The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-04-30
DEAR OLD FRIENDS" "
Delight and Astonishment of an
Unexpected Meeting.

UneXp6CCoQ M66GIng.
Thad Just come out of the post-ofice
sben caught sight of a face that
seemed familiar to me.
Twas that of man about my own
are. with bronzed features and a some
what attenuated figure.
Asl was trying to recall when. and
where had seen him before our eyes
met Immediately perceived that our
recognition had been mutual, for he
came toward me with a frank express
sion of pleasure and held out his hand,
saying:
'Helloa, old fellow, who'd have
thought of seeing you here?" don't
know why he said this, and of course, 1
dontattemptto to defend it; but it is style
Of faddress 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, l smiled pleasant
" and said, as I shook hands:
well, if you come to that, old fellow,
vhodhave thought of seeing you hera?"
We stood opposite each other for
few seconds, simpering somewhat
smptily 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 sup
pressed amusement on his face, as if
my presence on the steps of the post
Office was one of those inexplicable
freaks Of chance for which it is hope
less to seek to assign any reasonable
law
lgave him few seconds to digest
his astonishment, and then, feeling that
the silence was becoming little en-
barTassing, I said, inconsequently:
Well, what have you been doing all
this time?n
WELL" he replied, "Fve been in
Australia.
Vh, ah!' / calculated, as if it had
Tor moment slipped my memory;
why, You went there"-and l hesi-
lated, as though calculating within my
sell the exact day of his unknown de-
parture-
Three years ago." he put in shortly,
and quite long enough it is, too
ran over in my mind my acquaint-
snees OF three years ago, but could re-
'ali no trace OF recollection of my new
conpanion; SO, to gain time and to
gather fresh information, asked:
had?n ~
Uh, much about the same as before"
y answered, with slightly puzzled
! eandidly admit that the sensible
]. alhg Tor me to have done would have
eFA % own up and admit that | had
prgotten my friends personality. Tn
~s'anateiy, am one of those painfully
oaselsuted people who shrink with
aslsous horror from any thing in the
aalare OF an explanation, and, in addi-
a0a' 1elt that had gone too far to
y On without some appearance of in
userity- Besides, he seemed to con-
a.uaee sa,. himself SO warmly upon what
y insisted upon looking on as our PROV
sn'lal meeting, that my lips were
NV. ss,Fa and felt confirmed in the idea
d. as I | let things slide little longer,
I ~ us10e would recur to my mind.
= hao slipped his arm through mine
We walked uptown with an easv
so ase u good-fellowship, and said: sOf
vo se youn dine with me this evening.
sSaa, s; aont say you are engaged" he
- as hesitated for an instant be-
eoms ~ my desire to have more of my
apanion and my disinclination to
tbssr', ii unaer I false pretenses; you know
hs.ss 49, I I 0e awfully disappointed if they
w;ss s nave met you and let you off
norow.a N' anu l loiii 'iieih 'o-
nv ~ ~. constrained to consent against
Ols,s,, es,'er Judgment and added, in a
ly solicitous manner:
~, orc tney alIy
i. IN Sa,y they are all tip-top-alI except
sips,, sS'onei after pause and with a
bss s-.ay snbdued ARR don't think he
asA esef quite got over that affair."
nmaa., | rejoined, shaking nv head
Ia aasp,.sl'etlcally, lone doesn't get over
Ut ~. OF thing in a day, you know;
hnst @ others?" he said, bluntly.
sWss. stated, .s, and rejoined, vaguely:
IS there not some others?n
a5s hss hponoered heavily for a few sec
Ebern seiore replying: .'Yes. l believe
o djsas ssse some others, but they made
aaks,sstl 3 lust muvmuring; Very likely
7aen ne turned to me abruptly