Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 293, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1914 — Mrs. Bebel’s Second Funeral [ARTICLE]

Mrs. Bebel’s Second Funeral

Mr. Bebel was a citizen of German descent, exemplary life and generous endowment with this world’s goods. The credit for the latter fact belonged largely to his patient and industrious wife, who was one of those hard-working, economical daughters of the Fatherland that always bring affluence to the partners that share their lots in life. But nothing in this world is perfect, and this thrifty housewife conspicuously lacked the gift of physical beauty. Her social qualities, also, dwarfed by thirty years of unremitting toil, were -decidedly below par. Her ornamental accomplishments were absolutely nil. Only lately it had ooourred to Mr. Bebel that in the respects mentioned his better half was not all that she might have been. For he had just arrived at that stage in his career when wealth begins to produce comparative luxury, and the rudimentary artistic longings begin to asert themselves. Now, the artlstio, as somebody has well remarked, is essentially the immoral And so from this time on the prosperous German began to reflect upon how much better Katharine Heine, a neighboring miss of 18, would adorn the new home and match the mahogany piano and new upholstered furniture. Katharine played ragtime and the “Watch on the Rhine,” embroidered sofa pillows, and even dipped at times into literature. To Mr. Bebel her conversation seemed fairly to scintillate with the brightest gems of thought Now, in the course of time, it came to pass that Mrs. Bebel fell violently 11L It would be doing her husband an injustloe to say that he was glad of this, or that he did not lavish upon his wife every attention that was not too extravagantly expensive. Neither should Katharine be suspected of gladness at this trying Juncture, although she certainly managed to retain her ordinary cheerfulness. Bhe called still more frequently at the Babel home, waited on Mrs. Bebel assiduously, and saw that her husband’s meals were never wanting. Mrs. Bebel’s tired spirit seemed to leave the body very suddenly on the seventh day of her illness, about 6 in the morning. She had just called her husband to her, and whispered feebly in his ear as he bent over hen- " Don’t forget, Qua, that the white ban in the fisr oonsar of tea wmdK

nouse natcnes enmany.~ Poor Mrs. Bebel. She never forgot those chickens, even when her soul was hovering on the confines of the undiscovered country. Mr. Bebel wept bitterly when those present announced that the end had come. Katharine, as being, perhaps, the closest friend of the family, led him out into the parlor, and did not refuse to stay with him for hours that day, trying to comfort him. “What a kind heart the girl has,” though Mr. Bebel to himself. The fundral was largely attended. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Bebel had any tear relatives, and so it was that Catharine and her mother, as being, the closest friends and neighbor* sat in the first carriage with the bo> reaved husband. He looked sad, bat resigned, and took an interest in what was going on so far as to observe to Mrs. Heine that .Katharine looked well in black. Now, a remarkable thing happened, just as the plaoe of interment was reached. The pallbearers were mal- 1 adroit enough to allow their burden : to come sharply into collision with a post which stood close beside the open grave. This sinister event was followed by a groan proceeding from the interior of the coffin, which was plainly heard by many persons. It, Is impossible to describe the scene of wild excitement which followed. The affrighted pallbearers dropped the coffin. It fell to the ground with a genuine dull sickening thud, and more groans were heard to issue from it. .Women fainted, men fled and panic reigned throughout the entire assemblage. The undertaker, however, summoned up enough courage to get the lid off the coffin, and a doctor who was present promptly administered restorativ.es which gave Mrs. Bebel strength sufflcient to enable her to escape from her ghastly prison. However, Miss Heine promptly re. sumed her visits to the once-bereaved home, and these seemed all the more necessary, since poor Mrs. Bebel never again completely recovered her health. She fell still more violently ill a couple of months later, and on the third day she did die, sure enough. There could be no reasonable doubt about it this time, for three doctors in solemn oonsultatlon so declared. The summoning of three doctors was only an extra precaution on Mr. Babel’s part, for he was always a very osreful man. Now, Mr. Bebel married Katharine Heine three months after this second funeral. But they do say that shea the coffin was lifted ont of the hearse tew mm w

rusned up to th* first pan Dearer anu whispered In his ear: “For God's sake, Jakie, look out for that post!” ~' - t License tags for the State of Pennsylvania next year will be black backgrounds with white letters. This year they have been olive and white. No matter where you go you can have The Republican sent to you every day it is published. It is a great pleasure’to have the home paper coming every day during a location. Gfttimes very important things occur and it is nice to keep posted. The Evening Republican will he sent to any address in the United States for 10 centsf per week. Now’s the time to sell the things you don’t need. A Republican classified ad will turn the trick. Call us as Phone 18.