National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-11-26

And the next year s.
August 8, 1856. " Jessie still
lives y
And the next
august 9, 1857. She is in good
handsr
And the next
august 9, 1858. She is well al
ever!
And the next
august 8, 1859. l saw her yes
terdayv
And the next
august 9, 1860. She's growing
rapidlyv
And the next
August Q, 1861. She continue
to do wellr
And the next
August 8, 1862. I've seen hel
again ?
And the next
August 8, 1868. She's becoming
a wOmann
And the next
August ., 1864. Your child is
thirteen /!
And the next
august 8, 1866. She's loveliel
than ever.
And the next
august 9, 1866. She's really
Charmingn
And the next
August 8, 1867. My reward is at
hand 2
And what shall we get to day
The physician looked up and fixed
his thoughtful gaze upon the bereav-
ed husband and wife.
'How did these messages come to
yOu ? he demanded.
Invariably by post replied Mr.
Preble. Usually to the house. but
sometimes to the Office
And you have never seen Their
authorG
'Neverr
'The last Of them is dated, l see,
a year ago to day.
Yes, yes,' taltered the banker,
and the time has come for another
message. This is the 9th of August
1868 =
Il see,' said DIR. Hutton. 'And
this is the secret of your terrible eX.
citemcnt. You are expecting to re
ceive to-day another of these strange
messages =
There was a brief silence. Mrs
Prebles hand huttered in its task
and her face grew very pale. TIL,
banker breathed gaspiDgly. The
physician regarded them both it,
friendly sympathy.
we shall hear of her again to.
day said Mr.. Preble; 'and what
will the message be p
The mother averted her face
Her brave heart faltered as that
question echoed in her soul.
The writer of these letters is un.
questionably the abductor of your
child ! said DR.. Hutton. Have you
any suspicion as to his identity 2
Not the slightest said Mr.. Pre-.
bic. 'We have puzzled over the
problem for many years, but we can.
not guess who he is.'
Think said the doctor. 'Have
you no enemyi | do not mean peo
pie with whom you are not friendly
every stirring man has plenty ot
thcSe-but downright enemy /,
there no man whom you knew in tn,
East who hated you! No one agains
whom you were called upon to tcsti
fy- no one whom you possibly in
.iurcd 7
The banker shook his head. II,
had asked himself all these question,
repeatedly.
Il have no such enemy, doctor,
he answered with sincerity of voic,
and manner.
And Mrs. Prcble 2 suggested til,
doctor, turning to her. 'llave you
no rejected suitor who might be II
vengetul enough to dcsolate youl
home9
NO said the lady. Il was marie,
early. Morton was my first lover.
This Is strangc-yery strange !
muttcrcd the doctor. 'You are no
conscious of having an enemy in tn,
world, aud yet you have an enemy -
hidden ioe--a iiend in human form
who is working ont against You q
fearful hatred ! And you have moi
the slightest suspicion as to whom
he isl!
'Not the slightest declared tn,
banker
Not the sligh,cstr echoed Mrs
Prcblc. My husband had "a step
brother who might have been capa
ble of this infamy--but he is dead
'The handwriting is not iamiliari
No. Ii is merely rude scrawl
as you see,' said the banker. III
suggests nothing-exccpt that il II
evidently disguiscd@
Again there was profound 81
lenCe.
'Our child is seventeen years old
now ut length murmurcd Mrs. Pre-
bile, her voice trembling. 'She is on
the threshold of womanhood. NJ
doubt, during all these years, sh,
has yeained for us, wherever sh,
may be, as we have yca,ned for her!
But where IN she 7 asked the ply
sician- aud now his voice was bro
ken by his deep sympathy with th,
agonizcd parents. Where can sh,