The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-10-20
Strange How 1t Got Out,

sob! by the way" exclaimed Mrs.
Limbertung, suddenly changing the
conversation, ''you know that Fiossing
girl? Well, her brother, he that was
sent to State prison four or five years
ago, is out. saw them together lust
now. do hope that nobody IL know
that he's been in prison, for his sisters
real good girl, and she's dreadfully
anxious that Tom'H do we'll; and, Of
course, if it gets out, you know, that
he's just out of prison, it II be almost
impossible for him to get anything to
do. But, mercy! look at that clock! l
declare didn't know I'd been here so
long. Good-by, Mrs. Smith; now do
call, won't youPi'
Mrs. Limbertung is next found at
Mrs. Browns.
"Oh! that reminds mel" she saws, in
| terrupting Mrs. Brown. "You know
that Tossing 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. 1t ought to be Kept Sc
cret. Both of 'em have suffered enough,
the land knows"
Mrs. Brown promises not TO say any
thing about 1t and Mrs. Limbertung
| goes out. On the street, block or two
away, she meets Mrs. Jones.
"Why, how do you do, Mrs. Jonesp
| What a stranger you are! / have got
some news for you. Fanny Flossing's
| brothers got home-what! YOU never
heard of the FlossingsP That's funny. /
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 90
to prison,strange that you never heard
of it!-and Fanny's worried herself al
most to death about him-Fanny is that
pale-loohing girl in a chip hat you saw
me talking with this morning-and she
says if she can only keep it from get
ting OUTFIT 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. /
| pity her awfully, and | wouldn't lisp it
to soul, would youp But there's Mrs.
Robinson over there She's new
conner, you know. Unjust speak to her
a minute. Good-by."
Show do you do, Mrs. Robinson.
How do you like Tawkvillep You're a
stranger now; but when you get ac-
| quainted, you'll find folks re1 socia-
BILE. 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 it. / 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 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 acquaintance, and TO
every one she relates the story of tn,
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, her
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 Miss
Flossing.
a6NNhrr
| she exclaims. Chow pale you lookl
And, l declared if you haven't been cry
ing!a
II can't help itl'' 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 has
been around and told everybody about
him. and it's no use, it's no usel'' And
Fanny's tears fall thick and fest.
'lt's positively Shameful exclaims
Mrs. Limbertung, mingling her tears
with Fanny's; ''that's what call it,
positively shameful! / wonder who
could have the heart to do such a thingl
was in hopes that nobody would hear
anything about it; and did hope that
Tom would do well-and / know he
will, if he's given half chance. You
know l 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 a good word
for him to anybody, you know I'll do
it. There, dear, don't cry any more. y
And Mrs. Limbertung 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 time hoping-and sin
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 think
show it got out. '--Boston Transcript
| --s-0 -