The weekly examiner., 1901-04-13
Mr. Justin V0IIe0u'S Secref
By Matt Grim.


 first met him. She had moved into the house that day, and, being early at the dinner table, eyed each newcomer with a mixture of curiosity and hope, al ways seeking the ideal friend. No ideal could be evolved from that common- place multitude, she quickly decided when the old man entered. He att ,ltracted her. attention instantly, for snowy hair lay in thick waves upon his head, and pair of fine black eyes looked out from under heavily marked white brows. He was slight of figure, and his skin was wrinkled and yellow as parchment. s.-
 He sat down at Judith's left hand. making fine courteous bow to those about the table as he did so; then he drew a paper from his pocket and be- gan reading. It was a New Orleans paper, and Judith felt little thrill of pleasure. Could he, too, be from Louis jana? She was tempted to ask him, for her two years in New York had not made her so much of cosmopolitan that she felt indifferent to even chance meeting with some one from her old home. But she held her peace.
 For several days they met at dinner, and Judith interest in the silent, lone ly old man deepened. There was some thing pathetic, even appealing, in the reserve holding him aloof from the icoarser people around him. From the land1ady she learned that he was only a table boarder.
 s'Where does he live?" she inquired.
 seThat I don't know,'' replied the brisk little woman. 1.-Two years age he came to me and I saw that he was a gentleman. am quick now in rec ognizing the lady or gentleman, so asked him no questions. He only takes his dinners here, and he pays his bills and makes no complaints; no, never"
 Of his occupation or personal history 7 Judith could find out nothing. She had no family ties herself, and reasoned that her interest in the old man sprang from sympathy. Then she had known some Valleaus once, when child, boy and his mother, who lived in a re- mote parish. She had played with the boy during one summer when yellow fever ragged in New Orleans, and she had been sent away. Perhaps this old man might have once known them, too J
 One evening he heard her tell an in- quisitive neighbor that she came from the south. His eyes kindled with in- terest, and slight color tinged his sallow face.
 ssThe south?' he questioned eagerly. Ibid understand you to say the south?"
 M sYes, a Louisianian.'
 .'Is it possible? why, that $ $ my RatiEe sta 'i--> ---7~-
 ssI am from New Orleans
 s.And so am IT. beaming upon her with genial glance, his reserve melt ing like magic. "I felt attracted to you from the first, and your voice charmed me-"
 They talked eagerly, Judith delight ed that the ice had at last been broken The old mans face appeared ani- mated, the glow of his eyes giving a certain youthful expression to his fea- lures.
 'sHow long have you been here?" he inquired. at length.
 1.-Two years"
 "And have been here for more than 20." He sighed audibly, and for moment his face gloomed over. 'sYes," he repeated, half to himself, more than 20 years.''
 Judith listened amazed. Twenty years meant nearly all her life, and to think he had spent that length of time in New York and still remained so distinctly provincial
 s'So long? You must love New York?"
 s'Love it? I1oathe it!v he exclaimed, with sudden, passionate energy. Tt is so big, so noisy and dirty, and so unfriendly."
 But fascinating and full of all ac- tivities, intellectual and otherwise.''
 Tt may be for the young, but give me New Orleans. Think of the repose, | its beauty, it's old houses, it's fine l gardens, with their roses, magnolias l and oleanders, the very air breathing fragrance and romance"
 His eyes kindled again with an evanescent glow, his voice dropped to 1 a low, dreamy tone.
 ssBut it is here one finds the market | for romance" Judith argued, practi- | cal1y.
 "I found none for mine," he replied, | struggling his shoulders.
 The acquaintance between them pro- gressed rapidly, although for weeks they met only at the dinner table. He l always went away the moment the 1 meal was concluded, vanishing mys- l teriously into some realm unknown to Judith. He lived somewhere down be- low Washin crt,an Sff1Iarn she lnaxv for | she watched him from her window one | night.
 When he discovered that she was alone in the world he seemed to con- stitute himself her protector and ad- wiser.
 q have no family either,'' he ex- plained.
 'sThen you are not related to the