The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-11-26

I 'Feishall hEsr of ef again Eto-day,
Iaid n P1esss; 'a4a what will the
message be
The mother averted her face. Her
brave heart faltered as that question
ECHOED ia-heFse1l.
The writer of these letters is unques-
tionably the abductor of your child ?
said DR.. Hutton. Have you any sus-
piciou as to his IDENTIFY
Not the slightest said Mr.. Preble.
We have puzzled over the problem for
many years, but we cannot guess who
be is
Think, said the doctor. Have you
no enemy9 do not mean people with
whom you are not friendly-every stir
ring man has plenty of these-but
downright enemy! Is there no man
whom you knew in the East who bat
cd YOU'D No one against whom you
were called upon 10 testify-no one
whom you possibly injuredP 2
The banker shook bis head. He had
asked himself all these questions repeat
edlY.
4 have 10 such enemy, DOCTOR he
answered with sincerity of voice and
manner.
And Mrs. Preblep suggested the
doctor, turning to her. Have you no
rejected soit0r who might be reveng-
full enough to desOlate your home?
No said the lady. Il was married
early. Morton was my first loverF
This is strange-very strangeP NUT
tered the doctor. You are not con-
scious of having an enemy in the world
a1d yet you have an enemy--a hidden
foe-a fend in human form-who is
working out against you a fearful hat
red And you have not the slightest
suspicion as to whom be is g
Not the slightest declared the
banker
Not the slightest echoed Mrs.
PrebIe. my husband had a step
brother who might have been capable
of this infamy-but be is dead
The handwriting is not fsmiliarP
No. 1t is merely a rude scrswl, as
you see said the banker. 1T suggests
nothing-except that it is evidently
disguised.
Again there was profound silence.
Our child Is seventeen years old now,
at length murmured Mrs. Preble, her
voice trembling. She's on the threshold
Of womaDhood, No doubt, during all
these years, she was yearned for US
wherever she may be, as we have yearn-
ed for herr
But where is she 2 asked the physi-
cian-and now his voice was broken
by his deep sympathy with the agoniz
ed parents. where can she beY
Heaven only knows answered the
mother. Perhaps in San Francisco
perhaps in some rude hut in the in
terror with some obscure farmer and
under name that is not hers l think
ber abductor would have carried her to
some lonely region of the interior, a.
mong the valleys and mountains. Yet
1 never see a young girl in the streets
without listening eagerly, half fancyiug
that it may prove the voice of my lost
Jessiep
oh, plying heavenr sighed Dr.
Hutton, dashing a flood of tears from
his eyes. will this long agony never
be oyerP
we hope so, and even believe so,
answered Mrs. Preble, with the frmness
of an unfalteriDg trust in Gods mercy.
Tie last message we received from our
enemy seems to point to some kind of
a change
True, asssentsd Dr.. Hutton, loOk
ing at tie message in question. 1T IS
unlike the others. 1t says that his re
ward IS at land He means either
h It be intends to marry your daughter
or that he intends to demand money of
you for bringing her back-or BOTH
We shall soon know, said Mrs.
Preble, with forced cslmness. To-day
we shall have another message no doubt
what will it be?
The banker turned restlessly on his
sofa, and his face grew even paler.
Whatever it is, let it come 7 he MUIR
INJURED. ANY thing can be borne bet
ter than this awful suspense. Let it
comet
AS if his impatient words had pre-
cipit sted a crisis, step was heard on the
walk at this moment, aud a ring at the
front door followed.
Another messagep breathed the
banker.
A servant soon entered, bearing
letter, which he extended to Mr.. Preble
saying:
: The bearer is in the hall,
With an eager gaze, the banker
glanced at the superscription of the
missiye.
1t is from him ? he faltered.
He tore the envelope open.
It contained slip of paper, Of we'll
known shape and appearance, upon
which was serawled single line, in an
equally well-known hand writing, which
the banker exhibited to bis wife and
toe physician.
This line was as follows:
August 8, lS6S. Atsir ItgH CALI
& shock Cf wonder aud horror shook
the three simultaneously.
will call ? cried Mr.. Prebl0, start
ing to his feet, aud glaring wildly a
round.
Is coming herel, cried Mrs. Preble,
also arising.
1t seems So, said DR.. Hutton, his
eyes again reyerting to the message.
He will be here at six o'clock, and see !
it is six alreadyr
Even as be spoke, the clock on the
mantelpiece commenced striking the
appointed honr, and at that instant
heavy footsteps resounded in the hall,
approaching the library,
tits her cried the doctor, also aris.
ing.
ing.
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 direc-
ton, and then she fell heavily to the
floor.
Her senses had left her. The above