Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-11-25

lDe nfSt, sDeiore lne gaze Oh LIZ. nut
ton, who fead it aloud:
aAugust 9, 1856. Your jesse still lires."
The physician started. as if eleetri
fed.
"Ah! this is something definite
something decisive" he muttered.-
at convinced you that your daughte
was still living
eyes, DOCTOR" said Mr.. Preble
'and every anniversary of that day ha
brought us some message. The dis
| appearance of the child, mysterious a
lii is, does not seem to me hal
SO strange as that the villain
who took her away could contrive t.
communicate with us every year since
and always on particular day-th'
anniversary of that on which she wa
stolen--without our being able to dis
cover who be is. And a still create
wonder to me is what can be his mo
tive. 1t seems incredible. If it wa
stated in a novel many people woult
not believe it. But truth is strange
thap felton,"
Mrs. Preble drew from her hus
bands breast-pocket his notebook
opened it to the proper page, and pre-
sented it TO the physician.
Dr. Hutton adjusted his spectacles
glanced over the page, and then slowl,
read the group of entries aloud. Th'
entry the first year is as follows:
"AueUsr Q, 1855. Jessie, ha, ,ha! JESSIE"
And the next year it is
"AUGUsr 9. 1856. Your Jessie still hues!'"
And the next
"AUGusr 8, 1857. She is in good hands,"
And the next
"AUeUsr 9, 1858, She is soea as euer!"
And the next
"AuGUsr 9, 1859. / Isato her yesterday,"
And the next
"AUGUsr 9. 1860. She's gro,oing rapidly."
And the next
sAuGUsT 8, 1861. She continues to do iceli!r p
And the next
'AUGUsr 8, 1862. Poe seen her again"
And the next
s'AUGUsr 9, 1863. She's becoming ,coman,'
And the next
"AUGUsT 8, 1864. Your child is thirteen!,"
And the next
"AUGUsr 8, 1865. She's lovelier than eper!'"
And the next
"AUeUsr 9, 1866. She's really eharming!'"
And last year it is
"AUGUsT 9, 1861. My reuard is at hand"
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 tc
you?" he demanded.
'Invariably by post" replied Mr..
Preble. Usually to the house, but
sometimes to the oficei''
"And you have never seen their au-
thor?"
"Never!'
"The last of them is dated, see, a
year ago to-day!''
Eyes, yes," faltered the banker,
land the time has come for another
message. This is the 9th of August,
1882
81 see,'; said Dr. Hutton. "And
this is the secret of your terrible ex-
element You are expecting to re
ceive to-day another of these strange
messages
There was a brief silence. Mrs.
Preble's hand fluttered in its task, and
her face grew very pale. The banker
breathed gaspingly. The physi clan
regarded them both in friendly SYM
pathy.
"We shall hear of her again to day. -
said Mr.. Preble; .and what will the
message be-"
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?'
s'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
stirring man has plenty of these-but
a downright enemy! Is there no man
whom you knew in the East who hated
you? No one against whom you were
called upon to testify-no one whom
you possibly injured?"
The banker shook his head. He had
asked himself all these questions re-
peatedly.
81 have no such enemy, DOCTOR" he
answered with sincerity of voice and
manner.
"And Mrs. Preble?" suggested the
doctor, turning to her. "Have you no
rejected suitor who might be revenge
full enough tc desolate your home?"
"No," said the lady. 81 was mar
ried early. Morton was my first
loverl''
"This is strange very strange!"
muttered the doctor. "You are not
conscious of having an enemy in the
world, and yet you have an enemy--a
hidden foe-a fend in human form
who is working out against you fear
full hatredl And you have not the
slightest suspicion as to whom he
is?"
''Not the slightest" declared the
banker.
''Not the slightest!'' echoed Mrs
Preble. "My husband had a step
brother who might have been capable
of this infamy-but he is dead!''
"The handwriting is not familiar?"
''No. 1t is merely rude scrawl,
as you see," said the banker. at
suggests nothing except that it is evil
IDENTIFY disguised"
Again there was profound silence.
"Our child is seventeen years old
now at length murmured Mrs.
Preble, her voice trembling "She is
on the threshold of womanhood. No