The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-04-10
DEAR OLD FRIENDS"
Delight and Astonishment Of an
Unexpected Meeting.

had Just come out of the post-office
when | caught sight of face that
seemed familiar to me-
1t was that of Il man about my own
age, with bronzcd features and some
what attcnuatcd figure.
AS was trying to recall when and
where had seen him before our eyes
met i immediately perceived that our
recognition had been mutual, for he
came toward me with frank express
sion of pleasure and held out his hand,
saying:
''Helloa, old fellow, who'd have
thought of seeing you here?" I don't
know why he said this, and of course,
don't Al mpt to defend it; but it is style
of address affected by some men who are
as profoundly astonished if they meet
You in a restaurant as if they had run
across you in the mines of Siberia. |
felt little bit annoyed at his want of
originality; however, j smiled pleasant
ly. and said, as shook hands:
We'll, if You come to that, old fellow,
who'd have thought of seeing you here?"
We stood opposite each other for
few seconds, i simpering somewhat
cmptily 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.
| gave him a few seconds TO digest
his astonishment, and then, feeling that
| barraSSing, / said, inconSequently:
well, what have you been doing all
| this time?''
! Well" he replied, I've been in
! Australia"
''Oh. ahr' / calculated. "a if it had
! for "a moment slipped my memory:
why, you went there'-and | hesi-
| tated. as though calculating within my
| self the exact day of his unknown de-
/ parture-
Three years ago he put in shortly,
land quite long enough il is, too
/ ran over in my mind my acquaint-
ances of three years ago, but could re
| call no trace of n recollection of my new
/ companion; so, to gain time and to
| gather fresh information. | asked:
| And what sort of a time have you
had?"
''Oh, much about the same as before"
he answered, with a slightly puzzled
air
candidly admit that the sensible
| thing for me to have done would have
been to own up and admit that ! had
forgotten my friends personality. Tn
/ fortunately, ! am one of those painfully
| constituted people who shrink with
nervous horror from any thing in the
nature of an explanation, and, in addi-
tion, / felt that | had gone too far to
cry off without some appearance of in
sincerity. Besides, he seemed to con-
gratulate himself so warmly upon what
he insisted upon looking on as our prov
idcntial meeting, that my lips were
sealed, and felt confirmed in the idea
that if let things slide little longer,
his name would recur to my mind.
He had slipped his arm through mine
as we walked uptown with an easy
sense of good-fellowship, and said: ''Of
course you'll dine with me this evening
Now, don't say you are engaged he
added. as I hesitated for an instant be-
tween my desire to have more OF nv
companion and my disinclination to
line under false pretenscs: you know
they'll be awfully disappointed if they
hear | have met you and let you off
without long talk, and join them to-
morrow"
felt constrained to consent against
my better judgment and added, in a
J. playfully sohcitous manner:
|, And how are they alp
"Oh, they are all tip-top--al except
the Colonel;' after a pause and with a
slightly subdued air-'I don't think he
has ever quite got over that affair"
''Ah," / rejoined, shaking my head
sympathetically, lone doesn't get over
that sort of thing in day, you know;
but the others?"
What others?" he said, bluntly.
/ hesitated, and rejoined, vaguely:
''Were there not some others?"
He pondered heavily for a few Sec
onds before replying: "Yes, 1 believe
there were some others, but they made
no difference"
i was just murmuring: Every likely
not, when he turned to me abruptly
and said II hope you don't think he
came badly out of that business?"
His hand seemed to relax its pressure
on my arm, as if he was preparing him.
self for some censure or act of coldness
on my part.
! felt touched by this little proof of
| ScHSll4NthtSS ROOu
and pressed his fingers as / rejoined,
warmly: II never, never heard any one
speak otherwise than highly of his con-
duct in the matter"
He stopped and said, shortly:
why, who knows any thing about
it? ! thought you and had it all to
ourselves"
Yes, yes" 1 faltered. and added,
you know you have been away for
! some time, old fellow"
1t did not seem to fit in very well;
but he accepted it as an argument, and
said:
There is something in that, but
don't let people talk about il. / know
he relies upon you and me-"
There was something so touching in
! the reliance Of this unknown, that a