Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-11-20

auSust ., tcot. Shs Is IN good hoads
And the next
August 9, 1853. Size is ,Oeu as everi'
And the next
August 9, 1859. sa,o her yesterdayr'
"Augusto, 1860. She's growing rapsdlyr'
And the ReXt-
August 0, 1861. She continues to do pell r'
And the next
August 9, 1862. I've seen her againi"
And the next
August ., 1868. She's osoomieg ~ouan,"
August 9, 1864. Four csad is tAirteeny"
And the next
August ., 1865. She's lorelier than ever,'
And the next
August 9, 1860. SHE'S really caarminy,"
And last year il is
August 9, 1861. Ny re,cavd is at hand"
And what shall we get to-day!
The physician looked up and fixed his thought
full gaze upon the bereaved husband and wife.
!" How did these messages come to yeu2" he
Invariably by post, replied Mr.. Preble.
Office ~
And You have never seen their author?''
"The last Of them is dated, see, a year ago
to-day !"
a. Yes, yes" faltered the banker, " and the
time has come for another message. This is the
al see" said DIR. Hutton. "And this is the
secret Of your terrible excitement You are ex-
pecting to receive to-day another of these
There was a brief silence. Mrs. Prebles hand
futtered in its task and her face grew very pale.
The banker breathed gaspingly. The physician
regarded them both in friendly sympathy.
1--WE shall hear of her again to- day, >" said Mr.
Preble; 'aDd what will the message be ?' .
The mother averted her face. Her brave heart
faltered as that question echoed i'm her soul.
1.-THE writer of these letters is unquestionably
the abductOr of your child ~ said DIR. Hutton.
Have you any suspicion as to his identity ?n
"NOt the slightest" said Mr.. Preble. "We
he hlpv for
but we cannot guess who he is.'
Think" said the doctor. "Have you no
enemy? l do not mean people with whomyou
are not friendly-every stirring man has plenty
OF these-but downright enemy! Is there no
man whom you knew in the East who hated
You? No one against whom you were called
jured?'
The banker shook his head. He HAD asked
hi mself all these questions repeatedly.
81 have no such enemy, doctor, }" he answered
with sincerity of voice and manner.
"And Mrs Preble 2" suggested the doctor,
turning to her. ''Have you no rejected suitor
who might be revengeful enough to desolate
your home? ?''
"No," said the lady. al was married early.
Morton was my first lover!''
"This is strange-very strange. :" muttered the
doctor. "1Ou are not conscious OF having an
enemy III the world, and yet you have an
enemy-a hidden fOe-a fiend I'm human form
who is working out against you fearful hatred !!
And You have not the slightest suspicion as to
whom he is ?"
- Not the slightest" declared the banker.
Not the slightest" echoed Mrs. Preble.
have been capable of this infamy-but he is
dead!'
Sc The handwriting is not familiar"
mo. lt is merely rude scrawl as You see,"
that IL is cvidentiy disgnisad!S s'' e>esp'
Again there was profound silence.
length murmured Mrs. Preble, her voice trem-
bling. !" 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 her!'
''But where is she?'' asked the physician-and
now his voice was broken by his deep sympathy
With the agonized parents "Where can she
be-"
Heaven only knows" answered the mother.
80 perhaps in San FranciscO-perhaps i'm some
rude hut in the interior, with some obscure
farmer, and under a name that is not hers!
think her abductOr 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 turning to look at her.
i never hear a girlsh voice without listening
eagerly, half fancying that it may prove the
voice Of my lost Jessie!''
"Oh, pitying heaven!" sighed DR.. Hutton,
dasling flood Of tears from his eyes; "Wili
this long agony never be over?"
We hope so, and even believe so," answered
Mrs Preble, with the hrmness of an unfaltering
trust in Gods mercy. The last message we
received from our enemy seems to point to
some kind of . change"
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 your daughter,
or that he intends to demand money of you for
bringing her back-Or both"
"We shall soon know said Mrs: Pre- BILE,
with forced calmness. :. To-day We shall have
another message, no doubt. What will it be?'
The banker turned restlessly ON his sofa, and
"Whafever it is, let it come! ~ he murmured
" Anything can be borne better than this awful
suspense. Let it come!''
crisis, a step was heard on the walk at this mo
ment and ring at the front door followed.
"AnOther message!' breathed the banker.
A servant soon entered, bearing letter, which
he extended to Mr.. Preble, saying:
The bearer Is in the hail."
With an eager gaze. the banker glanced at the
superscriptiOn of the missive.
g 1t is from him!' he faltered.
He tore the envelope open.
1t contained a slip Of paper, of well-known
shape and appearance, upon which was scfawled
a single line, i'm an equally well-knOwn hand
writing, which the banker exhibited to his wife
and the physician.
This line was follows:
"August 8, 1868. At si1 soill calltp
A shock Of wonder and horror shook the three
simultaneously. ---
'Will calI!a cried Mr.. Preble, starting to his
feet, and glaring wildly around.
is coming here 2" cried Mrs. Preble, also
alt seems so," said DR.. Hutton, his eyes again
reverting to the message. g. He will be here at
six O'Clock, and see /! It is six already"
Even as he spoke the clock on the mantel-
piece commenced striking the appointed hour,
and at that instant heavy footsteps res0unded in
the hall, approaching the library.
1t is heP cried the doctor, also arising.
As the last stroke of the hour res0unded, the
door leading from the hall again opened.
One long and Mortified glance cast the banker
and his wife in that direction, and then she fen
Her senses had left her. The above we pub
lsh 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
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Everybody who takes it Is happier for having
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Mr.. Bonner, like other leading publishers,
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One Dexter is worth more than three or five or
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One science only can one genius it,
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AN ABscoNp1Ns JEwELER-It is reported
that G. w. Ferry, a ell-knOwn manufacturer