River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-09-03

several large cities where ] have re-
manned some length of time.
Il have done a few pieces from nature
since | came here he added. rising and
taking from the wall and handing to
me a small oil painting which was UNI
mistakably wei l-selected view Of
the Fountain House, including the
wheat fields, woods and hills at the
south; and showed artistic taste and
teaching. But over il all was lack
n something suggestive of the fate which
hangs over him and Just as he IS about
To- perfect his most brilliant efforts inn
periously calls halt!
He read nv criticism in my face and
fastened to say: "'Do not pity me, for
early learned the unreasonable dis
lance between my wishes and my pow
ers. The most perfect being the world
ever knew bore his cross, and why
should not bear mine? | thank God
daily for all my advantages, and that /
am able to walk about and DO some
things. Beside which / have much en-
ioyment with the many delightful people
whom | meet Mr.. Snowman, | enity
YOU every day. feel that YOU under
stand me better than anyone since my
mother, AID in this world of miscon-
structions nothing is sweeter than APP
probation. and the tiny marvel
dropped bis head on my arm while his
tears flowed naturally.
Greatly affected, | closed my arms
about him and drew him tightly to me,
he. who had never known the romantic
love Of a woman, nor ever could expe-
ricnce that delight, trembled and tlut
tered blissfully in the embrace of n man.
Finally raising his head and smiling
happily he continued: NO, indeed, /
have no rebelious feelings. My soul has
suffered the agonies which viii bring
forth the ripened fruit of submission.
And a calm, majestic look came over
his face, borne of the peace which pas
seth all understanding.
Placing his small hand on my arm
he invited me to come to his table
while our companions We're away,
which invitation | accepted. His table
manners were most dainty, he combining
himself to vegetable and foods which
he could manage with his one hand. A
lack of table etiquette in guests at even
adjacent tables, gave him actual pain,
and twice during those few days the
eXecrable habits of an old man at the
table next US sent Cappoli hurrying to
his room, with an unconscious, deeply
scorufui curl of his lips, before half
finishing his meal. But when that
same unpublished, dirty old man fell
down the steps and sprained his ankle,
and lay suffering in his room without
other attendance than the doctor and
the walters could give him, it was
CappOli who sat beside him hours a
day, ministering to his wants and anus
ing him in every possible way. until the
doctor besought him to remember his
own physical frailness, and exercise
some of his Christian charity toward
himself
The evening before Senator La Clair
was expected to return from Milwau-
kec. Cappoli took my hand and slowly
leading me to their room closed the
door, and motioning to chair
and seating himself, said: MIR. Slow
man, YOU have undoubtedly heard some
thing of my mother and of my child
hood. and in consideration of the intim-
ate friendship that has sprung up
between US in this last week | wish to
tell YOU more. She was my constant
companion and instructrcsS, and was
so kind, so pitiful, and loved me better
than She did my brothers oh. it seemed
as if my heart would burst when they
took her away.
Perhaps She did not really need
confinement, ! suggested.
ALAS yes; there was no doubt of it..
/ Why, Mr. Snowman, one day toward
the last she dressed herself in a velvet
dress. put on all her laces and dia-
mOnds; turned the water on in the bath
tub and got right in to take a bath, and
\ that is the way we found her On an
other day She filled the carriage with
table linen and obliged the coachman
to drive through the principal streets,
while She called them off for sale, until
some Of fathers friends went up to his
Office and notified him, saying: For
/ God : sake. La Clair, put that woman
under restraint. But he did not,
until one night | caught her secreting
a carying-kuife under her pillow, after
which in fear Of our lives, he placed
her in an asylum Oh! Mr.. Snowman,
/ those were terrible days and nights for
me- | was the only one she would
mind at all, and how | tried to keep
her qniet so that she would not be
taken away. 1t seemed to me | had
rather set the house on fire and have
us all burn together than that She
should be subjected to the doubtful
treatment of an asylum.
As he uttered the last sentence a wild
/ glare flashed in his eyes and his fist
/ clenched in a manner which made me
wonder that he had not done the fear
/ full deed However, the look was only
momeutary, the glitter passed away
and he continued:
The shock OF the terrible separation
over, finally grew to feel with one OF
my favorite poets that whatever is, is
right, and that much sweetness cc I'D
come to me in life from striving to so
far rs possible fill her place to father
and also in sometimes giving to others
I a cup of cold water in Christ's name.
That IS all. That is all. That's
all, >" and the weary head dropped to
one side, the eyes grew blank and
/ CLASSY, the right side of the face drew
down, water ran copiously from the
eve and corner of the mouth and the
body sat stiff and corpse-like.
Silently stole away from the exalted
soul which was chained in a cell whose
door was barred with paralysis and
cross-barred with insanity.
Cappoli was not ont of their room
for several days af er that, but when
/ he did appear he was as calm as when
/ ! first met him, and we had several
delightful and prolonged interviews
without any aggravated appearance
of either malady.
One Saturday night when the grand
weekly ball-which was always held in
the diniDg-room was in progress, i
being a rather late spectator, was
endeavoring to push my way through
the crowd OF Iookers-on in the door
way to procure a seat in the ballroom,
when my attention was attracted by
Cappoli. who was standing Just inside
the door and with sparkling eyes,
parted lips. aud almost bated breath
was watching Hal and Rachel Rodman.
who certainly formed a glowing picture
as they circIed. and turned again and
again in the witching waltz; his blonde
curls leaning well toward her hair OF
midnight hue Her eyes filled with
their tenderest magnetism looking into
his. while his gaze met hers in I'M
disguised alteration as on, on they
they whirled. obliviouS Of outsiders,
oblivious OF all differences in religion,
unconscious of everything but music
and love. "Cappoli, | whispered,
would Won not like to change places