The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-10-29
)ut he accepted IL as an argument. ana

said:
There is something in that; but
don't let people talk about it. | know
he relies upon you and me-
There was something so touching IA
the reliance of this unknown tina, :.
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 be betrayed by me. Others
might make it a subject of club gossip
or tea-table tittlc-tattlc. but no word
of mine should add one drop to tho
cup of bitterness that had been placed
to his lips. There are passages in the
lives of all of rs which we would wish
TO have buried in oblivion = the
thoughtless follies of youth. the un-
worthy ambitions of manhood, and the
selfish jealousies of old age; who is
there that can stand up and say there
is no episode in his life hc would not
have eXpungcd. forgotten or con-
doned?
We had turned into restaurant for
bit of dinner. and those thoughts
passed through my mind as we ate our
fish. My companion pondered sadly
for few seconds, and then shaking
himself together rs though to throw
off an unpleasant train of thought,
said:
Now. tell me about yourself, your
wife and family"
Before | had time to reflect upon
what might be the result of my dis
closure, | blurted out the simple truth:
Il have no wife"
He looked intensely surprised. as he
said: My dear fellow, | am very
sorry. | never heard He paused,
inqniringly. and again blurted out:
Il never had one"
A look of extreme pain spread over
his face as he heard this He leaned
across the table, and laying his hand
on mine said with Infinite sympathy:
Il see it all; | ought not TO have asked
you. Forgive me. old fellow. and for
get that | have said those words"
| gave him Il clammv hand aud
turned away lest he should detect the
conscious outlines of my face. | had
become confirmed in Il suspicion that
had been gradually dawning upon my
mind. that | had never sci eyes upon
my host before that day and that l
had been carried away bv some mex
plicibe chance resemblance TO some
remote acquaintance, and by his own
apparent cordial recognition of myself.
There was no blinking the facts. how
ever. Everybody that he mentioned
WAS Il total stranger TO me. while every
incident that | mentioned. with view
to drawing him oHt seemed to find his
mind u blank. My sole object was to
eXtricate myself from my false posi-
ton without detection. / got abso-
lutciy and hopclessly involved in Il
fable and falsehood. and after having
thus lightly taken away the good name
OF the suppoSitious mother of my
children Il sort of despair took posses
sion of me, and Il wild desire to avoid
exposure or explanation at any cost.
The dinner was good. the wine ex-
cellcnt, and my host genialitv itself.
We sat, ate and drank freely. and over
our cups | blush TO think of the people
| married, the old friends | buried and
the characters | took away. But he
would have news, and what could |
wv w a ci ihioi oSChiCu
to afford him matter for astonishment,
and often he ejaculated:
You don't tell me SO" as | con-
vcycd some specially startling piece Of
personal news.
However, the time for departure
came at last, and my mind was torn
with conflicting desires to escape de-
lection and TO ascertain his identity.
You'll come and see u.s." he said
cordially, as we shook hands prelm-
mary to leaving.
Yes. certainly" l replied; "but
where are you putting up now?'
Oh the same old quarters he re-
turned.
What is the best way to get there?'
| asked. rs a last and altogether des-
perate hope.
You can't do better than take a
cal" he said, and we parted never to
meet again. CtncinldH Commercial
Gazette.