The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-05-07
HIS FATHERS OLD FRIEND.
The Introduction That Brought a Thought
less Youth to His Senses.

less Youth to His Senses.
"The old gentleman played queer
trick on me the other night, he said, as
he lit his cigar after dinner. . 1t was
rather awkward for me at first, but l
guess it was good thing after all.
''You know / used to feel that had
done myself an injustice if did not go
to the theater about five or six nights
week. Maybe it wasn't ALWAYS the thea
ter, but if it wasn't that it was stag
party or poker game. needn't explain;
you've been with me frequently.
" Well, you also know how I'm fixed
in the line of business. l work for my
father, and have to be at the Office at
$50 in the morning-just as the rest OF
the family are sitting down to break
fast In consequence getmy breakfast
and leave the house before they are up.
But can't complain of that. I'm doing
exactly what the man who had my place
before me did; and between you and me
think I'm drawing more salary than he
did.
s'But that's neither here nor there.
It's the evenings used to finish work
about six, get dinner downtown, and
60 to the theater or somewhere else
Been doing it for about six months and
swear when | figure back about the
only times that / have seen my mother
and sister have been at Sunday dinners.
Nothing unusual in that. of course; the
same thing is true of hundreds of young
men in Chicago
''But they haven't fathers like mine.
He came to me one afternoon last week
and asked me if had an engagement
fer tbat night.
eyes said. I've promised to GO
! to the theater with VIII Brown
elbow about tomorrow night, he
asked.
Haven't figured ahead that far
replied.
'''WeIl, I'd like to have you go some
where with me-
''All right I said; ''where'l I meet
| you?"
''You see, he leaves the Office abouI
an hour before get through.
"He suggested the fremont House a
7:30, and was there, prepared for th'
theater and a quiet lecture on lat
hours. He had combined the two OF
several previous occasions. But whe1
he appeared he said he wanted me t.
call on lady with him.
lone knew quite well when | wa
young man, he explained.
'sWe went out and started straigh
for home.
'''She is stopping at the house, h
said, when l spoke of it.
81 thought it strange that he shoul
| have made the appointment for the Trt
mont House under those circumstances
but said nothing.
s'WeT, we went in and was intrt
duced with all due formality to m
mother and my sister.
"The situation struck me as ludicroJ
and / started to laugh, but the laug
died away. None of the three eve
smiled. Ny mother and my sister shoe
hands with me and my mother said 81
remembered me as boy, but hadn
seen much of me lately. Then she L
vited me to be seated.
: "My, it wasn't bit funny then, a
though / can laugh over it now. s.
down and she told one or two anecdotC
of my boyhood, at which we all laugh'
little Then we four played whist +
a while When l finally retired / w
courteously invited to call again. I we
g upstairs feeling pretty small and don
a good deal OF thinking"
n "And then?" asked his companion.
o ''Then / made up my mind that 4
e mother was most entertaining lad
n and my sister good and brilliant girl
: "And now ?"
u Now I'm going to call again, as
e have been doing quite regularly for t
n last week, / enjoy their company a
e propose to cultivate their acquaintance
I And the young mamie was on
e about tventy-two-put on his coat a
4 started for his car.-Chicago Tribune