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

who he IL. And q still greater wonder to me s
what can be his motive. II seems incredible II II
was stated in novel many people would not be-
lieve it. But truth is stranger than fiction"
Mrs. Prebe drew from her husbands breast.
pocket his note book, opened 1t to the proper page
and presented II TO tle phyHician.
DIR. Hutton adjusted his spectscles, glanced over
the page, and then slowly read the group OF
entries aloud. The entry the first year Is Us fol-
lows:
"August 8, 1855. Jessis, Ia, Ia! JessiS ~
And the next year il is
'sAugust o, 1856. Your Jessie stA lees"
And the next
'Augu.t Q, 1857. SIZE is In good hands,"
And the next
"August 8. 1883. Sic u ,Oea as eperr
And the next
"August 8, 1859. Isac her yesterday!"
And the next
"August 8, 1860. &e's 0roioing rapidly"
And the next
SAugust 8, 1861. Hs continues 10 do peN ~
And the next
"August 0, 1861. re seen her again."
And the next
"August 0, 1868. Ste'soecomino a ,eoman ~
And the next
"August o, 1854. Your ehild Is Mirteea!"
And the next
"August 9, 1866. Sues Iorelier nan suer y
And the next
"August 8, 1866. Sas'S really chdsmingi"
And last year ii is
"August 8, 1867. Ny reapagd Is athand!"
And what shall we get today
The physician looked up and fixed his thought
full gaze upon the bereaved husband and wife.
How did these messages come to your he de-
handed
Invariably by post" replied Mr.. Preble &" Usu
ally to the house, but sometimes to the Office ~
And yon have never seen their authors"
"Never!"
1.-THE last of them is dated, see, year ago to-
day"
Yes, yes" faltered the banker, land the time
has come for another message. This is the 9th Of
August, 1857
II see,n said DIR. Hutton "And this ia the Sc.
cret of your terrible excitement You are expect
Ing to receive to-day another of these strange meg
sagesI"
There was q brief silence Mrs. Preble's hand
futtered in Its task, and her face grew very pale
The banker breathed gsspingly. The physician re-
garded them both In friendly sympathy
We shall hear OF her again to-day" said MR.
Preble and what will the message be''
The mother averted her face. Her brave heart
fatered as that question echoed In her soul.
1.-THE writer of these letters Is unquestionably
the abductor of your childl' said DR.. Hutton
Have you any suspicion, as to his n IDENTIFY
cannot guess who he is"
Think" said the doctor Have You no ene-
myf 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 youg No one
against whom you were called upon to testify-no
one whom you possibly njuredy"
The banker shook his head. He had asked him
self all these questions repeatedly.
II have no such enemy, DOCTOR" he answered
with sincerity of voice and manner
And Mrs. Preble 7" suggested the doctor, turn
ing to her. Have you no rejected sutton who
might be revengeiul enough to desoate your
homef'
NO said the lady. 81 was married early
Morton was my first lover! !"
This is strange-very strange |" muttered the
- Won .c kn,t,,,
enemy in the world, and yet you have an enemy-a
hidden foe-a fend in human form-who Is working
out against you fearful hatred And you have not
the slightest suspicion as TO whom heisy'
Not the slightest" declared the banker.
Not the slightest" echoed Mrs. Prebe. my
husband had a step brother who might have been
capable OF this infamy-but he is dead
1.-THE handwriting IL not famiary'
No 1t is merely Il rude scrawl, as you see"
said the banker. at suggests nothing except
that IT is evidently disguisedr'
Again there was profound silence
Our child IL seventeen years old now" at
length murmured Mrs. Preble, her voice trembling
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 shes' asked the physcian-and
now his voice was broken by his deep sympathy
with the agonized parents where can she bes'
= Heaven only knows" answered the mother
Perhaps In san Francisco perhaps in some rude
hut in the interior, with some obscure farmer and
under name that IL not hers / think her alb
ductor would have carried her to some lonely re-
gion OF the interior, among the valleys and noun
tains Yet never see young girl In the streets
without turning to look at her. | never hear a
girsh voice without listening eagerly half fan
cying that it may prove the voice of my lost
Jessier
"oh, plying heaven!" sighed Dr. Hutton, dash
ing flood OF tears from his eyes "Will this long
agony never be overy"
I'VE hone and even hp1ipyp ~ answered.
Mrs. Prebe, with the frmness of an unfaltering
trust in Gods mercy 1.-THE last message we re-
ceived from our enemy seems to point to some
kind OF change"
True" assented DR.. Hutton, looking at the
message in question. vt Is unlike the others.
1t says that his reward is at hand He means
either that he intends to marry your daughter, or
that tina he Intends n to demand money OF you for
I'VE shall soon know" said Mrs Prebe, with
forced calmness, To-day W. shall have another
message, no doubt. What WIN 1t beY"
The banker turned restltssy on his sofa, and his
whatever II IL, let 1t come ~ he murmured.
Anything can be borne better than this awful
suspense. Let It Gomez"
As if his impatient words had precptaed a
crisis. step was heard on the walk at this
moment. and ring at the front door followed.
Another messagel" breathed the banker.
servant soon entered bearing letter. which
he extended 10 Mr. PEBBLE saying:
With an eager gaze, the banker glanced at the
suponcription of the missive.
" 1t j. from hin! ~ Re iaered.
He tore the envelope OPEN
II contained slip OF paper of well-known
shape and appearance, upon which was scrawled
a single line, in an equally well known hand
writing, which the banker exhibited 10 his wife and
the physician.
Ths line was a. follows
August 9, 1863 Al SIR IlciN call ~
A shock Of wonder and horror shook the three
simultaneously.
"Wil CALI" cried Mr.. Preble, starting to his feet
and garng wildly around
"ls coming beref' cried Mrs. Prebe, also
arising
It seems CO., sale DR.. Hutton, his eyes again
reverting TO the message " He VIII be here at Fix
o'clock, and see it Is six already
Even as he spoke, the clock on the mantepiece
commenced striking the appointed hour, and at
that instant heavy footsteps resounded in the hall,
approaching the library.
at ishs :" cried the doctor also arising
A. the last stroke OF the hour resounded, 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 fell