Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-06-13

way. The applicability of his simile
was recognized by the party, and it
was resolved that the name "croppie"
should be discontinued, and that of
"Dolly Warden" become its substitute.
Our next engagement took us to
ArnOld's Park where we once more
united for a days work with Mr.. john
son and friends. The result of this
days conjunction and work was an
abundance of superb pike, and yellow
perch. AT nine o'clock that night, u
car was attached to the north bound
train of the B. G. s. n. The next day.
light found us 1t W~atertown, Dakota,
two hundred miles from Spirit Lake.
Watertown is the present terminus of
this road, which was, until recently,
the territory. Its progress was STAYED
by the contest that arose among the
Dakota people. This town is favOrably
situated, has a population OF $500 peo-
yle, new modern style residences and
store houses, a large remarkably ornate
and well arranged courthouse, such as
would be a credit and great adornment
to Lexington. Within two miles of this
paw N"'t VI NatCl CdliCu NAM
pesta, reflects as we learned at night,
moon and star beams for the guidance
of belated fishermen. 1t was raining
when we reached Watertown, and did
not cease during the day. We remain
ed weather imprisoned in the car, until
next morning, when we were greeted
with sunshine, and early sailed forth
for a trial of u spoons and skill in
the wide waters Of Kampesta. We
had heard of wonderful fish to be
caught at this place, but after laborious
efforts, extending through the entire
day, and a hazardous trip for miles
over its frothing waves, with a few
small ones we returned, disappointed,
to our car, where we found compli-
mentary tickets to attend a broom drill
and opera entertainment had been left
by Mrs. Williams, the wife OF a dis
tinguished politician of that name who
resides in a beautiful residence at the
west end of the city. WEAKNESS with
our fruitless days labor and the deter
mination to start with The midnight
train back to Spirit Lake, compelled us
to decline attendance. Mr.. Hagar
wrote and sent by special messenger, |
acknowledgement of this gentle civil |
ty, expressing his and our regret that
we could not be present.
Well, once more with the light of a
new day we are in Stillwelrs (S0iOn
Shingte'S) Park ,trotting tOwardArnold's
Park, and bent upon fishing two days
i'll west OkOboji. We reached the place
early, employed a steam yacht to take
MS and our boats to the other side. By
the way, all of our party had become
enamored with the lake and its scenery
the first day we spent upon it.. 1t
covers perhaps as large a space as
Spirit Lake, say $4,000 surface acres,
has Il depth of 500 feet in its central
part, is surrounded with the most ele-
waited land in Iowa; twO-thirds of its
border supports heavy forest trees near
the waters edge; all around the lake a
compact wall has been constructed by
some persons, perhaps the expanding
force of freezing water, ice blowing
from their beds and pushing into place
the bright red and gray boulders that
intermix in its construction, as grace
fully as mosaic work, and occasionally
presenting FURNISHED sufaces as if
polished by the hand of a lapidary.
This variegated wall in sinuous line
and varying height encompasses en-
NAS go Yin VotSA Vi NShoOOIs ollO
when a breese rouses from sleep its
gentle waves, ripples with their blue
eyes filled with dancing reflections OF
this variegated girdle, come creeping
DER the beach. Our bachelor de-
clared they reminded him of his Young
er manhood, when his hopes and fears
were flashing out from orbs meath
long fringed lids that rose and fell for
him, who had drunk with his own till
they mirrored the form of the young
being whose blue veined neck ,girt with
a coral gift, the acceptance OF which
rose-hued for him, the clouds cluster
ing round the sun. The old chap be-
came in the mention of retrospective
reflections t%ouchingly tender, and in
some Measure his romantic affection
became contagious. for L, absurd as it
may seem, abrogating a stoicism that
has come with age, in Imagination
turned to the time, and home of my
youth
"a place where pearly streams,
Glide over silver sand,
Like childhood's rosy dazzling dreams
Vi some far fairy land"
l was II boy again, walking, hand
clasped by hand, "with a fair meek
blossom that grew up and faded by nay
slde." A moment to memory and to
tears, and omance faded away; then
Il lines were cast for captiyes. These
were halcyon days to me, | mean the
two last spent at this beautiful lake,
where my angling was thrilled with
an nnabating effort to catch from dawn
Arnold's Park, the last night we spent
in InXua NNn hnl "
next morning at 8 o'clock, and were
up and away early, kissing in the gray
dawn, a goodbye to Okoboji, a
wreath OF mist, a spirit perhaps, or
something more tangible Than either,
assumed angelic form, returned the
kiss, and beckOned US meaningly, as
u Dido" when, ''with a willow in
her hand, she stood upon the wild sea
shore, and waved her love to come
again to Carthage"
A brisk drive Of old Scion brought
us in an hours time to the car, and
soon at the rate of fifty miles an hour
we were approaching home. | have
failed to tell of the excellent duck and
grouse hunting that may be enioyed in
the tall months where we sojourned.
The ducks were nesting during our
visit. One of our party actually robb-
ed a nest within ten feet of the road
a few minutes after the duck was seen
to fly off. During the morning ride,
the day of our departure for home, we
saw vast numbers of grouse, at one
place two very large fiocks seemed to
be confronting each other in battle
array, males on either side kept up a
continual o of defiance, and would
sallle out like trained soldiers t o con-
f1ict between the lines, the females,
though present in numbers, appeared
unconcerned about the battle that was
waging. No deer or wild turkey up
there. J.R.
ATTEN TION, MERCHANTS.
'TNHE attention of Merchants is directed to the
! law which requires them to file their bonds