The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-04-08
THE STORY OF FIFINE.

let's say Wampum Rapids-did not go in
to society and politics until late in life.
Society had not quite got to Wampum
Rapids at the time we speak Of, and it
was not until the Hon. Bragg, who was
pretty much the founder of Wampum
Rapids, went to Congress as its repre-
sentative that he saw anything of
society" The Hon. Bragg was born in
Ohio somewhere, and his earlier associa-
tions are connected with pig-driving
Somebody owned the pigs, and Tomkins
drove them. AS he grew up he learned
to drive bargains as well as pigs, and,
taking Mr.. Greeley's advice, went West
till he came to Wampum Rapids, where
he settled, married, built up q lard
factory, pork-packing establishment, a
town, and one Of the handsomest for
tunes ever accumulated in the West.
1t was after these achievements in
practical life that the Honorable Bragg
went into politics and had himself re.
turned to Congress. "Society," as he
saw it in Washington for the first time,
struck the Honorable Bragg with deli
cious awc-it was all so strange to him,
so different from pork. At one of the
first parties to which ne was invited the
Honorable Bragg was so impressed with
the ineffable insolence and charming
grace of manner of person present that
he begged to he introduced to him, and,
after an interview of five minutes, re-
tired in sort of stunned amazement to
ask his host who that was. He was in
formed that it was foreign diplomat,
an attache to one of the legations.
Blamed if don't make diplomat
ist Of my Misty, thenr' cried the Honor
able Bragg, and the compliment so
pleased the diplomat when he heard it
that he invited him to dine with him at
the Welcker's of the day and taught him
how to drink Burgundy.
Misty" was the familiar Authorization
of Themistocles Meginuis Tomkins,
only son and heir of the Honorable
Bragg, at that time a youth of eighteen,
pursuing his college course-bitliards
and whisky-punch, chiefy-at-Michigan
University. Misty was good fellow,
handsome, rattle-pated, with no great
amount of brains, but plenty of life, and
very popular. His college career was
nipped in the bud soon after by some
rather obstreperous skylarking, and the
old man" called Misty" to Washington
to prepare himself for diplomatic ca.
reer. misty" took French and a
Spanish teacher and went into Washing
ton fast life with an indispensable vim.
After couple Of years the "old man"
procured him a position as Secretary of
Legation at European court, and
Misty" sailed for Paris in gleeful an
tlcipation. He had pocketful of
shckels, letter of credit which made
bankers clerks bow to him till they
showed their back hair, and he was not
quite twenty-one years old. There was
NO necessity to report at the place of his
destination Immediately, and Misty"
was determined to have good time.
He succeeded wonderfully we'll. Some
of his escapades are yet surviving among
the legends which float around the
American colony" in Paris-favorous
tales which are told to newcomers over
the second bottle in the student restau-
rants OF the Latin Quarter. 1t was
Misty who tied the Sergent de Vile to a
laces. 1t was he who captured the mag
nificent helmet of a Cent Gard, as he was
marching on parade, with fish-hOok
and line, and forever disgraced the war
riOr by overwhelming him with the in
exhaustible laughter of the mob. 1t
was Misty who went to the Communist
meeting at Belleville, and nearly fright.
ened Paris into Mysteries by firing off
Roman candles for signal rockets from
the windows, after turning off the gas.
One night as Misty was returning from
questionable ball at q questionable
hour, along an unfrequented street, he
saw drunken Turco, crazed with alb
sinthe, pursuing little girl, who in vain
tried to escape from him. just rs the
brute caught the shrinking child by the
hair Misty stopped his cab, jumped
quickly out, knocked the fellow down
and kicked him into the gutter, at the
same time trying to compose the terri
fed child. The cab-dfiver drove away
hurriedly, and the Turco, rising, drew
his bayonet and assailed Misty with vim
dictive fury. The child screamed loudly,
the police came, and the upshot was the
arrest of all three. When Misty was re-
leased next morning he called the little
girl to him. She was ragged and tear
sOiled, but . very pretty creature, about
ten years of age, with deep, olive skin,
and large, brown eyes, full of entreaty
and pathos. "What is your name, little
girl?" he asked. "Teresa Gomez" she
answered; = bat cveEybo1y calls me
Fifine-except my mother"
Twill she not be uneasy about you,
Fifine!" Tho childs eyes hllod up with
tears. "Oh, very!" she cried, and she
is SO sick, too" Then she told her little
story. She lived Numero COL Rue de
BAG, az sizisms-and they were very
poor. Her mother was too i'll to 20 out
or work and the little girl supported both
by selling cigar.lighters about the cafes
and the doors Of the theaters, Last even.
ing she was later out than usual and had