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

90 T was foolish and insane freak, |
4 must acknowledge, and that has
cost me dearly in hours of bitterness
sorrow and remorse. had been tramp
ing over the wet hills all day with the
peddler, who seemed jolly, frolicking
sort of follow enough, and made the
rough way much smoother by his strange
talk. He certainly was afflicted with
what | heard our Professor of Molern
Languages term fux to bouche. He
talked necessarily, in n rafting, dlscur-
sive manner, pouring out tests and stale
anecdotes, mixed up with course sentl-
mentality, while his quick, res'less eye
wandered over the whole field of vision as
uncertain, apparently, in its range, as his
tongue.
I had distrustad the fellow at first, but
grew to like him more, | fancy, because
companionship seemed to tighten the
way, than for any qualities l found in
him to elicit my admiration. And be-
fore we finished our journey I became
quite confidential with him, not rs l
have since been by his own will, at al,
but by being drawn out by his seemingly
careless and most purposeless questions
ID suggestions.
Thus had told him why l preferred
walking this last twenty miles over the
hills in this sour wet day, to waiting until
the next but one, when the regular stage
coach passed-why, in fact, l must be
home on the morrow-my onl y sister
was to be married, and nothing could
induce me to be absent on such an occa-
sion.
This was perhaps more than shcul |
have told person of his class, who had
no RIGHT to be informed Of tho affairs of
mine. But his skillful remarks, questions.
and moody admiration of details, wrought
me to unwonted confidence. Ny
thoughts were full ofhome, so it was ex-
tremely easy TO talk of it, and to SEQ the
wonder of my companion excited by
what | told, stimulated me to continue.
until he knew that my sister was going
Il, L., I,,sl ,o,1 }ha tIEor M nGT'
even to California, from which the
BRIDEGROOM had returned to fetch his
bride. That there was large sum of
money and valuabes in the house which
the newly welded pair would take with
them. l even described the wedding
presents, which were unusually ample,
rich and costly; and vanity was gratified
when I saw the look of simple wonder
growing on the peddler's face, and heard
tho enthusiastic, though course exclama-
tons of delight.
NY excuses for this are, that [ was q
simple college youth of eighteen, elated
and excited by my approach to my home,
and unwonted festivities, aud that was
in skillfuI hands. Before | reached home
l was sufficiently under tue fellows influ-
ence to propose chung ny clothes with
hia, in order that l might steal into my
mothers house in strange character
bit Of harmless masquerading, the sug-
gestion of which seemed to come from
me, though my thoughts had been led. to
it by series of stories Of similar frolics,
related by the peddlsr.
He consented to my proposal with
seeming reluctance, and we stopped in
the woods beneath some shelving rocks
that protected US from the rain, and made
the exchange. We separated there, he
taking the road to the village and | 60
ing across the fields to my mothers house.
l did not take his PACK, VIII CHI he Ii in
the crcvice of the rocks, covered by vines
place where it was not likely to be
found. Our plan was, for me to go and
crave lodgings at my mothers Eouse, as a
tired wayfarer, leaving the inmates to
find out my disguise, if they could, while
he should take lodgings at the hotel in
the village, where his good clothes woald
be his passport, though he came en- foot
and without luggage.
AS approached home | felt pretty Sc
cure against recognition, for l knew my
years als,nce had changed me much.
was taller and stouter,, and darker; my
cheeks and chin began to show manly
honors, my voice had deepensd in tone
while my hair was darker and worn long
and my companion had completed the
metamorphosis by fixing upon my lip ;
long silky, black mustache.
/ was confident that | should not b,
known, and the result proved that I wa
right.
| was Hospitality received, and passe,