The San Francisco call., 1896-12-25

tact that he speedily put Cosmo at ease
leading him on to talk OF himself, OF hi:
home. his family, his labors, his hopes.
At last he arose to go, as he glanced al
his watch.
Really, 1 did not suppose l had been
here nearly two hours. The time has
seemed very short spent in such pleasant
conversation"
II am glad, sir, to hear that the conver'
sation has been pleasant to you. 1t has
seemed very short to me, too"
"Then [ shall come again, if it does not
discommode you, and we will resume the
subject. l am a sort of philosopher, a
student, and my search is to find true
contentment.n
"You are always welcome, sir, if the
poor conversation of iowiy cobDler can
interest fine gentleman like yourself"
"You interest me more than you imag-
inc. Ny name is Rico. We shall be
friends, then, shall we not? And you
may invite me some day to dine with you
to meet your family, after which you ana
your family shall come to dine with me.
You honor US, sir, but feel that our
little home, its poor furniture and our
plain food would not please you, sir. 1t
cannot be anything like the things to
which you have been accustomed"
"But it would please me, and the food
you are accustomed to eat, the table set IN
the everyday manner in which it is when
you sit down, everything usual and GUS
tomary, in fact, will please me most"
Every we'll, sir. we will be honored in
deed You will come and dine with us?"
with great pleasure. When?"
Tomorrow ?"
"Why not this eveningP"
"Well, my wife will not be prepared;
there will be only-all the BETTER" And
the young man cIapped his hands and
broke into pleasant light laugh which
seemed TO drive away some of the sad lines
about his eyes and mouth.
''It is agreed is it not? and tomorrow
you shall dine with me-"
At the appointed hour Rico appeared in
the shop door with a smile. Cosmo noted
that he came without his carriage and
they trudged along together until they
arrived at little vine-covered white cot
tage near the outskirts of the town. The
two babes with fiaxen, curly locks cried
out, Papa is coming, papa is coming;
but their Joy merged into awe as they
noted the handsome, well-dressed stranger
who accompanied him.
The sweet faced young wife, with her
sunny, plainly parted hair, in her simple,
her husband awkwardly presented the ele-
giant Rico to her.
The dinner was ready and in the space
of few minutes, during which Cosmo
was engaged in making his toilet, was
placed upon the table. Mrs. Cosmo pre-
sided with grace and sweetness over the
plain but very savory repast.
Really. a jewel of wife, thought
Rico. 81 knew this pleasant young cob
bier, poor artisan as ne is, could not have
a vulgar wife"
The meal finished, the family, with
Rico, repaired to the little front room, fur
nished economically plain, but most neat
and tasty. And now all had seemed to
forget the elegance OF their visitor and to
treat him like an old acquaintance. The
timidity. as he drew from mysterious
depths beautifully tinted cards and pretty
trinkets, which gave them great delight
Throughout the whole of the following
day Cosmos voice was not raised in song.
His thoughts were upon his elegant new
acquaintance, the aristocratic Rico
Cosmo entertained suspicion that Rico
was not happy. He could not see why he
should not be. New thoughts came to
hin-how fine it would be to be wealthy;
to be able to ride about IN fine carriage;
to dress in such elegant clothing; to wear
such dainty boots; not to be obliged to