a cold Greeting

by Ambrose Bierce

this_is a story told by_the late Benson Foley of San_Francisco:

" in_the summer of 1881 I met a man named James H . Conway, a resident of Franklin, Tennessee . he_was visiting San_Francisco for_his health, deluded man, and brought me a note of introduction from Mr Lawrence Barting .I had known Barting as a captain in_the federal army during the civil war . at its close he had settled in Franklin, and in_time became, I had reason to_think, somewhat prominent as a lawyer .Barting had always seemed to_me an honorable and truthful man, and_the warm friendship which he expressed in_his note for_Mr Conway was to_me sufficient evidence that_the latter was in every way worthy of_my confidence and esteem . at dinner one day Conway told me that_it had_been solemnly agreed between him and Barting that_the one who died first should, if possible, communicate with_the other from beyond the grave, in some unmistakable way-- just how, they had left ( wisely, it seemed to_me) to_be decided by_the deceased, according to_the opportunities that his altered circumstances might present .

"A few weeks after_the conversation in_which Mr Conway spoke of_this agreement, I met him one day, walking slowly down Montgomery street, apparently, from_his abstracted air, in deep thought . he greeted me coldly with merely a movement of_the head and passed on, leaving me standing on_the walk, with half- proffered hand, surprised and naturally somewhat piqued . the next_day I met him again in_the office of_the palace hotel, and seeing him about to repeat the disagreeable performance of_the day before, intercepted him in a doorway, with a friendly salutation, and bluntly requested an explanation of_his altered manner . he hesitated a moment; then, looking me frankly in_the eyes, said:

"' I_do_not_think, Mr Foley, that I_have any longer a claim to your friendship, since Mr Barting appears to_have withdrawn his own from me-- for what reason, I protest I_do_not know . if he has_not already informed you he probably will do_so .'

"' but,' I replied, ' I_have_not heard from Mr Barting .'

"' heard from_him ! ' he repeated, with apparent surprise .' why, he_is here .I met him yesterday ten minutes before meeting you .I gave_you exactly the same greeting that he_gave me .I met him again not a quarter of an hour ago, and_his manner was precisely the same: he merely bowed and passed on . I_shall_not soon forget your civility to_me . good morning, or-- as it may please you-- farewell .'

" all this seemed to_me singularly considerate and delicate behavior on_the_part of Mr Conway .

" as dramatic situations and literary effects are foreign to my purpose i_will explain at once that Mr Barting was dead . he had died in Nashville four days before this conversation .Calling on Mr Conway, I apprised him of_our friend's death, showing him the letters announcing it . he_was visibly affected in a way that forbade me to entertain a doubt of_his sincerity .

"' it seems incredible,' he_said, after a period of reflection .'I suppose I_must_have mistaken another man for Barting, and_that man's cold greeting was merely a stranger's civil acknowledgment of_my own .I remember, indeed, that he lacked Barting's mustache .'

"' doubtless it_was another man,' I assented; and_the subject was never afterward mentioned between_us . but I had in my pocket a photograph of Barting, which had_been inclosed in_the letter from_his widow . it had_been taken a week before his death, and was without a mustache ."