Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-11-24

N"tiy thc hrst year is as iOliOWS.
August Q, 1850 Jessie, ha, ha J Jessior'
And the next year it is
August 9, 1856. Your Jessie still liyesp
And the next
august ., 1857. She is in good handsr'
And the next
august ., 1858. She is we'll as eyer~
And the next
August ., 1853. | saw her ycstcrdayr'
And the next
august . 1860. She's growing rupidly~
And the next
august Q, 1861. She continues to do well %
And the next
August 9, 1902. I've seen her againf'
And the next
august ., 1903 She's becoming woman !"
And the next
"August Q, 1868. Your child il thirtecnl"
And the next
august Q, 1895. She's lovelier than ever"
And the next
"August Q, 1860. She's really charming"
Aud last year it is
august ., 1867. Ny reward is at hand'
And what shall we get to day?
The physician looked up and fixed
his thougtiul gaze upon the bereaved
husband aud wife.
GLOW did these messages come 10
you p he demanded.
invariably by post" replied Mr.
Preble. Usually to tho house, but
sometimes TO the ofiiccw
"And you have never seen the au-
thorr"
"Never.p
"The last of them is dated, | sec, q
year ago today"
"Yes, yes falte-ed the banker,
'and the time has come for another
message. This is the 9th Of August,
1868 p
81 see" said DR.. Hutton. "And
his is the secret of your terrible ex-
;itement! You are expecting to re
'eive to-day another Of these strange
messages !"
There was a brief silence. Mrs.
Preble's hand Huttered in its task, and
'er face grew very pale. The banker
'reathed gaspingly. The physician
'egardcd them both in friendly SYM
,athy.
"WcshaI hearof her again today"
aid Mr.. Preblej "and what will the
message be r
The mother averted her face. Her
rave heart faltered as that question
.choed in her soul.
"The writer of these letters is un-
luestionably the abductor of your
'hildW said Dr. Hutton. "Have you
Iuy @~~ri~ia. ace he ;l-n,its, ~
"Not the slightest, said Mr. Preble.
we have puzzled over the problem
or many years, but VIC cannot guess
he is"
"Tbink," said the doctor. "IIave
'ou no enemy? / do not mean peo-
'le With whom you are rot friendly
'ut downright enemy! Is there no
nan whom you knew in the East who
lated your No one against whom
'ou were called TO teslily-no one
whom you possibly injuredy"
The banker shook his head. lie
lad asked himself all these questions
"And Mrs. Preblel" suggested the
loctor, turning to her. "lIave you
10 rejected suitor who might be re-
'cngeful enough 10 desolate your
lome r.
"No," said the lady. 81 was mar
led early. Morton was my first lover"
"This is strange-very strange !"
the doctor. "You are not
conscious Of having an enemy in the
world, and yet you have an enemy-a
hidden foe--a Gend in human form
Who is workingout againstyou fear.
al hatred ! And you have not the
lightcsl suspicion as to whom he is 2"
"Not the slightest" declared the
,ankcr."
"Not the slightest {" echoed Mrs.
'reblc. "My husband had a step.
,rother who might have been capa.
dc of this iniamy-but he is dead %
"The handwriting is not iamilliarY-
"No. 1t is merely rude scrawl,
Is you see,' said the banker. at
uggcsts nolhing-exccpt that it is
Violently disguised !"
ID igain there was profound silence.
~ ,,, cventeen years old now"
'Our cniiu IL Se.-- Mrs. Preble, her
II length murmcrcd Ar... .,brosh
'oice trembling. "Sheiso on the tlhs
lold ofwomanhood. No doubt during1
III these years, she has yearned for
is, wherev or she may be, as we have
earned for her" /"
"But wherois she z" asked tho phys.
now his voice was broken
" bis deep sympathy with the ago.
iized parents. "Where can she be p
"lIcavcn only knows" answered the
mother "Perhaps in San Francisco
perhaps in some rude hut in the in
erior, with some obscure farmer, and
uder n name that is not hers think
Ier abductor would have carried her
0 some lonely region Of the interior,
mong the valleys and mountains.-
let never see a young girl ia the
lreels without turning TO look at her.
never hear q girlish voice without lis
cning cargcrly, half iancying that it
lay prove the voice Of my lost Jes-
icp
"Oh, pitiying heaven sighed DR..
luton, dashing food Of tears from
is eyes. "Will this long agony ncv-
r be over "
ave hope so, and even believe So
Mrs. Prcble, with the firm.
ess Of an unfaltcring trust in Gods
lcrcy. "The last message we recciv-
d from our enemy seems to point to
Dmc kind of a change"
"Truc." assented DR. Hutton, look
Y at tho message in question. alt
unlike the others. 1t says that his
cward is at hand lie means either
bat be intends TO marry your daugh.
n, or that he intends to demand mon
y of you for bringing her back--or