: f 3 THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH PAGES 9 TO 12. J& tKOW FIEST A SERIES OF SHOUT STORIES By J. Marsden Sutcliffe, ENTITLED THE ROIMCE OF M INSURANCE OFFICE, Beisg Passages kt the Expebience of Mb. AUGUSTUS "WILLIAM WEB BER, Formerly General Manager of the Universal Insurance Company. ALL RIOBTS Dnctnr Jaquet's HEcrEt. Among the lesser luminaries of the medi cal world in Paris, toward the close of 1831, few men occupied a position of greater promise or were more highly spoken of than Felix Jaquet If the verdict of his medical contemporaries may be trusted, none of the younger members of the profes sion could show more right to the fame he was rapidly winning than .the rising young practitioner of the Rue Castiglione. Felix Jaquet was 35 years old, and the rumor ran that before many more years rolled over his head he would rank among the most eminent physicians and surgeons of his day. Dr. Jaquet's rising fame was built on the sure and enduring rock of capacity. His diagnosis, made with rapidity, though with care, invariably proved correct, even in the most difficult and complicated cases. His dexterity and skill as an operator, when ne cessity demanded recourse to the knife, was little short of marvelous. But what most contributed to his popularity in medical circles was the coolness of his nerve, and the intrepidity of his courage under the most trying circumstances that can test the self-command of an operator. His presence ot mind never seemed to forsake him. This made him a tower of strength when he was joined with others in difficult cases. Be sides these special qualities, he was pos sessed of a Cue, handsome presence, a low, musical voice, soft and sweet as a woman's, while his courteous manners made him re markable even among a nation of gallant men. Dr. Jaquet was popular wherever he went. Whether mingling in the company of savants, or interchanging views with his political associates for he was an ardent politician, as we shall see presently or whether he unbent from graver pursuits in social reunions, Felix was a welcome pres ence. As for his patients, they simply adored him the ladies especially. Perhaps the external appearance of the man, and his chivalrous bearing toward 'the rentier sex," may have contributed to the idolatry with which they worshipped him. His figure was tall and well knit; his features clearly cut, his noble brow was. shaded with heavy masses of wavy black hair, contrasting well with the pure and white skin. But his eyes would alone have made a man to be noticed in any company. They would flash with intelligence and fire when he grew excited over the wrongs of the exiled Orleanist family, and become keen and penetrating as an eagle's when some patient was under examination. But when in repose, they burnt with a gentler fire, assuming an expression of seflnctive languor that made their glance almost mag netic He had the high-strung sensibilities of the Gallic temperament, generally, how ever, kept under the control of an indomi table will. But with the ball at his feet, thwarted" love and thwarted ambition had turned Dr. Jaquet into a restless and discontented man;al though his perfect self-control enabled him to hide his feelings from the eyes of the world. First of all, the political outlpok was a sore disappointment to him. Felix Jaquet belonged to a collateral branch of a noble but impoverished Orleanist family. But personal choice even more than hered itary tendency had led him to cast in his lot with the Orleanist party. For one thing, when he first came to Paris from his native town of Lille, and took up his abode in the Qoartier Latin as a medical student, Louis Phillippe was securely seated on the throne of France, and .remained the "Citizen King," as his admirers termed him, during the early years of Dr. Jaquet's professional struggles. But the July Bevolution had sent the Orleanist family into exile at Clare mont, and at the same time swept away Dr. Jaquet's hopes of court patronage a fact which he viewed with bitter resentment. The "Man of December" was now rapid ly maturing his plans, which ended in the establishment of the Third Empire. There were Parisians in plenty who deemed the Prince-President "dark and un fathomable" But Dr. Jaquet was riot one of these. "When the Republic was founded, Felix Jaquet Joined the knot of men who looked up to M. Thiers as leader, and who, averse to Republican institutions, never ceased to plot for ,the return of the Exile of Caremont "When Prince Louis Napoleon secured the Presidental chair for himself, Dr. Jaquet's quick and active intelligence pierced the arch-plotter's designs and fore saw the ulterior purpose which this move was meant to mask. Events were hurrying rapidly' in this month of November, 1851, and with Orlean ist politics in a sorry plight, Dr. Jaquet held himself in readiness for a flight upon short notice, though he did not abandon all hope that the machinations of the Prince President might yet be defeated. "Hope springs eternal" in the breast of a political intriguer, as in the breasts of other men. But the consolidation of Louis Napoleon's influence, and the rapidly diminishing chances of an Orleanist return, constituted one cause for Dr. Jaquet's unrest. But he had another secret cause for dis satisfaction, t had been his fate to con tract a loveless marriage. The match had been arranged six years before, after the most approved French fashion. Mdlle. Claire Benoit, the daughter of an avocat at Lille, was considered tbe most eligible parti in the circle in which the Jaquets moved. The-Jaquets had little money, but much pride of birth. Felix inherited the beauty of the family and more than a share of its talents. M. Benoit was of yesterday, but rumor attributed to him the possession of considerable wealth. There was the usual discussion between the ciders of the re spective families, and after M. Benoit had stated the amount or the dot with which he proposed to endow his daughter, the parents decided that Felix Jaquet and Claire Benoit were necessary to complete each other's happiness. Claire Benoit was a woman who deserved to bo loved with knightly affection.