The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-20

The young man sat himself at this table.
At one of the small tables in the middle Of
the room and in close proximity to the card
players sat an old gentleman, perhaps sew
enty, deeply engrossed in his newspaper.
AS the young man entered he lifted his
head. Something IN his appearance ar
rested his attention. He laid his paper
upon his knees and followed the young man
with his eyes, and his face took on an ex-
preston of perpelXity. Though ne re-
sumed reading his eyes ever and anon
wandered to the young man in the corner.
Soon his paper lost interest for him, for he
again laid il on his knees and looked into
space over his spectacles, without losing
his thoughtful, perplexed expression.
The young man summoned the stolid pro-
prietor and ordered stoup of wine and a
cigar. His order complied with, he struck
a match, and as he held it up in the air
with his right hand until the sulphur
should have burned away, he held his cigar
within an inch of his lips with
bis left hand. The old gentleman,
watching him covertly, smiled; the
wrinkles on his brow vanished, the per-
picked expression passed away, and nod
ding to b mself approvingly he returned to
his paper. BY and by he beckoned to the
proprietor, and by gesture indicated that
he desired the empty glass at his elbow re-
filled. An unusually loud outburst came
from the card players; with a smothered
exclamation OF disgust, he picked up his
glass and crossed to the table at which the
young man was sitting, saying politely:
Shall be intruding If | seat myself at
this tablet Our friends, the card players,
are boisterous; they annoy me-"
by no MEANS" replied the young man.
II imagine every vacant chair in the room
belongs to the man who claims it"
With bow the old man sat down.
ha caid Nhut IN atinuctte
obtains, or should obtain, even here and
would not intrude upon one wishing to be
alone"
ct am alone" returned the young man
mot because wish to be, but because in 6
whole cityful of people am
"a stranger TO the city thcnh inquired
the old man.
"Yes and no, was the reply, in the man
ner Of one propounding a riddle. al an
not stranger, for l was born here. l an
because have been continuously absen
for the past eight years. / walked tn,
streets to-day without seeing face
knew, and l do not know where to go II
5nd one formerly did know
New York is a large city, and like al
large cities its face takes en- q new expires
sion each year. You have but just returned
thena'
This morning"
at ia strange the more celebrated place
did not attract you"
81 stepped out of my hotel near by 70
the fresh air, and 1 strolled hither under
the influence OF q recollection of my boy
hood, almost infan tile days"
For an instant only the old man peere
over his glasses sharply at his companion
and then said:
II am much attached to this house, no
because my habit leads me here nightly
but because have been familiar with
ever since l was young man"
The old man lifted his glass and sippe
his beer, apparently unconscious that b
had said snything to attract the increase
attention the young mau gave him.
Even younger than you are now" b
continued. Lord. Lord what dinners
have esten-what gay times have had i
this very room. A young friend OF mine
we boarded in Chambers street together j
those days-bought this house while il wa
yet building, and when ii was fnishe
carried ais sweet young bride into Ii. An
a great house-warming we had, too. wa
opposed TO it-that is to the house;
thought IL too fine for him to begin on: fc
you must know, young sir, there were fe,
finer houses in this city when this wa
built Yet he could afford it. Young 8
he was he was the head of a iourishin
business. built up by his father, who ha
died and left it to his only son, with nun
Der of old and experienced clerks Ye
indeed, no house in this city stood highe
than that of Dorison e. Co."
AS the old man INDUCED his reminisce,
tial vein, the younger kept his dark eye
upon him, and at the mention Of the nan
of the firm the color crept slowly into b
cheeks.
Eyes, there have been gay times in tn
old house." continued the old man. =
have seen the beauty and chivalry Of o.
New York gathered within these wall
Sometimes when the weather is lair VET
ture out to see the ladies drive by, who
as young girls, in all their bravery Of sill
md laces, / have seen sweep up and dow