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

l. dill IlOt 0lIS tlldl InuSIl
to our credit | will tell it, however, as
a warning"
So our guest answered an inquiry
made by young, and, it must be con-
fessed, somewhat conceited member of
the little party gathered together one
winter evening around our dining
table.
"Hang the credit" that person re-
piled. He was rather uplifted, for he
thought he had that evening won dis
tinction In the sight of a lovely pair of
eyes then wasting their sweetness in
the drawing-room. The owner of the
lovely eyes had been n widow for some
years; she was rich, elegant and clever.
There was a humorous wrinkling about
the mouth Of our middle aged guest as
he answered:
"Hang the credit So can say now
with light heart. Then the credit
was Of more Importance to me. How
ever, you shall judge. You have heard"
he went on, turning to the gentleman
who headed the table, that In the early
days of our settlement, we were wild
lot. Large fortunes had been made by
the first settlers: and it got abroad at
home that gold was to be had simply
for the asking Adventurer poured in.
The native war brought IN adventures
of another kind-men whose lives had
been played out in the old country, and
who were ready for any kind of devil
try. Oh [ can assure you there was at
times a singular collection in the set
tlement: could tell you one or two
tales that would surprise you. This,
however" turning to the person whose
remark had provoked his tale, lis not
Of SO desperate a character"
You must understand that at the
time of which speak-things are much
changed now-we had neither library
nor theateI, nor concert room, and were
driven now and then to queer devices
for killing time. Some few of us took
up with practical jests, but after time
even these palled. Every one in our
community became SO wide-awake that
the most artfully-constructed scheme
broke down. If it did succeed, on the
other hand, thevengeance taken was SO
dire as to be alarming. We were sorely
IN need of a patient butt.
1t happened that at this time Young
solicitor whom fortune had not favored
at home, taking it into his head that
competition was Staying his talent, de-
termined to try his fortune among US.
He was certain-and he was not far
Wrong-that IN such a community
causes for litigation would abound
He was slightly acquainted with one
of my friends, and wrote to him of his
intention, asking him at the same time
to be SO kind as-in the poor fellows
own words-'.just to let people know,
you know, that am coming. p
The letter was shown about, and that
same evening my friend and I, with two
or three others whom we had let into
our secret, went out together, armed
with large piece of chalk. In the
morning there was much questioning
in the community. for on every bit oil
boarding. every blank wall and gate was
posted up In gigantic letters-"He is
coming"
Again and again were the notices ex.
plunged by indignant householde-s.
Again and again were they imposingly
reproduced. The police were set On the
watch; We either brow-beat or bribed
them. People began to think that there
was something mysterious in the bust.
ness. We, of course, kept our own
counsel, and at last, one fine morning, a
second advertisement appeared. 1t was
to this effect ''He has come"
In the interval our friend had heard
again. 81 shall arrive by steamship
Benares," our solicitor wrote. ~ hope
you have let people know" We had lei
people know to some purpose. 1t be-
gan to be rumored abroad that joke
was on foot, and the whole community
focked to the landing place.
To preserve the delusion. we had
paved the jetty with scarlet cloth, and
decorated it with flowers. AS soon as
the steamer dropped anchor, nay frienc
and put off in small boat to receive
and bring to shore our distinguished
guest
He was small, delicate looking mar
with face as refined as that of a wo
man. / had slight prickings of com
junction when / met him. He was Sc
delightfully."- frank and confding.