, 1864-08-15

ram.
"Take seat" said the banker, pointing
to chair near the FIRE.
"No, thank you, I'll stand" was the
gruff reply. "You got my note, and Of
course know my business"
"You allude to this, 1 suppose?" re-
turned the banker, producing the letter
which had caused him SO much perturba-
ton a moment before.
I. Yes" ,. 5.ss.-sss,..s- - =
81 do not understand it! you must have
made mistake.'
"No, no mistake at ALL l was present
twenty years ago, come the tenth day Of
next October, and saw you shoot him, and
if you 60 for to deny it, I'll have you in
prison before morning. I've laid my plans
and got everything sure, and if you go to
playing innocent, and refusing my terms,
I'll take care to see you die stretching
hemp"
The banker, in spite Of himself, turned
pale, and staggered to a seat.
"What do you wantw he groaned.
"a hundred thousand dOllars-not cent
lessr"
/
"Just as you say" rejOined the other,
moving towards the door; "you know
what'll follow if 60 this way"
"Oh! stayp cried the man of crime, in
terrible alarm.
He argued, urged, pleaded, implOred
for mercy at less fearful cost. In vain.
The banker, seeing ruin, disgrace and death
before him if he refused, agreed to meet
the stranger with the required sum on the
following nightin frontof st. Pauls Church.
Both were punctual to the fixed time, and
bills and checks to the amount of one hun
dred thousand dollars changed hands.
A month later there was tremendous
run on the bank Of which Stephen Edwards
was the owner. 1t was soon broken and
closed. The sheriff was set to work by
his eager creditors, and all Of the real estate
and personal property Of the late millionaire
was seized and sold, leaving him a beggar,
and the Just claims unsatisfed. .Fashiona-
bic friends deserted the family, and the
proud nObleman refused the hand Of aruined
bankers daughter.
In the very midst of this disgrace and
tribuhtiOn, Stephen Edwards encountered
the man who turned so pale and became 80
agitated in his presence q short time be-
fore.
"Your face seems somewhat familiar, but
cannot place you" said Edwards.
"Permit me to bring myself to your re-
collection, then, as ! wish you to know me.
A. little moro than six weeks ago / was talk
ing with you on business, and you observed
that turned deadly pale, and became agi
tated."
"Ah, yes, I remember you now"
| @Let me tell you why l was thus affected.
My eye had just chanced upon a curious
seal which once belonged to merchant
named Philip Sydney, who was shot in the
western partof the State twenty years ago;
and on looking at your features closely,
knew you to be the villain who perpetratcd
the foul deedv
"Merciful God!" exclaimed the ei depani
banker, with blanched face and quaking
form.
"Yes, I know" pursued the other, Sand
a week after, ! disguised myself, aud had
an interview with you in your mansion.
You remember that, Of eOurse?"
"But,p gasped the trembling wretch,
"did l not pay you your own price to keep
my fatal secretr'
"Yes, and with that very money and
what other could command, / was ablo to
buy up enough Of your own bills to cause
that run on your bank which broke il, and
forced ruin upon your bank, and upon
youT
"And what would you, now that am
ruinedi" inquired the other with the deadly
calmness Of desperation.
Now that l have had my revenge,
want you to know that / myself am the
man you attempted to murder, and did rob
4 am Philip. Sydaeyl Behold the scar
where the ball struck and glanced!" and he
lifted his hat and showed it.
"God be praised" calculated the other
aGod be praised that you are still living,
and unable to restrain his emotion, burst
into tears. "0h, sir" he continued, "you
have taken load from my Conscience
weight from my soull Though poverty
beggary, disgrace aud death are staring me
! in the face, l am happy in the knowledge
that l am not guilty Of murder-mOre hap
py than l have been for years, with all the
luxurious surroundings Of wealth. Il wa
my first and last crime. Ihave never been
able TO tell how | was tempted to so Outrage
my nature as on that fearful occasion
Now, sir, do with me what you will, only
!. I pray you, be mercifal 70 my innocent
!. familyp
iforgive your returned the other, ex
tending his hand. al forgive you'll You
have been fearfdlly punished already, and
! as God has seen proper to preserve ant
bring US together, let Us hope il is for oui
present salvation, and endeavor 50 to livt
as to deserve the blessings We received
win restore you enough to place you AMI
your family above want; and for the rest,
trust we shall both remember we shall soor
have TO render an account Of our steward
ship in another world"
J, Philip Sydney kept his word; and, will
. fresh start in the world, and now an easl
conscience, the still enterprising StepheI
Edwards accumulated Q respectable fortune
much Of which was spent in charity. .
!, Philip Sydney died in 1917, and Stephet
Edwards in 1854. A. = -
From private source We learned all tn
facts We have recorded.