The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-13
what shall follow ii 1 go away this

what shall follow ii 1 go away this
way"
"oh, stay; you must not go yet''
cried the. man Of crime In terrible
alarm.
He argued, urged, pleaded, implored
for mercy at a less fearful cost. In vain.
AT last the banker, seeing ruin, disgrace
aud death before him il he refused,
agreed to the terms. He also agreed to
meet the stranger, with the required
sum, ON the following night in front of
st. Paul's church. Both were punctu al
to the fixed time, and bills and. checks
to the amount OF 500, 900 changed hands.
A month later there was a tremendous
run upon the bank Of which. Stephe n
Edwards. was principal owner. 1t was
soon broken and closed. Then the Sherr
liff was setito work by eager creditors,
land all. the real, estate and personal
lproperty of the late millionaire was
seized and sold,, leaving, him a
beggar and the just claims unsatisded.
Fasnionable friends deserted the tami-
lly, and the proud nobiemah refused. the
hand of a ruined bankers daughter:
In the very midst of this Disgrace and
Itrlbuiation Stephen Edwards encoun-
tered the man VINO had turned so pale
| anu DGCUluO pO AAS r ~
short time before.
| II rather think you do not know me,
sir" said the gentleman, with a formal
bow.
| sYour face seems somewhat familiar,
but vet can not place you," RETURNED
Edwards.
Permit me to bring myself to your
recollection, as wish you TO know me.
| A little more than;siX weeks ago l wd6
| talking to YOU on business, and you OBJ
served that turned deadly pale, aud
became agitated~
"Ah, yes, remember you now"
| "Let me tell you why l was thus affect.
ed. My eyes had just Glanced upon a
curious watch-seal which had belonged
To a mereaant named Philip Sydney.
who was shot in the western part of the
State some twenty years ago, and, look.
ing at your features closely, knew you
to be the villain who perpetrated The
ioul deed"
"Merciful Godp' exclaimed the
banker, with Dianohed lace and quak-
ing form.
ayes, knew you" pursuedthe other
''and a week later l disguised yseli
and had an interview with you III your
mansion. You remember that, o.
courseW
"But," gasped the trembling wretch
"did not pay you your oWh price II
keep nay fatal secretW
| Eyes, and with that very money, and
what other l could command, was en-,
aDled to buy up enough OF your own bills
| 10 make that run upon your bank WHICH
broke it and forced ruin upon you"
Sand what would you, now That am
lruinedw inquired the other, with the
deadly calmness of desperation.
"N0w that have had my revenge,
want you to know that l myself am the
Imam you attempted to murder and die
rob. l am Philip Sydney. Behold the
scar where the ball struck aud glanced -
and he liued his hat and showed it.
God be praIsedP' eJaculated the oth
er. "God be praised tuat you are Still
livin, - and unable TO restrain his emo
ton he burst into tears. "Oh, SIR" h(
continued, you have taken load off my
conscience-a weight from my soul
Though poverty, beggary, disgrace and
death are staring me in the face, l an
happy in the knowledge that l am NO
guilty of fmurder-happier than l haYt
Ueen for twenty years with all the luxari
Gus surroundings of wealth. IL was my
first and last crime, aud have never
been able to tell how was tempted OF
| tnaJ leaElul OCcd5lOu. NOWS bfI, 40 VIII
me as you will-only, pray you, b,
merciful to my innocent family"
~ forgive you," returned the other
extending his hand. III forgive you
You have been fearfullY punished al
ready. And as God has seen proper Il
preserve us both together, let Us hope
IL is ior our present and IuCure saliva
ton, and let US endeavOr SO to live as tt
deserve the blessings we receive. will
restore you enough to place you ant
your family above want; and tor tn
rest trust we shall botn remember W,
shall soon have to render an account o
our stewardship in another world"
Philip sydney kept his word, and will
a fresh start in the world, and now al
easy conscience, the still enterprisini
Stephen Edwards accumulated anothe
respectable fortune, much OF which h
spent in charity.
Philip Sydney died in 184S, and Stephel
Edwards in 1851.
Is not truth indeed tranger-strange
than fiction?