Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-11-24

Saiu vi. LIC3iS' anu ~ ii't W III tlLS
message be-.
The mother aycrted her face. Her
brave heart faltered as that question
echoed in her soul.
The writer Of these letters Is unoues-
tionably the abductor of your childr'
said Dr. Hutton. "Have You any sus-
picion as to his identity ."
Not the slightest" said 1iE, Preble.
We have puzzled over the problem for
many years, but we cannot guess who
he IS"
"Thin5, " said the doctor. Have you
no enemy? do not mean people with
whom you are not friendIy-every stir
ring 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.
"I 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 suttor who might be revengeful
enough to desolate your home?n
''No," said the lady. 4 was married
early. Morton was my first loverr'
''This is strange-very stranger NUT
tered the doctor. You are not consci-
Gus of having an enemy in the world,
and yet yon have an enemy-a hidden
foe-a fiend in human form-who is
working out against you fearful hatred!
And you have not the slightest suspic-
ion as to whom he is ,"
''Not the slightest" declared the
banker"
''Not the slightest, ," echoed Mrs. Prob
le. MY husband had a step-brother
who might have been capable ofthis in
famy-but he is dead ~
''The handwriting is not familiar?"
''No. It is merely a rude scrawI, as
you see, - said the banker. 1T suggests
nothing-except that it is evidently dis
guisedr'
Again there was a profound silence.
"OurchiId is seventeen years old now
at length muImured Mrs. PrebIe. her
voice trembling. She is on the thres-
hold of womanhood. No doubt, during
all these years, she has yearned for US,
wherever she may be, as we. have yearn-
ed for her -
'But where is she?" asked the physi-
cian-and now his voice was broken by
his deep sympathy with the agonized
/ parents. where can she be ~
"Heaven only knows" answered the
mother. Perhaps in San Francisco
/ perhaps is some rude hut in the interior,
with some obscure farmer, and under q
name that is not hers! I think heI
abductor would have carried her to
some lonely region of the interior
among the valleys and mountains Yet
7 never sec a young girl in the street
without turning to look at her. I never
hear & girlish voice without listening ca
gerly, half fancying that it may prove
| the voice of my lost Jessie ~
"Oh, plying heavenn' sighed DR..
Hutton, dashing a flood of tears from
his eyes. will this long agony never
be over?"
'We hope 50, and even believe so, y
answered Mrs. Preble, with the ffrmness
of an unfaItering trust in Gods mercy.
THE last message we received from our
enemy seems to point to some kind of a
charge
"True.' assented DR.. Hutton, looking
at the meggage in question. It's un-
like the others. It says that his reward
is at hand He means either that he
intends to marry your daughter, or that
he intends to demand money of you fol
bringing her back-or BOTH
awe shall soon know" said Mrs
Preble, with forced caImness. To-day
wesAaII have another message, no doubt
What will it be-"
The banker turned restlessly on hi:
sofa, and his face grew even paIer.
''Whatever it is let it come ~ he mur.
INJURED. Anything can be borne better
than this awful suspense. Let it come 4!
As if his impatient words had precipi
tated a crisis, a step was heard on the
walk at this moment, and a ring at the
front door followed.
"Another message" 90 breathed the
banker.
A servant soon entered, bearing a let
ter, which he extended to Mr.. Preble
saying:
'The bearer is in the hail.
! With an eager gaze, the banker CLAN
( ced at the superscription of the missive
1T is from blH1 ? he faltered.
He tore the envelop open.
Itcantained slip of paper, Of we'll
known shape and appearance, upoT
which was scrawlcd a single line, in al
equally welI-known handwriting
which the banker exhibited to his wife
and the physician.
This line was as follows:
'tAug. 9, 'GS. 1t sir TrriH caH."
, \ shock of wonder and horror shooE
| the three simultaneously.
'WiU calIr' cried Mr.. PrebIe, start
ing to his feet, and glaring wildly
around.
as coming here:" cried Mrs. PrebIe
/ also rising.
"It seems So said Dr. Hutton, nj.
/ eyes again revcrting to the message
Gle will be here atsix o'clock, and see
it is six aIreadyw
Even as nc spoke, the clock on tn,
} mantlepiece commenced striking thl
appointed hour, and at that instan
heavy footsteps resomded in the hall
= approaching the library.
'Tt is her. cried the doctor, also ri
= sing.
As the last stroke ofthe hour resound
ed, the door leading from the hall agaiI
; opened.
One long mortified glance east tn
banker and his wife in that direction
and then she fell heavily on the floor.
Her senses had left her The abov
S we publish as a specimen chapter; bu
! the continuation of this story will h
- found in the y. Y. Ledger Ask for tn