Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-23

1t was an awful thing to do, " he
muttered, " but had to have money
and L worked to make some of it,
Tho young man sped onwards
through the deserted streets until he
reached the river. He crossed the
bridge and started up the hill on the
other side.
His plan was plain enough. He
was going to suburban railway
station to take the train for South
ampton.
Suddenly he pulled up with a Jerk.
He took the tin box from under his
coat.
Hang it," he exclaimed, "I
must have been mad. lam no thief,
and L will cut my throat before /
will become one. There is but one
thing to do. 1 will take the box
back to my brother, confess my folly,
and then leave him."
He turned and retraced his steps.
When he reached the bridge he
paused moment, and looked over
into the dark waters below.
4" may find peace there" he
said, gloomily.
He leaned over the railing, and
listened to the swift rolling current
My God, " he cried. "the box
the boX!"
1t had slipped through his fingers,
and already the rushing waters were
carrying it to the sea.
Tom ran in the direction of his
brothers house, and then wheeled
about and ran back to the bridge.
His first impulse was to throw him
self into the river.
" am a fool !" he cried. "Sui-
eide will not restore the money. l
must be man now If there is any
manhood in mel"
Across the river and over the hill
into the thick darkness of the night
the guilty fugitive fed. Mile after
mile he walked like madman.
The lights of the city disappeared
from view, and Tom found himself
wandering in an unfamiliar locality.
Again the river came insight, and
the wretched decided to follow it's
course. 1t was not far to the sea.
He would go to the nearest port and
ship as a sailor. Anything to get
beyond his brothers. reach, and the
eyes of those who knew him.
Thus the light of day found him,
but it was not likely that any one
along the river side would recognize
him. There were few dwellings
and the people he met were farmers,
who were not disposed to be un-
pleasantly inquisitive.
so the half craZed man rushed on
through the day, till at nightfall he
Jimped wearily into small seaport
town.
Henry Dyson made every effort to
find his missing brother. When he
thought of the panied look in TOMS
eyes when the poor fellow left, he re-
preached himself for allowing him
to go away without kind word of
encouragement.
The detectives took the matter up,
and the newspapers published an ac-
count of TOMS mysterious disap-
pearance. But 1t was all of no avail.
There was no trace, no clue, and
after a year or two the merchant
came to the conclusion that his BROTH
er was dead man.
Henry Dyson continued to pros
per. He married happily, and in
the course of time little children
came to make his home still brighter.
Twenty years had rolled away,
when one night the merchant found
himself alone in the Office writing
letter.
AS he leaned back in his chair to
take moments rest, he thought of
the night a score of years before
when Tom had visited him there to
make last appeal. Tears came into
the rich mans eyes.
He was my own BROTHER" he
said, "and / acted like brute.
How easy it would have been for me
to have paid his little debts. Then
could have watched over him, and
In time my love would have touched
his heart, and he would have turned
out all right. But it is too late now
to think of those days."
The door opened with hardly q
creak, and the merchant would not
have known it but for the rush of
cool air. He rose from his chair
just in time to greet a visitor who
walked into the Office without even
a knock on the door to herald his ap-
proach.
Henry Dyson looked upon him
with speechless establishment. If
he could trust his eyes this was Tom
Dyson, but not the Tom of twenty
years ago. He was an old man with
a wrinkled face and white hair.
Brother, said the visitor hold
ing out his hand, "are you glad to
see me 2"
With a joyous exclamation the
other caught him in his embrace,
and then seated him in a chair.
This Is glad hour for me,
Tom, he said. 81 had given you
up for dead, and l have all these
years been reproaching myself for
my harshness to you that night, you
know"
Hold on " cried the other ex-
citedly. "You must not overwhelm
me with kindness until have made
restitution. Here In this package
you will find the sum I took from
the safe in the little tin box. 1t has
taken me these twenty years to
make 1t, but here 1t is at last"
But do not understand, " in
terrupted Henry.
"Oh, but you must" replied his
brother. When you turned away
to get your coat that night, 1 Islipped
the box out Of the safe and concealed
1t. Then you closed the safe, un.
conscious of your loss, and ! left
you"
" But the box was empty, {"
shouted Henrv