The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-10-29
MY DEAR OLD FRIEND.

| MY DEAR OLD FRIEND.
| had Just come out of the post office.
! when | caught sight of a face that
seemed familiar to me.
| 1t was that of Il man of about my
own age. with bronzed features and a
somewhat attenuated figure.
As | was trying to recall when and
| where | had seen him before our ewes
met. | Immediately perceived that our
recognition had beeu mutual. for he
came toward me with frank express
| sion of pleasure and held out his hand.
saying:
'HalIoa old fellow. who'd have
| thought of seeing you here2" | don't
know why he said this. and of course l
don't attempt To defend it; but it is a
style of address affected by some men
vino are rs profoundly aStonished if
| they meet YOU in Il restaurant as if
they had run across you in the mines
of Siberia. | felt u little annoyed at
| his want of originality; however, |
smiled pleasantly, and said. as | shook
| hands:
well. ii you come 10 that. old fell
| low. who'd have thought of seeing you
herc?n
We stood opposite each other for a
| few seconds. simpcring somewhat
emptily at the nature OF our greeting.
and struggling To recall his uame; and
he, with his head slightly on one side,
and an expression of conrtcously sup
| pressed amusement on ltiS face. rs if
my presence on the steps of the post
office was one of those ineNplicable
freaks of chance for which it is hope
less to seek 10 assign any reasonable
law.
gave. him few seconds to digest
his astonishment. and then, feeling
that the silence was becoming 4 little
embarrassing | said inconsequently:
We'll. what have you been doing all
this timc?"
We'll" he replied, I've been in
Australia"
"Oh. ah!' | calculated. as If it had
for a moment slipped my memory;
why, you went there"--and | hesi
tated, as though calculating within
myself the exact day Of his unknown
departure
Three years ago" he put in short
", land quite long enough it is. too
ran over i'll my mind my acquaint-
anccs of three years ago. but could
recall no trace of recollection of my
new companion; so. to gain time and
to gather fresh information. / asked:
And what sort of Il time have YOU
had?"
"Oh, much about the same us be-
fore he answered, with Il slightly
puzzled air.
| candidlv ai.it 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 pain
fully constituted people who shrink
with nervous horror from anything in
the nature of an explanation. and. in
addition. felt that | had gone too far
To cry of without some appearance of
insinccritv. 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 | felt confirmed
in the idea that if let things slide a
little longer his name would recur to
my mind.
He had slipped his arm through
mine rs 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 say YOU are
engaged" he added. rs | hesitated for
an instant between my desire To have
more of my companion and my diSin-
clination To dine under false pretcnses;
l. tI, s,,Ii
pointed If they hear | have met you
and let YOU off without Il long talk. and
| join them tomorrow"
| felt constrained to consent against
my better judgment aud added in a
playfully Soiicitous manner:
And how are they ALP"
'Oh. they are all tip-top-all except
the Colonel;'' after pause and with
a slightly Subdued air-'I don't think
he has ever quite got over that affair"
An" | responded. shaking my head
ympathelically. zone doesn't get over
that sort of thing in u day, you know;
but the others?''
What others?" he said bluntly.
Il he>ilated. and rejoincd. vaguely.
Were there not some others?H
He pondered heavily for few Sec
ondS before replying: Yes. | believe
there were some Others. but that made
no difference"
was just murmuring. Very likely
not;" when he turned to me abruptly
aud said: Il hope you don't think he
came badly out of that business?'
His hand seemed to relax its Dress
urc on my arm, rs if he was preparing
himself for some cenSure or act of
coldness on my part.
felt touched by this little proof of
his scnsitiyeness to my good opinion.
aud pressed his fingers rs | rejoined.
warmly: II never heard anyone speak
otherwise than highly of his conduct
in the matter"
He stopped and said. shortly:
Way, who knows anything about
it? | thought you and had it all 10
ourselves
Yes. yes" | fallercd, and added,
syOu knew Won hay. hppu au-ty for