Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-18
NOW THEY ARE FRIENDS AGAIN
After Years of Separation They lie
ne,x, The Relations of Youth.

After Years OF separation '"c'
NOW the Relations of Youth.
A few persons jogging along one Oh
the by-streets Of old Richmond snort
time ago were attracted TO two old men
on a nearby corner shaking hands as
vigorously as If they had not met III
n score Of years. One Of the few, now
ever. knew that they had met near tndt
very spot on yesterday, and on the Jay
before: he had known them both ever
since he knew anybody, and II was nc
who told the story. -.
ing spectator in n shrill voice, when
told OF absent teeth and slacken vocal
chords. two much younger-looking men
than these now are met near theIe
and very hot words and threats opened
and closed their greetings. one was
some years older than the other. ana MS
hair was even at that time turhlAs
white. 1t was a plain business dllhcullz'
with no sparkle of romance about d..
me Younger man thought his elder had
gotten the best Of him in bargain. ana
had resorted TO unfair means TO do so.
This he told to the old friend, and ADDED
that II IL were not for his snowy crown
be would thrash him within an inch or
his life. The old man replied as hotly
that he did not call on his gray Jocks 10
protect him, land" he added, II you
strike me, sir, 1t will be the last dow
you will ever strike.
The old fellows eyes were nashlng,
aud he had raised himself to his full
height, but his knees trembled' ana ms
raised hand was palsied. lie stood mus
for a moment, and when the other did
not come nearer, he turned away, and
went up the street.
Since that time they had met nearly
every day, and many. many such Gays
had passed. The older man could hot
sneak. because he had been accused OF
great wrong; the other would no..
whether because he did not want TO- or
he could not summon at the time enough
moral courage to do so, Is not important
He did not, and 1t may have been he
feared the scorn that the other might
heap upon him. But. if he thought ms
little did he know the others kind, gene
rous soul.
The DAYS multiplied themselves into
months. and months added up into years.
The old man was beginning TO stoop
lower. and sometimes TO totter, even N
his slow walk. The other, too, had also
felt the weight of these passing years,
and now Of an evening when he went out
for a walk he would slyly take his sons
cane to steady his steps. Though some
times to fool only himself, he would beat
off the heads Of the daisies which fringed
his path, as he had seen his son do'
and then try to walk with his old yiSor'
But this did not last. lie was getting
old. the world about him knew 1t, ana
he had once heard them talking about II.
II hurt him then, but he felt that al
they said was true.
Wen. he had done a good life's work,
he thought; he had prospered, his chill
dren were provided for and were doing
well for themselves. But still his mind
was not easy. He thought Of his friend
lost twenty years ago through his rash
words. That "old fellow" as he now
called him, with n smile at his own
feebleness had accomplished something
I'm the world, too. His name was good
for any comfortable amount on the mar
ket, and his life, he knew now, was with
ont a stain. The gloom which he had
tried I'm madness and chagrin to throw
about his head had been dispelled by the
light Of truth, and that light had left in
stead a halo Of perfect honesty there.
Oftentimes when he had met him ana
noticed that he was really getting along
in life" that the shock was ripening Tor
| the garnering, he would have written ms
check
| for the moral courage to extend his hand
| ana say. Lets be friends again." But
| he was sensitive; he was afraid the ola
man would turn away his face as years
before. and his feelings be deeply
wounded. He had rather hope he had
been forgiven already, and that the old
| friend of more years standing than even
wears broken was in his heart true for
| all that had passed. than TO ask and
perhaps find the worse the case.
! The other day, however, when not a
hotter day could be found in the month,
| lust such a time which makes the street
parade languid, the very children on the
! street even dull and quiet, they met.
| The younger man thought he never saw
his friends step so feeble or his face
wear such a weary, wistful look. He
| seemed TO be overcome with the feelings
| his thoughts suggested, lie could hold
| out no longer. but hopping the perspira
| ton from his forehead with MS left hand,
taking care TO bring II down by way OF
his eyes. for they had suddenly became
very moist, too, he extended his right.
"Old man." said he. I'VE have been log
gerheads long enough, let's be friends
now"
The "old man" turned so quickly around
| that he almost felt as if he had been
struck. He looked him in the eye for
| full minute. and then his own kind eyes
| began TO soften and nil with tears He
| grasped the outstretched hand, and those
passing who thought he wrung it like
man who had not shaken hands with the
man he loved for twenty years thought
rightly. Presently they locked arms and
| moved of down the street, each lean
| ing on the other. They reached two
| green blinds in a short way. and went
| behind them out of sight. The last that
was heard of them they were drinking
| each others health. and wishing that
| each should live long and prosper"