- Her slight, willowy figure, lithesome with French grace, formed the least of her charms. She possessed rare and surpassing lovelin-ss, though her beauty was not of that sensuous type "that has driven wise men mad." It was rather jof that order which painters seek put for their models, to sit for angels or saints; ethereal in type, such as is commonly found allied with great, reserve and self-possession, and which some" men, who dream not of the secret wealth of tenderness so often concealed behind a re served exterior, are apt to consider cold. Such natures are cold to the men who are slow to perceive their native delicacv of feeling, and who, from want of sufficient penetration into the mysteries locked within the arcana of a sensitive virgin breast, do not possess the master-key wherewith to dis cover their wav to the treasures hidden In hearts like theirs. Dr. Jaquet, when first introduced to his fiance, declared himself' enchanted with his parents' choice;,-but his heart was not .touched, and "it Wat fated never to be touched, by Claire Befioit" - His transports knew bo bounds, however, PGBLIbHED.J RESERVED. when he learned the handsome dot which the Lille avocat was prepared to settle on his only daughter; half of which was to be re served to Claire's separate use, and the other half devoted to lurnishing the house in the Bue Castiglione and settling Felix Jaquet in his practice. Altera brief month's experience of wedded bliss Dr. Jaquet began to chafe under his marital bonds and grew weary of his servi tude. He deemed his wife cold and unre sponsive; wanting the masterkey where with to unlock her heart He complained that she was too exaltee, too spirituelle, and once in a bitter scene, wherein he forgot his habitual courtesy, he reproached her with betas a devotee. There was some basis for his accusations. Though Claire Jaquet was not cold she was unresponsive. But her un responsiveness arose from timidity and modest reserve. The nimble wit of the woman was the first to discover that her husband was disap pointed in bis marriage, without, however, imagining the reason. The discovery was unspeakably shocking to her; and her loving nature became more contained within herself than it had been belore. She was more unresponsive than ever; and when, after the birth of her child a bright, fair-haired little fellow, with dreamy blue eyes, who was like his mother in form and feature, and seemed to have in herited her gentle and retiring nature she found that, In spite of herself, the breach grew wider between them, ahe betook her self more and more to the consolations of re ligion. When her husband chose to entertain she acted the part of hostess with well-bred tact and grace; but one glance at her pale face as she moved in and out among her guests was enough to convince a shrewd observer that while the body, and to some extent the mind of their charming hostess was there, and she was performing her parte with an ease of movement that extortea admiration, her heart and soul were elsewhere. Matters reached such a pass with Madame Jaquet, that she was never happy unless In the nursery playing with her boy, or at the Madeline kneeling and praying before the great altar. Her visits to the Madeline were too frequent to promise well for their domestic peace. And yet, had Felix Jaquet known the cry that went lrom this woman's desolate heart through the stillness of the church to thcDivine ear bent over her, his heart would have been strongly moved to pity, even if it had not melted with love. "Give nie my husband's love, or take my boy and rat!" was the constant burden of her agonizing plaints. When Dr. Jaquet sharply upbraided her with being too devoted, Claire went less to the Madeline, but she continued to move about her home, where her dream of happi ness had been broken, more like a pale ghost than before. She felt herself lying completely outside her husband's life and interests." He never addressed her except in terms of finished courtesy, such as he would employ to the stateliest dame among his patients. There were no vulgar quarrels, but she hungered for one look, one word ot love, that would have told her that she was more to him than the mere lav figure who sat at the head of lis table and received his guests! The crnel misery of it was that in the early days of their married life, which they spent in Italy, the seductive languor of Felix Jaauet's splendid eyes, his soft tones and wooing caresses had fired her soul with love, though she had never been able to gather courage to tell him so. And since the thin end of the wedge had been driven in between them, and she had awoke from her dream of happiness, to find herself an unloved wife, she would have died rather than have revealed to him the intensity of her passion, and her heart's hunger for one glance .of affection from those eves which had shone into her heart in the early days of their union, when together thev sailed over the river paths of beautirul Venice, under the soft light of an Italian sky at eventide. The bitterness of realizing that she was forsaken was unspeakable, and her whole energies became concentrated in hid ing the passion ot her love, which she felt it would be a degradation under such cir cumstances to disclose. The time came when the breach between them was irreparable, and when, thongh continuing to live under the same roof, their lives were as far asunder as though they lived in different hemispheres, and seas roared between them. There was a tacit un derstanding on both sides, that they should each go their own way, and interfere with each other's movements as little as possible. Alas! Claire's life admitted of little change. When not ocenpied with neces sary household duties, or in paying the claims of her social position, Madame Jaquet went from the nursery to the Made line, androm the Madeline back to the nursery, in a beaten and monotonous path of daily habit. A.nd so the days passed on, till we come to the middle of November, in the memorable year of the coup d' etat, by