The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-12-03

Tia Rrokan Honae.
TRUTH SIRANGER THAN Nc
ssiaea7 @ TON" 70 a4ss
al .iGsia yshs7fls-- - lasiq sisis RI
IN San Ffsnciseo, On the norsA Ode Of Folsom
street, overlooking Ni.ioa Bay stands Pa,dtial
residence. 1iU0iiO7 9fr IA ~ gsuf = SIS
( The interior Of this houss il eyea more beau
tifnl than it, exterior, every apartment bsins in
its way gem Of magnincence and refinement.
The library especially realizes thes most perfect
ideal Of an elegant and cultured home.
And yet at the moment we look I'm, upon him
one August afternoon, - be occupied his library
the proprietor Of all this wealth appeared Of al
men the most miserable. aa) i -=At
He was Mr.. Morton Prsble, for many ysau lead
ing banker Of San Francisco. .
1t was In vain that the broad bay-window at the
south end Of the room had been opened, giving In
ersss to the nnshine and the ftagmcs Of rare iow.
en-in vain that the walls were lined with richly
carved bookcases and paintinss-in vain that soft
couchss and luxuriom chairs haA been gathered
around him. g .r.sa "a. --- 3. /
He was wretchsd. afsr l.ifaisrs,
BE lay On q sofa, in the depths of the great bay
window, the wreck Of once powerful man. His
figure was thin and gaunt; his facs white = mar
BILE; his eyes having an expression Of woful spprs-
hsnsion, Of narrowing anxiety, Of dreadfsl expect
ancy. 80
1t was evident at glance that no msrsly physical
ailmsut had made him what be was. ~ 64ssG
By what whitening secret by WAT destroying
anliction, had he been TINS agonized! thus haunt
edf thus huntedi he 20 noble and good he 70
wealthy and distinguished ssis1 r1,-ii
Az he moved rsstlsssly upon his Injurious cush-
Ions the pretty clock on the mantelpiece struck fve
every stroke seeming to fall like q hammer upon
the heart Of the nervous invalid. He aroused him
SELL struggling fsebly to sitting posture.
"Oh, viii this fatal day never, nsvsr pasy' he
murmursd; nor bring NJ relisfr'
Noticing with nervous start that he was alone,
he touched bell upon q table before him, and
called: ~ IA
Helen, Helenl where are your -
Before the echoes Of his voice had died out
step was heard, and his wife entered his presence
II len you only for 4 moment, Norton" she
said, advancing to the bankers sids. '.You were
doing, think. wished to send for the doctor I"
She was beautiful woman, Of some six and
thirty years, graceful with broad white brown and
loving eyes, IN which the brightness and sweet
under 4 grief and anxiety no lees poignant than
that evinced BY her husband.
The doctor !" he echoed, half rsproschfully
Yes, dear" she said, In . calm and cheerful
voice, a. she drew . chair to the side Of the SOFA
and at down, stroking the corrugated forehead Of
me hasi Invalid Nth magnetic touch. ne yin BE-
me: You may become seriously illy'' =
M. Preble bestowed anectionate look upon
bis wife but said despondently: lTI ~
, Inc aoctorI He cannot minister to Q mind
daeasedr Oh, II these long hours would only
pass only knew what the day has yet in store
Look up, Morton ~ ep;oiped Nm. Pr,b,. With
reverently trustful glance upward through the
open window at the blue sky, and - II looking be-
yond the azure clouds therein. Let NJ appeal
from the injustics and wickednsss Of earth 70 the
goodness and mercy Of Hsaysni' 81 - :
The banker gave low, sobbing sigh. :
II cannot look up, Helen he answsred, with
at the grave that ID opening before me u" al .
Ms Preble continued to stroke his forehead
softly, while she lifted her pale face to the sunlight
streaming into the apartment.
