Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-11-25
evidently disguised /"

now,Tat length murmured Mrs. Pre-.
BILE, her voice trembling. "She is
on the threshold of womanhood. No
doubt, during all these years, she
has yearned for us, wherever she
maybe, as We have yearned for her II
But where is she ?" asked the
physician and now his voice was
broken-by his deep sympathy with
sgonized parents. Where can
slte-bel II Vila
Heaven only knows answered
the mother. Perhaps in San Fran
clsco--prrhaps in some rude hut in
the interior, with some obscure far
mer, and under a name that is not
hers .Ithink her abductor would
| have carried her to some lonely re.
gion otethe interior, among the val.
leys and mountains. Yet never
see a-yoang girl in the streets with.
out turning to look at her. | never
hear a girish voice without listen.
ing eagerly, half fancying that it
may prove the voice of my lost Jes,
sic
"Oh, plying heaven y sighed Dr..
Hutton, dashlng flood of tears from
his eyes. will this long agony
never be over?"
"We hope so, and even believe so,
answered Mrs. Preble, with the firm.
ness of an unlalteriug trust in Gods
mercy. "The last message we re.
ceived from our enemy seems to
point to some kind of a change"
True" assented DR.. Hutton,
looking at the message in question.
''ltis unlike the others. 1t says
that his reward is at hand, lie
means either that he intends to mar.
ry your daughter, or that he intends
to demand money OF you for bringing
her back-or both.
ave shall soon know" said Mrs.
Preble, with forced calmness. 40.
day we shall have another message,
no doubt. w hat will it be Y
The banker turned restlesssly on
his sofa, and his face grew even
paler,
Nv hatever it is, let it come! u he
murmured. Anything can be borne
better than this awful suspence.-
Let it come y
AS if his impatient words had pre-.
cipitated a crisis, step was heard on
the walk at this moment, and ring
at the front door followed.
Another message y breathed the
banker.
Aservant soon entered, bearing a
letter, which he extended 20 Mr..
Preble, saving:
"The bearer is in the hall"
With an eager gaze, the banker
glanced at the superscriptlon of the
IN issive.
"itis from htm!" he faltered
Ae tore the envelope open.
contained a slip of paper, of
well.known shape and appearance,
upon which was scrawled single
line, in an equally well.known hand.
writing, which the banker exhibit.
ed to his wife and the physician.
This line was as follows:
q a. an y
A shock of wonder ana horror
shook the three simultaneously.
Twill call cried Mr.. Preble,
starting to his feet, and glaring
wildly around.
"ls coming here ?" cried Mrs. Pre-.
ble,-also arising.
"It-scems so, said DR.. Hutton,
his eyes again reverting to the mes
sage. He vii, re here at six o'clock,
and-seef-stD six already y
Even as he spoke, the clock on
the hantelpece commenced striking
the appointed hour, and at that in.
slant heavy footsteps resounded in
the hal approaching the library.
"Itis hel' cried the docter, also
arising.
As.the last stroke of the hour re.
sounded, 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 heavily
to the floor.
Hss, senses had left her. The
abovew we publish as a specimen chap
ter but the continuation OF tins
story viii be found only in the n
Y. Ledger. Ask for the number
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 hav" the Ledger