The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-07-19

in the bundle of clothes-line, which al
ways caused slight break at that par
ocular part, in the otherwise easy flow
of Mr.. Limkins' speech
At last Mr.. Limkins felt that he
could not improve by further practice,
and, giving the bundle OF clothes-line
a parting kick, closed the interview.
That night Mr.. Limlins listened to
the several speakers that preceded
him, his heart swelled with pride as
he thought how favorably his speech
would compare with any that had been
delivered. 1t may be that 1t is inn
possible to impress a man that is so
thoroughly interested in himself as
was Mr.. Limllins; but be that as 1t
may, Mr.. Limkins failed to find any
thing worth noting. AS he arose in
his place to respond to "Our Sons" he
felt confident that he would take his
seat the hero of the evening.
\ slight nervousness, together with
some Impotence to reach his most
impressive periods, made him talk rap
idly at first; and he also had some
little difficulty in controlling his eyes,
which showed decided tendency to-
wards a fixed stare. However, he
managed to vary the stare to some
extent, and continued to do fairly
well until he reached thai particular
part which the donkey had pointed
off so persistcntly, At this pc.nt
Mr.. Limkins made slight pause aad
could not recall his next few lines
although he made a heroic effort to
do SO.
The picture of the donkey suddenly
filled his mind to such an extent as to
drive out everything else, For mo-
ment it seemed impossible for him
to get away from the scenes in the
barn. One view after another swift
lv chased each other through his
mind He wondered If anyone had
found the donkey and set him free; or
whether he was still embalmed in the
clothcs-line. He wondered VINO would
be the one to find hm--vhether the
cook, Silas, Jr., or one OF Me neigh
hors. lie speculated on we chances
barn IN the afternoon, and what eX-
plantation he would make # qucs-
toned about II. He thought it would
have been wiser to haze restored the
donkey his liberty before he left him,
He could see the sad. lonesome look
in his face as il protruded from the
bundle Of clothes-line: lying there
through the long night on the cold
floor Of the barn.
All this was but few lightning
flashes through Mr.. Limkins' mind.
and he was yainiy trying TO fix his
thoughts on his subject, From this
point Mr.. Limlins was obliged t.
proceed in a truly "cXtemporaueous"
manner. He wandered on tremulous-
sometimes on the track, some
times Off. and sometimes partly on
and partly off. Occasionally he would
get glhnPscs of his prepared speech
and when he did, he would eagerly
fire them off whether they fitted the
place where they occurred TO him, or
uot-sometimcs getting things con
siderably mixed.
For instance. referring to Mr.. Linn
kiuS' notes at one place, he should
have said: "Who can tell how great
our sons may be, or what grand
thoughts the fathers and Mr.,
Limkins as he caught this on the
fly, challenged the company with:
"Who-who can tell whose son he may
be- or who his father vase" Again, in
another place. according to the notes
that were slowed away IN his inside
pocket, he should have said: Our
forefathcrs, who for eight long years
daily drank the bitter cup Of want,
that we might now be free -- they
never hoped for such development as
this " And Mr.. Limkins waNIaid This
as il went by, and waving his glass Of
wine before him. said. "Our forefa-
theirs, who for eight long years daily
drunll--on that bitter cup that is now
so frec-thcy never dreamed-of any
anything like this
All things must have an end; ana
when the marks Of approval, which
Mrs. Limlins had been administering
from DFltulH lIlt lubltr bt'uHlt WV
pointed to longer overlook. Mr.. Linn
liins came to an end abruptly
Side by side Mr.. and Mrs Limllins
silently walked to their home that
night; and to Mr. Iimktns there was
an ominous sound in the steady de
termincd grinding Of the snow and ice
beneath Mrs. Limkins' feet Occasion
ally he stole a humble glance in her
direction. but found nothing in the
steady, sober face TO give HIM hope.
Sadly he turned into his street;
and as he still more sadly turned be
meath an avenue Of trees leading ~
his own door the moon came out in all
her gentle glory; the stars looked
down and through the lenilcss
branches the light Of heaven shone
bright and merciful The wretchcd
man turned back with last longing
look at the free, beautiful world with-
out. and then with head humblY
bowed to meet the torrent Of just
wrath, which he knew was sur" to fan
upon him, he entered his checrI"ss
l.