The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-21
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uSeQ to i've naQ been torn down and a tall. modern structure was rising in its place. Such a thing may happen in America while a gentle man is down upon his daily business, but in Paris it is unusual It was so much like home that it made me homesick
 Nerduns in the Latin quarter, where l dined alone and disconsolate on New Tears eve, was not at all the same. It was larger and more prosperous place of entertainment, and, by way of climax in this series of impressions, there was young man sitting at a table near me An regard to whom could be sure of only one thing-nameiy, that he was greatly changed.
 Who he was, where. when and how I had met him were questions l. could not answer, but 1t was a perfect certainty that I had known him. It was not a case of resemblance or suggestion. He did not look like somebody whom I had met; he was that somebody, but he looked different.
 I studied him for fully fifteen minutes before our eyes met. He was of good height but rather too heavy, and all his movements were marked by a calm de hberateness. His face was boyish. round and of high color in the cheeks. His eyes were dark and they moved slowly
 
 the eyes of born business man who can- not look at a plate of bread without de- ciding whether it is good bread and worth the price. Yet there was something of the artist In his manner. and his dress was quite in accord with the accepted style of the quarter. Especially his curly brown hair that struggled almost down to his eyes suggested the student
 Where have I seen this man?" said l to myself a dozen times. And what did he look Nike when I saw him last?"
 l observed that he gave his orders with dignifed precision and that the waiter paid him great deference. This must be some celebrity who has been pointed out to me-" thought I, and while the idea was in my mind the young man saw me. He looked at me with a slow, calm, stu dious attention that was slightly em- barrassin& and for the sake of relief bowed. He returned the salute with cour- teSy and with so much apparent pleasure that I was amazed. After a moment s hesitation, or. to be more accurate, a mo- ment spent in crystalizing a decision that had no hesitation in it, he arose and crossed to me. holding out his hand
 How do you do" said he in English. 'T am glad to see you. Pardon me if l do not recall your name have recently suffered an injury that affects my mem- ory%
 T have no such excuse" said I, "and yet"
 Its no wonder you don't know me, " he hastened to say. 'I am totally chang ed. But you'll remember my name"
 He laid a visiting card before me, and I read thereon, Warrington Ladd."
 looked up frpm the card to the man with that vague surprise that comes in dreams.
 Certainly I know the name" said I, land I seem to know you"
 ''Well?" said he, smiling.
 i've heard of you often,' said l, but I never met you before.''
 That's queeF.' said he. sinking into The seat opposite me. "I remember you perfectly-as a picture, you understand nothing more. fettI think we used to know each other quite we'll"
 I shook my head.
 Last year, when I was over here" said I, there were several of my friends who knew you and, to state the plain fact were abject admirers of your work-art- ists. all of them, and not more generous than the averafr. But they said that you were the coming man. Apparently, added. with a sfRile. ''you have ar rived"
 The last words were called forth by a near view of MT. Ladds raiment. perceived that his clothes. though care lessly worn, were new and of expensive material. He had also the unmistakable air of the man who is free from money worry. Yet I was well aware that he never had penny in the days when I used to hear about him, that he lived almost entirely upon that species of char ity which consists of small loans never paid and was in all things the typical ge- mus out at elbows. My reference to his Improved condition brought such a look of sadness to his face that l thought he was not far from tears.
 'Success?" he said grimly. Far from it. I have slumped gone back I am fighting over lost ground. This thing that happened to me But I won't worry you with my troubles. Come over to my ta- bls. You haven't been served with any thing yet. We'll talk about something cheerful and drink some good wine. Be my guest, won't you? Pm feeling blue tonight and need company. though, to tell the truth I was dining alone on this festal evening because I didn't have the heart to meet my fellow creatures"
 There may have been grounds for de- clining an invitation thus expressed, but curiosity is never squeamish and mine was thoroughly reused. Here was a man Saddened by prosperity, and yet he didn't look it. He had an assured, almost a