Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-12-09

{" TRUTH STRANGER THAN FLO
TTON"

The interior OIL this mouse 10 even more beau
tiful than its exterior every apartment being in
liz way gem of magnihcence and refinement
The library especially realizes the most perfect
ideal of an elegant and cultured home.
And yet, at the moment we look In upon him
one August afternoon, as he occupied his library
the proprietor of all this wealth appeared of all
men the most miserable.
He was Mr. Morton PEBBLE, for many years lead
ing banker of San Francisco.
II was in vain that the broad bay-window at the
south end of the room had been opened, giving in
cress 10 the sunshine and the fragrance of rare flow
ers-in vain that the walls were lined with richly
carved book cases and paintings-in vain that soft
couches and luxurious chairs had been gathered
around him.
He was wretched.
He lay on sofa, in the depths Of the great bay
window, the wreck Of once powerful man. His
figure was thin and gaunt; his face white as mar.
BILE; his eyes har.ns an expression OF wofu appre-
benson, of har. owins anxiety, of dreadful expect
sncy.
II was evident at glance that no merely physical
ailment Lad made MIN what he was.
By what whitening secret, by what destroying
affection, had be been thus agonizeds tins haunt
edY thus hunteds he so noble and good he so
wealthy and distinguished
As he moved restlessly upon his luxurious cush-
ions the pretty clock on the mantel-pece struck five,
every stroke seeming TO fall like hammer upon
the heart of the nervous invalid. He aroused him
self, struggling feebly to sitting posture
"Oh, will this fatal day never, never pass " he
murmured; nor bring us relieft''
Noticing with nervous start that he WAS alone,
be touched q bell upon table before him, and
called:
"Helen, Helen where are yonf"
Before the echoes of his voice had died out
step was heard and bis wife entered his presence.
II left you only for moment, Norton" she
said, advancing to the bankers side "You were
doing, think. l wished to send for the doctor !"
She was beautiful woman, Of some six and
thirty years, graceful, with broad white brows, and
loving eyes, in which the brightness and sweet
ness of a sunshiny nature were still perceptible
under a grief and anxiety no less poignant than
that evnced by her husband.
1.-THE doctor |" he echoed. half reproachfully
Eyes, dear" she said, in calm and cheerful
voice, as che drew chair to the side of the sofa
and sat down, stroking the corrugated forehead of
the invalid with magnetic touch. HE will be
here Immediately. Your last nervous crisis alarmed
me. You may become seriously ills'
Mr. Preble bestowed an affectionate look upon
his wife, hut said despondently:
The doctor He cannot minister to mind
diseased Oh, II these long hours would only
pass! III only knew what the day has yet in store
for usl
Look up, Norton :" enjoined Mrs Prebe, with
a reverently trustful glance upward through the
open window at the blue sky and az If looking be-
yond the azure clouds therein. Let us appeal
from the injustice and wckedness OF earth TO the
goodness and mercy Of Heavenp'
The banker gave low, sobbing sigh
81 cannot look up, Helen" he answered with n
passionate tremor in his voice only down, down
at the grave that il opening before mel
Mrs. Preble continued to stroke his forehead
softly, while she lifted her pale face to the sunlight
streaming into the apartment.
Look up, Morton-always look upN' che again
enjoined upon the invalid. during all these
,rurteen years of agony, have not once doubted
either the goodness the justice Of Heaven,
Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be
comforted' believe that we shall yet rejoice
more keenly than we have mourned, and that we
shall come to glorior eays JOY beyond all this
long night of sorroTl
The face of tie invalid lighted up with an an
swering glow, and he murmured:
Glorious faith My wife, you are indeed a
blessed comforter! Perhaps, after all, you are
right ~
A knock resounded on side door at this juno
ture and the next moment Dr. Hutton, the family
physician, for whom Mrs. Preble had sent, entered
the room,
He was an old man. portly in figure, with white
hair and beard but with fresh and ruddy com
plexion pair of shrewd blue eyes, and with an ex-
him. He had kind heart and clear head. He APP
preached the sofa after greeting the husband and
wife, and lifted the thin restless hand Of the invalid,
feeling his pulse.
Quite high fever" he said after brief pause.
Worrying again, eh, Mr.. Preble You are wear
ing yourself out. Medicine will do you no good so
long as your mind is in Its present condition. |
must give you an opiate--"
Not now, doctor" interposed the banker 81
cannot-must not-sleep ~ -ay need to be broad
awake now, for cannot tell at any moment what
the next may bring forth. am looking for the cul-
mination of all my years of angush-for the crown
ing agony Of the whole. Perhaps even now All,
what was thati'
He started up wildly, and then as the sound that
had disturbed him was not repeated, he sank back
again on his cushions, paid and painting.
The doctor looked al Mrs. Preble with an anx-
ious questioning glance.
1t IL the anniversary" she replied to his I'M
spoken inquiry" the anniversary of Our loss
All yes ~ said the doctor. " ! remember
Yes, it's another of those terrible days" cried
the banker in hollow whisper "Sit down. doc
tor, and will tell you the whole story. | can
think OF nothing else to-day. and am almost wild
with apprehension and anxiety. Sit down"
DR.. Hutton drew upa chair and seated himself,
his face expressing the double solcitude of friend
and physician
fon knew us fourteen years ago DOCTOR" said
Mr. Prebe. We lived then where we do now, in
cottage on the site of this great mansion. There
were but the three of us-Helen and |, and our
three-year old Jessie. And it was fou teen years
ago to-day that our little Jessie was stolen from
U.S.
Il remember It," said the doctor softly "Yet
might she not have been lost. Mr.. PrebleY She
went out to play in the garden, If | remember
rightly, and was never seen by you again She
might have strayed away"
80 we thought for whole year, doctor, in
terrupted the banker ave never dreamed that
she had been stolen. We searched everywhere for
her, and offered immense rewards for her recovery.
employed detectives, but all to no purpose.
When our little Jessie ran down the steps into that
ilowergarden.N and he pointed to the front Of the
house, "as If the earth had opened and swallowed
her up, we never saw her again.
she must have found the gate open. and
wandered out suggested DR.. Hutton. "She might
have sholed down 10 the waters and been
drowned"
The banker fixed his burning eyes upon the
physicians face, and whispered
said we never saw the poor child again.
did not 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 sioss
we received written message concerning her"
A messageN' cried DR.. Hutton. starting
mere scrawl-a single line In hand evil
IDENTIFY disguised said the banker. Here 1t is"
n fYNfrxy ..C