Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-06-20
SfIutso storp.
NICK D u D l Z Y .

now came back rich.
All the z ,ssips in tho neighborhood
were in perfect flutter. The misses
donnel their brightest smiles and most
captivating calices. The young fellows
were furious with envy. The minister
introduced a period into his long prayer
with reference to 'thc wandercr return,
and in fact, never in Springlale was seen
such .iutter as perva,ici it when it was
rumorcd and then confirmed that Nick
had really got home.
The poor Widow Dudley had made
her few preparations for the event with
fear. and trembling. for she scarcely eX-
pectcd from her runaway son anything
save repetition Of her reprobate hus-
bands neglect, vet she spread her little
table with the best her scunty store atfor-
do |. anil sinoothed he" faded gown with
trembling fingers, when she heard the
rambling of the stage wheels.
Nick bought back the old farm which
his father bad succeeded in mortgaging
twice over before he lnckily broke his
neck; built an addition to The house; ;
flung bay window here, and n diazza
there; planted shrubhery; and drove his
mother to meeting in "a new wagon, of
rather rakish and sporting appearance,
behind the fast; st pair of chestnut mares
ever seen in that country. Bat he civily
declined all invitations to tea parties,
sewing circles and quitting bees, was in
A. Il fn fal pc
asked no one to visit him; returned no
calls and, in fact, rs pretty Miss Lang
ford remarked confidentia!ly 10 Lizzie
HOPKINS an ! the Deacon's daughter, "be
havrl more Ike savage lnjun or hor-
rid onld miser, than decent christian,
aud the handscmest fellow in Springdalc.
One or two of Nick's old schoolmates
who vcn;urcd tn introduce themselves to
his presence, told strange stories of the
interview, and of the wonders to be seen
in the apartment where the returned Cal
ifornian received them. politely to be snrc,
but coIdly rs an animated iciclc. They
spoke Of walls hung with rifles, Indian
bows and rich furs; of cabinets, filled
with outandsh bits Of rocks, which spar
kled in the sunshine like diamonds; of
silver mounted pistols, barbnric spurs,nnd
Of Indian s1alpS. triumphanlly stretched
upon hoops daubed with verm lion, and
Of Nick himself, strangest of all-tal
and swart, with his great beard and
dreamy eyes, and ugly red scar across
his forehead; never flushed nor discon-
certcd; his voice sweet rs n womans and
full of tenderness whenever he spoke of
or 10 his mother.
Folks wondered that he should CONS
home if he condn't conduct himself n
little m ore social y and neighborIy: and
indeed, many surlni,eI that he would not
have returned at all had it not been for
his mother
But ut any rate, there he was, and
they must make the best of him. "R;ch,
too, no doubt Of that, for didn't he lenl
Squire Fordham three thousand dulIars.
ali il double eagles, after the lat or 5 mill
was burned? But then he took an I'M
condioI.abe rate of interest. seven per
cent. not mill less; why. what n regn-
a? Old Sh, lock he must bc!' And rs Il
set off tv his riches, don't he drink wine
ev.ry tlav Mt dinner, with bis ta,her's aw
| tu fate bel, re Il m ? And ain he forever
with PIPE between his teeth! An
didn't be play cards and carouse and
stag songs Nil night, and drive about the
country day with those lends OF his
who came from Boston! Old mates in
/ the mines, were they? uumph! Gam
l'e:s, Likely, with their supcrlino broad
Goth and their gold chains and lhings"
So went the gossip, and Mex cared
for it not red cent, but went on his
way, turning neither to The right nor the
lef:; Gaboing a little in fancy cattle !;
often going off for days shooting or
fishing; much ofiener going down to
Boston for nobody knows what; evident
" enjoying life in his own way. despite
OF nj that vas said of him aud his goings
on.
at last the war broke out. The
young men volunteered by scores-by
hundreds-by thousands. The weeping
mothers packed their kits and said God
bless you." Sad. broken circles met
around homeIy boards in the brown
farm houses Poor old father, with
stern facessand SAD hearts, strained every
nerve 10 make both ends meet while the
boys were away fighting,and sweethearts
and wives sat themselves down to weep
over husbands and lovers marching for
the cruel swamps of Virginia.
In the midst of it MI a report began to
spread that Nick Dudley WAS secession
ist. And indeed, his Conduct was some
what suspicious.
Before the storming of Sumter, he
was heard TO say dozen times that he
'svn,a hized with his misguided 5 outh-
ern brethren" Since that momentous
ora. he had held his tongue. never join
ing in the exciting harangues of bis neigh
bors in the village school house; attend
ing no war meetings; Offering no money
for the cause, aud doing nothing to en-
courage enlistments.. 1t looked bad
certainly. Al length, the pubic feeling
ran SO high that Nick heard of IT, but he
only laughed. calling them pack of fools
for their pains, and said be would give
his opinions when called upon for them,
not before. But no one cared to ask
him point blank what he thouoht. for n