The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-03-07
HIS FATHgR's OLD FRIEND.
The Introduction That Broughta n Thought
1naa Ynnfh To IIla Senaea.

Tho Introduction VhHt BrOuEnb n InOugnB-
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
guess it wau good thing after all.
"You know 1 used to feel that had
done myself an injustice if did not go
to the theater about five or six nights n
week Maybe it wasn't ALWAYS the thea
ter, but IL it wasn't that it was a stag
party or a'polxer game. needn't explain;
you've been with me frequently.
Well, you also know how I'm fixed
in the line of business. / work for my
father and 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. 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
! 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 | hadgan engagement
| for that night.
"'Yes, 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 I meet
you?"
"You see, he leaves the office about
an hour before get through.
'He suggested the fremont House at
7:30, and 1 was there, prepared for the
theater and quiet lecture on late
hours. He had com bined the two OH
several previous occasions. But when
he appeared he said he wanted me to
call on a lady with him.
"'One l knew quite well when was
young man. he explained
"We 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 Ire
mont House under those circumstances
but said nothing.
"Well, we went in and l was intro
duced with all due formality to my
mother and my sister.
"The situation struck me as ludicrou
and started to laugh, but the laugl
died away. None of the three evei
smiled. My mother and my sister shool
hands with me and my mother said sh
| remembered me as boy, but hadn'
seen much of me lately. Then she in
| vited me to be seated.
/ my, it wasn't bit funny then, al
though l can laugh over it now. l sa
down and she told one or two anecdote
, of my boyhood, at which we all laughe
, a little. Then we four played whist 70
/ a while, When 1 finally retired wa
: courteously invited to call again. I wen
upstairs feeling pretty small and doin
a good deal of thinking"
"And then?" asked his companion.
"Then 1 made up my mind that m
mother was a most entertaining lad,
and my sister good and brilliant girl
"And now?"
"Now I'm going TO call again, as
have been doing quite regularly for IL
last week, 1 enjoy their company ar
propose to cultivate their acquaintance
And the young mamie was on,
about twenty on his coat al
started for his car.-Chicago Tribune.