The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-02-27
DEAR OLD FRIENDS"
Delight and Astonishment Of an
Unexpected Meeting.

nslu lUSL come out Vi Jlle pOSS-oHlCV
'selen [ caught sight of a face that
seemed familiar to me.
1t was that of a man about my own
age, with bronzcd features and some
what attanuatcd figure
As Was trying to recall when and
srhire had seen him before on eyes
met. Immediately perceived that our
recognition had been mutual, for he
s=arnc toward me with frank expires
sion nf 1lca5l, and held out his; hand,
saying:
--Hrlloa. old fellow, who'd have
thuught OF seeing you here" don't
ANON Why he said this and Of course, |
tloa' / attelnptto defend it; but it i3a style
of address affected by some mon who are
u, profoundly a,toniahcd If they meet
f',,n in restaurant as il they had run
:,croas You i'll thu mines of Siberia. !
fr)t Il little bit annoyed at his want Of
originality: however, smiled pleasant
3Y ,'rd said. as shook hands:
We'll. ii goa come to that. old fellow,
Ahn'd haze thought of seeing You here
W. stood opposite each other for Il
fIw seconds. | simpcring somewhat
N'.hDtiiN sij INC llit'IIt' al oar SLtt'lliiS
ard struggling - recall his name; and
H.. with his head slightly on one side,
and an expression Of cOurtcoualy sup
,,re>,ed amusement on his face, as il
.ay presence on the stops Of the post
Ollie, was one OF those iucXplicable
frca!,. of chance for which it is hope
i,~>s 10 seek to assign any reasonable
!a,..
gaze him d few seconds to digest
III, astunisltment, and then, feeling that
Wye silence VS. becoming Il little en-
harTassin@. said, incon&cqucntly:
well, what have you been doing all
rhi. tiinr?"
"WolI," he replied, 1--we been in
Anytrali;l.'
',Uh, ah." | calculated, as if it had
tnr .nenent Slipped my memory;
why. you won't thrrc'--and | hcsi-
tarcH. Is though calculating within my
ayIf thc c.iact day of his unknown de-
Ilarturr--.
-''Thrcc years. ago" he put in shortly,
and quite lor% enough it is. too"
ran nvor in my mind my acquaint-
ancca Of three years ago, but could re-
can no trace OF Il recollection of my new
rnnapaniUn; so, to gain time and to
gathvr fresh information, ! asked:
And what sort of time have you
f,al?''
.'Olr. roach about the same as before"
Il" answered. with a slightly puzzled
air
t.;lndidly admit that the sensible
thiEg for mc to have done would have
bnrn to own up and admit that had
forgotten my friends personality. Tn
tsr;unat2ly, am one of those painfully
constituted people who shrink with
n%rrous horror from any thing in the
uatnrc of an explanation, and. in add-
&inn. felt that | had gone too far to
,ry off without some appearance of in
sincerity. Besides, he seemed to con
sratiilat2 himself so warmly upon what
hr insisted upon looking on as our prov
isi~ntial meeting, that my lips were
,p:.}cql. and felt continued in the idea
t2lat if let things slide a little longer,
his name would recur to my mind.
VIZ had Slipped his arm through mine
"a Nc walled uptown with an easy
as,nsn of gnGd-fcllowship, and said: ''Ot
course you'll dine with me this evening.
NOW. don't say you are engaged" he
added. as 1 husitatcd for an instant be
tween my desire to have more of my
companion and my Discrimination tc
eIine under false prctenseS; you know
eher'll be awfullr disappointed if they
h>ar have met you and let you of
without g. long talk, and join them 80
MORROW.
/ felt conrtraincd TO consent against
Tiny better Judgment and added, in {
plnyfully solicitous manner:
And how arc they alp
oh. they arc all tip-top-an exccp
she Cnlonel:' after pause and with ;
a,ii;fll1ly subducd air--"l don't think HI
Aas ~ver quite got over that affair"
-.Al--' | rejoincd, shaking my heat
,esynapathetically. zone doesn't get owe,
4Isat sort of thing in u day, you know
but the othcrs?"
What othcrs?" he said, bluntiy.
hcsitated, and reioiued, vaguely
We're there not some othCrs"'
He pondcred heavily for few sec
>s,nds before replying: Yes, l belicv
1.lierc y, orc some others, but they mad
SSt &llIi%rGnc"
was just raurmuring: Very likel..
NOT" when he turned to INC abrubtl.
and said: Il hope you don't think h
4,.&mo lady out of that BUSINESS"
His hand seemed TO relax its pressur
esn ,ny arm, Us if nc WAS preparing him
srlf for some cen&urc or act OF coldneS
on nay pat.
fclt touched by this little proof O
hi constituencies 80 my good opinion
and pressed his fingors as l rejoinct
warmly: Il never, never heard any on
sprak otherwise than highly of his cor
ftnct IN the matter"
lie stopped and said, shortly:
'N1ly, who knows any thing abou
1T: ] thought you and had it all
Nanrselvce.''
Yes, yes" l fa!tcrcd, and addet