The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-05
HIS EXPLANATION.
Mans Law Is Kquivoeal, but Gods
 Judgment is Direct.

The neighboghood of old Orange was thrown into excitement upon the discov. cry that Colonel Martin Bragg had been murdered. Bragg's body was found in the road. On his breast, weighted down with a stone, was found a note bearing these words:
 Mans law is equivocal, but Gods judg- meut is direct"
 The handwriting, everyone said, was a clue, and so it proved 10 be. Old Hiram Chancel was arrested. He acknowl ledged that he had written the note, but beyond this he would say nothing, only adding that when the proper time came he would m Ike satisfactory explanation. The ar rest of this old an added to the excite ment No one in the community was more highly respected than he; no one was more kind-heaIted; no one stood bet. ter in the church. People knew not what to think. Chancers intimate friends went to the jail where he was confined and begged him to say something that might lead to his release on bond, but he inva- riably shook his head and replied:
 "No, gentlemen, shall say nothing until the proper time comes"
 But you may be hanged"
 of so, all right. Wal, until the time comes and then will explain" | d ..k cl1 Chancel was anaignsd. Everyone was anxious to hear his explan a.ion. When the time came he arose and said
 Ladies and gentlemen, shall no, de- tain you with a long story. have studied my explanation until can make it in a direct way without the waste of words. Many of you doubtless remem- Der my little boy the only child ever had, the child of my old age. He died and buried him in the old cemetery near the Br .sh Fork meeting house. This was years ago. Ooe day last month Col onel Bragg came to me and said
 Chanoel, see ,ha, your title to tha, cemetery To, is not worth anything. The man you bought it from had taken il up without authority
 "' Is that so2 | asked. Then will go and get deed to it.
 "' You are too late,' he replied. T have already secured deed.'
 "Well, will buy the lot of you
 "No, don't care to sell it. want to use i, for family burying ground
 "Well,' said l. let ne know in time ard 1 will remove my little boy
 "All right
 did not think that he had treated me rightly, still was not angry. l would remove the dust SO dear to me and bary ii near my house. A rainy season set in and l could not attend to the mat. ter, but as Bragg had told me tha, he wocld let ne know in time, 1 fel, no un- easiness. One evening walked over to the graveyard. My boy had been ex. humed. Crea, God found his bones lying in a corner of tbe fence l became furious felt that Bragg had com mited a crime worse than murder. l started toward his house Every object was in- distinct.
 "'Helioa some one called.
 ~ looked up. Bragg stood in the road It was sometime before 1 corld speak. ~oold not be rash
 "Colonei Bragg, said I, did you dig up the bones Of my child r
 "No, 1 didnt do it.
 "'Who did!
 A man.
 "What man7'
 "Oa. never mind l. m akes no dif- ference. He was acting under my ord CTS
 l looked steadily at him. His face wore malicious grin.
 ~ Did you not say that you would les me know in time2'
 " He grinned with broader heIlishness and rep led. Yes, but thought you might be basy. never like to bother my neighbors- By the way, you made speech against me when ran for the legislature You did not let nre know in tune. was sorry to have your boys bones disturbed, for he was handsome lissle feilo~, but have made it . rule never to remain very long in debt. Good evening"