Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-02-18
His Fathers Old Friend.

/ L
"The old gentleman p'ayed queer trlcl
on metbe other night De said, ss he lit hi
cigar after dinner. "It was rather awkward
for rue at first, but 1 guess it was goo'
thug after ALL
"You know used TO feel that l had don
myself an injustice If l did not 60 to he the
atre about Eve or six nights week. Mayb
il wasn't always the theatre, but if I:
wasn't that it Was stag party or poke
game. nesdn't explain; you'vs been Will
ne frequently.
"Weli, you also know how I sm fx, d II
the line OF business. I work for my father
ard have to be ut the cfice at $50 in th'
morning-just ss the rest of the family arr
sitting down to breakfast. 10 consequence
/ I;2et ny break fsst and leave the house be
| fore they a:e up. Butt can't complain o
that. I'm doing exactly what the man VII
had my place before me did, and bat"se;o
you and me, think I'm drawing more sci
cry than he cid
But that's neither here nor there. It's Il c
evenings used TO fpis5 work abcu; 6, g,
dinner downtown 9! gc TO tbs theatre c'
somewhere else. H4eu doing il for eEoli
six months. and | sw-ar wren figure back
about tee only times t7at / have seen ny
mother and sister have been - Sunday di;
uers. Nothing .unuSus in that, Of COURSE;
the .ame thing lie true Of hur d eds cf young
N in Chicspr.
But they haven't f, hers ike miae. Hs
csme TO nae one aiierucop last wcek aaG
asked me II bad an eagsgsmen; tor ;hat
oleb'.
"'Yes,' said I've promseJ tu go to
the theatre with VII BrowG
"'How about to morrow night he asked.
'Raven's fsured ahead thss far,' re
piled
"'Wel, I'd like to have you go sone-
where With me-
"'All right" 1 said 'where'lI 1 meet
sou p
you eee. be leaves the cfIlce about N
hour before get through.
He suggested tie fremont House nt 7:30
and wac there, prepared for the theatre
and quiet lecture on lae hours, He had
combined the two on several previous occa-
sions But when he appeared be said he
wsoted ms to call on lady With hlr.
"'ODe 1 knew quite we'll when was q
young man, he explained.
I'VE went out and started straight 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 fremont
House under theee circumstances, but
said nothing,
"Well, we went In and was introduced
with al! due formaIity to my mother and my
sister.
"Tbe situation struck me as ludiorous 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 boy,
but hadn't seen much of me lately. Then
she invited me to be seated.
"My, 1t wasn't bit funny then, although
can laugh over it now. sat down and
she told one or two anecdotes OF my boy
hood, at which We all laughed little. Then
we four played whist for q while. When
finally retired l was courteously invited to
call again. 1 went upstairs feeling pretty
small and doing good deal of thinking"
''And then ?" asked his companion.
"Theu 1 made up my mind that my
mother was most entertaining lady and
sister good and brilliant GIRL"
"And now?"
Now I'm going to call again, as have
been doingqui regularly for the last week.
I erjoy their company and propose to culti-
vate their acquaintance"
And the young mamie was only about
22-put on his coat and started for his car,
Chicago Tribune.