The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-11-26

The banker fixed his burning eyes upon
the physicians face, and whispered:
III said we never saw the poor child
again. did not say we had not heard OF
her. She was lost on the 9th OF August,
1854. For n year we thought her dead.
But on the anniversary Of our loss we
received n written message concerning
her."
"a message!" cried DIR. Hutton, start
ing.
"a mere scrawl-a single line in n
hand evidently disguised" said the bank
er. "Here il is:m
He produced dingy scrap Of paper
from n drawer in the table. and held II up
to the view Of the physician, who read as
follows:
august Q, 1855. Jessie, Ia, IA, yssas."
DIR. Hutton looked, with n 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 de-
clared. ut is merely date. with the
name Of your lost daughter. IL tells me
nothing
"Nor did IL us. mt first" said Mr.. Preb-
lie. "Then that name and that date, with
the demon laugh connecting them, set us
10 thinking. A whole year we agonized
over the dreadful problem, and then we
received another message, which you shall
see"
He thrust second slip of paper. iden-
teal in shape and appearance with the
first, before the gaze Of DIR. Hutton, who
read il aloud
august ., 1856. fosr yss'i, sii1 Iirs'."
The physician started, as IL electrified.
"Ah! this is something defnite-some.
thing decisive" he muttered. at con-
WINGED you that your daughter was still
living"
"Yes, DOCTOR said Mr.. Prcble, "and
every anniversary of that day has brought
us some message. The disappearance OF
To me half so strange rs that the villain
who took her away could contrive to COM
municate with us every year since, and al
ways on n particular day-the anniversa-
~ of that on which she was stolen-with-
out our being able TO discover who he is.
And still greater wonder TO me Is, what
can be his motive. II seems Incredible.
If IL was stated in novel many people
would not believe il. But truth Is strnn-
ger than felton,"
Mrs. Preble drew from her husbands
bre,lst-pocket his notebook, opened it To
the proper page, and presented il TO the
physician.
DR.. Hutton adjusted his spectaclcs,
glanced over the page, and then slowly
read the group of entries aloud. The en-
try the first year Is rs follows:
"Ausust o, 1888. Jessie, IA, IA! Js'''sg'
And the noxt year IL is
"Asga.t o, 1850. Year Jsss., st,a hrs'''
And the next
"August o, 1857. sac is IN good AGnd'"'
And the next
"Augus, o, 1858. sac % ~sH as ,ru!-
And the next
"Augu.t 81, 1850. I's~ Asy yesterday"
Aud the next
"Augu.t o, 1890. Shs's yrowirg raPidty''
And the next
.August 0, 1861. sac oontiruss to do rsn
And the next
"Ausu.t o, Isss. RE seen her assin!'
And the next
"August D, 1898. sac, Seeo~,aga roma-'"
And the next
"Ausust o, 1864. Your eaiid s thiri,,ry"
Aud the next
"August D, 1898. SA,s iOr,iisr than ,vo,'
And the next
"August o, 1906. shs's really eAar~'ng''
And the next
.August %, 1867. Ny rs'sard - at Adrdr'
And what shall we get to-day
The physician looked up and fixed his
thoughtful gaze upon the bereaved hus-
band and wife.
"lIow did these messages come to you?"
he demanded.
"Invriably by post" said Mr.. Preble.
Usually to the house, but sometimes to
the Office !"
"And you have never seen their au-
thor?" . Ell.
1.-The last of them is dated, see. a year
ago to-day"
"Yes, yes" f,ltered the banker. land
the time has come for another message.
This is the 9th Of August, 1857
Il see" said DIR. Hutton. "And this is
the secret Of your terrible excitement!
You are expecting to receive to-day an
other of these strange messagcsm
There was brief silence. Mrs. Prcble's
hand iluttercd In Its task, and her face
grew very pale. The banker breathed
gaspingly- The physician regarded them
both in friendly sympathy.
1--WE shall hear of her again to-day"
said Mr.. Preblc; ''and what will the mes
sage be?"
The mother avcrted her face. Her bravo
heart faltercd rs that question echoed in
her soul.
THE writer of these letters is unques-
tionably the abductor of your child!' said
DR.. Hutton. "Have you any suspicion as
To his identity9n
mot the slightest" said Mr.. Preblc.
1--WE have puzzled over the problem for
many years, but we cannot guess who he
Is"
Think" said the doctor. "IIavc you
no enemy' do not mean people with
whom YOU are not friendly every
stirring man has plenty of these-but a
downright enemy! Is there no one you
knew In the East who hated you? No
one against whom YOU were called upon
10 tcstiy-no one whom you possibly in
jurcd3"
The banker shook his head. He had
asked himself all these questions repeat
edly.
have no such enemy, doctor" he an
swered with sincerity Of voice and manner.
"And Mrs. Prcble?n suggested the doc
tor. turning % her. ''IIave you no reject
cd sutton who might be revengeful enough
TO dcsolate your home?" ~
mo- said the lady. II was married
early. Morton was my first lover!
This is stranSe-very strange" NUT
tered tho doctor. "You are not conscious
of having An enemy in the world, and yet
you have an enemy-a hidden foe-a
iiend in human fornl-who Is working out
against you n fearful hatrcdl And YOU
have not the slightest suspicion rs to who
he tsp" II
..Not the sliyhtest I" declared tho hank