The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-08-05


if. And that obstinate "if" spoilt ev-
erything
] Nearly a week elapsed between John
/ Dymonds death and the funeral, during
i which time no communication took place
between the half-brothers, for each obsti-
, nately persisted in believing the other
guilty. At first Reuben fatty refused TO
attend the funeral, simply because he knew
his brother would be there; but on my
lpolntlng out to him that he would never
cease to reproach himself afterwards for
having neglected such plain act of duty,
he unwillingly agreed to GO l felt unable
to address him with any cordiality, be-
cause l strongly suspected that he and his
wife were in possession Of the hundred
pound note. 1t is true that Reuben had
never hitherto been charged with felony,
but ne was free-living, lax-principled
man, who would be quite incapable of
Wlthstanding sudden and powerful
temptation.
every well, Mr. Woodward" were his
concluding words, 0I'll come to the funer-
al, though don't much fancy standing
near thief, and that thief my own half
brother"
We had had period of beautiful cloud
( less weather since the great thunder
storm, but on the morning of the day APP
pointed for the funeral, a change appeared
likely to take place. The old folks of the
village John Dymond's friends and con-
temporaries, were well pleased at this
Happy is the corpse that the rain rains
on,'' says the old adage, and they hoped
that shower might fall before the coffin
was deposited in its final abiding place.
Although it was busy season of the
year, and week day-for John Dymond
had expressed wish that his funeral
might not take place on Sunday-there
was very large assemblage of persons in
the church-yard. The worthy old labor
er had been much respected, and many
persons OF superior grade attended his flu
neral to do honor to his memory. A
large portion, however, of the spectators
had been drawn together by lower and
coarser motives. 1t was rumored that |
some scene of violence would take place |
between the half brothers as soon as their |
fathers coffin had been committed to the
grave; while others darkly limited that
some preternatural appearance, some pal
pable evidence of the enchantment which
lowered over the Dymond family, would /
burial service. There was a great deal of
staring and whispering among the crowd
when the two half brothers, who seemed
instinctively to keep as far apart from
each other as possible made their appear
ance.
By the time that that part of the SER
vice which is read in the church was
concluded, the sky had become complete.
ly overcast with mantle of watery look
ing clouds, and rain was evidently immi-
nent, to the great satisfaction of the old
folks who stood around me. I was in the
act Of delivering the beautiful exhorta-
ton which tells us that "Man that is born
of woman hath but short time to live,
and is full of misery" when the first
drops of rain began to fall. A smile of
simple pleasure appeared on the elders
faces at this favorable omen, while I, less
imaginative or less superstitious, instinct
lively expanded my umbrella. AS I did
so, piece of paper of a dingy yellow hue,
futtered slowly from it and fell on the
newly dug earth at my feet 1t was the
hundred pound note.
David and Reuben both saw the paper
fall, and each rushed forward at the same
moment They met on opposite sides of
the grave, while at the same instant a
murmur of establishment arose from the
assembled crowd.
For fully minute the brothers looked
each other steadily in the face; soften
ing shade of regret then passed over each
OF their countenauces.
Reuben was the first to speak. 'Davy,"
he said hoarsely, Il called you thief
without reason"
II was as bad," answered David, hang
ing down his head.
"Let's shake hands," muttered Reuben,
drawing his coat sleeve over his eyes.
eve couldn't choose better place than
fathers grave"
David held out his hand willingly.
"God forgive me-" he said, ''for the hard
thoughts thought about YOU, Reuben"
sMy friends" [ exclaimed, looking
around at the spectators, who stood re-
garding this touching scene with faces of
the most touching interest-"my friends,
! it is well worth while that this solemn
service should be interrupted, since the
interruption has been the means of recon
Cling two brothers who have been at va
rance. Let us now proceed" I pro-
ceeded accordingly with the exhortatlon,
1OouUou anu DdF1u CldSPluS cdCA OCAoA ny
the hand till the service was concluded.
! A very brief explanation will suffice to
show the probable manner in which the
hundred pound note got into such an un-
likely hiding place. On entering John
Dymonds cottage that eventful afternoon,
1 had placed my umbrella, which was
| Slightly wetted by the commencing rain,
upright against the table, and no doubt
when turned sharply round on witness
ing that binding flash of lightning, my
coat tail whisked the note into the folds