Middletown transcript., 1869-11-27

at length murmured Mrs. Preble, her
voice trembling "She is on the thres-
hold of womanhood. No doubt, during all
these years, she has yearned for us, wher-
ever she may be, as we have yearned for
her I" &
"But where is she ?" asked the physi-
oian-and now his voice was broken by
his deep sympathy with the agonized par
ents. Where can she be ?"
Heaven only knows" answered the
mother. Perhaps in San Francisco
perhaps in some rude hut in the interior,
with some obscure farmer, and under a
name that is not hers think her alb
ductor would have carried her to some
lonely region of the interior, among the
valleys and mountains. Yet | never see a
young girl in the streets without turning
to look at her. never hear girlish
voice without listening eagerly, half fam
oying that it may prove the voice Of my
lost Jessie % =.
''Oh, plying heavenw sighed DIR. Hut
ton, dashing food of tears from his eyes.
''Will this long agony never be over?"
i"We hope SO, and even believe so, an
swered Mrs. Preble, with the frmness of
an unfaltering trust in Gods mercy. "The
last message we received from our enemy
seems to point to some kind of change"
"True," asscnted DIR. Hutton, looking
at the message in question. ut is un-
like the others, 1t says that his reward
is at hand.' He means either that he in
tends to marry your daughter, or that he
intends to demand money of you for bring
ing her back-or both"
-'We shall soon know" said Mrs. Pre-
BILE, with forced calmness. "To-day we
shall have another message, no doubt.
What viii it be ?"
The banker turned restlessly on his So
fa, and his face grew even paler.
'Whatever it is, let it come p he mur-
INJURED. Anything can be borne better
than this awful suspense. Let it come p
AS If his inpatient words had precipita-
ted a crisis, a step was heard on the walk
at this moment, and ring at the front
door followed
"Another messageI'' breathed the ban
ker.
A servant soon entered, bearing let
ter, which he extended to Mr.. Preble,
saying:
1.-The bearer is in the hail."
With an eager gaze, the banker glanced
at the superscription of the missive.
ut is from hin, p
He tore the envelope open.
1t contained slip of paper, of we'll
known shape and appearance, upon which
was scrawled single line, in an equally
well-known handwriting, which the ban
ker exhibited to his wife and the physi-
| clan.
This line was as follows:
"August o. 1868. at sir I,eW ca1f'
A shock of wonder and horror shook the
three simultaneously.
"Will call !" cried Mr. Preble, starting
to his feet, and glaring wildly around.
''Is coming here r. cried Mrs. Preble,
also arising,
at seems so," said DR.. Hutton, his
eyes again reverting to the message. "He
six already p
Even as he spoke, the clock ON the man
telpiece commenced striking the appointed
hour, and at that instant heavy footsteps
resounded in the hall, approaching the IL
brary.
ut is hep
AS the last stroke of the hour resound-
ed, the door leading from the hall again
opened.
One long and Mortified glance cast the
banker and his wife in that direction, and
then she fell to the floor
Her senses had left her. The above we
publish as specimen chapter; but the
continuation of this story will be found on
ly in the N. Y. Ledger. Ask for the num-
ber dated December 4th, which can be had
at any news Office or bookstore. If you
are not within reach of a news office, you
can have the Ledger mailed to you for one
year by sending three dollars to Robert
Bonner, publisher, 1872 William street,
New York. The Ledger pays more for
original contributions than any other pc
riodical in the world 1t will publish none
but the very, very best. Its moral tone
is the purest, and its circulation the larg-
est. Every body who takes it is happier
for having it. Leon Lewis, Mrs. Harriet
Lewis, Mrs. Sopthworth, Mr.. Cobb, Pro-
fessor Peck, Mary Kyle Dallas. Fanny
Fern and Miss Dupuy will write only for
the Ledger hereafter. 80 + ..s...''.. 74.-' e {.
Mr. Bonner, like other leading publish
ers, might issue three or FIVE papers and
magazines; but he prefers TO concentrate
all his energies upon one. and in that way
to make it the best. One Dexter is worth
more than three or five ordinary horses.
sasaaaa One science only can one genius fit,
sa So vast Is art, SO narrow human wit.
| .- ---------
TRAINING DoGs.--In the course of some
conversation in relation to dogs, Governor