River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-09-14
A ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

CottOnville Is u notable place.
There are not many houses in the
village. and people are even scarcer
than the houses ; but then the society
-you understand.
got of the train at CoitOnyille, one
afternoon, feeling assured that in this
quiet little place my weeks vacation
could not be other than a period of
perfect rest. knew nobody. | had
no business to look after. There was
nothing 10 do but lounge about, read,
and smoke. 4 dream of delightful
idleness filled my mind rs followed
the gigantic black porter to the soil
tary hotel, within Il stone s.throw of
the depot.
4 pleasant room was assigned me,
and, after tOlerable supper, | saun.
tered out upon the broad piazza. A
group of gentlemen were there before
me, and their interested manner and
whispered conversation led me to sup.
pose that they were discussing some
matter OF the gTavest Importance.
had no desire 10 disturb the deliber.
ations of these village statesmen, and
was turning away, when my landlord
approached, and in Il strangely nerv.
Gus manner introduced me 10 the re-
sprclive members Of the party. As
this move made me acquainted with
some OF the titled nahohs of the town,
compaccntly settled down for a few
moments of what hoped would prove
agreeable and perhaps profitable con-
versation. Certainly, something worth
hearing might be expected from the
lips of such men us Judge Miggs,
squire Smith. Gen. Booms, Col. Jones.
aud Mai. Bangs. For moment my
nrw friends regarded me in solemn
silence. To put them ut their ease. |
threw ont a brilliant remark about the
| weather.
"Ahem T. commenced Judge Miggs.
lis this your FIRST visit TO Cotton.
willie -
replied in tho Affirmative, and ex.
pressed myself rs being well pleased
with the glimpse | have had of the
place.
RELATIONS here ," asked Judge
Miggs.
.'None at all, was ny answer.
"Ah ! You have friends living here,
then I"
No, sir" replied. II know no,
body here, and only came to spend a
ew days.
4 dead silence fell upon the crowd,
Il instinctiyely felt that something
nplcasaut Was about to occur.
do you live in this state - quered
the Judge.
II don't think look much like q
dead man. was my jOcular but evdSiye
reply. \ spirit of mischief had now
taken possession Of me, and | was de
tcrmlnrd To battle the curiosity of these
impertinent village gOssips. rose
from my chair and walked 10 the other
end of the piazza. A whispered cunfal
ensued between my iuquisit1rs, and
enough of it came To my ears 20 excit,
some amusement and a little indigna
ton.
The Judg. and the General appeared
TO be the most important personagcs Ia
the crowd, and could hear their
loud, hnarse whispers very distinctly
'lou didn't get much out Of him,
JuAge."
NO. lle'sa sly fellow. General. and
will bear watching. An honest citizen
would not have been 50 reticcnt."
"Ihe dickens =" muttered 10 my,
self. "Do these men take me for d
hOrsc.thief p
"rhe best way 10 deal with such
chaps, said Gen, BOoms, lis 20 HANG
EN- first ana Try EN- atterward.'
Tho atrocious sentiment seemed 10
meet with general approval bat IL
made my blood curdlp. To my relief.
/ Judge Miggs disseutei.
3" The ease looks bad, he said .hut
always give man fair trial, gentle
men.
"fhat may do as 4 general rule, "
! said OLD Rooms "hut when these ear.
pet haggers sneak into our hosons and.
yiper.hke, incitc IN. uiggcrs 90 rise up
and murder MS In our beds, 10 is time
TO act quickly.
4 cold pcrspiration stood upon my
brow. These stupid old fngies. then,
I took me for an cmiSSlry sent 20 stir ~
insure, ION among The negroes. They
were alarmed 10y the silly wmors then
IN circulation aud unprecedented trouble
/ IN the peaceful hamlet of COttunyillc.
WAS indignant, and yet alarmed. A
stranger caught under such cireum.
| stances, without credentials. WAS in AN
ugly fix. True, I could telegraph Ia
! the city ! cam, from hut IN the pN.
citemcnt Of an hour ! might dc denied