River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-10-17

To give IN detail the practical Jokes we
PLAYED on the newcomer would be imposs
BILE. One | must tell you, for iG very nearly
had tragic ending.
Two or three of us had started with him on
shooting trip up the river. II had pleased
one of us, hisfrst friend to feign a deep mel
anchoiy from which our newcomer sought
in vain to rouse him. The young fellow
spoke TO me in private on the subject
"Our friend,n he said, fought TO be watched
Men in his state of mind have been known tc
do strange things.n /, of course, encouraged
his fear. We were neither of us then much
surprised when, one evening, the melancholy
man. after hastily wringing our hands and
murnuring that ait would be borne no long.
err" leaped into the river. What followed
helped me afterward TO understand the sequel
of this story without moments hesitation
that brave yonng fellow threw offhis coat and
boots, and Owed after his friend. He was moi
strong swimmer, however, ard thai little
rick was near being our last. When we Tished
him up he was half drowned
He rose in our estimation from that mo-
ment. though it was not in the nature oil
things that we could give up our diversion
and were still plotting against his peace
when Hs GARD called me away from our set
Element to a little place at some distance.
went willingly, for the house at which / was
to be entertained was presided over by a
young lady whom it always gave me great
The merchant whom [ went so see Il bright
clever and intelligent girl, and to my taste
peculiarly handsome. 1t had struck me
moreoyer-no harm in confessing it now;
there is an age, YOU know, when we read
volumes in smile-it had struck me then
that the beautiful Eleanor Hartley had q
special kindness for me.
But on this occasion it seemed to me that
something was wrong with Miss Eleanor.
She sustained her part in the conversation
only with an effort. She was languid and de-
pressed.
'"This detestible 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 fun, nor lively anecdote will visit the
distressed brain. Nothing remains but 10
choose between naked commonplace and
doeful silence To me, one eyeningat dinner
such moment came. Up to that time for
our host was a silent mani Ihad done all the
talking, and Miss Eleanor's eyes had often
mutely thanked me. / coul he 10 her now no
longer In the silence that followed on this
dreary conception she raised her gentle
voice. What plaintiye look there was in her
facet How hard she was trying to be anima-
ted; and how felt for herl Happy thought!
Had been alone | should have cut a caper
It struck me all at once that had not yet told
them about our newcomer, and the tricks
which we had played upon him. This, il only
properly managed would afford food for
laughter and amusement for days.
so! by the by" | began, IL have not told
you aboutthe new fellow who arrived at our
place the other day.
Certainly Miss EleGnor's eyes were fixed on
me with a interest such as she had not NTH
erto accorded to any Of my stories, and thus
encouraged, proceeded boldly, telling them,
Ouly with much more gLstO, what ! have Just
told YOU, about the letters and advertise
ments, the dead mans cards, and the false
suicide. ! was so taken up with my own
cleveruess that did not notice the way in
which my story was being received by my
hostess Judge thet OF my establishment and
dismay when, as ] ended with an insane little
chuckle She suddenly burst out:
"And you call yourselves men? 10 you
know what call vouY
"My dear Nelliew said her father.
81 was speeches.. She fixed her eyes on
my face, and the position, | assure you, was a
singularly uncomforta bic one
Il call YOU towards" she went on, sand
and" evidently she was at loss for an ex-
pressiye word
Miss Hartley" 1 said, deeply penitent
eff"
Pray say no more" she answered coldly
Z" Papa, viii leave you to your wine"
did not see her again during my stay
which, as you may guess, was not prolonged
beyond the time absolutely necessary. This
abrupt and mysterious interruption Of an ac-
quaintanceship that had promised to prove
interesting cut me up more than | can well
express / tried to cast the whole matter out
of mind | could not In every quiet moment
| would find myself running over the unfor-
tunate occuranee and trying to account for it.
Had she known him before? Was she in love
with him? The idea first made me turn hot
then cold. But mol impossible Not the
most extravagant fancy could make these two
images of Eleanor HARTLEY and of our simple
little newcomer stand side by side. Looked
at from another point of view, the thing was
equally absurd. A score of men admired
Eleanor Hartley-fne stalwart fellows, the
pick of our community, for none other would
have yentured to lift their eyes so high-men
broad-chested and deep-yoiced, and well-vers-
ed in every kind of world lore. Was it not
to imagine that this pulling boy
could be her choice? How then was | to ex-
plain her displeasure? ] did explain it. /
would be hard for you to guess how But at
certain times, YOU know, our thoughts are
peculiarly obedient to impulses communicdt-
ed TO them by a will with which our desires
have tempered. ! said to myself Elanor Hart
ley was disappointed in me. Yesthis was the
meaning of it all. That should have Joined
in innicting annoyance on a helpless fellow
creature vexed her. And really, when
look back calmly the whole thing began to
wear an ugly aspect. Well, it was annoying.
But time plays havoc with impressions. Elean-
or would be sorry, doubtless for her hastiness.
! could easily put the matter in a different
light. All would be we'll
Meanwhile returned to my own quarters
where, as presently found, events OF an ex
citing character were under discussion. Miss
Hartley, was told, had come to pay a visit to
her married sister. who lived in our settlement
As we were not cheered by the presence Of
any unmarried ladies, this was of course an
occurrence of the first magnitude. But fur
Their, large dinner was to be given ut our
club, to which all the ladies and our new
conner were invited. He had been persuaded
that the dinner was given in his honor, and
was to be beguiled into making 4 speech,
from which much fun was expected. ] threw
cold water on his scheme, | was afraid, YOU
see, that Miss Hartley would see in it another
malicious trick and be further incensed
against me. But once bali of such sort is
set rolling, it requires a hand OF peculiar
force to stop it, Mine was not able for the feat,
and my friends arranged their pl n Of action
without me After all, think, | was not sor-
nv that he should make a fool Of himself pub
liclv before Miss Eleanor 1t would be sure
to destroy any sentimental liking she might
have had for him, so | held my peace, and the
eveltful day came on.
How nervous / was that EVENING" / remem-
Der / was Obliged to cali in the assistance of
one OF my friends to adjust my ueektie, and he
was obliging enough to tell me | looked as
yellow as a guinea. A comfortable assurance
truly, when | had wished to look my very best,
for had not seen Miss Hartley since my I'M
lucky story. and | wanted to make my peace
with her But when, with an apology on my
lips, Idrew near the sofa where She was sitting,
found, to my Infinite relief, that no apology
was necessary She was as friendly in her
maner as ever. She was exq1isiteiy dressed
that evening in-well, | can't exactly say what
some dead white material, that fell in deli
cious folds about her stately figure. That girl
could always dress herself to perfection. She
looked superb. Beyond a doubt, she was the
queen If our party; certainly we all felt as
proud of her IS If each une Of us had been her
father or brother She did not speak to our
newcomer, and this relieved me. But at the
dinner-table felt little more uneasy. She
and he sat at opposite corners of the table. 1t
seemed to me that she was quitely watching
him, from time to time, and at such moments
there was ia her face a wonderful light OF
happiness and pride. understood it all pres
entity.
The long dinner passed; dessert was on the
table: the usual toasts had been given and
responded TO. Then my friend rose, and in a
few serious words which, as some OF us knew,
yelled real irony, proposed the health OF
the youngest man al the table. our distln-
guished guest, whose arrival had been so
long anticipated and so eagerly hailed
All drank the toast, and there followed an
awful pause Every eye, Eleanor HaTtley's
among the number, was fixed on our new
conner. he rose TO his feet, and | ventured
to glance at her All was explained.
O. woman, what q strange being you arel
Soft and vet triumphant was the beautiful
A. fss.a