Look mp, Morton always look up r" she again
enjoined upon the invalid. During all these
fourteen years OF agony, have not oncs doubted
either the goodness or the justice Of Heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be
eomforted.' believe that We shall yet rejoice
more keenly than We have mourned, and that We
,hall come to glorious day Of joy beyond all tbs
The Ace Of the invalid lighted up with N an
swering glow, and be murmlred:
Glorious faith Ny wife, you are indeed
blessed comforteri Perhaps, amer all, you are
right ~
A knock ressundsd on side door at this juno
turs, and the next moment DR.. Hutton, the family
ths rsomi 80 80
He was an old man, portly in figure, with white
hair and beard. but with q fresh and rudy COM
peXion, pair OF shrewd blue eyes, and with an ex-
uberant boyishness of manner that sat well upon
him. He had kind heart and clear head. He ap-
preached the sofa amer greeting the husband and
wife and lined the thin restless hand ofthe invalid,
Quite high fsver." he said after brief pauss.
worrying again, eh, Mr.: Prebls You are wear
ing yourself out Medicine win do you no COED 70
long your mind il in its present condition.
must give You an opiate-" i.
mot now, doctor" interposed the banker. 4"
awake now, for cannot tell At any moment what
the next may bring forth. am looking for the Gull
mnation OF all my years Of anguish-for the cnown-
ing agony Of the whole. Perhaps even now All,
He started up wildly, and then, ~ the sound that
had disturbed him was not repeated, he sank back
again on his cushions, pallid and painting .e
The doctor looked At Hrs. Prebls with an anx-
lit Is the anniversary" she replied to his un-
SAh, yes" sand the doctor. II remember"
Yes, it's another Of those terrible days" cried
the banker, in hollow whisper. " Sit down: doc
think Of nothing else to-day. and am almost wild
with apprehension and anxiety. Sit down"
Dr. Hutton drew up . chair and seated himself,
his face expressing the double solicituds Of friend
You knew us fourteen years ago, DOCTOR" said
Mr.. Preble. " We lived then where We do now, in
were but the three Of us-Helen and l. and our
three-yea old Jessie. And it was fourteen years
ago to-day that our little Jessie was stolen from
remember it." said the doctor softly. "Yet
might she not have bsen lost Mr. Preblss She
went out to play in the garden, If I remember
rightly, and was never seen BY Jon again. She
*So we thought for whole year. DOCTOR" In
terrupted the banker. I'VE never dreamed that
her and offered immens. rewards for her recovery.
employed detectives, but all to no purpose.
When our little Jessie ran down the steps Into that
nower-garden." and he pointed to the front Of the
her up, we never saw her again"
.She must have found the gate open, and
wandered out" suggested Dr.. Hutton. She might
have strolled down 10 the waters and been
drowned"
The banker fixed his burning eyes spon the
physicians face, and whispered:
II said We never saw the poor child again.
did n OF say we had not heard Of her She was lost
on the 9Th of August, 1854. For year we thought
her dead. But on the anniversary Of our loss
we received q written message concerning hsr."
"A messagei" cried Or. Hntton, starting.
"a mere scrawl-a single limo in q hand evil
IDENTITY disguised" said the banker. Here it Is"
drawer in the table, and held ii up to the view Of
the physician, who read IS follews:
august Q, 1856. Jtssis, Ia, Ia! Jessis." y
the scrap OF paper, which he turned over and
over, to the countenance Of the banker.
~ can make nothing OF this" he declared. at
is merely . date with the name Of your lost
Nor did it Ss, At drst," aid Mr.. Prsbls. "Tnen
that name and that date, with the demon laugh
connecting them, set n to thinking. whole
year We agonized over the dreadful problem, and
then We received another message, which you shall
sss."
He thrust q second slip OF paper, identical in
shape and appearance with the inst, before the
gaze Of DR.. Hutton, who read 1t aloud:
sAusust 9, 1856. Your Jessie stiu lisss"
The physician started, a If electrified.
SXhf this is something definite something de-
csise," he muttered. 1T convinced you that
your daughter was still living"
"Yse, doctor" said Mr.. Prebls, and every ami
The disappearance 1.-THE child, mysterious 1t is
| does not seem to me half SO strange - that the
| villain who took her away could contrivs to com
municate with Us every year since, and always on 4
particular day-ths anniversary Of that on which
she stoleu-without our being able to discover
what can be bis motive L seems incredible. II it
ieS lev s it. But truth ruth !. than % n.y.
| Mrs.. Preble drew from her husbands breast
pocket his note book opened it to the proper page,
and presented II to the physician.
| the page, and then slowly read the group OF
entries aloud. The entry the first year Is - fol-
| lows:
| "Augu.t 8, 1855. Jsssie, Ia, Ia! Jessie r.
0August 8, 1855. Your Jessie stsu Hses!"
"Augu.t Q, 1857. Saen I" good handel"
a. SsA y; .. 1883. S'en '0eu as sorr'
| WAugust 8, 1889. Isoac her yesterddy!'