Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-25

able 70 observer Who Ina Is And n stiil
.,raatari ,sondsr * ~ IL ,uhot can be his
gtea'er Monuer 70 ny s y "n Is.. ean W
ni"tiFe. ~ seems incfeuipie. u u was s,a'eu
IN novel many people wouiu not peiiefe
it, But truth is stranger than mellon.
Mrs. PTeble drew from her husbands
breast-pocket his notebook, opened 1t to the
proper page, and presented it to the physi-
clan.
Dr. Hutton adjusted his spectacles, glanced
over the page, and then slowly read the
group of entries aloud. The entry the first
aAueust 0. 1885. ,essie. .. hal Jsssiel r.
"a tha .art va, /, a.
a 49,. 80 80 90 80 - an, ,,,.w
august y 1000 Aoue oess'e w" h'ee.
And the next
august o 1887. She is In good hands
And the next
"August 0, 1858 She is well as ever !"
And the next
.ana,., ,s,o s.v n.r ,es,o-d.vw
re -,
1Anu '4e neA.
Augusts, ieoo' ehes growing rapiays
And the next
'AuFust 0, 1851 She continues to do well!'
| And the next
eAugusi ., 1862, I've seen her again."
And the next
Aneust o 1903 She's becoming woman u
ANY . ,nu Iea ,e,, VIZ, .,,,, i, ,.,r,s.n,.
H ,tl.s =, or ioai S''''' % 'h""e"'
..Aneust ., 1ss,. she's I,velipr than .yer,n
| And the next
| august o, 1866. she's really chsimrgi'
And last year IT is
| "August o, 1907. My reward is al h4at"
And what shall we get to-day!
The physician looked up and fixed his
thoughtful gaze upon the bereaved husband
and wife.
slow did these messages come 10 your
he demanded.
''lnvariably by post, replied Mr.. Preble.
Usually to the house, but sometimes TO the
of1ce!"
'And you have never seen their author?"
"Neyer.'
''fhe last OF them is dated, see, a year
| ago today
Eyes, yes, faltered the banker, land the
time has come for another message This is
the 9th Of August, 1868
Il see, said DR.. Hutton. Aud this is
the secret Of your terrible excitement. You
aro expecting TO receive to-day another of
these strange messages"
There was u brief silence. Mrs. Preble's
hand tluttercd in its task, and her face grew
very pale The banker breathed gaspingy.
The physician regarded them both in friendly
sympathy
'sWe shall hear Of her again to-day" said
Mr.. Prcble; land what will the message
be 7"
The mother averted her face. Her brave
, heart faltered as that question echoed In her
soul
1.-The writer of these letters is unquestion-
I ably the abductor of your child =! said Dr.
Hutton. :. Have you any suspicion as to
< his identity 2"
.Not the slightest" said Mr.. Preble.
a I'VE have puzzled over the problem for
6 many years, but VIC cannot guess who he is. y
g "Think,h said The doctor Have Won
no enemy 4? | do not mean people with
!, whom you are not friendy-evcry stirring
d man has plenty of these-but a iownriqhi
:, enemy Ia there no man whom Won knew
IS in the East who hated YOU No one agains,
e whom YOU were called upon to testify-no
IS one whom you possibly injured r.
The banker shook his head. He had
asked himself all these aueetions repeatedly
|, 81 have no such enemy. doctor y he an.
y swered with SINCERITY of voice and manner
& aAnd Mrs. Preble p suggested thc doc
tor, turning 10 her. Have YOU no rejected
p suitpr who MIGHT he revenuefnl enough ~
o desolate your home ~
uNo.1 said the lady al was marrief
!" early. Morton was NV first lover -
l. s.Tbis is strapge-yery strange I" mpt
re tered the doctor. You are moi conscion,
lie of having mn enemy in tho world and W.
"A
e. in human form-who is working out apains
" YOU a fearful hatred And Won have not nh
II Slightest suspicion as to whom he il p
III Mot the slightest. declared tho banl,er
"Not the slishtest.. echoed Mrs Preble
IN "My husband mad s,en. brother who mich
have been capable of This infamv-hut he i
ID dead I,
~ "The handwriting is not familiar ,,
"No. II ia merely n rude scrnwl ne 70,
lis see" said the banker i" II sugpests : notb;n
n, except that il is evidently dismissed i"
lie Arain there was n nrofn,nd silence
WOur child is seventeen wears nld now
tn at length murmured Mrs. Prehle her yo;o
I'd trembling. ssShc is on the threshold =
ne womnnhood Nh doubt Iu,;na ali ,hos
years, she has yearned fer MS wbereyer r 81
a NAV he, as We nave vearned for her =" gu
ed q But where is she ~ asked Tho nhysicia
nd and now His voice wac brol.cn i,J h;s daa
he sympathy with The agonized narents
& Where can SHE he y.
a j Heaven only knows .nsworod n
Ir mother. peri,ans IN San Francisrou y.
ID hans in some rude lint in The interior vii
ur some obscure farmer and nnda,. a ,.,,'o ~,
list Il not hers thiml, he, ahdno,nr WI
have carried her Ia some lonnl,. ra,;"n =
k tho in,ar;or an,nr ~ ,aita,as 'ds.on
| ta;ns WI nayas co.., ,,a,,n, ~ l., ~.
OF streets without tnrnnr - III, 81 ~ , m u
ng never hear a g;rish voioe ,,;,hn,t :" ,s,ar.;,
of eagerly. half fancving tbat II NAV rrnue ~
ng voice If NV lost Jessie - - i'' fio'e "
h, OH nifving beayan y, e;ohod NJ H.,
ton dash;ny a f,nod of TONS So, III. Luz
he 6 Viii tb;s 7ong ogonu nenor ,o o u us eses
re- "We hone so and evan S haIieye 'e 90 y a.
IS, svered Mrs Israhle Win The fr,,,noss e az
nnfaltsrng ,rust IL Gods o ara,, {. 81 ~ 4
an iast MESSAGE we rena;nad fra neioy w. ,,,
seams to no;nt 70 sonns I;nd Am ~ gu, h oneni
lis !. Trne assented i9r Wu,,on ,o ohase ,
- the message IN question. = 1t is unlike th
r, He means either that he intends to MARI
:, your daughter. or that he intends to dcman
81 money Of you for bringing her back
Die both.h
", 1--WE shall soon know" said Mrs. Prebl
nd with forced calmness. "To, day we sbn
have another message, no doubt. VIII,
ed will it be?"
So The banker turned restlessly ON his sof
.pd t,;o faoo ,ra,y o,,o,, ,,al.r