The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-13
strange How It Got Ont.

strange How 1t tot Ont
''Oh! by the way" exclaimed Mrs.
Limbertung, suddenly changing the
conversation, ''you know that Flossing
girl? Well, her brother, he that was
sent to State prison four or five years
ago, is out | saw them together just
now. do hope that nobody Il know
that he's been in prison, for his sisters
a real good girl, and she's dreadfully
anxious that Tom'll do we'll; and. of
course, if ii gets out, you know, that
he's Just out of prison, it Il be almost
impossible for him to get anything to
do. But, mercyi look at that clocki l
declare l didn't know I'd been here so
long. Good-by, Mrs. Smith; now do
call, won't you?"
Mrs. Llmbertung is next found at
Mrs Browns.
"Ohl that reminds me!'' she saws, in
terrupting Mrs. Brown. "You know
that Hossing fellow who got into trou-
BILE and was sent to State PRISON. Yesp
Well, he's out. He looks as though he
wanted to do right now, and hope for
his sisters sake, If not for his own, that
nobody will mention anything about
his past life. It ought to be kept Sc
cret. Both of 'em have suffered enough,
the land knows"
Mrs. Brown promises not to say any
thing about it and Mrs. Limbertung
goes out. On the street, q. block or two
away, she meets Mrs. Jones.
"Why, how do you do, Mrs. JonesP
What stranger you are! have got
some news for you. Fanny Flossing's
brothers got home-whati you never
heard of the Flossings? That's funny. |
thought everybody knew them. Well,
you see, Fanny's brother Tom stole a
lot of money, four or five years ago
yes, and he got taken up and had TO go
to prison-strange that you never heard
of iti-and Fanny's worried herself al
most to death about him-Fanny is that
pale-looAing girl in chip hat you saw
me talking with this morning -and she
says if she can only keep it from get
ting QUIT would be awful, you know,
if folks should find out that there's a
State-prison bird in the village-she
hopes Tom II get something to do. l
pity her awfully, and l wouldn't lisp it
to a soul, would you? But there's Mrs
Robinson over there. She's a new
conner, you know. must speak to her
minute. Good-by."
"How do you do, Mrs. Robinson.
How do you like TawkvilleP You're a
stranger now; but when you get &C
quainted, you'll find folks real socia-
bic. That was Mrs. Jones you aw me
talking with just now. | was telling
her about Tom Flossing, fellow who
has just been discharged from State
prison-'a real likely young man. He
stole some money, you know, but that
was a long time ago, and before he
came here. So nobody in town knows
anything about i. / know all about
it, cause lived in Chinchin. where the
BLESSINGS came from, at the time when
he stole But there's no reason why
anybody in Tawkville should know
anything about 1t. Because a young
man has gone astray once, that's nc
reason why it should be flung in his
face forever afterward; and you know
what folks are, Mrs. Robinson; they'll
never stop talking about it if it once
gets out, F"
Mrs. Limbertung, in the course of the
afternoon, meets or visits perhaps 8
score of her acquaintance, and tc
every one she relates the story of the
blessings, and repeats the hope that il
won't get out. The story and the hope
are carried into the grocer's and the
butchers, and the hope and the story
are left with the baker and the dry
goods dealer, and when Mrs. Timber
tung lies down to sleep that night, hel
last thoughts are upon the blessings
and her last hope ere slumber over
powers her is that sit won't get out. ;
A day or two later she meets Mis-!
| Flossing.
"Why, what's the matter, Fanny?''
she exclaims. "How pale you look
And, I declare! if you haven't been cry
ingr'
Il can't help itr' says Fanny, break
ing out anew. Poor Toni
"Why, what's happenedP"
Nothing, only I've tried and tried
and Toms tried, too; but it's no use
Nobody will hire him. Somebody ha
been around and told everybody abou
him. and it's no use, it's no use!' An,
Fanny's tears fall thick and fast.
''It's positively Shameful exclaim
Mrs, Limbertung, mingling her tear
with Fanny's; .'that's what | call it
positively shameful | wonder VIII
could have the heart to do such thing
(; / was in hopes that nobody would hea
anything about it; and did hope tina
Tom would do well-and | know h
will, if he's given half chance. Yo
, know always thought q good deal Q
, you, Fanny, and when Tom stool
the money, / nearly cried my eyes out
But cheer up, Fanny; perhaps he'll gre
! a place yet. You know you can depent
! upon me, and if l can say good wor
for him to anybody, you know I'll d
it. There, dear, don't cry any more.
And Mrs. Limbertung kisses Fanny
and again tells her to cheer up, befor
' saying good-by.
h Mrs. Limbertung goes down tn
street wondering who could have toll
q it, at he same time hoping-and sin
: eerely hoping that poor Tom will ge
= place, and Fanny and he will liv
''real happy" together.
But for the life of her, she can t thin
, show it got out. ''-B0ston TrenScrip
/ WIDE AWAKE DRUGGIss.
l.