Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-10-21

his business with the banker, and respect
fully took his leave. rsIa.
1t was perhaps a week after this, that
one night, the great banker, was sitting
before fire in his library when SER.
want came in and presented letter. He
took it with a yawn, opened il in the
most indolent and Indifferent manner pos
sible, but had not read dozen words be-
fore he came up with start, turned
deadly pale, trembled so that the paper
rattled. He finished the note--for it was
rather note than letter-worked one
hand neryously at his throat, and with
the other ciasped his forehead and tenn
Piles. For a moment or two he seemed
to be chokeing into calmness, by an iron
will, some terrible emotion, and he SO far
succeeded as TO address the waiting SER
want in an ordinary tone.
"James," he said, "tell me who gave
you this letter"
"A man sir, and he said he'd wait for
the answer"
"Then he is waiting ?" A
'Yes sir" aa# rae
"Very well show him in."
Soon there was light tap at the door,
and the banker said "Come in," in an
ordinary tone.
The servant opened the door, ushered
the stranger, and Immediately withdrew.
The latter was man verging on sixty,
of rough appearance and coarse attire
He wore an old gray oYercoat, buttoned
to the throat, pair of green goggles,
and his whole dress was completely sat-
urated with rain.
Take seat" said the banker, point
ing to seat near the fire.
mo, thank you, I'll stand" was the
gruff reply. ''You got my note, and of
course know my business"
you allude to this, / suppose" re-
piled the banker, producing the letter
which had caused him SO much perturba-
ton minute before. .-f.....
YES" .-.t t...
Il do not understand it. You must
have made some mistake.
"No-no mistake at all. was pres
ent aud saw you shoot him, twenty years
ago, come the tenth day of next October,
aud if you deny it, I'll have you in prison
before morning"
The banker in spite of himself, turned
pale and staggered to seat.
"Wbat do you want p he groaned.
"a hundred thousand dollars-not a
cent less"
81 cannot-it would ruin me-
"Just as you say" rejoined the other,
moving towards the door yon know
what viii follow if l go this way"
ooh, stay do not go out !" cried the
man of crime in terrible alarm.
He argued, urged, pleaded, implored
for mercy at fearful cost. In vain.--
AT last, the banker, seeing ruin, disgrace,
and death before him if be refused, agreed
to meet the stranger with the required
sum, on the following night in front of
St. Paul's Church. Both were punctual
to the fixed time, and bills and checks to
the amount of one hundred thousand dol :
lars changed hands
A month later there was tremendous
run on the bank of which Stephen Ed
wards was the owner 1t was soon bro
ken and closed.
The sheriff was set to work by his ca a
ger creditors, and all his real estate and $
personal property was seized and sold, l
leaving him beggar, and the just claims {
still unsatisfed. Fashionable friends
deserted the family, and the proud noble- y
man refused the hand of the ruined bank &
er's daughter. .....-s ...--s7. q
In the midst of this disgrace and trib- S
nlation, Stephen Edwards encountered v
The man who had turned so pale and be- n
come so agitated in his presence a short S
time before. s1 ae. b
"Your face seems somewhat familiar, Il
but | cannot place you," said Edwards. {
"Permit me to bring myself to your
then as wish you to recolleet i
me. A little more than six weeks ago, a
was talking with you on business, and l
you observed that turned deadly pale, 4
and became agitated." aa.ar-s1 .s f.a. o
"Ah, yes, | remember you now" g
"Let me tell you why I was affected. I
My eye had just chanced upon a curious t'
zeal, which had once belonged TO mer- b
chant named Philip Sydney, who was ii
shot in the western part of the State some e
wenty years ago and on looking at your iC
features closely, knew you to be the b
villain who perpetrated the foul deed, d
4 I,,J Il