Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-11-07
MY DEAR OLD FRIEND.

had Just come out of the post Office.
when caught sight OF face that
seemed familiar to me.
1t was that OF man OF about my
own age. with brouzcd features and a
somewhat attenuated figure.
As was trying 10 recall when and
where / had seen him before our ewes
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:
"Halloa. old fellow. who'd have
thought of seeing you here?" don't
know why he said this, aud OF course
don't attempt to defend it; but it is a
style of address affected by some men
who are rs profoundly astonished if
they meet you in a restaurant as il
they had run across you in the mines
OF Siberia. | felt u little annoyed at
his want of originality; however,
smiled pleasantly. and said. us / shook
hands:
We'll. If you come to that. old fell
low. who'd have thought OF seeing you
here?n
We stood opposite each other for a
few seconds, simpering somewhat
emptily n. 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 inexplicabie
freaks OF chance for which it is hope
less to seek to assign any reasonable
law.
l gave him few seconds to digest
his astonishment. and then. feeling
that the silence was becoming little
embarrassing. said inconsequentIy:
"Well, what have you been doing all
this timer
We'll" he replied. 1--we been in
Australia"
"Oh. ah!" l calculated; as II it had
for moment slipped my memory;
''why. you went there"--and I hesi-
tated. rs though calculating within
myself the exact day Of his unknown
departure
"Three years ago." he put in short
IL, "and quite long enough it is. too"
ran over in my mind my acquaint-
ances OF three years ago. but could
recall no trace of IA recollection of my
new companion; so. to gain time and
to gather fresh information. | asked:
'And what sort of time have you
had'"
"Oh, much about the same as be.
FORE" he answered, with slightly
puzzled air.
candidly admit that the sensible
thing for me to have done would nave
been to own up and admit that l 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 off without some appearance of
insincerity. Besides, he seemed TO
congratulate himself SO warmly upon
what he insisted upon looking on
rs our providential meeting that my
lips were sealed. and felt confirmed
in the idea that il / let things slide q
little longer his nnmo would recur TO
my mind.
He had slipped his arm through
mine as we walked up town with an
easy sense of good-fcllowship, aud
said: OF course, you'll dine with me
this evening Now. don't say you are
engaged" he added. as ! hesiiated for
an instant between my desire to have
more of my companion aui my disin-
clination to dine under false pretenses;
'you know they'll be awfully disap.
pointed il they hear l have met you
aud let you of without n long talk. and
join them tomorrow"
l felt constrained TO consent against
my better Judgment. aud added in u
piayfuliy solicitous manner:
',And how are they ALP
"Oh. they are all tip-top--all except
.he Colonel;' after pause and with
q slightly subdued air-.I don't think
he has ever quite got over that affair"
''Ah," responded, shaking my head
sympathetically zone doesn't get over
that sort of thing 10 a day. yon know;
but the others?"
What others:" he said. bluntly.
II hesitated. aud rejoined, vaguely.
''Werc there not some others?"
He pondcred heavily for u few Sec
onds bofore replying: Yes. | believe
there were some others. but that made
no difference"
] was just murmuring. Very likely
not;" when he turned to me abruptly
and said: II hope you don't think he
came badly out of that businessf"
His hand seemed to relax its press
are on my arm. rs il he was preparing
himself for some censure or act of
GOODNESS on my part.
felt touched by this littls proof OF
his sensitiveness TO my good opinion
and pressed his fingers rs I rrjoineI.
warmly: Il never heard anyone speak
otherwise than highly OF his conduct
IN the matter"
He stopped and said. shortly:
why. who knows anything about
itp thought you and | had It all to
ourselves"
Yes. yes I faltered. and added.
''you know you have been away for
some time. old fellow"
~ Qto ubt StCtu kO III III NcIy Ncils
but he accepted it as an argument. and
said:
There is something In that; but
don't let people talk about it. know
he relies upon you and me-"
There was something 80 touching Ia
the reliance of this unknown that a
glow Of sympathetic affection warmed
my heart, and resolved on the spot
that this confidence should not be mis-
placed. Come what come might. the
secret Of that old mans life should
never DO betrayed by me. Others
might make ID subject OF club gossip
or tea-table tittle-tattle. but no word
Of mine should add one drop TO the
cup Of bitterness that had been placed
TO his lips. There are passages ia the
lives of all OF US which we would wish
to have buried Ia oblivion - the
thoughtless fallies of youth, the un-
worthy ambitions OF manhood. and the
selfish ieaiousies Of old age; who Is
there that can stand up aud say there
s no episode in his life he would not