It did not occur to me at the time that I might accidentally meet or, at least, be seen--in a crowded theatre--by some person who would know something of my past experiences.
As we were slowly edging through the crowd, after the curtain had fallen, I noticed a tall fellow in front of us, who turned around to look back. I thought I had seen his face before, but I had been seeing so many faces lately, that I paid but little attention to him. I observed that he said something to his companion, as both turned around facing me, but, as the crowd kept pressing down the narrow aisle, they did not have a good chance to scan me too closely.
Becoming aware of their scrutiny, my suspicions became aroused. I began to hasten along, and nervously nudged the Colonel to push ahead more rapidly. We passed the two men--one of whom was in uniform--and as we did so, I heard one of them, say:
I didn't linger to hear what reply the other made, but shoved on toward the door, and had reached the vestibule when the voice behind called out--_my right name_! I was startled, but did not turn, being intent only on getting to the street as quickly as possible.
The Colonel, who was with me, had not noticed the affair at all; and the calling out of my real name had not attracted his attention, as I was known to him only by the fictitious name that I had assumed.
As I reached the door, and was about to hurry down the front steps, a hand was laid on my shoulder. I have no doubt that it was a pale face which turned around, expecting to meet some one that I certainly did not desire to see at that time.
I did not know him, though his pleasant face, which was covered with a broad grin, seemed familiar.
"Ain't you Mr. O. K., that was out in Texas with Major J----?"
I suppose that my surprised appearance was misunderstood for an expression of offended dignity I had assumed. This had the effect of putting him in doubt as to my identity, as he eyed me more closely, and gave me his name, and remarked he was one of a regiment that had been organized in that part of Texas in which I had spent the winter preceding the war, and had probably known me there, as a stranger naturally becomes an object of curiosity in that country.