Smyrna times., 1877-03-28

IN prison before morning. I've laid my
plans, and got everything sure, and if you
60 to playing innocent and refusing my
terms III take care to see that you die
stretching hemp"
The banker, in spite of himself, turned
pale, shuddered, and staggered to a seat.
What do you want?" he groaned.
"A hundred thousand dollars, not one
cent less"
4" cannot give tit would ruin me-
just as you say" rejoined the other,
moving toward the door. "You know
what will follow if l go this way"
"Oh, stay; you must not 60 yet" cried
the man of crime, in terrible alarm.
lie argued, urged, pleaded, implored for
mercy at fearful cost. In vain. At last
death before him if he refused-agreed to
the terms. He also agreed to meet the
stranger, with the required sum, Oh the
following night, in front of st. Paul's
Church. Both were punctual to the fixed
time, and the bills and check to the
amount of one hundred thousand dollars
changed hands.
A month later there was tremendous
run upon the bank of which Stephen
Edwards was principal owner Then the
sheriff was set to work by the eager credi
tors, and all the real estate and personal
property of the late millionaire was seized
and sold, leaving him beggar and the
just claims unsatiStied. Fashionable friends
deserted the family, and the proud noble
man refused the hand of the ruined
bankers daughter.
| In the midst of this disgrace and tribula-
ton Stephen Edwards encountered the
man who had turned so pale and hacome
| nnlfn tn1 IN, l.
before.
81 rather think you do not know me.
SIR" said the gentleman with formal
bow.
Your face seems somewhat familiar.
but yet | cannot place you," returned
Edwards.
Permit me to bring myself to your
recollection, then, as wish you to know
me. little more than six weeks ago |
was talking to you on business, and YOU
observed that | turned deadly pale, and
became agitated?"
"Ah, yes, | remember YOU now"
Let me tell you why was thus affected
My eyes had just Glanced upon curious
watch seal which had belonged to a
merchant named Sydney, who was shot in
the western part Of the State some twenty
years ago, and, looking at your features
closely, | knew you to be the villain who
perpetrated the foul deed"
"Merciful God y exclaimed the banker.
with blanched face and quaking FORM
es, knew you, pursued the other,
anu week later disguised myself and
mad an interview with you in your man
sion. You remember that, Of course ?"
But" gasped the trembling wretch.
"dld not pay you your own price to keep
my fatal secret?''
Eyes, and with that very money and
what other | 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 7? inquired the other, with the
deadly calm of desperation.
:" Now that have had my revenge, want
you to know that l myself am the man
you attempted to murder and did rob. |
am Phillip Sydney. Behold the scar where
the ball struck and glanced" and he lifted
his hat and showed it.
"God be praised!'' calculated the other.
=" God be praised that you are still living ~
and unable to restrain his feelings he burst
into tears. "Oh sir" he 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, am happy in the knowledge |
that am not guilty of murder-happier |
than have been for twenty years with all |
the luxurious surroundings of wealth. 1t |
was my first and lasg crime, and have |
never been able to tell how was tempted |
on that fearful occasion. Now, sir, do with |
me as you will-only, pray you, be merci-
ful to my innocent family"
forgive you," returned the other ex-
tending his hand. 81 forgive you. You
have been fearfully punished already. And
as God has seen proper to preserve us
together, let us hope it is for our present
and future salvation, and let us so live as
to deserve the blessings we receive. | will |
restore you enough to place you and your
family above want, and for the rest, trust |
we shall both remember we shall soon have
to render an account for our stewardship |
in the other world"
Philip Sydney kept his word, and with a
fresh start in the world, and an easy con-
science, the still enterprising Stephen
Edwards accumulated another respectable
fortune, much of which he spent in
charity.
Philip Sydney died in lS4S, and Stephen
Edwards in 1851.
Is not truth indeed strange-stranger
than fiction?