, 1864-08-19

was raJnel Il note tnan IetUer-WOrkeu one
hand neryously at his throat, and with the 9TH
er clasped his forhead and temples. For min
ute or two he seemed to be choking into calm
pess, by an iron will, some terrible emotion, and
he so far succeeded as to address the waiting
servant in an ordinary tone.
" James, he said, who gave you this letter ~
" man. sir, as said he'd wait for an an
swer"
"Then | suppose he is waiting?"
{. Yes sir
{" Very well show him in"
Soon there was light tap on the door, and
the ban'er said, " Come I'M in an ordinary
tone Jwrts1s
The servant opened the door, ushered in the
strange tnmmediately withdrew. The lat
tel. Wszs, !! .A.orging on sixty, Of rough APP
ps5sA ~ ahsi Coarse attire. H6 s7ere an old
gray overcoat, buttoned to the throat, and a
pair of green goggles, and his whole dress was
" Taks a seat" said the banker, pointing to a
chair near the fire.
No, thank you, I'll stand" was the gruf
reply. " You got my letter, and, of course,
know my business p he added
f" You alluded to this, suppose /" returned
the banker, producing the letter which had
caused hinSo much perturbation.
~ do not understand it! you must have made
a mistakel"
" No, no mistake at all. ] was present twen-
ty years ago come the tenth day of next October,
and saw you, Stephen Edwards shoot the man,
and if you go to deny it, Tll have you in prison
before morning. I've laid my plans and got ey-
erything sure and if you go to play innocent
and refusing my terms, I'll take care to see that
you die stretching hemp" Qa
The banker, in spite of himself, turned pale,
shuddered, and staggered to a seat.
90 What do Won 2' he orrOan cd
" A hundred thousand dollars-not cent
less p
81 cannot give tit would ruin me l7
" Just as you say p rejoined the other, mov-
ing toward the door; "you know whatll follow
if go this way"
Oh, stay you must not go yet - cried the
man of crime, in terrible alarm.
He argued, urged, pleaded implored for mer-
cy at less fearful cost. In vain. At last the
banker-seeing ruin, disgrace and death before
him, ifhe refused-agreed to the terms. He al
so agreed to meet the stranger, with the required
sum, on the following night, in front of St.
Paups Church. Both were punctual to the fixed
time, and bills and checks, to the amount of
one hundred thousand dollars, changed hands
A month later there was a tremendous run on
the bank ofwhich Stephen Edwards was the prin-
cipal owner. It was soon broken and closed.
Then the sheriff was set to work by eager credi-
tors, and all the real estate and personal proper
ty of the late millionaire was seized and sold
leaving him beggar and the just claims unsat-
isfed. Fashionable friends deserted the family,
and the proud nObleman refused the hand of a
ruined bankers daughter. ea.mo '1ols basai
In e e. 9SsGaidst ofthis disgrace and tribula-
-."1 - yards encnnntered the man who
had Uurred 90 pale andbecome so aglta.sa,--.-
presence short time before.
81 rather think you do not know me- sir l'
said the gentleman, with a formal bow
g Your face seems somewhat familiar, but
cannot place you, returned Edwards
"Permit me to bring myself to your recollection
then, as wish you to know me. A little more
than six weeks ago, l was talking with you or
business and you observed that became dead.
ly pale and became agitated. y .na.
" All, yes, l remember you now" 1T al
" Let me tell you why was thus affected. Ny
eye had just CHANGED upon a curious watch-seal
which had once belonged to a merchant, named
Philip Sydney, who was shot in the western part
of this State, some twenty years ago, and on
looking at your features closely, l knew you to
be the william who perpetuated the foul deed l'
"Merciful God p' exclaimed the cideUant bank
er, with blanched face and quaking form.
Yes, know you, pursued the other; " and
a week after, disguised myself, and had an
interview with you in your own mansion You
remember that, of course2'
" But" gasped the trembling wretch, " did !
not pay you your own price to keep my fatal Sc
cretY r1
@ Yes and with that very money, and 9TH
er I was enabled to buy up enough of your own
bills, to make that run upon your bank which
broke it and forced ruin upon your
" Andwhat would you now that / am ruined ~
inquired the other, with the deadly calmness OF
desperation.
"Now that I have hadmy revenge, 1 want you
to know that myself am the man you attempted
to murder and did rob am Philip Sydney !
Behold the scar where the ball struck and
glanced !" and he lifted his hat and showedit
q God be praised' calculated the other "God
be praised that you are still living !" and una
BILE to restrain his emotion, he burst into tears.
" Oh, sir, F." he continued " you have taken a
load from my conscience-a weight from my
soul Though poverty, beggary, disgrace and
death are staring me in the face, am happy in
the knowledge that am not guilty Of murder
more happy than have been for twenty years,
with all the luxurious surroundings of wealth
1t was my first and last crime, and have never
been able to tell how l was tempted to so outrage
my nature as on that fearful occasion. Now,
sir, do with me what you will-only, pray you,
be merciful to my innocent family P'
g I forgive you l' returned the other extend
ing his hand. " forgive you You have been
fearfully punished already; and as God has seen
proper to preserve us both and bring us togeth-
erj let US nope IL is 1Or our present ana future
salvation, and endeavor so to live as to deserve
the blessings we received l will restore you
enough to place you and your family above
want; and for the rest, trust we shall both re-
member we shall soon have to renderan account
of our stewardship in another world P
Philip Sydney kept his word; and with a fresh
start in the world, and an easy conscience, the
still enterprising Stephen Edwards accumulated
another respectable fortune, much of which he
spent in charity.
Philip Sydney died in l847, and Stephen Ed
wards in 1851.
Is not truth stranger than fiction
SPIRITUAL KNooKMGs.-Table talk or knock