The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-11-09
Strange How il Got Out,


"Oh! by the way" exclaimed Mrs.
Limbertung. suddenly changing the
conversation, lyon know that FlOssing
grip 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'll know
that he's been in prison, for his sisters
a real good girl. and she's dreadfully
anxious that TOm'll do well; and of
course if it gets out. you know, that
he's just out of prison, it'll be almost
impossible for him TO get anything &c
do. But, mercy! look ut that clock! /
declare didn't know I'd been hero so
long. GoOd-by. Mrs. Smith; now do
call, won't you?"
Mrs. Limbertung is next found at
Mrs. Browns.
''Oh! that reminds me-" she says, in
terrupting Mrs. Brown. "You know
that Flossing fellow who got into
trouble and was sent to State prison?
Yes? Well. he's out. He looks as
though he wanted to do right now. and
| hope for his sisters sake, ii not for his
own, that nobody will mention any,
thingk1Ibut his past life. 1t onght TO
be KEPT secret. Both of 'em have suf-
fercd enough. the land knows"
Mrs. Brown promises not to say any
thing about it. and Mrs. Limbertung
goes out. On the street a block or two
away she meets Mrs. Jones.
"Why, how do you do. Mrs. jones'?
What stranger you are! l have rot
some news for you. Fanny Flossing's
brothers got hOme--what! you never
heard of the Flossings. That's funny.
l thought everybody knew them.
Well, you see, Fanny's brother. Tom,
stole lot of money. four or five years
agO-yes, and he got taken up and had
to 60 to prisOn-strange that you never
heard of it! And Fanny's worried her
self almost to death about him-Fanny
is that pAie-iooking girl in chip hat
you saw me talking with this morning
and she says if she can only keep it
from getting QUIT would be awful,
you know. if folks should find out that
there's State prison bird in the village
she hopes Tom'Il get something to
do. l pity her awfully, and | would
not lisp it to soul, would you?'
Mrs. Limbertung. in the course of
the afternoon, meets or visits perhaps a
score of her acquaintance, and to every
one she relates the story of the Flos-
sings, and repeats the hope that it
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 her
last thoughts are upon the BLESSINGS,
and her last hope ere slumber over
powers her is that ''it won't get out"
A day or two later she meets Miss
Flossing.
"Why. what's the matter, Fanny?"
she exclams. "HOw pale you look.
And, l declare! if you haven't been
cryingr"
Il can't help it," says Fanny, break
ing out anew. Poor Toni
why. what's happened?"
Nothing. only I've tried and tried,
and Toms tried, too, but it's no use.
Nobody will hire him. Somebody has
been around and told everybody about
him. and it's no Use, it's no use." And
Fanny's tears fall thick and fast.
''lt's positively shamefulr' exclaims
Mrs. Limberlung, mingling her tears
with Fanny's; that's what | call it.
positively shameful! wonder who
could have the heart to do such
thing? was in hopes that nobody
would hear anything about it; and did
hope that Tom would do well-and
know he will. if mes given half u
chancer'
And Mrs. Limbertung kisses Fanny,
and again tells her to cheer up. before
SAYING good bye.
Mrs. Limbertung goes down tho
street wondering who could have told
it, ut the same time hoping-and sim
cerely hOping-that poor Tom will get
place, and Fanny and he will live
''real happy together.
But for the life of her she can't think
show it got out. - Boston Transcript