which time her little Philippe was 5 years old. How Dr. Jaquet spent his time when free from profession and political cares will be told in the next chapter. II. Mile. St. Hillaire, of the Opera Comique, familiarly spoken of by the gallants of the Boulevards as 'la belie-Liicie," occupies a suite of rooms in a house situated in the Bue Boyale. The actress, who is seated in her boudoir, toward noon of the 15th of No vember, clothed simply in a white peignoir, trimmed with rich lace, and gathered in at the throat and wrists with bnnches of pale blue ribbon, is expecting a visitor. While she waits impatiently for the anticipated arrival, her formal introduction to the reader may as well take place. The looseness of the gown that she wears can scarcely disguise the perfect symmetry of her supple form. The rich chestnut brown of her hair, hanging down below her waist, surrounds with a deep golden halo a face that in its bright vivacity might have been drawn for the Muse of Comedy. She has gooda features, and a transparently clear complexion, beneath whose pure whiteness the color comes and goes in solt rose tints. Her nostrils are delicately cut, her eyes large and expressive. Her mouth would be considered sweet, were it not for the somewhat haughty curl on her short upper lip. Lucie St Hillaire is celebrated for her beauty, her virtue, and her indifferent act ing. She has little talent for the life she has adopted or, to speak more correctly, which has been chosen for her. It was by no voluntary act of her own that " La belle Lucie" first made her appearance before the footlights. Her father was an accomplished actor, and under his auspices she had been cast for a child's part before her unopened mind could comprehend the meaning ot the role she was set to play. Once on the boards she had remained there, with little loye for her art, and caring little to excel in it. But she was possessed of a voice of considerable sweetness and compass, and in the parte for which she was cast she managed to cut a tolerable figure. Bnt the claquenrs, who heraldedher appearance -at the Opera" Comique with boisterous'applause, were not excited by any fextiavagant expectations of her, performances. They applauded her as ai "tribute to the radiant loveliness of her face HTTSBUBG, and tbe statnesque proportions of her form. They called her "La belle Lucie" in honest praise of her beauty, not with the familiarity of licentious tongues. For Mile. St Hlllaire'a virtue, up to this point at least, was beyond reach of cavil. She had had lovers in abundance sighing around her, but she had cast every proposal aimed at her dishonor from her, and trampled them beneath her feet with withering contempt At last she met her fate in Dr. Felix Jaquet. The handsome young physician, with his courtly manners and easy grace, conquered her heart But when Felix Jaquet, enslaved by her charms, threw him selt at her feet, she proved as deaf to his pleadings as she had been inexorable to the suits ot men more highly placed than he; although she loved him with too great passion to show him the scorn that she had poured on her former lovers when they hinted at her dishonor. Some yearning for the pure and simple joys of domesticity held her back from the sacrifice to, which Dr. Jaquet invited her; bnt he, baffled and de feated though he was after each attack, con tinned to press her to consent to his views. "Break finally with Madame," she would reply, "and I will think about it "Not otherwise." And from this resolve she re fused to be turned. And against her reso lution Dr. Jaquet's remonstrances and pleadings spent themselves in vain. The little time-piece chimes out the hour of noon in vibrant strokes on the silver bell when Dr. Jaquet's arrival is announced, by Jeanne, mademoiselle's waiting maid. She admits him to her boudoir with a winning smile of welcome, and her face flushes with joy as he bends over and kisses her plump, well-shaped hand with great impressement "I am delighted to see you, Felix," she cries, as he seats himself at her feet. I am feeling very triste to-day. It is the weather, I think. Besides, I wish to conclude the little talk we were having when you were called away last evening. "Ah! if you would only come to the con clusion at which I arrived long since, how happy we 'should bel" he exclaimed, with an adoring glance from his fine eyes. "And that conclusion is " "That we were designed for each other.1' "So far, we are at one, Monsieur. But you are what shall I say? Yon are too diffident!" with a pretty shrug of her lovely shoulders, and an expression of per plexity that looked out .of place on her laughing face, but which made her appear more piquant and enchanting to the eyes of Felix Jaquet "Too diffident! I am not wont to be esteemed diffident," he replied with a laugh. - "But it is very simple, mon ami," she ex claimed. "We love. Is not that so? Is it not everything? But nol It is everything to me a mere bagatelle to you !" "You know you are not speaking truly, ma belle Lucie, when you say so ," Dr. Jaquet replied. "You know that I love you with the pent-up strength of a heart that has never loved till it knew you." "I know that you love me, but not with the whole loveof your heart. It is a divided love and selfish." "Selfish?" cried Dr. Jaquet. "I do not knowwhat you mean. I swear you dome wrong. I love no other womau. You have my heart; the whole of it You know it." "The whole of it!" exclaimed the actress. "You are deceived, Pans divides tbe throne with me. You love vour friends, your posi tion, more than you love me. You are selfish, Monsieur, in your love. I repeat it You ask from me a sacrifice. It is the great est a woman can make. But you! you will make no sacrifice." "I refuse you nothing except what is im possible! Yon are unreasonable, ma belle. Ask anything else and you will see whether Felix Jaquet will meet your demands or no." "Helas! That is what you all say to us poor women. We women ask you for this or that, and you say 'anything bnt that; ask something else and we will grant It; but do not ask the only thing for which you