Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-11-21

he was stepping out on the scarlet
cloth; and bowling graciously to his
right hand ard his left.
No need for US to wink and nod be-
hind MS back. 1t was understood that
a butt was being brought into the COM
munlty. The bows were gravely re-
turned; and as, like an honorable body
guard. we formed round the newcomer
to escort him to his hotel. the crowd
that had gathered to receive him fell
into procession behind us.
1t was the cold season, and we called
on him the next morning to take him
for ride. He was full of his pleasant
reception, and anxious to become per-
sonally acquainted with those who had
so interested themselves in him
Cob! you'll know them soon enough"
my friend said. Shouldn't wonder if
you find, when you go back, that half
the community has been calling on
you" And sure enough, when we re-
turned there was his table heaped high
with visiting cards. His eyes glis-
tened.
I've heard that people abroad were
hospitable," he said, "but, upon my
word, this kind of thing l didn't ex-
pect."
My friend glanced over the heap of
cards on the table.
"Ah!" he said, "the most influential
names. They don't often call on new
corners. [ suppose you impressed them
favorably yesterday. Sharp set of fell
lows, too. You had better lose no time
in returning their ciyiIitv -
81 will make my return call this
afternoon" he said warmly. "Can
you give me an idea of the addresses ?'
"No need. Everybody knows every
body here. You have only to ask. ]
wish I could accompany you, but |
shall be busy this afternoon"
$50 shall l." said I, "but we Will look
in upon you later"
sob! and stay to dinner, dol" replied
our young friend, and we readily
agreed.
To one of us, as it happened, the Of
fer of a dinner was not to be lightly
! treated.
We were not surprised when, at the
proper hour, we made our appearance
to see the newcomer look weary and
depressed, He frightened when he
saw us.
So kind of you to COME" he said.
And presently, either / must be
stupid at understanding directions, OF
everybody does not know everybody in
your settlement. Such a wild-goose
chase as [ have had this afternoon p
What !" cried my friend, with we'll
assumed surprise, "you didn't find
them ?" And his voice so clearly COM
mented, "You must be a foolish fell
low that the young mans color rose.
[ must have another try" he said
But was not this strange? | showed
one of the names to member of your
police force He directed me to the
road leading out of the settlement, and
| walked on for about an hour, expect
ing, of course, to reach some house.
All at once | found myself at the ceme-
terry"
My friend laughed. "That man was
a wag; not doubt of it. However,
wait a few days till you know the place
! better"
As you h.~y have guessed, more than
half the cards, dropped by our orders
at the young mans door, bore the
names of men either dead or departed.
But a long time passed before he found
this out; he might never have found
it out at all, but for-however, [ must
not anticipate.
To give in detail the practical jokes
we played on our newcomer would be
! impossible. One | must tell you, for il
nearly had tragic ending.
Two ~, fbroo Of 80 |,
him on shooting trip up the river. II
had pleased one of us, his first friends,
to feign q deep melancholy, from which
our new conner sought in vain to arouse
him. The young fellow spoke to me in
private on the subject. "Our friend"
he said, fought to be watched, men in
his state of mind have been known to
do strange things" [, of course, en-
couraged his fear. We were neither oil
us much surprised, when one evening,
the melancholy man, after hastily
wringing our hands and murmurine
that it could be borne no longer"
leaped into the river. What followed
helped me afterwards to understand the
sequel Of this story. Without a mo-
ment's hesitation, that brave young fel-
low threw off his coat and boots and
dived after his friend. He was not a
strong swimme r, however. and that little
trick was near being our last. When
We fished him up he was half drowned.
He rose IN our estimation from that
moment, though it was not in the ma
ture Of things that we could give up
our diversion, and we were still plotting
against his peace, when hazard called
me away from our settlement to little
place at some distance. | went will
ingly, for the house at which [ was en-
tertained was presided over by young
lady whom it always gave me great
pleasure to meet. She was the daugh-
ter of the merchant / went to sea
bright, clever, and intelligent girl, and
to my taste peculiarly handsome. II
had struck me, mOreOver-nO harm In
confessing now; there is an age where
we read volumes in smile-it had
struck me that the beautiful Eleanor
Hartley had special kindness for
me.
But on this occasion it seemed to me
that something was wrong with Miss
Eleanor. She sustained her part in
conversation only with an effort. She was
languid and depressed.
This detestable climate is telling
on her." was my conclusion. and |
outdid myself IN my efforts to be
amusing.
At such times, as we know-if, that
IS to say, we are not born takers, like
our friends of the Emerald Isle-there
comes the moment when everything is
used up. Neither joke, nor pun, nor