The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-09-13
Strange How 1t Got Out.

"Oh! by the way, exclaimed Mrs.
Limbcrtung. suddenly changing the
conversation, ''you know that Flossing
girl? Wen, her brother, he that was
sent to State prison four or five years
ago, is out. | saw them together just
now. L do hope that nobody II 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 il gets out, you know, that
he's Just out of prison, it II be almost
impossible for him to get anything TO
do. But, mercyl look at that clock! l
declare didn't know I'd been here so
long. Good-by, Mrs. Smith; now do
call, won't you?"
Mrs. Limbertung is next found at
Mrs Browns.
"Ohl that reminds menn She says, in
terrupting Mrs Brown. "You know
that Flossing 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, ii not for his own, that
nobody will mention anything about
his past life. II 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. Iimbertung
goes out. On the street, a block or two
away, she meets Mrs. Jones.
"Why, how do you do, Mrs. Jones?
What n stranger you are! / have got
some news for you. Fanny Flossing's
brothers got home-what you never
heard of the Flossings? That's funny.
thought everybody knew them. Well,
4 YOU see, Fanny's brother Tom stole
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
4 Of it!-and Fanny's worried herself al
most to death about him Fanny is that
| pale-looking girl in a chip hat you saw
4 me talking with this morning and she
says if she can only keep it from get
ting Quit would be awful, you know,
4 if folks should find out that there's a
State-prison bird in the vllage-she
hopes Tom il get something to do.
pity her awfully. and / wouldn't lisp it
to a soul, would you? But there's Mrs,
Robinson over there. She's new
conner, you know must speak to her
a minute. GoDd-by.n
'.How do you do, Mrs. Robinson.
How do you like Tawkyille? You're a
stranger now; but when you get ac-
quainted, you'll find folks rel socia-
BILE. That was Mrs. Jones you aw me
talking with Just now. | waB telling
her about Tom Flossng, a fellow who
has just been discharged from State
prison "a real likely young man. He
stole some money, you know. but that
was long time ago, and before he
came here. So nobody in town knows
anything about it, | know all about
it, cause 1 lived in Chinchin, where the
Flossings came from, at the time when
he stole. But there's no reason why
anybody in Tawkville should know
anything about 1t. Because young
man has gone astray once, that's no
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. -
Mrs. Limbertung, in the course of the
afternoon, meets or visits perhaps a
score of her aequaintances, and 10
every one she relates the story of tn
Flossings, and repeats the hope that il
won get out The story and the hope
hlt GtNi AlbN llhO blii ElOCtA anu INT
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 Flossings.
and her last hope ere slumber over
powers her is that ''it won't get out. y
A day or two later she meets Miss
Flossing.
4 "Why. what's the matter, Fanny?n
she exclaims. "How pale you look!
And, j declare! if you haven't been cry
ingn
II can't help itl' says Fanny, break
ing out anew. "Poor Toml'
"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 usei'' And
Fanny tears fall thick and fast
.'lt's positively shamefull' exclaims
Mrs Limbertung, mingling her tears
with Fanny's; that's what / call it,
positively shamefull wonder who
could have the heart to do such a thing
was in hopes that nobody would hear
anything about il; and did hope that
Tom would do weil-and | know he
viii, if he's given half a chance. You
know always thought good deal Of
you, Fanny, and when Tom st took
the money, nearly cried my eyes out.
But cheer up, Fanny; perhaps he'll get
a place yet. You know you can depend
upon me, and if / can say good word
for him to anybody, you know I'll do
it. There, dear, don't cry any more.
And Mrs. Limbertnng kisses Fanny,
and again tell her to cheer up, before
saying good-by.
Mrs. Limbertung goes down the
street wondering who could have told
it. at he same true hoping and sin
cerely hoping that poor Tom will get
place, and Fanny and he win live
''real happy together.
But for the life Of her, she can'tthink