care.' " "Try and be reasonable, Lucie," implored Dr. Jaquet "Monsieur! that is a reflection!" ex claimed the actress, haughtily. "But come," she added in a pleading tone, "do not let ns quarrel not you and I!" And hei lips lightly brnshed his forehead an unexpected favour. "We will not quarrel, my adored one," Dr. Jaquet said with emphasis, "but I be seech you do not be so inexorable in your conditions; show yourself more facile, and end this cruel suspense." "But, mon ami, it is very simple this which I ask. lam cosmopolitan; without preferences; without ties. I am not wedded to Paris. All cities, all countries are alike to me. I am indifferent! Only I will not stay in Paris to be pointed at. I will not come to you except as Madame' Jaquet Only say where we shall go. You are clever eh bien how clever! You have wealth. It is for you to decide where we shall sDcnd our future. But these are the conditions: we leave Paris France behincf us. Madame, too! She must never cross yonr life or mine, never! You begin afresh, with me. I am Madame Jaquet. Behold everything." Dr. Jaquet spiled, and threw a glance of profound admiration on the actress as she delivered herself of her sentiments, with an abandon and verve that he found most be witching. Presently he spoke. "Your scheme is perfect, ma belle Lucie. It has only one fault." "What is that?" "It is impracticable." "Perhaps Monsieur will be good enough to explain," said the actress demurely. "I do not understand." "You know how absurd it is to speak of leaving Paris. What is to become of my patients? What is to become of me? Of my prospects? It would take years elsewhere to make such a position." "You mean you cannot give up your pro fessional position here?" Lucie exclaimed quickly, and there was a dangerous light in her eyes. "Precisely," Dr. Jacquet teturned lacon ically, waiting for the next move. "Not for my sake?" the' actress asked archly, caressing his hand with hers. "Not even for your sake, ma belle Lu cie," was the uncompromising reply. "Pouf! Then don't speak or love any more, my dear Felix. The only love that Is worth a woman's while to notice is-the love of an Antony for a Cleopatra. 'AH for love,-or tbe world well lost' You under stand?" Dr. Jaquet understood perfectly, after many renewed persuasions had failed to siove the actress from her determination. His own will iWasjstrong, Dat the will ot this woman was -granite. He was deeply mortified when at tbe close of a protracted discussion he looked in her calm, set face, SATURDAY, MARCH and saw Inflexible resolve written there. But deep though his miserable infatuation was, and fondly though he cherished his" guilty love in his heart, he had no Intention of playing Antony to Lucie St. HHlaire's Cleopatra, by abandoning his fine position in the medical world in Paris, and the charms of the best society in the gay capital, at the bidding of passion. "Very well," said the actress, at the close of the long discussion, "I have your answer and you have mine. Our interview is at an end, I think. Only be sure, when you de cline to accompany Lucie St Hillaire from Paris, that you do not have to set out on your travels alone!". "What do you mean?" asked Dr. Jaquet. "It is very simple. You are Orleanist, are you not? How long do the Orleanists stay in Paris? I think, my dear Felix, you are one of the compromised." "What have you heard?" asked Dr. Jaquet excitedly. "Tell me." "Me?" cried the lady, affecting an air of astonishment, as she saw that her last shot had gone home. "What should I know or hear? True, M. de Maupas has done him self the honor to admire me. It is very nat ural; most people do. But he has not whis pered any State secrets, if that is what you mean." "Then explain what you mean by that threat," Dr. Jaquet said, "for it is a men ace, is it not? What is my danger?" v "There is no menace at all," the 'actress replied coolly. "I have ears. The Prince is very popular. They cheer him signifi cantly when he appears. Vive l'Empereur! Vive l'Empereur! It is all the cry now. I draw my own conclusions." "I did not know that you were a politi cian, Lucie," Dr. Jaquet replied with good tempered satire, looking highly amused. "I? I am no politician. I do not under stand these matters; bnt I am a woman and I know Paris." , "And you think when a crowd of Paris gamins cry Vive l'Empereur a pronounced Orleanist like myself is in danger?" "I do." There was much in this view of matters which agreed with Dr. Jaquet's own opin ions. But to hear his private tbronghts pnt into clear, incisive speech by the popnlar actress of the Opera Comiq'ne filled him with vaeue alarm. The air, he knew, was filled with rumors, and he began to think that in certain eventualities Mile, Lucie's condition" might be easily complied with. If the arch-scnemer who was already mov ing on the way for empire was not frus trated in his designs, Paris would become too hot to hold a strong partisan of the ex- a. iled Orleanist family like himself. He had discussed several-tlmes latterly with, his colleagues the prospects of a revolution, and all agreed that if it came it would be no rosewater affair. The Prince was thtfmaster of 20 legions, and would not spare. Before another sun set the chance of escape might be cut off. The actress, when she fired her parting shot, knew that she was using the Inst arrow in her quiver. Its effect was visible, and prodnced all the effect she intended. Dr. Jaquet, who had taken up his hat and was preparing to leave, again seated him self, and remained for a time buried in thought There was security for himself, the knot cut that tied him to an unloved wife, possession of the only woman who had ever touched his selfish heart, all to be ob tained by taking time by the forelock, and anticipating the future by a few days or weeks. Expulsion from French territory was the least evil he had to dread. Beyond that, the terror was too vague to be correctly estimated. The end of his ruminations may be told by what he did. He lad already turned most of his securities into cash. He now converted the remainder. He next obtained passports for