walked up town, with an easy sense OF
good fellowship, and said: "Ofcourse you'll
dine with me this evening. Now, don't
YOU saw YOU are engaged" he added, as l
hesita,ed for an instant between my desire
to have more of my companion and my dis
inclination to dine under false pretences
'you know they'll be awfully disappointed if
they hear l have met you and let you of
without long talk and join them to-mor-
row."
felt constrained to consent against my
better judgment and added, in plsyfuly
solicitous manner, "And how are they all !"
"Oh, they are all tip-top-all except the
colonel, after pause and Il slightly subdued
air; II don't think he is ever quite got over
that affair.""
"Ah," Irejoined, shaking my head sympa-
thetically, zone doesn't get over that sort OF
thing in day ; but the others ?"
"What others?" he said bluntly.
1 hesitated, and rejoined vaguely: Where
there not some others ?"
He pondered heavily for few seconds be-
fore replying, Eyes, believe there were some
others, but they made no difference"
1 was just murmuring, Every likely not"
when be turned TO me abruptly and said, u
hope you don't think he came badly out OF
that business"
His hand seemed to relax its pressure on
nv arm, as if he was preparing himself for
some censure or coldness on my part.
felt touched by this little proof of his sen.
sitiveness to my good opinion, and
pressed his fingers as l rejoined warmly, II
never heard anyone speak otherwise than
highly of his conduct in the matter"
He stopped and said shortly: why, who
knows anything about it thought you and
had it all to ourselves
"Yes, yes" faitered, and added, incon-
sequently, you know you have been away
for sometime, old fellow"
1t did not seem to fit in very well but he
accented it as an argument, and said:
"There is something in that, but don't let
people talk about it. / know he relies upon
you and me"
There was something so touching in the
reliance of this unknown that glow OIL
sympathetic affection warmed my heart, and
I 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 1t
subject of club gossip or tea table little
tattle, but no word of mine should add one
placed at his lips. There are passages in the
lives of all of us which we would wish to have
buried in oblivion-the thoughtless follies o.
youth, the unworthy ambitions OF manhood
and the selfish jealousies of old age. Who if
there that can stand up and say there is nc
episode in his life he would not have expung
ed, forgotten or condoned?
We had turned into restaurant for OIL
of dinner, and those thoughts passed through
nv mind as we ate our fish. My companion
pondered sadly for few seconds. and then
shaking himself together as though to throw
off an unpleasant train OF thought, said, more
easily, Nov, tell me about yourself, your
wife and family"
Before had time to reflect on what nigh
be the result of my disclosure blurted the
simple truth, II have no wife,
He looked intensely surprised as he said
"My dear fellow am very sorry. l never
heard"
He paused inquiringly, and again I blurtet
out, II never had one"
A look of extreme pain spread over hi
face as he heard this. He leaned across tn,
table, and laying his hand on mine said, witt
infinite sympathy 81 see it all. l ought no
to have asked you. Forgive me, old fellow
and forget that said those words"
l gave him clammy hand and turned
away lest he should detect the conscious
outlines of my face. l had become confirm
ed in suspicion that had been gradually
dawning upon my mind that had never Sc
eyes upon my host before that day, and tina
had been carried away by some inexplica
BILE chance resemblance TO some remote &C
quaintance and by his own apparent cordia
recognition OF myself. There were no blink
ing the facts, however. Everybody that b
mentioned was total stranger to me, Will
every incident that mentioned with view
to drawing him out seemed to find his min'
blank.
My sole object now was to extricate mysel
from my false position without detection.
got absolutely and hopelessly involved ii
fable and falsehood, and after having thu
lightly taken away the good name OF tn