Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-08-26

Jl6 ICCcIpJ vi tnUeIhSehCc iOHl WI. oulnte
Fordyce, and his natural soictude for the
welfare Of the firm.
Mr. Robert Fordyce'S habits-as. indeed the
habits of both the brothers-were very simple
He walked for two hours during the evening,
from six to eight, and then read until nine, at
which time he took light supper, consisting
of small roll and glass of milk which was
always brought to him 10y Esther, who left the
little tray upon the table by side of his book,
and wished good night until the morning She
then returned to Michael Armstrong, on the
nights he visited her, to sit until the clock of
the neighboring church struck ten, at which
hour she let him out at the gate, and retired
to rest. . ........
On the night in question, she had placed the
same simple supper ready upon her table; and,
after retiring a few moments to her room, to
leave her hat and cloak, she returned, and took
the tray toRobert's apartments She did not
notice Michael Armstrong particularly before
she went in but, when she came back, she
found HIM standing by the open doorway, look
ing wildly and restessly into the passage. She
again asked him anxiously if he was i'll and his
answer was as before adding, that he thought
he heard her fathers voice, calling her name,
but he was mistaken.
They sat for some little time together over
the fire. Michael Armstrong wonld not take
any supper, although pressed by Esther to do
so. His mind was occupied with sune hidden
thought, and he appeared as if engaged in lis
tening for some expected sound. In this way
passed about half an hour, when Esther thought
she heard some distant groans, accompanied by
Hoise like that produced by heavy body
falling on the ground Esther started up; and
Michael Armstrong, who heard the noise too
Immediately suggested the probable Illness of
her father Esther waited not fer another
word, but ran for his apartment, to find him
sleeping calmly on his bed On her return
a few minutes afterwards, to the room she had
Just left, she found Michael Armstrong enter
ing the doorway with the light. He said he
had been along the. passages to make n search
but without finding anything He appeared
more composed, and advised her to dismiss the
matter from her mind. They sat together
more cheerfully for the next half hour, until
the ten o'clock bells sounded from the neigh
boring church, when she went ecrosS the gnr-
den to shut the gate. The customary kiss was
given at the door, and the customary laugh
and good night received from the old private
watchman parading the street bnt Esther
Barnard, as she locked the wicket and walked
across the garden to her own room, felt a heavy
hearted forebCding of some great sorrow, that
was about to fall upon her. Her prayers that
night were longer than usual, and her eyes
were red with weeping before she went to
sleep
Meantime, the lamp in Mr.. Robert Fordyce's 5
apartment, (the second window from the sun
dial, burnt dimIy throught the night and died
about the break of day. Its master had died
some hours before.
in the morning the porterS opened the place
at the usual hour, and the full tide of business
again set in. Que of the earliest, but not the
earliest, to arrive was Michael Armstrong
His Grst inquiry was for Mr. Robert Fordyce,
who was generally in his private room to open
the letters, and give out the keys. He had
not been seen. An hour passed and then the
inquiry was extended to the dwelling-hOuse-
Michael Armstrong saw Esther, and begged
her to 90 and knock at Mr. Roberts door
She went, slowly and fearfully. knocked, and
there was no answer Knocked again with the
same result The alarm now spread, that
something serious had happened Esther re-
tired trembIingly with her forebodngs of the
night might more than halfrealized, while the
clerks came up, and after brief consultation,
broke open the door
room with close and slightly chemical
smell the blinds still down an oiLlamp
that had burnt out book half open upon
the table a nearly empty tumbler that con
tanned milk a roll untouched and Mr.. Ro-
bert Fordyce, lying dead, doubled upon the
floor near couch, the damask covering of
which he had torn and bitten On the table,
near the tumbler was small screwed.up pa
per, containing some of the poison from which
he had died and near this was letter di-
rected, somewhat tremblingly, in his own hand
writing to his brother James
One of the earliest, but not the earliest in
the room was Michael Armstrong, calm, digni-
fed and collected Though far younger than
many Others he took the lead naturally and
firmly, and no one seemed to have nerve or in
clination to dispute bis authority Esther stood
anXously amongst the crowd at the door look
ing on with her whole soul starting through
her eyes.
Michael Armstrong took up the letter upon
the table 1t was unSealed He opened it,
and read in clear, firm voice, the short and
painful statement it contained. Mr. Robert
Fordyce confessed to his brother that for some
time he had largely appropriated the funds OF
the firm to his own use for speculation that
had turned out unsuccessful in the stock mar
ket Unable to refund the money to meet the
sudden emergency that had fallen upon the
house, and fearing to see his brother again ar.
ter perpetratng such wrong, he had resolved
to die by poison, administered by his own hand
Deep silence broken by sobs and tears, fol
lowed the reading of this letter, for the dead
merchant was loved and respected by all. A
short summons written by Michael Armstrong
as / have said before, was tied to the pigeon
and sent to Mr.. James Fordyce at Liverpool
For the next few days the business of the
house was at Standfal. The sad event was
the gossip of the Exchange, and the CONNER