himself and his wife in an as sumed name; and on the night of the 2d of December, when Louis Napoleon was mowing down the citizens of Paris in their own streets, and marching to Empire over the bodies of the slain, Felix Jaquet, ac companied by Lucie St. Hillaire, was miles away from the scene of carnage. They had crossed the frontier and reached Brussels. News of the coup d'etat soon flew across the frontier; and when Felix Jaquet heard the tidings' in the Hotel fl'Angleterre, he turned to his companion and exclaimed: 'Thanks to your courage and wisdom, lam safe." Selfish to the core, his first thoughts were of his own safety, He had not a thought to spare for his former political associates, some of whom had been shot down in the street, others of whom had been thrown into prison. Nor did he trouble to reflect on the agony of his wife through those days of ter ror which inaugurated the Third Empire, when she looked in vain'for his coming,, until hope died ont of her heart and she came fo mourn him as dead. in. A bright morning in the early summer in 1867. Dr. Jaquet, the eminent West End phy sician, had just finished his daily consulta tions at his residence in Harley street, his brougham was standing at the door, waiting until he had completed his preparations be fore setting out on his rounds, when his staid and elderly bntler entered the room carrying a note on a silver salver. "Who brought this?" he asked with some impatience in his tone, though without the slightest trace of a foreign accent "It was Ieftat the door by a commission aire, and as it was marked 'immediate,' I thought I had better bring it to you before you went out" The doctor, after examining the superscrip tion and Concluding that the handwriting was unfamiliar to him. thrust the note in his pocket, and not until he had completed his preparations for departure and was whirled away in his brougham, did he make any attempt to acquaint himself with its contents. It was a common-place note, bearing r.n address from Cornwall-road, Netting Hill. stating that Mrs. Johnson, who was se riously indisposed, desired to avail herself of Dr. Jaquet's services, and would be glad if he would call. Lest the physician should hesitate to place his services at tbe disposal of an unknown correspondent, the writer "begged to inclose a fee of 3 guineas. Dr. Jaquet pocketed the fee and jotted down the name and address in his visiting-book. It was late in the afternoon before the doctor's brougham drew up before the house which Mrs. Johnson had given as her address in Cornwall-road. The great physician's patients seldom lay In that un fashionable neighborhood the mere fringe, as it were, of the aristocratic squares where his services were chiefly in demand and Dr. Jaquet bad delayed to make this call until the last "Mrs: Johnson?" he asked, when the maid-of-all-work appeared at the door in answer to Jus summons. 80, 1889. "You are the doctor, I suppose," the ser vant Bald id an interrogative tone. "I am Dr. Jaquet" "Please4o step this way, sir. Mrs. John son has been expecting you all day, and Is in ' a rare take in ' because you didn t come. She thought yon did not mead to come." Dr. Jaquet assumed his most freezing air of politeness at the freedom of this address, and waved bis hand as a sign for the girl to conduct him to her mistress. He was conducted to his patient's apartment, the front drawing-room upstairs, and as the door closed behind him, he found himself face to face with the wife whom he had abandoned 16 years before. "Claire!" he exclained, "but no, it is im possible. You are Mrs. Johnson. You nave sent for me," fie added quickly, en deavoring to recover from the state of sun Erise into which this unexpected meeting ad thrown him. But the agitation of the meeting had proved too much for the frail strength of the invalid. No reply came from her pallid lipsf she had tainted. The husband was forgotten in the doctor immediately. Dr. Jaquet unloosened the invalid's dress and hastened to apply such restoratives as were within his reach. He checked the impulse to ring for assistance. No third person must hear the words that might fall from the lips of his wife when her consciousness returned. There was a carafe containing water on the sideboard which he at once seized, and pro ceeded to moisten her lips and brow. He knew her? Oh, yes. he knew her. She was the same beautiful woman of old, though her features were thin and worn, and her hair was turning gray. He had recog nized her immediately, before she had time to speak and make herself known. Her faintness was alarming, but he was thans ful that it had occurred, since it gave him time to recover his self-possession; for the reappearance of his wile in London, too witnm reach of his own door, alter long years of separation, had startled him more than any visit from the dead could have done. He bent down to listen to her heart, and then resumed bathing her brow and temples with the cool water. Presently Madam Jaquet opened her large, lustrous gray eyes wonderingly. This was followed by a quick glance of recognition. "At lavt! Kiss me, Felix," she said. He kissed her. It was the role of the at tentive husband, which, he had decided, while she remained unconscious, was the role that he could play with most advan tage. Heulayed his part with skill and success. Many moments had not elapsed before they were sitting side by side, with his arm thrown ronnd her, while she poured into his ears her story. "How long have you been in England?" he asked. "Perhaps I had better tell you everything from the beginning," she said. "You are too tired and too ill to do that now," he replied, with well-affected tender-, ness. "But I am better now. Your coming has done me good. Besides, I will not make my story long." Dr. Jaquet was eager to listen to the his tory of the past 16 years, though it did not agree with the part that he had set himself to play to exhibit any undue anxiety. He was pleased to find that his wife, without any solicitation from him, was ready to un bare the secret of the past 16 years. "When you did riot return for two