New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-10-24
a Story Of Possibilities.
$50 Ingersol,s turned ND againp,

49, 49,
carefully examining the column of
ssWants" old weakness OF mine,
for ! can not rid myself of the idea
that may some day find there that
somebody somewhere has something
that / want, Or wants something
that | have I didn't look up, be-
cause the speaker was only Wash
burn, my old college classmate. And
Washburn and ], having after our
graduation dropped into neighboring
Offices on Court street, had been con-
stantly in each others company for
years, and had long been in the
habit of taking our MONDAY meal
together at the same table in the
same corner of-but / will not give
the name of the restaurant, it is not
very good one, and I don't care to
advertise it.
So, as | said, I didn't look up, even
when Washburn addressed me, but
only said, with a foolish play on
words, which is an incurable trick of
mine, II didn't know he had ever
turned down. He has managed to
keep himself well in sight. When he
couldn't be Governor, he would be
Alderman, and if he failed to get the
postoffice-
ooh, [ don't mean David" inter
Tupted Washburn, "Imean Increase,
of our class. Injured Innocence
don't you know we used to call him,
because of his unlucky alliterative
name and his somewhat aggressive
meekness of countenance?"
But before Washburn had half
finished his explanation had thrown
down my paper, and was all eager
attention
* 'Inky Injinsp Why, I haven't
heard anything of him these twenty
years. So he has turned up at last!
What have you heard? | thought
the sands of the desert or the waves
of the ocean had swallowed him long
ago. A right good fellow he was,
but he never accomplished anything,
he was so restless and changeable.
"Well, it seems his restlessness
worked itself off in those years of
wandering that we know of. He
travelled the earth over, pried into
every corner, learned the manners
and language of every nation, pene-
trated every forest, sailed every sea,
explored every river, climbed every
mountain, till, when at last there
was no more to see and no more to
do, and fortunately not till then, hay
ing come home to take breath for
few weeks till he could form new
paths, he saw there young girl
who had grown up not five miles
from his fathers farm, and found in
her the rest he had been for ten years
seeking the world over in vain. So
he married her, and settled down in
a little village in some remote corner
OF the State, and there for ten years
he has lived as unknown to the outer
world as if he had Joined a brother
hood of monks, but doing a work
that the most famous philanthropist
might envy"
How can that be, when his good
works have never been trumpeted
abroad by the newspapers? [ was
not aware that the race OF philan-
thrOpists had become careless of the
praise of men. Obscure success is not
the object of their envy, as far as my
observation goes
My story demands a genial listen
er, sir, and shall not be unfolded to
ycynic,' answered Washburn, pursuing
up his mouth, froWning portentous-
iy, and reaching out his hand for nv
newspaper.
Nonsense! don't tease" said I,
showing the paper away behind me.
80 You see am all curiosity, and of
the most genial kind, too, to hear
lngersoll's story, and if you're not
quick about it our time will be up be-
fore you get through, and you know
there'd be two of us disappointed
then"
CHATS true rejoined Washburn,
as we began on our modestmeal. II
do Wantto tell it to you, and to see
how pleased you will be. Well, it
was in the town of Sumner that he
settled with his dear girl, and the
pair identified themselves at once
with the interests of the place in
way that isn't common with people
situated just as they were, more's the
pity A thrifty New England
village it was; with some 1000 in
shabitants, with good railroad facili-
ties, with quite varied Industrial in
iterests, and not a barroom or saloon
within it's borders. A drunken man
In it's streets was a rarity, and was
sure to have come from outside, and
even in tbs Centre the streets were
as quiet and peaceable after dark as
acountry lane. But the most re
markable feature of the place was the
character of the Irish population