River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-10-01

" @ HE'S a pretty little thing. But
y you know always fancied girl
who had plenty of courage (Which don't
think she has), and who went In Tor
athletics. Then she can't sing or play
though she likes music. So, all things
considered, guess I'll remain true to
some of my Detroit girls.
However, the fair Sadie and | are
going boating on the so-called river, this
evening. It's about the only diversion
outside of buggy riding over bad roads
at three dollars an hour ESQ don't drive
much). I can't say I'm stuck on Kan
sas City-too wild and woolly for me.
Will tell you more about her in my next.
Write soon. Yours, as ever,
MART S. WILBUR.
Mr. Mart Wilbur sealed the letter.
of which the above was the closing par
agraph-and went to keep his appoint
ment.
A dashing young fellow he was truly.
He had left Detroit and gay society
crowd a few weeks before, and had
come out to Kansas City. This was in
the spring of 1881, and perhaps Kansas
City at that time did deserve the rather
severe criticism he had passed on it.
Not knowing anyone there he had found
it rather dull, and rough, and he was
just little homesick.
And then one evening he had been
introduced to Miss Sadie Johnson as
he was walking home with one of his
fellow clerks, Mr.. Mead, who had left
them a few minutes later and turned
off on another street. Mr.. Wilbur had,
however, walked out home with Miss
Johnson, and secured permission to call.
She had found him rather different from
the other young men she had met. More
Of polish, and better talker-and GER
tainly very good looking. lawfully
conceited, though" she confided to her
chum, Ella Terry, "and / don't believe
he'd do to be with in time of danger.
He's what we'd call an eastern dude
out in Kansas. But he'll do for sum-
mer Irritation" Mr.. Wilbur had called
later, and passed very pleasant even
ing, and made the present engagement.
Sadie was waiting for him on the
porch as he strolled up the walk. She
in his letter. Big blue eyes. wavy brown
hair, and dainty, petite figure. In a
few minutes they left the house, and.
boarding one of the old-fashioned, rick
ETY. mule cars, rode to the river bank
IN the Bottoms behind the Stock
yards Exchange. where Mart engaged
q boat from the old boatman, and helped
Sadie to her seat in the stern.
(Which way shall we go; up the
river or DOWN." he asked, as he tossed
off his coat and took up the oars.
eff we go up the river we can go clear
to Argentine. If we go down we will
only go quarter of mile, till we strike
the Missouri. and it's dangerous, an
swered Sadie, adding to herself: 81
don't believe / want to trust myself on
the Missouri with YOU"
Wilbur smiled little Brought up as
he had been on the great lakes and the
mighty Detroit river. he had supreme
contempt for the dirty little creek"
called the Kaw, and for the big muddy
river into which it flowed. But as he
Intended to while away a larger part of
the evening in pleasant Irritation with
his pretty companion, he was not par
ticular as TO whether he had chance
so show his seamanship or not. So he
pulled leisurely up the stream, and in
a little while they were floating under
the shadow of the big hill that lies be-
tween the stockyards and Argentina,
on the Kaw river. They had been talk
ing on various subjects, and he now
decided it was time for little lovemak-