days," Madam Jaquet said, "I began to grow anxious. Then that night of the 2d of December, when the firing began in the streets! How shall I ever forget it? Ah! what scenes! It explained your absence, but it made me fear the worst had hap pened. How I lived through those Decem ber days I shudder to recall. At one time I thdught you were in prison; again I thought a worse fate had befallen you that you were lying mangled, murdered, in the streets. My father came to my assistance. We searched everywhere, bnt discovered nojfalflgr cru had not been seen since the day belore all that dreadful slaughter be gan. Then it Was suggested that you had received a timely warning and escaped." "That is true," exclaimed Dr. Jaquet, "I was warned." "My heart grew light at that," went on Madam Jaquet, ignoring the interruption, and appearing as thongh she heard him not. "But when nq message came from you I said that it could not be. You would have written if you were safe. You would not have left the wife who loved you in doubt of your fate. You were dead, or you had been secretly deported, or perhaps you were working in the galleys at Toulon. In quiries were made, but they were fruitless. But nothing could shake my opinion that some evil had happened you, and that you could not write. You were ever the soul of. honor, Felix." "Forbear!" cried Dr. Jaquet, and he groaned within himself at this shaft so in nocently meant. "I know you feel for all I went through then," Madam continued. ".'My poor Felixl it is past now. Where was i? Oh! I remember; I was speaking of my opinion that you were in trouble somewhere and could not send to me. But my father over ruled my objections, and began to arrange your affairs with a view to administering your estate. Then we found that you had made preparations for flight, and had real ized everything. My father said that you had abandoned me and our boy. He thonght so, and the blow killed him.. But why should you run away from poor Claire? I could not believe it Yon were somewhere; and we must go through the world seeking you little Philippe and I till we found you. Ten thousand francs was all that was left of my dot" "How was that?" cried Dr. Jaquet, wno, though conscious that he had acted a base, cowardly part in' abandoing his wife and child, nevertheless believed that their wants were amply provided for under his wife's marriage settlement. "Alas, the dot was nearly gone," Madame Jaquet replied; "my father had speculated with the money that he had set aside for me hoping to make it more. It was little that was lett, but it kept us above want my little Philippe and I. I came to London and began my search. I obtained profes sional help, bnt after spending "half my store I was compelled to work alone. It was too expensive. Bnt it was hard. I found I could do nothing without money. What was I to do? I took lodgings in Camden road, to be near Philippe, who was at school, and near my employment" "Your employment, Claire?" cried Dr. Jaquet in a distressed tone, as the vision of this delicately-reared woman fighting her battle alone, and uncheered, forced itself upon his mind too vividly to be pleasant "You do not mean that you have been com pelled to work?" "Why not? What else was there to do? Was I to see my money melt away, whilst I was doing nothing? I soon learned a little English. Then I was engaged to teach French at a lady's school. It was for Philippe's sake. He has cost me little, though; his education that is all. His mathematical abilities secured for him an excellent situation at the "Universal. He is enraptured with his prospects, though this is not what 1 would have chosen for our son. "I had to give up my search for you when I became a governess. Only In the holi days was I able to continue my search for you. But nothing came of it How could it? I had no clue, and no one to advise me. When Philippe grew up he might have helped to find you quicker, but I could not lean upon him. I was afraid that he might think his father had forsaken his mother, and then . You understand he would not love his father when I found you, and I wanted him to love you. "It all came out by accident at last Three weeks ago I was in the Park with Philippe. There I saw you. I knew vo at once. You are not much altered stouter, perhaps; and you wear glasses now, but that is all. I felt faint with fear and joy fear lest Philippe should notice my agitation, and joy that the end of my long search had come at last; Jbut with a strong effort I man aged to control myself. Two days later I was in the Park again, this time alone. You were there. I followed you to Harley street, and saw you enter your home. Your name is on tbe door. I was tempted to enter, but refrained, deciding to come home here to think.. Since then I have been ill ah, very ill. The doctor says ray heart is weak. Ai soon as I began to get better I sent for you, and you are here. That is all." Dr. Jaquet was conscious of contending emotions as he listened to his wife's story. He wonld have been less than human if he had beed able to listen to the account of her pathetic straggles, afld her long, fruitless search, without being moved. He was touched, moreover, that as yet she had ut tered no word of condemnation or reproach. Nay, had she not exhibited a beautiful faith in him, ascribing his flight to political reasons, and holding fast by her simple creed that her husband was the soul of honor, and that something she knew not what had prevented him commnnirating with her? That establishment in Harley street was a sad stumbling block to her faith in him; bnt she would not condemn him, even in her own thoughts, until she heard his story. One glance at her, as with her eyes strained in an intense gaze and filled with tears, she looked into his face, was enough to tell him that she was clinging to the hope that when her husband spoke the only cloud that hung over the happiness of her meeting with him would be scattered to the winds, and that he would shed such light upon the past as would reconcile her boy to his mother's involuntary widowhood. But Dr. Jaquet remained long