Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-20

say. uo Sdlu w lllo I1lSllu} do VIZ
neared the decorated landing place, "do
they expect any swell?'
''They expect you, my dear fellow"
was the reply. II let people know, you
know"
"You must be Jolly, hospitable set
But what am [ to say to them all?'
mo necessity to say anything. Just
bow as you pass through ..
"Ohi scarcely like" ...
You must, my dear follow, you
must. Not to acknowledge this bril-
liant reception would stamp you at
once churl."
The young fellows color rose. He
was as shy and sensitive as a girl, but
rather than appear ungrateful he would
have gone through any ordeal, and
presently-oh! dear. [ can see it now
he was stepping out on the scarlet
cloth; and bowling graciously to his
right hand and his left.
No need for us to wink and nod be-
hind MS back. It was understood that
butt was being brought into the COM
munity. 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"
nv 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.
GIVE heard that people abroad were
hospitable," he said, "but, upon my
word, this kind of thing | didn't ex-
pect."
My friend glanced over the heap of
cards on the table.
"Ahn' he said. ''the most influential
names. They don't often call on new
corners. l suppose you impressed them
favOrably yesterday. Sharp set of fell
lows, too. You had better lose no time
in returning their civility."
" [ will make my return call this
afternoon" he said warmly "Can
you give me an idea of the addresses q"
"No need. Everybody knows every
body here. You have only to ask. /
wish l could accompany you, but |
shall be busy this afternoon"
$50 shall l." said I, "but we will look
in upon you later"
Cob and stay to dinner, do" 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, or
everybody does not know everybody in
your settlement. Such wild-goose
chase as [ have had this afternoon r'
"What! !" cried my friend, with we'll
assumed surprise, "you didn't find
them p 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 a 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 Gene
terry" . s. ..s
My friend laughed. "That man was
wag; not a doubt of it. However,
wait few DAYS till you know the place
better"
As you l.ay 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, I must
not anticipate.
To give in detail the practical jokes
we played on our newcomer would be
impossible. One must tell you, for it
nearly had tragic ending.
Two or three of us had started with
him On shooting trip up the river. 1t
had pleased one of us, his first friends,
to feign a 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" I, of course, en-
couraged his fear. We were neither of
us much surprised, when one evening,
the Melancholy man, after hastily
wringing our hands and murmuring
that g 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 fell
low threw off his coat and boots and
dived after his friend. He was not a
strong swimmer, however. and that little
trick was npar bainu orr loot NTho,