Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-11-24

pearance OF the child, mysterious as II Is,
does not seem to me half so strange as
the villain who took her away could
contrive to communicate with us every
year since, and always on a particular
day-the anniversary of that on which
she was stOlen-without our being able
to discover who he is. And a still great
er wonder to me is what can be his mo-
tive. 1t seems incredible. If it was
stated IN a novel many people would be-
heve 1t. But truth is stranger than fic-
ton"
Mrs. Preble drew from her husbands
breast pocket his notebook, opened il
10 the proper page, and presented it TO
the physician.
DR.. Hutton adjusted his spectacles,
glanced over the page, and then slowly
read the group of entries aloud. The
entry the first year is as follows:
august 8, 1855 Jessie, no, Ia JESSIE
And the mex year il is
august o. 1856. Your jessie sin ti,ss"'
And the next
.AugHSt ., 1855. lSbs Is IN good hcsds -
And the next
august .. 1855. she Is JCeI as eCcr -
And the next
august Q, 1853. ISdtg eryeste7dgy -
And the next
"August ., IsGO. She's grosriag rapidly
And the next
"August 3. 1861. she continues to DO neF -
And the next
ES"August 3. 1859. TucScep her again -
And the next
august 9, 1868. shes becoming q tconl05l ?
And the next
august Q, 1861. Tour child is thirteen -
And the next
August 9. 1865. She's IOUehcT thou eUcTE
And the next
august 9, 1866. She's really charming -
And last veal il is
atno,st d ISe- N, ys,y.yy,5 :, oy hand -
And what shall we get to-day!
The physician looked up and fixed his
thoughtful gaze upon the bereaved hus-
band and wife.
How did these messages come TO your
he demanded.
'Invsribly by post, replied Mr.. Preb-
lie. Casually 10 the house. but some
times TO the Officer
"And yon have never seen their au-
thor?'
"Neverr'
The last of them is dated, 1 see a year
ago today
t'Yes, yes,' filtered the banker, land
the time has come for another message.
This is the 9Th of August, 1857
Il see," said DR.. Hutton. "And this
is the secret of your terrible excitement
You are expecting to receive to-day an
other of these strange meSSagest'
InCIG WAS UElGA SlAtAlG. MIS- IItb-
les hand huttered in its task, and her
face grew very pale. The banker
breathed gaspingly. The physician re-
garded them both in friendly sympathy.
"We shall hear of her again to-day"
said Mr.. Preble; land what will the
message be?'
The mother avertedhe Ter face. Her brave
heart faltered as that question echoed in
her soul.
1.-THE writer of these letters is unques-
tionably the abductor of your child!'
said DR.. Hutton; Have you any sus-
picion as TO its identity ?"
Not the slightest" said Mr.. Preble.
"We have puzzled over the problem for
many years, but we cannot guess who
he is"
Think" said the doctor. "Have YOU
no enemy? I do not mean people with
whom you are not friendly-every stir
ring man has plenty of these-but a
downright enemy! Is there no man in
the East who hated you? Nc one whom
you were called upon to teStify-no one
whom you possibly injured?"
The banker shook his head. He had
asked himself these questions repeated
ly.
Il have no such enemy, doctor" he
answered with sincerity of voice and
manner
land Mrs. Preble?r suggested the
doctor, turning to her. "Have YOU no
rejected sutton who might be reveng-
ful enough to desolate your homer"
NO" said the lady. II was married
early. Morton was my frst-loverr'
"Thisi is strange strange-very strange"
muttered the doctor. "You are not con-
scious of having an enemy in the world,
and yet you have an enemy-a hidden
foe-af iend in human form-who is work
ing out against you a fearful hatredi-
and you have no suspicion as to whom
he is?"
err"
mot the slightest echoed Mrs. Preb-
lie. "My husband had a s~tep-brother
who might have been capable of this in
iamy-but he is deadr'
1.-The hand writing is not familiar?''
"NO. It is merely a rude scrawl, as
you see,' said the banker. at
nothing-except that it is evidently dis
guisedf'
Again there wa a profound silence.
'Our child is seventeen years old now
at length murmurred Mrs. Preble, her
voice trembling. "She is on the thresh-
old Of wOmanhood. No doubt, during
all these years, she has yearned for Us,
wherever she may be, as we have yesrn-
ed for her =, 90.
but where is she?" asked the physi-
cian-and now his voice was broken by
his deep sympathy with the agoniZed
parents, "Where can she be-"
Heaven only knows answered the
mother. perhaps in San Francisco
perhaps in ome rude hut in the interior,
with some obscure farmer, and under a
namet that is not hers! I think her alb
ductor would have carried her To some
1A.nn- .n-Gan - ~Ia s-G--s- IL
valleys and mountains. Net I never see
z young girl in the streets without turn
ing to look at her. l never hear 4 girl
ISL voice without listening eagerly, half
fancying that it may prove the voice OF
nv lost Jessiet'
"Oh plying heavenr' sighed DR.. Hut
ton, dashing a flood Of tears from his
eyes. VIII this long agony ~ be
oveT?"
I'VE hope so and even believe so," an
swered Mrs. Preble, with the firmness
of an unialtering trust in Gods mercy.
1.-The last message we received from our
enemy seems to point to some kind ofa
change"
"True," sud DR.. Hutton, looking at
the message in question. 1T is unlike
the others. 1t says that his reward is at
hand" He,means either that he intends
to marry your daughter, or that he in
tends to demand money of you for bring
ing her back-or both"
we shall sOon KNOW" said Mrs.
Preble, with forced calmness. To-day
we shall have another message, no doubt.
What will it be?"
The banker turned restlessly on his
sofa, n his face grew ven paler. -
"What ever it is let it conner he muir
mdred. Anything can be borne better
than this awful suspense. Let itcomer'
Is If his impatient words had precipi-
tated a crisis, a step was heard upon the
walk at this moment, and n ring at the
front door bell followed.
Another messsge!' breathed the
banker.
A servant soon entered bearing a let
ter, which he extended TO Mr.. Preble,
saying:
THE bearer is in the hall"
With an eager gaze, the banker glanced
at the superscription Of the missiYc.
at is from him - he faltered,
He tore the envelope open.
1t contained a slip of paper, OF we'll
known shape and appearance, upon
which was scrawled a single line, in an
equally well-known handwriting, which
the banker showed TO his wife and ply
This line was as follows:
August g, 1865. Al sir TugaV
A shock OF wonder and horror shook
the three simultaneously.
will call!' cried Mr.. Preble, starting
to his feet, and glaring widely around.
rs coming here?" cried Mrs. Prcble.
als0arisiBg.
sit seems So said DIR. Hutton. his
ewes again reverting to the message.
He will be here at six O'Clock, and see!
IS SIX already"
EUnn aE 10 -1DT-n IL Ill -