Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-06-22

slipped from his hands, and he shook vio-
lently from head to foot; yet he ran to
his victim, and hurriedly robbed him of
purse, a pocket book gold watch and
chain, some curious seals, a diamond
breast pin, and diamond ring, which he
fairly tore from his finger. Then he drag
ged his body into the thicket, picked up
his rifle, plunged madly through the
bushes to the road, mounted the travellers
horse, and dashed away from the awful
scene.
We must now suppose lapse of twenty
years.
In the spring of 1887 there lived in the
city of New York banker and a million
aire whom we shall call Stephen Edwards.
He owned a palatial mansion, splendidly
furnished, i'll the very heart of the town
and he and his wife were among the
leaders of the fashionable world They
had beautiful daughter, just turned of
sweet sixteen who was about to be mar
ried to foreign nobleman, and great
preparations were making for the happy
event.
One day, about this period, as the
great banker was convcrsing with a gen.
tleman from another city. who called to
see him ON business, he observed the lat
ter suddenly turn very pale and begin to
tremble.
sMy dear sir" he said, in the usual
tone of off-hand sympathy, - what is the
matter? are you i'll g
"A little faint, sir, but nothing to
cause alarm, replied the other, hurriedIy.
- am subject to similar spells. If you
Will be kind enough to excuse me for ten
minutes or SO, | will take a short walk,
and return in better condition.
In ten minutes he did return, reported
himself quite well, calmly proceeded to
finish his business with the banker, and
then respectfully took his leave.
1t was perhaps, a week after this that.
one night, the banker WAS sitting before
, the fire in his library, when a servant
D came i'll and presented him a letter. He
took it with Il yawn, opened it in the
= most indolent and Indifferent manner pos
, sibe, but had not read dozen words be-
! fore he came up with a start, turned pale.
: and trembled so that the paper ratified.
He finished the note, for il was rather a
n nJte thana letter-worled one hand ner
= vously ut his throat, and with the other
clasped his forehead and temples For
4 a minute or two he seemed TO be choking
: into calmness, by an iron will, some terri
t ble emotion; and he so far succeeded as to
address the waiting servant in an ordinary
| tone.
n "Jamas,' he said, - who gave you this
{ letter?''
5 "A man, sir, as said he would wait (or
Il an answer"
d "Thcn | suppose he is waiting ,"
= &" Yes, sir
+ Soon there was a light tap on the door
and the banker said ''come in" in an or
: dinary tone.
The servant opened the door, ushereC
= in the stranger, and Immediately Withdrew
The latter was verging on sixty, of rougl
d appearance and course attire. He wor,
:, an old gray overcOat, buttoned to tn,
S throat, and a pair Of green goggles, ant
IS his whole dress was saturated with rain
c Take seat" said the banker, point
/ ing to chair near the fire
a "No thank you, I'll stand," was tn
c gruff' reply. q You got my letter, an,
e of course, know my business he added
= You allude to this, | suppose" re
- piled the banker producing the letter tha
e had caused him so much perturbation.
is Yes"
e 81 do not understand it; you mus
II have made mistake
"No; nomistake at all. Twas presen
: twenty years ago. come the tenth day c
e October, and saw you, Stephen Edwards
l. shoot the man, and if you 90 for to den
Is il, I'll have you in prison before morning
Eve laid my plans. and got everythin
d sure, and IT you 90 to playing innocer
l. and refusing my terms, I'll take care t
is see that yon die stretching hemp"
l. The banker, in spite of himself, turne
/ pale, shuddered, and staggered to sea
"What do you want 2" he groaned
le '' A hundred thousand dollars-not or
&c cent less"
y 81 cannot give tit would ruin me.
N Just as you say" rejoined the othe
II moving towards the door, g You kno
u what will follow if l go this way"
Y "Oh, stay, you must not 90 yet
cried the man of crime, in terrible alarm
t. He argued, urged, pleaded, implor'
d for mercy at a less fearful cost. In vail
If At last the Misunderstanding ruin, disgra
d and death before him if he erefused-agree
IS to the terms. He also agreed to meet Il
J stranger, with the required sum, on Il