silent, while softly caressing her. He felt in truth like a man driven to bay. Here was the one woman who alone had the right to bear his name the name that was borne by another woman, who presided over his establishment in Harley street. He had yielded to Mile. Lucie's importunities and married her soon after setting foot on En glish soil. Bnt none knew better than he that the marriage was invalid, and that he was liable to suffer for his act under the laws of his adopted country. What was to prevent his wile appearing in Harley street and demanding to be set back in her place? What an esclandre would ensue! Profes sional and social ruin, stared him in the face, even though he succeeded in playing his cards so as to escape the clntches of tne criminal law. Two courses seemed opened to him. To take back his wife, in which case Mile. Lucie's temper might be relied upon to make quick work with him. He had had some experience of Mile. Lucie's temper daring the past 16 years, and he knew very well that if he attempted to dethrone her from her position she would denounce him as a bigamist without compunction. Besides, how could he appear before the grandes dames of his acquaintance as a physician with two wives?. The second course was to tell the woman who had sought him through all tbe long years of their separation the bitter truth that he was faithless, and had abandoned her and their child with deliber ate intention. He took neither course, pre- Ul erring to adopt a temporizing policy. tie wouia nottrouoie nis uear uiaire, he said, with his story just now, which would take long to tell. It was enough that she had guessed rightly; he had been warned in time to fly from Paris. He did not know that she was in England. If she had not left Paris in search of him it would have been different Their long separation would have been spared to them If she had re mained. Madam Jaquet was easily satisfied in the great joy of recovering "her husband, and gently blamed her own precipitancy in leaving Paris for England as the only cause that had kept them apart for so long. Then Dr. Jaquet proceeded to open out his plans for the future. He dilated with convincing reasoning on the difficulties that would surround them, if he suddenly pre sented his wife to the circle in which he moved. What explanation, he asked, could he give of the long years of their separa tion! " Howwonld it be possible to disarm the venomous criticisms -of malicious tongues? Her position would prove intol erable, if she were called upon to run the gauntlet of curious inquirers who would seek to probe their secret to the bottom and who would not spare. No! this was not to be thought of for a moment He was not thinking so much, he said, about his professional reputation, which would suffer if any scandal, however inno cent its character, became connected with his name for he could afford to lay down his practise and retire on his reputation, which was deservedly high but he was think ing of his dear Claire and what was best for her happiness. He was in favor of return ing to Paris, where their reappearance would occasion less remark, and where sus picions, if any arose, could much more easi ly be allayed. He would see to his dear Claire's comfort while he was making ar rangements for the disposal of his bouse in Harley street, and when his affairs were wound up they would leave England for ever. Madam Jaquet, who was willing to go anywhere with her husband, and who felt that in the delicate state of her health, ex citement would prove injurious to her, was nothing loth to be convinced by this reason ing, which had succeeded in securing for FelixJaquit that invaluable commodity, time, that so often fails men at their need. He wanted to think out a way in which the ghost, which had suddenly sprung np in his path, could be effectively laid. He was in the. position of a man with two wives; one known to society as such, the other his true wife in the eye of the- church and the law, but of whom society knew nothing. At present he could eee no way out of the dilemma; he must have opportunity for reflection, and this he now secured. But now that Madam Jaquet was satis- AajI a. Law l-.1.nAnH'a .vaaH .nAn.inn lA was anxious to bring about a meeting be tween her boy and his father. "Might she tell Philippe everything?" she asked timid ly. He decided in the negative. "Better wait until everything is settled. When we are ready to leave England I will meet him here, and tell him all. You shall hear my story together." Dr. Jaquet's smiling ex terior convinced his wife that the love that had never been hers was her own at last. She was persuaded in her own mind that the father was yearning for the hour when he would embrace his son, and the three of them would set out together, a reunited family, for the land of their birth. The conversation drifted into other chan nels, chiefly referring to Madam's health, and the arrangements to be made for her comfort while she remained at Cornwall road. She declared that she wanted noth ing, now that her dearest Felix was restored to ber; and after examining the prescrip tions of her medical adviser, and having pronounced himself satisfied with the treat ment, he bade her an affectionate farewell, promising to return on the morrow. Dr Jaquet returned on the following day. One glance at the face of the accom plished actor told his wife all that she wished to know. He looked proud and happy. His visits were renewed daily for some weeks, during which Madam's health continued delicate. But he always spoke to her of her ailments in a gay and confi dent tone, that raised the invalid's courage by many degrees. A slow convalescence in cases of marked cardiac debility like hers, he explained, was always to be expected; bnt she would soon be well again, and by the time his arrangements were completed and they were ready to return to Paris, she would be quite strong. So the days passed. F,very afternoon as he finished his rounds tbe brougham stopped at the corner of the street, and tbe coachman received the same order: "Do not wait, Kichard; I shall be some