The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-03-06
HIS FATHERS OLD FRIEND.
TheIntroductiOn Tha. Brought Thought.
less Youth to Els Senses.

TheIntrOductiOn That Brought Thought.
less Youth to Els Senses.
"'The old gentleman played a queer
trick on me the other night, he said, as
he lit his cigar after dinner. at was
rather awkward for me at first, but ]
guess it was good thing after all.
"You know used to feel that l had
done myself an injustice if 1 did not go
to the theater about five or six nights a
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 Pm fixed
in the line of business. / work for my
father, and I have to be at the office at
$3.50 in the morning-just as the rest of
the family are sitting down to break
fast In consequence get my 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.
''But that's neither here nor there.
It's the evenings. l used to finish work
about six, get dinner downtown, and
go to the theater or somewhere else.
Been doing it for about six months, and
1 swear when 1 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 l had an engagement
for that night.
eyes, said. I've promised to go
to the theater with viii Brown
"'How about tomorrow night he
asked.
"'Haven't figured ahead that far
replied.
"'Well, I'd like to have you go some
where with me-
"'All right | said; 'where'll meet
you?"
"You see, he leaves the office about
an hour before get through.
"ue suggested the fremont House at
1880, and | was there, prepared for the
theater and a quiet lecture on late
hours. He had combined the two on
several previous occasions. But when
he appeared he said he wanted me to
call on a lady with him.
Gone | knew quite well when l was
young man, he explained.
I'D pfn cd CT, i,rI,f
for home.
"'She is stopping at the house. he
said, when spoke of it.
81 thought it strange that he should
have made the appointment for the Ire
mont House under those circumstances,
but said nothing.
'Well, we went in and I was intro
duced with all due formality to my
mother and my sister.
1.-The situation struck me as ludicrous
and started to laugh, but the laugh
died away. None of the three even
smiled. My mother and my sister shook
hands with me and my mother said she
remembered me as a boy, but hadn't
seen much of me lately. Then she in
yited me to be seated.
my, it wasn't bit funny then, al
though can laugh over it now. I sat
down and she told one or two anecdotes
Of my boyhood, at which we all laughed
little. Then we four played whist for
a while. When finally retired l was
courteously invited to call again. l went
upstairs feeling pretty small and doing
good deal of thinking"
And them" asked his companion.
"Then 1 made up my mind that my
mother was most entertaining lady,
and my sister good and brilliant girl. .
"And now ~
"Now I'm going to call again, as I
have been doing quite regularly for the
lastweek, I enjoy their company and
propose to cultivate their acquaintance. y
And the young mamie was only
about twenty-two-put on his coat and
started for his car.-Chicago Tribune.