The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-12-07

or twice, when she came into the kitchen
to give orders for the morrow. / longed
to speak to her, but decided to wit until
she should discover me, as believed she
would; once when she looked at me
keenly, something in my air or gestures
attracted her attention. had the hap
piness of finding that my companion was
anxiously expected, and Of hearing many
kind attentions to myself l even saw
my sister and her bridegroom, as thsy
passed into the little room where the
nice things prepared for the wedding
breakfast were set out and my sister beg
ged my mother to have portion of all
the deicaces saYed for me in case / ar
rived too late to partako with the geusts.
l thanked the dear girl in my heart for
this kind thoughtfuness, though 1 could
not help fancying it might have been in
duced hy her remembrance of my feats
of gluttony during my school boy vaca-
tons. At an early hour was shown to
comfoi table chamber in the wing de-
voted to the servants and farm lahorers,
where 1 slept soundy until the dawn of
day of the following morning. As soon
as awoke l sprang from bed, intending
to go at once to my room, dress myself
in the handsomest garments which had
been prepared for and aw ,ited me there,
and then present myself to my moth.
err
But while l WAS hurriedly slipping on
the peddler garments. l saw lying at my
feet something that attracted my curiosi-
ty. | raised it and found it to be sulid
piece of paper, wrapped about a pebble,
which had evidently been thrown into my
low, open window. I unfolded the paper
and read these words which were written
on the surface: vfV
"Come to the woods and make
change again. / must be off at once"
81 did not understand this, but suppos-
ing the peddlor was anxious to resume his
dress adapted to his calling, and thinking
l was still in time to return, dress, and
surprise my mother, | finished arraying
myself in lis garments, and then jumping
from my low winIow, made my way
across the fields towards the woods.
At the last point ere entered them. |
turned and looked back TO the house. Ii
seemed to me that there was An unusual
stir about its general quiet precincts, but
concluding it arose from the expected
wedding and its arrangements. l hurried
on, my only thought Icing that rs every
body was awake and stirring, | should,
after all, be obliged to make my appear
ance in my own character. Ahoi
had some little difficulty in finding
the spot where the pedder had deposited
his pack, and where | expected to meet
him. l think it was quite half an hour,
and perhaps more, ere | reached ii, and
when reached no peddler was visible, |
called him and received no answer, be-
gan to look about | saw that the vines
had been torn rudely from the crevicd
where the pack was hidden. | removed
them and found that the pnek was no
longer there. "He has gone, and | sbnll
have to go home ii this dress after ALL [
thought, and was turning in that direc
ton when the glittcring of some article
within the crevice attracted my attention..
l thrust my hand in and drew out a pack
ag, of silver spoons. partially wrapped in
tissue paper, and worked with my sisters
name.
l was still holding them in my hand,
and lost in wonder as to how they came
there, when l was aroused by shouting
and trampling in the woods, ana in an
other moment sew cral men, armed with
various offensive weapons, burst through
the ticket and surrounded me.
The surprise and shock were SO great
that I have never been able to describe
the scene beyond this point, until | found
myself led back over the fields had just
passed prisoner, and learned that / was
accused of the foulest crime-that rob
berry and murder had been done, AID
that | had been seen where fingered on
the outskirts of the woods, followed,
and the eeelning proof of my connection
with these fearful deeds found in my
hands.
All was confusion and terror wires
reached the house. Servants were flying
in all directions, weeping and pnle with
horror. My sister was lying on sofa
in the little family room, her face buried
in the cushions and her form coilvulssd
with emotion, while her husband elect
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