New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-05-26


See, there is a man that was in hell
-ah, yes; he had been in hell; in hell
enough, in long, severe sorrow and
struggle; as the like OF him is pretty
sure to have been. Commedias that
come out divine are not accomplished
otherwise"
Mr.. Dibbins' mind seized acutely
upon word pictures OF this character.
He appreciated them, he even believed
that he was one with them, for there is
an intellectual grasp upon such things
with which the heart has nothing to
dc.
Chow true" he remarked to Rachel,
chat suffering is the school of our
sweetest graces, the arena out of
which our greatest achievements, our
devine comedies, if one may so speak,
invariably ISSUE! He began another
passage: :sDante burns like pure
star" when signal passed silently
from the outer door to the butler, who
was languidly, and with but partial
approval, surveying a Titan over the
fireplace.
"Person outside to see you, SIR"
said the critic, without removing his
eyes from the canvas. Mr.. Dibbins
shut the book with snap. The ethe-
real aroma was threatened.
II suppose it's that tiresome man,
Springer, come to get me to bury his
wife, !" he observed.
Springer was a gaunt, red-haired
man, with cast in one eye. No OBJ
ject could have been better calculated
to jar upon tourist who had just
come from inspecting the French and
Italian schools. His gaze slanted
obliquely away from the rector to-
ward an Angora cat on a rug, and he
communicated his errand with what
was pitiably like a hair lip-two in
irmities to which Mr.. Dibbins was
peculiarly sensitive.
1t was as he had surmised. Mrs.
Springer was dead, and must have
christian burial. The rector drew out
his notebook of Russian leather, and
| jotted down an item:
"Man named Springer wants wife
buried. No. 8 Alanthus row. Bad
specimen. Sprinkle camphor on self
before entering house."
Cali right, he said CURLY, pocket
ing his notebook. "I'll come. To-
morrow o'clock"
He waved his hand in a way that
would have been significant to rail-
road magnate, or literary man.
But Mr. Springer fingered. He had
been told that the rector was a very
kind man. Professor Stoneblocker,
whose daughter Mr.. Dibbins had ten
derby wept and prayed over through
out a consumptive career, had said
SO; and for the tenth or twelfth time
in his life Mr.. Springer would have
liked to know what kind man was
He did not know himself waht he
wanted, but he hoped the par
son would know He was con-
scious OF a load of disaster and
loss which had somehow accum2l-
lated from his birth up, and now the
mute sharer OF the load was taken
from him.
He stood there in the doorway un-
der Mrs. Dibbins' light gaze, quite OBJ
livious of Brinkerhoff, who was scowl-
ing at him fit to efface him. TIe had
come with underlined hope that fortune
| had now done her worst for him, and
that, being informed OF this. the par
son would apply some of the balm, of
which. he had been told, parsons were
the sole manufacturers and proprie-
tors. This hope, however, was slow
ly turning to certain disappointment,
when the parson waived all doubt by
remarking:
"Well, if you're hungry, go to the
kitchen. My time is valuable. Brin-
kerhoff, show this person out"
Brinkerhoff beckoned with his fat
finger. and preceded Springer, after the
manner of an Earl in advance OF a
COmmoner.
Springer told him listlessly that he
might show him the door to the street,
as he wasn't going to the kitchen.
"Our kitchen ain t to be scorned,"
said Brinkerhoff. "But it amt a-suf-
fering for your comp'ny, neither
Mr.. Springer made haste to get over
the wide porch and into the street be-
low, thinking of the stark form at
home, and glad that Mary Ann was in
a world where human hurts and dis
appointments made no difference.
II suppose we amt the right sort
for PEARSON Dibbins to put himself out
OF the way for" hethought. "There's
too much flowers and iim-cracks on
the one side, and too much bad smells
and trouble on the other, betwixt us"
He sighed at the uncompromising
truth of his reflections.
"Well, it amt to be expected
Meanwhile Mr.. Dibbins had recover
ed his poise, and gone to the library
with his wife to examine anew Giotto's
portraits of Dante. They sat in an
embrasure, where the sun slanted over
Mrs. Dibbins' cheek, and lent such en-
chanting brightness to her hair that
Rev. Arthur seized her in his arms
with almost boyish fervor.
Sin what great measure the Lord
has blessed mep' he exclaimed. s'This
room, my darling" glancing up at the
tapestried walls, "shall be our refuge
from the world storms. The unkind-
ness of destiny shall matter very lit
tie to us, so long as our lives are spar
ed for mutual sacrifices, for mutual
joys"
And Mr., Dihhinc ,,nchi11ad h1r four