South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-08-12
a man sir, and he said he'd wal. an

well, show him in
Soon there was a tap ut the door. and
the banker s1id come in iu an ordinary
tone.
The servant opened the door, ushered in
the stranger, aud Immediately withdrew
The strange man was verging on sixty, of
rough appearance aud attire. lie wore nm
old gray overcoat, buttOncd to tho throat.
aud pair of green goggles, and his whole
dress was saturated with rain.
Take a seat sad the banker, pointing
to a chair
NO, thank you, I'll stand was the gruE
reply. 'You got my letter and of course
you know my business, be added.
You allude to this, SUPPOSE replied
the banker, producing the letter which had
caused him SO much perturbation.
Yes
4 do not understand it; you must have
made a mistake
No, no mistake at all was present
twenty years ago the tenth day of October,
and saw you shoot the man; and if you 90
and deny it, III have you in prison before
morning, I've laid my plans and got eve.
rything sure, and if you 90 to playing inno-
cent aud refuse my terms, I'll take care to
see that you die stretching hemp
The banker turned pale in spite of him
self, shuddered and struggled to seat.
4 can't give tit would ruin me-
Just as you say rejoinod the other,
moving toward the door you know what
will follow if 60 this way
He argued, urged, and implored for mer.
q y "a tsa ri lt
the banker seeing ruin, disgrace, death
before him II he retused-agreed to terms
He agreed to meet the stranger, with the
required 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 thou
sand dollars, changed hands.
4 month later there was a tremendous
run on the bank of which Stephen Edwards
was the principal owner IL was soon clos.
ed. The sheriff was set TO work by eager
creditors, and all the real and personal pro-
perty of the late millionaire was seized and
sold, leaving him beggar aud just claims
unsatisied. Fashionable friends deserted
the family, ana the proud noblcmau refus
ed the hand of the accomplished daughter.
~ NbS NNi VI DIS ulS.rdGU ana
tribulation he encountered the man who
had turned pale and became 50 agitated in
his presence a short time before.
Il rather think you do not know me, SIR
said the gentleman with a formal bow.
Your face seems somewhat familiar, but
! cant name YOU returned Stephen Ed
wards
Permit me to bring myself TO your re.
collection, then, as | wish you to know me.
A little more than six weeks ago | was
talking to you on business, when you OBJ.
served that turned pale aud became agi-
tstel.'
An, yes-I remember you now
Il did not tell you why | Twas thus affect
ed. My eyes had just CHANGED upon Gu
rious seal, which had once belonged to
merchant named Philip Sidney, who was shot
IL the western part Of this State s1me TWEEN
ty years ago; knew you to be the villai1
who committed that foul deed
'Merciful God y exclaimed The banker,
with blanched face and quaking form
yes, | knew you, pursued the other,
ani week after disguised myself and
bad an interview with you in your own
mansion. You remember that Of course.
But gasped the trembling wretch, did
1 not pay you your own price to keep my
secretY
yes, and with that very money and
what other could com mand, I was enabled
to buy up enough Of your bills 10 mske that
run upon your bank which broke it aud for.
ced ruin upon you
And what would you do, now that I au
ruined ? inquired The ruined man with the
deadly calmness ofdesperation. Now that
/ have had my revenge, want YOU TO know
that ! myself am the man YOU attemptod 10
murder 1nd did rob. All PHup SIDNEY.
Behold where the ball struck and glanced.
Aud ho took oft his hat and showed IL
'GJd be praised +. CALCULATED the other
Tod be praised that sou are still living .
and unable 10 restrain bis emotion ho burst
into tears Oh, sir, he continued. tgou
have taken a load FROM my soul Tbo1gb
poverty, distress and bcggary are staring mo
IN the face, ! am not guilty of murder and
am more happy than ! have been in twenty
years, with a.i the luxurious surroundings
of wealth. !. was my FIRST aud last crime
have never been able TO tell bow I was 60
tempted to outrage my nature as on that
fearful occasion Now sir, do what Won
wil.-only, pray, mercifll 20 my family
Il forgive you, returned he, extending
his hand II forgive You have been fs,r.
FULLY punished already, and a. God has seen
proper 70 bring US together, let Us hope for
our present aud future salvation, 70 endea-
Yor 50 10 1--we as todescryethe blessings We
receive. ! restore yoa s. yohr family above
want; and f5r the rest, ] ;rass We sb,ll
soon have 10 render an ,c.,,,,,t -; .,t -