The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-10-30

the mystery
He entered boldly into the cour
and demanded to speak with the pro
prietor, who had just gone to bed
though it was near mid -day-a new
indication of night of fatigue! Th,
Quaker insisted on being introduced
and soon found himself in Weres
ford's bed chamber. He, not bein.
used to be disturbed, rubbed his eye
and demanded with some impatience
"Who are yOu' sir? What do yol
want with me p
4 The sound of the voice was recog
nized by Toby, and thoroughly con
vinced him. He TRANQUILITY drew /,
chair and seated himself at the bed
side, his hat on his head.
1 sDo you remain covered ?" criet
the merchant in surprise.
81 am a Quaker" answered tn,
other, With much calmness, "an,
thou knOwest that such is our usage.
At these words Of the Quaker
Weresford sat up in bed and eye,
the stranger. He doubtless recog
[nized him, for he turned deadly pale
"Well," demanded he, stammer
ling.
"What is it-if you please--the-
subject that you come about 2"
81 ask thy allowance for appear
ing so pressing" answered Toby
"but between friends it matteretl
not much, and l come without cere
mOny, to ask for the watch that thOl
borowdest of me yesterday"
"The-watch p
al value it much; it belonged II
my poor wife, and l cannot do with
out it. My excellent friend, the Al
derman, would never forgive mt
were to fail for one day to return
the jewel to his sister,
The name of an Alderman appear.
cd to make some impression upon
Weresford. Without waiting for al
answer, Toby continued:
"Thou wilt do me the pleasure to
return alss the twelve guineas which
let thee at the same time. Never.
theless, if thou art in need Of them, ]
consent to let thee have them for
some time, on condition that thou
give me receipt"
The scheme of the Quaker so dis
concerted the old merchant that
he could not deny the possession OF
the articles, but not liking to &C.
knowledge his crime, he hesitated to
answer, when Toby added:
al wish thee to participate at the
approaching marriage of my daugh.
ter Mary. 1 had reserved the sum
of two hundred pounds sterling for
the bridal of the espoused, but an
accident happened to me last night
on the road to London-I was COM
pletely robbed, so l come to pray
thee to give thy son portion, which
otherwise l would not ask of thee"
"My son2''
"Yes. Dost thou not know that
he is Mary's lover, and that tits he
that is to marry her"
Edward Weresford,' mildly re-
piled the Quaker, while quietly
taking a pinch of snuff "Come, do
this thing for him. / would not,
verify, that he should know aught of
what passed last night, and if thou
dost not furnish him with the sum
that promised, it will be well for
me to tell him how l lost it"
Weresford ran to a bureau, and
drew out casket with triple lock,
opened it, and returned successfully
to Toby his purse, his watch, and
his bag of money.
"Very well,' said the Quaker as
he received them, 81 see that / had
reason to count on thee.'
"Is this all that you see ?' demand
ed the merchant with one of his blunt
airs.
"Nay, l yet need something of thy
friendship"
"Speak."
aThou wilt disinherit him. / see
not but that some one may say have
speculated on thy fortune"
In finishing these words the Quaker
left the chamber.
ssNo," murmured he, when he found
himself alone, "children are not an
swerable for the faults of their pa
rents. Mary shall marry the son Of
this man, but the stolen money he
shall never touch"
When he reached the court, he
called out to Weresford, who had
come to the window, "Ho my dear
friend, I brought back thy mare, re-
turn my horse"
Some minutes afterward, Toby,
well mounted, carrying by the top
his bag of money, furnished with his
watch and purse, reached home at a
moderate trot.
81 made a visit this morning to
thy father" said he TO Edward, whom
he perceived entering with him; 81
believe we shall now agree"
Two hours afterward Weresford
arrived at the house OF Toby, and
taking him apart, said;
"HOnest Quaker, your proceedings
have deeply affected my very soul!
You might have dishonOred me-dis-
honored my son; ruined me in his
estimation, and caused the misfOr-
tune Of refusing him your daughter.
You have shown yourself a man in
hand and heart. 1 shall not again
blush in your presence. Take these
papers. Farewell you will never
see me again. And he departed.
The Quaker, left alone, opened the
papers. They showed obligations of
considerable value on the first bank
ers OF London, with a long list OF
names, and opposite each name, in
figures, the sum greater or less IN
amount. A billet was added, where
in the Quaker read as follows
"These are the names of persons
who were robbed; the figures are the
sums which ought to be restored; as
to the money with the bankers, in my
name, let it go to the strangers, but
make the restitution secretly your
self. What remains will be my le-
gitimate fortune, and your daughter
will some day possess my estate" !"
The next day Weresford left Lon
don and everybody was certain that
he had gone to spend his fortune in
France
On the, day of the marriage, the
Quaker brought together company
of merry friends, among whom were
noticed number of persons enchant-
ed with the conducs of the robbers