The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-11-24

The banker shook his head Hsb.a
asked himself all these questions repeat- -
edly. 'p'"'-
81 have no such enemy, dootors hs
answered with sincerity of voice and
manner.
"And Mrs. Preble 7" suggested the
doctor, turning to her. "Have you no
rejected suitor who might be revenge
ful enough TO desolate your homei"
'No," said the lady. ~ was married
early. Morton was my first loverp
"This is strange-very strangew NUT
tered the doctor. "You are not con-
scious of having an enemy in the world,
and yet you have an enemy-a hidden
foe-a fiend in human form-who is
working out against you q fearful ha-
tired! And you have not the slightest
suspicion as to whom he isir
"Not the slightest" declared the
banker.
"Not the slightestw echoed Mrs.
Preble. "My husband had q step. broth
er who might have been capable of this
infamy-but he is dead!"
"The handwriting is not familiarin ~
mo. 1t is merely q rude scrawl, as
you see," said the banker. at suggests
nothing-except that it is evidently
disguised
Again there was profound silence.
"Our child is seventeen years old
now," at length murmured Mrs. Prebe,
her voice trembling. "She is on the
threshold of womanhood. No doubt,
during all these years, she has yearned
for us, wherever she may be, as we have
yearned for herw
"But where is sher asked the ply
sician-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 in some rude hut in the interior,
with some obscure farmer, and under o
name that is not hers! think her alb
ductor would have carried her to some
lonely region of the interior, among the
valleys and mountains. Yet never see
young girl in the streets without turn
ing to look at her. l never hear q girl.
ish voice without listening eagerly, half
fancying that it may prove the voice of
my lost Jessie!'
"Oh, pitying heavenw sighed DR..
Hutton, dashing flood OF tears from
his eyes. "Will this long agony never
be overp
1--WE hope so, and even believe So"
answered Mrs. Preble, with the firmness
of an unfaltering trust in Gods mercy.
THE last message we received from our
enemy seems to point to some kind of n
change"
"rrue," assented DR.. Hutton, looking
at the message in question. at is un.
like the others. ltsays 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 for
bringing her back-Or both"
1--WE shall soon know" said Mrs. Pre-
BILE, with forced calmness. To-day we
shall have another message, no doubt.
What will it bei"
The banker turned restlessly on his
sofa, and his face grew even paler.
Whatever il Is, let it Gomez he mur.
INJURED. Anything can be born better
than this awful suspense. Let il come ~
As if his inpatient words had precip.
itated crisis, step was heard on the
walk Mt this moment, and ring at the
front door followed.
"Another mcssagew breathed the
banker.
A servant soon entered, bearing "a let.
ter, which he extended to Mr.. Proble,
saying:
"The bearer Is in the hall"
With an eager gaze, the banker
glanced at the esuperscription Of the mis-
sive.
at is from him :" he faltered.
He tore the envelope open.
1t contained a slip of paper, of we'll
known shape and appearance, upon
which was scrawled q single line, in an
equally well known handwriting, which
the banker exhibited to his wife and
the physician.
This line was as follows:
AUGUST Q, 1863. 1t sir / iriN call !"
A shock of wonder and horror shook
the three simultaneously.
"Will call" cried Mr.. Preble, start
ing to his feet, and glaring wildly
around.
"Is coming hero 7" cried Mrs. Preblc,
also arising.
at seems So" said DIR. Hutton, his
eyes again reverting 10 the message.
"He will be here at six o'clock, and see
it is six alreadyw
Even as he spoke, the clock on the
mantlepieCe commenced striking the
appointed hour, and at that instant
heavy footsteps resOunded in the hall,
the library.
1T is he" cried the doctor, also
arising.
As the last stroke of the hour re.
sounded, tho door leading from the hall
again opened.
One long and horriied glance cast the
banker and his wife in that direction,
and then she fell bes sgily to the floor.
Her senses had left her. The above
we publish as a specimen chapter; but
the continuation of this story will 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 news office, you can have the Led
ger mailed to you for one year by send
ing three dollars 10 Robert Bonner, pub
Usher, l52 William street, New York.
The Ledger pays more for original con-
tributions than any other periodical in
the world. twill publish none but the
very, very best. Its moral tone is the
purest, and it's circulation the largest.
Every body who takes it is happier for
having it. Leon Lewis, Mrs. Harriet
Lewis, Mrs. southworth, Mr. Cobb, Pro-
fessor Peck, Mary Kyle Dallas, Fanny
Fern and Mics Dupuy will write only
for the Ledger hereafter.
Mr. Bonner, like other leading pub
fishers, might issue three or five papers
and magazines; but he prefers to con
eentrate all his energies upon one, and
in that way to make 1t the best. One
Dexter is worth more than three or five
ordinary horses.
One science only can one genius IT.
SO vsstis art 30 narrow human wit
4 puzzler for foreigner-In thirty.
FIVE words how many that's" can be