The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-11-27

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"Augugst 8, 1859. I sac her yester.
day!'
And the next
"August 8, 1860. She's grooiug rap
idlyr'
And the next
"August 8, 1861. She continues to do
aoeu,''
And the next
"August 8, 1862. Tee seen her again !!''
And the next
"August 8, 1868. SHE'S becoming ,co-
man %
And the next
''August 8, 1854. Your child is Airteeup,
And the next
"August 8, 1865. She's lougier than
erer %
And the next
"Angust 8, 1866. She's really charming!"'
And last year it is
"August 8, 1867. My REGARD is at Aandr'
And what shall we get to-day
The physician looked up and fixed his
thoughtful gaze upon the bereaved husband
and wife.
GLOW did these messages come to you?
he demanded.
Invariably by post" replied Mr.. Pre-
BILE. Usually to the house, but sometimes
to the office ~
"And you have never seen their author?"
"Never ~
"The last of them is dated, year ago.
to-day -
eyes, yes" faltered the banker, "and
the time has come for another message
This is the 9th Of August, 1868 -
81 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 -
There was brief silence. Mrs. Preble's
hand tluttered 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 s:and what will the mes
sage be -
The mother averted her face. Her brave
heart faltered as that question echoed in
her soul.
''The writer of these letters is unques-
tionably the abductor of your child p said
Dr.. Hutton. "Have you any suspicion as
to his identity??''
Not the slightest" said Mr.. Preble.-
IL
many years, but we cannot guess who he
is
'.Think," said the doctor. "Have you
no enemy? 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 on to testify
no one whom you possibly injured?"
The banker shook his head. He had
asked himself all these questions repeat
edly.
g l have no such enemy, DOCTOR" he an
swered with sincerity of voice and manner
"And Mrs. Preble?' suggested the doc
tor, turning to her. "Have you no rejected
sutton who might be revengeful enough to
desolate your home?"
"No," said the lady. 81 was married
early. Morton was my first loverr'
''This is strange-very stranger NUT
tered the DOCTOR You are not conscious
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 a 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.
MY husband had a step brother who might
have been capable of this infamy-but he
is dead -
"The handwriting is not familiar9''
''No. 1t is merely a rude scrawl, as
you see,' said the banker. cit suggests
nothing-except that it is evidently dis
guised -
Again there was profound silence.
"Our child is seventeen years old now,"
at length murmured Mrs. Preble, her voice
womanhood. No doubt, during all these
years, she has yearned for us, wherever she
may be, as we have yearned for herr
.'But where is she % asked the physi-
cian-and now his voice was broken by his
deep sympathy with the asonized 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 name
that is not hers. 1 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. l never hear girlsh voice without
listening eagerly, half fancying that it may
prove the voice of my lost Jessie ~
"Oh, pitying heavenH' sighed DR.. Hut
on dashing flood of tears from his eyes.
VIII this long agony never be over?''
owe hope so, and even believe so,' an
swered 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 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 to marry your
daughter, or that he intends to demand
money of you for bringing her back-or
BOTH
eve shall soon know" said Mrs Preble,
with forced calmness. "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 muir
INJURED. "Anything can be borne better
than this awful suspense. Let it come ~
AS if his impatient words had precipi-
tated crisis, a step was heard OH the walk
at this moment, and ring at the front
door followed
IL,