River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-09-16
A CALIFORNIA ETCHING.

Ine District Attorney OF Murderer's Bar
stood up to his knees in the Yuba. But
as his rubber boots came as high as his
hips there was no fear of his getting wet,
as he made the muddy river muddier by
his unceasing labor at the rocker.
Distance lent beauty and picturesqueness
TO the District Attorney. 4 near view dis
closed several details that were not credit
able to the guardian Of the legal honor of
Murderer's Bar. His red shirt, that a
hundred feet off would have set an artist
to sketching incontinently, at ten would
have made laundryman groan. At
photograph distance his mother would
have wept, for although the District
Attorney had only been away from Yale
two years, and in California one, his nose
had &C luired a color that, like the hue of
choice meerschaum, could only have
been gained by steady effort If the par
son OF his native town could have been
concealed on the bank Of the Yuba, he
would have changed his opinion of the
District Attorneys natural piety, for
although the young man was Of a excellent
family, he took clay pipe from between
his teeth and swore ably at the poor re-
suits ofan hours hard washing, lay in the
bottom of the rocker. Then he looked up
at the sun and transferred his profanity
to that body, as he took off bis slouched
hat and wiped his forehead VIVA his sleeve.
As the District Attorney thus stood
scratching his matted head, a bravely
arrayed figure, bestriding gayly capari.
soned mule, trotted down the bank and
cried out:
81 say. sur, are ye the boss lahyer ov
the Bar ?p
81 am" said the District Attorney, put
ting on his hat.
Are you ON the marryln the stranger
asked pleasantly, as he got of the mule
and took seat ON a rock by the waters
edge.
"Eh9p
Is marrying in yer lines ~
Il don't catch your meaniag," said the
District Attorney, anxiously.
81 mean have We iver done any marryin'
yerself,p explained the stranger, leisurely
cutting a pipeful from plug Of tobacco.
"Well, no." said the District Attorney.
Why's
"Bekase I'D like We 20 splice myself an
Mary Brady over at the Flat TO night
Mary, ye know, daughter of Guild Brady,
what keeps the desdfall-kin We do it w
"Oh, certainly said the District Attor.
ney, without hesitation.
"Well, come on thin-theres horse
fur We at the cabin began"
Brown, who is disting uished lawyer
now with no bad habits, had his doubts
about IL, lie bad never heard Of dis
trict attorney marrying people before. But
he remorseiully reflected that his studies
in his profession had not been profound.
Anyway, Il was reasonable To suppose that
law, like morals and religion, might relax
N the California atmosphere on this occa.
sion. And 80 Brown said, al made
up my mind 10 risk it and 40 with Mr..
Finnegan over TO the Flat. Besides,
have always prided myself on good
memory, SO 1 hadn't any doubt, after my
pious bringing up, that could remember
the marriage service perfectly
The wedding was 10 be- celebrated ut tho
Cosmopolitan Saloon-Mr. Finnegan had
been irreyerent in calling il deadfall-
and the District Attorney found a large
an tipsy company making a tremendous
noise and pledging the expectant bride in
raw rum, pending the arrival Of the bride.
groom, and himself The company was
larger than select. The whole male
population Of the Flat had come ont as
matter Of course, despising the formality
OF waiting for invitations. There were
only three ladies-the bride and her
mother and Mrs. General uardinge--the
wife Of General Hardinge, who was stop.
ping for a few weeks at the Fiat with
view TO investment MIR. Brady having
gotten money api lands, by means of the