Mower County transcript., 1869-12-02

1ibla. If it was stated in . novel many peo!
pie would not believe it. But ':truth is
Stranger than fiction !''
Mrs preble drew from her husbands
breast pocket his note: book. opened it 70
tho: proper page; and presented y to, the
physician = i!
Dr. Hutton adjusted his spectacles.
glanced over tho page, aud then slowly
read. the group of entries aloud. The en-
try the first year was as follows: "
"August g.. 1855. Jessie, Ia, ha ! J<''ie 90
And the next year itfs- ~.
l@@'''August D. 1soo. Yoar Jessie stu ''ve'St
"Augast Q, 1857. She Il IN good Aands ~
And tho next
"August ., 1855. she is,utn as eucr!''
~? sss 1s.s sast =, $50, SOW ,er ,s''s,aay
'.'.Aae.:. o, 1880. shes "s@"p'&'' =, ="
1A1eust Q, 1901. She continues to do ,ve'7l'
| And che next l'y.' ,'..''
s.Aasust ., 1864, ~: seen her ogai"l" +:
! And the next. = :.Iltt
"Aasu.t e,1sos. sas'* becoming 'e'~a"7 7.'
"Aasast Q, 1864. Your child !. atrt,eni +"
HAas s.at:e, lses. She, .ore'i<r tia. srer,"
i And the next ..- ,. .., -.
"Aasa.t .. 1899. sAs'. really e.arningil"
~ %Assast D.. 1897: Hy H1t ,.tva,a i. at hand ~
And what shall We get to.day?
The physician looked up and fixed his
thoughtful gaze upon the bereaved hus.
|9band and wife, 80. -
''>"How did these messages come to you p
he demanded
'Invariab1y by post replied MIR. Pre-.
81 Ole; :no 9snai!y of,"s to the house. but sometimes
"And YOU. have never seen their aathor2'
: ''Never."
''The last Of them is dated. I see, year
ago today" =. -...., ~. .,s.. -.
"Yes, yes, faltered the banker, land the
time has come for another message This
is the 9th of August. 1865" - ::
's''I see, said DR.. Hutton. '.And, this is
the secret of your terrible excitement! You
are expecting to receive to-day another of
these strange messages"
Thera was brief silence. Mrs. Preble's
hand alttered in itar task, and her face
grew very Ta ;Rsls:, The banker breathed
both m friendly sympathy. -. .-.-s ~.
1--WE shall hear Of her again to-day"
said Mr.: Preble; land what will the mess-
The mother averted her face. Her brave
heart faltered. rs the question: echoed in
her sonl.:2o q ..s5 E,.,.sl.- u :" .iai
fa' ''fhe writer uof these letters lis unques-
tionably the abductor of your child r said
Dr: HuMon: Have you any suspicion Is
to His identity ',o" ''.a' .''.:,' ''''., ~.
F'',..:Not the slightest" said Mr.. Preble.
1--WE have puzzled over the problem for
''Think, said the doctor. Have you
no enemy? I do not mean people with
whom you are not friendly-every stirring
man has plenty of these-but a downright
enemy Is there no man whom you knew
in the East who hated you No one against
whom you were called upon to testify-no
one whom you possibly injured?" :.
! The banker shook his head. He had
asked himself all these questions repeat
edly. ...',, c::,.t - @! 20.
II have no such an enemy. DOCTOR" he
answered, with sincerity of voice and man
ner. -,
'And Mrs. .Preble? ?" suggested the doc
tor, turning to her. "Have you no reject
ed suitor who might be revengeful enough
to desolate your homer
''No," said the lady. II was married
early. Morton was my first lover"
'Fhis il strange strange! mutter-
ed the doctor. 'You are not conscious of
having an enemy in the world, and yet you
have on enemy-a hidden foe-a iiend in
human fcrm-who is working out against
you . fearful hatred! And You have not
the slightest suspicion as to whom he is?"
mot the slightest" declared the banker.
'tMy husband had step-brother who
might have been capable of this infamy--
but he is dead !''r.
"The handwriting isinot familiar
| "No. It is merely rude scrawl, as you
see" said the banker. 1T suggests moth
ing-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. 'tShe ia in the threshold of
womanhood. No doubt, during all these
years, she has yearned for us, wherever she
may be. as we have yearned for herl''
'But where is sheE asked the physician
and now his voice w6s broken by his
deep sympathy with the agonized parents.
"Where can she be?"
'.Heaven only knows" answered the
mother. perhaps in San Francisco-per-
haps in some rude hut in the interior, with
| some obscure farmer, and under q name
that is not hers! I think her abductor
| would have carried her to some lonely re-
gion of the interior, among the valleys and
mountains. Yet never see young girl
in the streets without turning to look at her.
I never hear girlish voice without listen
ing eagerly; half fancying that it may prove
the voice of my lost Jessie!"
.Oh, plying heaven r. sighed DR.. Hut
ton, ,shing q food of tears from bis
eyes; twill this long agony never be over2'
I'VE hope SO, and even believe so" an
swered Mrs. Preble, with the frmness of
an unfsltering trust in Gods mercy. 1.-The
last message we received from our enc
my seems tc point to some kind Of a
change"
| s.True," assented DR.. Hutton, looking at
the message in question. 1T is unlike the
others. 1t says that his reward is at hand.
He means either that he intends to marry
mand money of you for bringing her back
OR BOTH"
''We shall soon know, " said Mrs. Preble,
with forced calmnnss 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" he mur.
INJURED. Anything can be borne better
than this suspense. Let it come.
As If his impatient words had precipi.
tated q crisis, . step was heard on the wall
at this moment, and q ring at the front door
followed. . - p; ,s;>.
"Another message 7! breathed the bank.
A servant soon entered, bearing letter,
which he extended to Mr.. Preble:
"The bearer is in the hail.
With an eager, anxious gaze, the banker
glanced at the superscription of the mis-
sive. '''' i
1t is from him." he faltered.
he tore the envelope open.
It contained a slip Of paper, Of we'll
known shape and appearance, upon which
was scrawled single line, In an equally
? well-known handwriting, which tht
banker exhibited to his wife an j, the ply
: sician.
:. This line was as follows:
august Q. 1868. At sis / ,ciN cau'
A shock of wonder and horror shook tn,
: three simultaneously.
"Will call !" cried Mr.. Preble, starting K
his feet and glaring wildly around.
us coming here?" cried Mrs. Preble
. also arising.
.It seems so," said DR.. Hutton, his eye
again revertlng to the message. HE viii
he here at six o'clock, and see it is six al
! ready r
: Even as he spoke, the clock on the man
tel-piece commenced striking the appointe,
hour, and at that instant heavy footstep
a resounded in the hall, approaching the Ii
o brary.