St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-02-04

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fate. 1t was not long before it came.
After he had written few letters, and
arranged some papers which related to
his present state, Il stranger entered,
and, Introducing himself in John Ian
doris presence, laid upon the table four
notes which had matured that day.
John Landor regarded him attentively
for a few seconds, and, as he withdrew
his gaze, strange and bitter smile es-
capped him.
"Your check, please, for twenty-sev-
en- thousand five hundred dollars"
The time had come For a moment
John LandOr hesitated, and then, turn
ing pale, with sudden and painful
effort said, sit is my painful duty to in
form you that / am unable to honor
them. As my failure is not vet report
ed, | must myself declare it now. l
know not how | stand at this particular
moment, but there are a few assets
still remaining to my credit, which
will make available without delay.
! Tomorrow morning | will send you a
full statement of my affairs, and, |
trust, arrange them on a satisfactory
basis as regards their future settlement
Meanwhile, allow me to express my
deep concern for the lOss-I trust the
temporary lOss-which this disclosure
will infct on you: and if | can, in any
way, allay the apprehensions it has
caused, shall only be too thankful to
do so. My books and papers are at
your inspection"
"But it is hardly credible !" exclaim-
ed the stranger, with a look of wonder
| ing surprise. "YOur notes have been
indOTsed by some of the first houses :;
and | was assured that your credit stood
as high as that of any corresponding
firm in the city"
$50 it did," said Landor, faltering
'NO notes of mine were ever presented
| for payment that were not hOnored on
the spot"
"Then to what do you attribute
your inability to pay in the present in
stance ?" asked the stranger, looking
more and more puzzled.
''Partly to the failure of a house in
which l was largely interested, and
whose notes l hold to-day" John Ian
dor answered, with sigh; "but chief
ly to the depreciation of my own stock,
which, since the recent failures in En-
gland, have been obliged to sell at a
loss"
"Then it is only temporary embar-
rassment p inquired the stranger.
Il trust it is" replied John LandOr,
calmly; "although 1 have incurred
enormous losses"
stranger cheerfully.
GAS far as | am concerned, the loss
will not effect my credit and, after
/ 40 vii
| their face value. /, for one, can watt
He was looking closely at John Landor
all the time, as if struck with some
awakened thought or sudden recolec-
| ton.
Their eyes met.
"PardOn me-" said the stranger,
thinking he had given John Landor
pain ''but your strong resemblance to
valued friend of mine, whom l have
not seen for sixteen years, made me
| fOrgetful for the moment. The resem-
blance is extraordinary" he resumed,
something quite extraordinary. May
| inquire whether you have ever served
in the army? 1t is no common motive
which impels me to ask, believe me-"
John Landor started and, after hes
itating for moment, responded Eyes"
The stranger regarded him all the
closer. "And you were in Washington
on the night of the 3lst of December
1862 2"
Il really cannot recollect-you must
be mistaken, sir" returned John Ian
dor, avoiding a direct reply. "Pray,
let us talk of other Matters
eve will in time," replied the stran-
ger; "but first of all, answer my ques-
tion. You were in Washington on the
night of the 3lst of December, 1862 7"
II believe | was" John Landor an
swered, endeavoriUg to conceal his agi-
tation.
"And you played billiards with a
brother officer-and, in his after dis
tress, returned him the money you had
won-saving him from future misery
and despair ~
81 did," replied John Landor. "And
it was one of the proudest and happiest
moments of my life"
Grasping John Landor by the hand,
the stranger exclaimed, in a voice
scarcely audible from emotion, Il am
Lewis Peterborough ~ And before
John Landor could reply, he seized
upon the notes, and, tearing them in a
hundred pieces, threw them piecemeal
in the fire "There :" the debt is paid y
he exclaimed, land ! am thankful that
it is i'll my power to render you some
service in return, my nOble-hearted old
follow" And he wrung his hand once
more.
"Mr. Peterborough" said John Ian
dor, deeply overcome, Il knew you the
very moment you entered-and, Heav-
en- knows, | wished you to remain in
ignorance of our acquaintance. l am
still your creditor, although-pointing
to the fire as he spoke-yOu have de-
stroyed the written proof of my indebt-
, edness to you"
''But am rich" said Lewis Fairbor-
, ough, with sparkling eyes, "and part,
at least, of my acquired wealth | owe
to you. Your generous conduct sixteen
years ago was the means of saving my
beloved wife, who at the time was ly-
/ ing dangerously i'll, and who would
probably have never recovered but for
. the ease and comfort which that sum ol
, money was enabled to procure. Ii
: saved me, too, from sickness and de-
? spair-for had | lost her then, under
those most cruel circumstances, | dc
believe | should have died or fallen
victim to desperate fate. You saved
, me from them both and / have pros.
pered ever since. At the conclusion
of the war | entered my uncle's house
at St. Louis, and became, in a few
years, partner of the firm. The house
2 is now my own. | am rich, and YEAR,
TO give you some substantial proof o
= my gratitude. Will you deny me thii
: opportunity, under circumstances 81
S momentous as the PRESENT. You surely