The weekly standard., 1869-09-15

l. In the Sprlng OF 1851, bnere uVeQ IN Id
city of New York banker and millionaire
whom we shall call Stephen Edwards. II
owned a palatial mansion, splendidly ful
nished, in the very heart of the town, and h
and his wife among the leaders of the fash
/. ionable world. They had beautiful
! daughter, just turned out of sweet sixtee
who was about to be married to foreig
nobleman and great preparations were bein,
made for the happy event. a @
One day, about this period, as the grea
banker stood conversing with a gentlem al
from another city, who had called to Sc
him on business, he observed that the latte
suddenly turned very pale and began to trem
BILE. ,,s. ..r.a5.- l.. 4..f,I.
MY dear sir" said he, in his usual tone
.ofoff handed sympathy, "whatis the matter
are you i'll ?" q. So
"a little faint, sir, but nothing to caus
any alarm" replied the other hurriedly. I"
am subject to such spells. If you will b,
kind enough to excuse me for ten minutes O
| so, will take short walk and return mucl
better"
In ten minutes be did return, said he wa
| quite well, calmly proceeded to finish hi,
business with his bunker, and then respect
fully took his leave
| 1t was perhaps week after this that ont
night the great banker was sitting by tht
fire in his library, when the servant came in
and presented him with letter. He took
it with yawn, took it in the most indolent
and Indifferent manner possible, but had moi
read more than dozen words before be
came up with a start, turned deadly pale
and trcmbled so that the paper ratified. BE
read the note-for it was rather note than
letter-worked one hand nerv0usly on his
throat and with the other clasped his fore
head and temples. For minute or two he
seemed to be choking into calmness, by his
iron will, some terrible emotion, and he SO
far succeeded as to address the waiter SER
want in an ordinary tone.
James," he said, who gave you this
letter." a.. .I- =.
ga man, sir, and said he'd wait for an an
swer." ......
"Then suppose he's waiting"
Yes sir"
"Vcry we'll; show him in"
Soon there was a light tap at the door,
and the banker said "come In" in an ordi-
nary tone.
The servant opened the door, ushered in
the stranger, and Immediately withdrew.
The stranger was man verging on sixty, of
rough appearance and attire. He wore an
old gray overcoat, buttoned to the throat,
and pair of green goggles, and his whole
dress was saturated with rain.
"Take seat" said the banker, pointing
to chair near the fire.
"No, thank you, I'll stand," was the gruff
reply. "You got my letter, and of course
you know my business" he added.
"You allude to this, I suppose" replied
the banker, producing the letter which had
caused him so much perturbation.
"Yes,"
az do not understand it; you have made
mistake"
No, no mistake at all. I was present
twenty years ago the tenth day of October,
and saw you shoot the man and if you go
and deny it, I'll have you in prison before
morning. I've laid my plans and got every
thing sure, and if you go to play innocent
and refuse my terms, I'll take care to see
you die stretching hemp"
The banker turned pale in spite of him
self, shuddered and struggled to seat
Il can't give tit would ruin me-"
"Just as you say" rejoined the other,
moving toward the door; "you know what
will follow if go this way"
He argued, urged and implored for mercy
at less fearful cost In vain. At last the
banker seeing ruin, disgrace and death be-
fore him if he refused-agreed to terms. He
agreed to meet the stranger, with the re-
quired 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 dollars
changed hands.
A month later there was a tremendous
run on the bank of which Stephen Edwards
was the principal owner. Itwas soon broken
and closed. Then the sheriff was set to
work by eager creditors, and all the real and
personal property of the late millionaire
were seized and sold, leaving him beggar
and Just claims unsatisfied. Fashionable
friends deserted the family and the proud
nobleman refused the hand of the accom-
plished daughter.
In the very midst of his disgrace and
tribulation Edwards encountered the man
who had turned pale and became agitated
in his presence a short time before.
q l rather think you do not know me,
sir, said the gentleman, with formal bow"
Your face seems somewhat familiar. but
1 cannot name you," returned Stephen Ed
wards.
"Permit me to bring myself to your rec
ollection, then. as wish you to know me-
A little more than six weeks ago 1 was
talking to you on business when you OBJ
served that l turned deadly pale and became
agitated."
"Ah yes-I remember you now"
81 did not tell you why / was thus affect
ed. NV eye had just CHANGED upon curl
Gus seal which had once belonged to a mer-
chant named Philip Sidney, who was shot
in the Western part of this State some twen-
ty years ago knew you to be the villain
who committed that foul deed"
"Merciful God! !" exclaimed the banker,
with blanched face and quaking form.
Yes, knew you," pursued the other,
and week after l disguised myself and
had an interview with you in your own
mansion. You remember that of course
But" gasped the trembling wretch,
" did not pay you your own price to keep
my fatal secret2"
"Yes, and with that very money, and
what other I could command, was enabled
to buy up enough of your own bills to
make that run upon your bank which broke
it and forced ruin upon you."
"And what would you do now that am
ruined n inquired the other with the dead
ly calmness of desperation.
''Now that have had my revenge, l
want you to know that I myself am the
man you attempted to murder, and did rob.
I am Philip Sidney. Behold where the
ball struck and glanced !" and he took off
his hat and showed It.
"God be praised !" calculated the other.
"God be praised that you are still living,n
and unable to restrain his emotion he burst
into tears. "Oh, sir" he continued, "you
have taken load from my soul. Though
poverty, distress and beggary are staring me
in the face, am not guilty of murder, and
am more happy than have been for twenty
years with all the luxurious surroundings of
wealth. 1t was my first and last crime. 1
have never been able to tell how I was SO
tempted to outrage my nature as on that
fearful occasion. Now, sir, do with ME what
you wlll-only, / pray you, be merciful to
ny innocent family p' e..
Il forgive you" returned the other, ex-
ending his hand. 81 Tforgive you. You have
been fearfully punished already, and as God
las seen proper to bring us together, let us
nope, for our present and future salvation.
o endeavor so to live as to deserve the bles
ings we receive, will restore you enough
o place you and your family above want,
nd for the rest I trust We will soon have to |
ender an account in another world.n |
Philip Sidney kept his wold, and with a |
tart in the world, and an easy conscience, |
he still enterprising Stephen Edwards accu-
nulated another respectable fortune the most
f which he spent in charity.