The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-11-23
NOV. 23, 1869.
convinced you that your daughter was

docs not seem to me half so strange as
| that the villain who took her away could
Icontrive to communicate with US every
year since, and always on particular
day--the anniversary of that on which
she was stolen--without our being able
! to discover who he is. And still great
er wonder to me is what can be his mo-
tive It seems incredible. If it was
stated IN novel many people would
not believe it.. But truth is stranger
than fiction o. - .1e -.
Mrs Preble drew from her husbands
breast pocket his note book, opened it
to the proper page, and presented 1t to
the physician. .z-t.-...
DIR. Hutton adjusted his spectacles,
glanced over the page, and then slowly
read the group of entries aloud. The
| entry the first year is as follows
| August 8. 1858. Jessie, ha ha! .,essie!'
And the next year it is
august 8. 1855, Your Jessie still iices!
And tho next azolt
| August 8, 1851, She is ~ good Aandsp
And the next
! august 8, 1888. Size as ,oeV as erer'
| And the next 50 1t#1s
| august o, 1850. Isav her ycsterday'
| And the next
| August ., 1850. She's groo,g rafiRsr
I And the next
/ August 8, 1861. She continues TO do ,7elt!'
! And the ext
/ august 8, 1862. ire scee her agaia!
1 And the next
| august .. 1868. She's becoming nomd"'
! And the next
/ august 8. 1864. Your e1izd is tiiaeen'
! And tue next I
| sAusust9 8, 1865. She's souclisr than erers'
And the next
| august 8, s66. She's really caan,iag'
/ And the next
sAusust 9, 1857. My reoard IS Hamdr
And what shall we get to day!
The physician looked up and fixed
I his thoughtful gaze upon the bereaved
husband and wife.
How did these messages come to
you?' he demanded.
'Invarisbly by post, replied Mr. Pre-
ble.
/ Usually to the house, but sometimes
to the office!,
.And you have never seen their au-
thor?'
'Neyern
The last of them is dated, l see. a
year ago to day"
Ss.Yes, yes faltered the banker, 'and
the time hos come for another message.
| This is the 9th Of August, 1868"
8 Il see' said DR.. Hutton. sAnd this
is the secret of your terrible excite
ment. You are expecting to receive to
day another Of these strange messages!
There was brief silence. Mrs. Preb-
les hand huttered in it's task, and hei
face grew very pale The banker breath
ed gaspingly. The physician regarded
them both in friendly sympathy.
sWe shall hear of her again to>day,
said Mr. Pre5le; 'and what will the
message be?'
The mother averted her face. Hel
brave heart faltered as that question
echoed in her soul.
The writer is unquestionably the alb
ductor of your childt said DIR. Hutton
Have you any suspicion as to his iden-
tity?,
Not the slightest said Mr.. Preble
sWe have puzzled over the problem fol
many years, but we cannot guess who
he is
Think, said the doctor. Have yot
no enemies? do not mean peopl,
with whom you are not friendly-every
stirring man has plenty of these-but
downright enemy? Is there no mar
whom you knew in the East who hateS
you2 No one against whom, you wer'
called upon to testfy-no one when
you possibly injured?'
The banker shook his head He had
asked himself sill these questions re-
peatedly.
I have no such enemy, DOCTOR Ii,
answered with sincerity and manner
And Mrs. Preble,' suggested th,
doctor, turning to her. Have you M
rejected suitor who might be rev vengfu
enough 10 desolate your home?'
/ No. said the lady. I was married
early. Morton was my first tover!'
This is strange-vory strange!' NUT
/ tered the doctor. You are not con
scious Of having an enemy in the world
and yet you have an enemy--a hiddel
foe-a fiend in human form-who i
working out againgt you fearful ha-
tired! And you have not the slighses
suspicion as to whom he isf'
/ Not the slightest declared the ban,
. ker.
MY husband had step brother VIII
might have been capable of this infam
but be is dead"
The handwriting is not famiiiar?'
No. 1t is merely rude scrawl, a
you see,' said the banker. 1T suggest
), nothing-except that it is evidently dis
guised!
Again there was a profound silence
'our Chilu IS seventeen years Oh
now,' at length murmured Mrs Preble
her voice trembling. She is on th
threshold of womanhood. No. doub,
during all these years, she has yearne,
for us, wherever che may be, as VI
have yearned for her!
But where is she?' asked the physi
, cian-a and now his voice wac broken b,
his deep sympathy with the agonize1
Oar3ntS sWhprp can Sho hapf
Heaven only knows answered th
mother. Perhaps in San Francisco
perhaps in some rude hut in the interi
/ or, with some obscure farmer, and un
der name that is not hers! / think he
abductor would have carried her t,
some lonely region of the interior
among the valleys and mountains Ye
/ never see a young girl in the street
Hithout turning to look at her / nav