Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-09-02

The next day parties from our hotel,
from the Arlington Hotel, and from
the Holbrook House. joined together
and chartered car for an excursion to
OconOmowoc, to remain two DAYS.
OF course, Hal was among the number,
and as Senator La Clair went on the
morning train to Milwaukee for a
week, circumstances favored a closer
acquaintance with Cappoli. Not see
ing him at breakfast, nor in the parks,
[ called at his room about noon and
found the little fellow busily sewing
buttons on the Senator's shirts, while
beside him lay a pile of socks which he
had already darned, and which were
done in a surprisingly neat manner,
considering he was obliged to do it all
with his left hand, his ri ght one only
serving as weight to hold the gar
ments on his knees.
He very unembarrassedly explained
that circumstances oblige me to try
to fill the place of both wife and son to
father.''
I expressed my appreciation of such
course. And taking up Lubkee and
Ruskin from among various works on
art, on the table, turned the converse
ton by asking if he ever painted.
''Indeed have he replied. 'Ihave
taken lessons in crayoning, sketching
oil-painting from competent masters in
several large cities where have re-
NAMED some length of time
II have done afew pieces from nature
since came here he added, rising and
taking from the wall and handing to
me small oil painting which was I'M
mistakably a well-selected view of
the Fountain House, including the
wheat fields, woods and hills at the
south; and showed artistic taste and
teaching. But over it all was lack
a something suggestive of the fate which
hangs over him and just as he is about
to perfect his most brilliant efforts i'm
periously calls halt!
He read my criticism in my face and
fastened to say: ''Do not pity me, for
I early learned the undesirable 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? I thank God
daily for all my advantages, and that l
am able to walk about and do some
things. Beside which 1 have much en-
joyment with the many delightful people
whom I meet. Mr.. Snowman, enjoy
you every day. feel that you under
stand me better than anyone since my
mother, and in this world of miscon-
structions nothing is sweeter than ap-
preciation,' and the tiny marvel
dropped his 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 expo
ricnce that delight, trembled and flut
tered blissfully in the embrace of a man.
Finally raising his head and smiling
happily he continues: ''No, indeed, l
have no rebelious feelings. My soul has
suffered the agonies which will bring
forth the ripened fruit of submission. y
And 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 were 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
scornful 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 a chair
and seating himself, said: ''Mr. 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 l wish to
tell you more. She was my constant
companion and instructress, and was
so kind, so pitiful, and loved me better
than she did my brothers-oh!itse seemed
as if my heart would burst when they
took her away
"Perhaps she did not really need
confinement, l 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 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
Gods sake, La Clair, put that woman
under restraint But he did not,
until one night caught her secreting
a carving-knife 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 wilc
glare flashed in his eyes and his fist
clenched in a manner which made mt
wonder that he had not done the fear
full deed. However, the look was only
momeptary, the glitter passed away
and he continued:
1.-The shock of the terrible separation
over, finally grew to feel with one O