The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1869-11-25

view Of the physician, who read
as follows:
August 9.ls55. Jessie. hd. hal Jessie.
DIR. Hutton looked, with a
puzzled air, from the scrap of
paper, which he turned over
and over, TO the countenance
of The banker.
II can make nothing of this"
he declared.
at is merely q date with the
name Of your lost daughter. 1t
tells me nothing"
"Nor did il US at first" said
Mr.. Preble. Then that demon
laugh connecting them set us
to thinking. A whole year we
agonized over the dreadful
problem, and then we received
another message which you
shall see."
lie thrust another slip Of pa.
per identical in shape and ap
pearance with the first, before
the gaze of DR.. Hutton, who
read it aloud:
August 0, 1856. Your Jessie still lives"
The physician started as if
electrified.
"Ah! this is something de-
cisive, he m1ttered." at con.
vinced you that your daughter
was still living"
Yes, doctor said Mrs. Preble,
sand every anniv versary of that
day has brought US some mes
sage. The disappearance of the
child, mysterious as it is, does
not seem to me hall so strange
as that the villain who took her
away could contrive to com.
municate with us every year
since, and always on a particu
lar day the anniversary of
that on which she was stolen
without our being able to dis
cover who he is. And a still
greater wonder to me is what
can be his motive. II seems
incredible. If it was stated in
a novel many people would not
believe it. But truth is stran-
ger than felton,"
Mrs Preble drew from her
husbands breast pocket his
note book opened it to the
proper page, and presented it
to th, physician. a
DR.. Hutton adjusted his spec.
tacles, glanced over the page,
and then slowly read the group
of entries aloud. The entry the
first year is as follows:
"August 0. 1866. Jessie! ha, hal
JeSsiei" And the next year 1t is
august 0, 1856. Your Jessie still
lireSl" And the next
august o, 1851. She is in good
hands" And the next
august 0. 1873 She is wsH as ev-
erl" Aud the next
august o, 1869. Isaw her yester-
day" And the next
"Augus. 0. 1860. She's growing rap
idyw And the next =
august 0, 1861. She continues to
do ,oell!" And the next .-
august o. 1862. / hare seen he,
againl" And the next
august 0. 1868. She's becoming q
toOman!" And the next
august 0, 1864. Your child i.
thiteenl" And the next
August 0, 1866. She's lovelier Md,
erer!" And the next
August 9. 1866. She's really charm.
ing!" And the next
August 9, 1867. My REGARD is al
handw
And what shall we get to>day
The physician looked up and
fixed his thoughtful gaze upon
the bereaved husband and wife
"How did these messages
come to you he demanded.
''Invariably by post" replied
Mr.. Preble. Usually to the
h,use, but sometimes to the
Officer
sand you have never seen
their author2"
Neveil'1 .
"The last of them is dated,
see, a year ago tosdayp
"Yes, yes" faltered The bank.
er, and the time has come for
another message. This is he
9th of August, 1S6sp
81 see," said DIR. Hutton.
"And this is the secret of your
terrible excitement You are
expecting to receive today an
other of these strange messa-
ges!" There was a brief ST..
lence. Mrs. Preble's hand
auttered in its task, and her
face grew very pale. The
banker breathed gaspingly.
The physician regarded them
both in friendly sympathy. M
I'VE shall hear Of her again
to. day." said Mr.. Preble; sand
what will the message be?"
The mother averted her face.
IT