The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-03-05

u man SIR, as said he wait Tor an an
swer.
Then l suppose he is waiting?''
Eyes, sir. -
cry well, show him IN"
Soon there was tap at the door, and
the banker said come In, IN an ordina-
ry tone.
The servant opened the door, ushered in
the stranger and withdrew. The latter was
man verging on sixty, of rough appear
ance aud coarse attire. He wore an old
gray overcoat, buttoned TO the throat, and
pair of green goggles, and his whole attire
was saturated with rain.
Take seat, said the banker pointing
to chair.
No, thank you, I'll stald," was the
gruf reply. You got my letter, and, Of
course know my business" he added.
I on alude to this, | suppose" return
ed the banker, producing the letter which
had caused him so much perturbation.
Yes.
! do not understand it. You must have
made mistake
No, no mistake at all. I was present
twenty years ago, come the tenth of next
October, and saw you, Stephen Edwards,
shoot the man, and ifyou go to deny ii, I'll
and got everything sure, and if you 90 to
play the innocent, and refusing my terms,
L II take care to see that you die stretching
hemp.
The banker in spite Of himself, turned
very pale, shuddered, aud staggered to
seat.
What do you want?' he groaned.
n hundred thousand dollars Not a
cent less
1 can not give it, 1t would surely ruin
me-.
Just as You say" said the other moving
towards the door. You knew what will
follow If | 90 this way
Oh stay, you must not go YETI cried
the man OF crime III alarm.
lie argued, pleaded, implored for mercy
at a less fearful cost. In vain. At last,
the banker seeing ruin disgrace, and death
before him If he refused, agreed to the
terms. lie also agreed to meet the strang-
er, with the required sum on the following
evening ia front Of St. Paul's church
Both were puactual to the fixed hour, aad
bills and checks to the amount Of one
hundred thousand dollars changed hands
"A moath later there was 4 trcnemduous
run on the bank OF which Stephen Edwards
was the prlnclpal owner. 1t was soon bro
ken and closed. Then the Sheriff was set
at work by eager creditors and all the real
estate and personal property Ut the late
millionaire was seized aud sold leaving him
a beggar, and the just claims unsqtisied
fashionable friends deserted lbelamily, and
the proud nobleman refused The hand OF
the ruiued bankers daughter.
La the very midst CT his disgrace and
circulation, Stephen Edwards met the man
who turned 30 pale and became so agitated
IN bis presence a ShCrt lime before
/ lhlnk you 10 not know me, sir said
the gentleman with formal bow
Your face seems familiar, but [ cannot
place you, said Edwards
Permit me TO UIlng myself 10 your rec
ollectIon then; wish you 10 know me. 4
httie over ST. weeks ago,I was talking with
you on business, and you observed that |
turned deadly pale aud became asitated
All, yes | remember you now.
Let ne tell you why | was thus affected
My eye had just CHANGED upon a curious
watch-steel, which bad once belonged 10 a
merchant named Phillip Sidney, who was
shot IN The westera bart OF this stale, some
! lwenty years ago aud on looking at your
, learulcS closely, L knew you 10 be tue
| villala who perpeua ted the foul deed
'Mercilul God ! exclaimed the cideVan.
banker, with biauchcd lace anG quaking
iorm.
Yes, | knowyou pursued the otter :;
and a week after | disguised myself, and
had al interview with yoI Ia your own
mansion. Y ou remember that OF course 2
But gasped Tie trembling wretch, did
not pay you your own price 10 keep the
fatal secret !?
Yes and with that very money, and
what other l could command, | was eDabl-
eu 10 buy up enough Of your own bills TO
make that ran on your bank which broke
it and forced ruin upon you.
Now that | have bad my revenge |
want ycu TO know that am the man you
attempted to murder, and did rob [ am
| Phinp Sidney I! Behold the scar where the
! ball stuck and glancedY and he lifted
| his hat aud showed 1t.
| God be praised that you are slill livinel
and unable 10 resjr rain his emotion, be burst
into tears oh, sir ! he continued, you
| have taken a load from my conscience-a
weight from my soul. Though poverty,
disgrace, beggary, and death are staring me
IN The face, am happy in the knowledge
that | am not guilty Of murder-more hap
! py than | have been Tor twenty years, with
| all the luxurious surroundings Of wealth!
1t was my first Ind lest crime, aud | have
never been able TO lell how | was tempted
to SO outrage my own nature as on thai
fearful occasion. Now, sir, do with me a.
you pleaoe-onIy, J. pray be melcilul TO my
innocent family,
| forgive you, returned the other ex
tendlng his hand. i forgive you. YOU
have been learlully punished already, ano
as God has seen fit to preserve US both, and
bring US together, let US hope it is for oul
present and future salvation, and endeavol
10 live so as to deserve the blessings We re
celve, l will restore you enough 20 keeI
you and your family from want and iol
the rest, L trust We shall both remember
we shall have to render an account OF oul
stewardship In another world.
Philip Sidney kept his word and, will
a new start IN the world aud now an easy
conscience, the SILL enterprislng Stephen
Edwards accumulated a respectable fortune
much OF which he spent In charity.
Philip Sidney died III lS47, aud Stepher
| Edwards IN 1851.
From private source we have all the
facts we have recorded.