time here." Madam, after he had departed, grew to count the hours which would bring round again the pleasure of these daily visits from her smiling, debonnalre husband. A sight of tbe face of tbe man whom she loved with rare fidelity temporarily overcame her weakness, though the excitement of his visits often left her languid and Inclined to sleep. But she would not be deprived of them, and, to do him justice, Dr. Jaquet appeared to "look forward to their daily conferences -with a delight scarcely less fondly exhibited than her own. There was always something for him to tell, and for her to hear; some new difficulty that had arisen that would necessitate delay, or some old difficulty that had been made to disap pear like magic. They talked confidently and hopefully of the future, planning where they would live when they returned to Paris, and how they would pass their days; for by this time Dr. Jaquet 'had an nouticed his resolution to retire from pro fessional life and devote the remainder of his days to the society of his dear Claire, of which he had been so long deprived. One evening he remained later than usual, and as the girl appeared in the hall to open the door for his departure, he expressed his surprise that Mr. Philippe Jaquet had not returned. "Kindly explain to him when he arrives that I waited for him as long as I could. Madam is decidedly better to day, and if the present improvement con tinues she will be able to go out for a drive in a day or two. But tell him also that Madam does not get enough sleep. She lies awake at nights until she hears him re tire, and that is bad for her and retards her recovery. Tell him from me that if he val ues his mother's life he must keep better hours. And, oh, by-the-by," he added, as he descended the steps, after giving these instructions, "as Madam Is disposed to sleep now, you had better not disturb her. Can you remember all that?" he inquired. The girl promised that the message should be duly delivered, and the great physician, hailing a passing hansom, was soon lost to sight. Philippe, in deference to the physician's message, which lost nothing of its urgency in transmission, delayed entering his moth er's room, until the thought struck him that her sleep was becoming more protracted than was likely to be beneficial. "She will not sleep to-night at ail," he said, speaking to himself, "if she is not roused." The sun was setting as he entered his mother's room, and a rosy light bathed her pure face in the soft glory of the dying day. What was it that suddenly caused his heart to stop its beating, and then to rush forward with a bound as though it would burst through its prison in his breast? The quick eye ot love saw that there was a strange rigidity in her form as she lay there on her couch. He strode rapidly to her side, touched her band and started back in terror at the chill shock of her cold clay. Too soon he realized that Madam Jaquet was asleep in the sleep that knows no wak ing. "Mother! speak to me once more," he ex claimed, with a great and sorrowful cry; and then, kneeling down by her side, he covered her cold lips with his passionate kisses. To be continued next Saturday. A WAE OP EATES AYEETED. The Differential Claimed Dv the Baltimore and Ohio is Allowed. Baltimore, March 29. The general passenger department of the Baltimore and Ohio was to-day informed by the Chairman of the Chicago Passenger Committee that the committee has concluded, and in this they have the indorsement of Commissioner Blanchard, of the Trunk Line Association, to allow the Baltimore and Ohio the differ ential claimed by them of $1 50 on first-class tickets, and $1 on second-class tickets be tween Chicago and New York and other Eastern points. This action of the Chicago Committee averts an impending war of passenger rates between Chicago and the East, as General Passenger Agent Scull had issued orders to the Chicago agents of the Baltimore and Ohio to live up to all the rights of the com pany and sell tickets at the lower figure. KLEIN CALLED FOE. The German Government Wants the Cor' respondeat Tried at Apia. Washhtotoh-, March 29. It is reported and believed in well-informed circles that the German Government has requested that Correspondent Klein, who left Samoa imme diately after the killing of the German sailors, and came to San Francisco, be ar rested and return to Apia to be tried before the American (not the German) consular court for "murderous assault" It is not known here whether Klein is an ' American citizen or not, but that is not re garded as material. Rill NVf (n to-morrow's DISPATCH, ad DIUL II I t- dresses an open letter to Post master General Wanamaker. in which he orders a suit of clothes and incidentally makes a bid for the liew York JPostqfflce. THE IJfAUGUKATIOX" Of the Jackson Baildins; Brought Toon- lands of People To the large and handsome clothing house, Nos. 954 and 956 Lib'erty street. The build ing was handsomely decorated and the peo ple were pleased with the display of the handsome clothing department The hat and furnishing departments took the prize for the most beautiful display. The people were surprised at the large stock. The peo ple were amazed at the low prices. Every body promised to become a customer, and so wonder, for the suits we're selling at $10 cannot be had elsewhere for $15. The pantaloons we sell at $2 50 would cost you 54, no matter where you'd" go. Jackson's was voted to be the place to buy clothing. Jackson's got the majority for hats. Jack son's is the place for furnishings. As for merchant tailoring, there is no place like Jackson's. xnssu KEAL ESTATE SAVINGS BANK, IJM., 401 Bmlthfleld Street, cor. Fourth Avenue. Capital, $100,000. Surplus, $38,000. Deposits of $1 and upward received and interest allowed at 4 per cent TTS Jnst for batnrday. On Saturday we will sell men's $2 50 pants for $1 75 and $3 50 pants for $3; $22 spring overcoats for $18, and (6, $7, $3, $10 and $12 spring overcoats that ian't be equaled by any house in the city. Special bargains in suits for man and boy at the Hub, and every boy gets a fine ball and bat You find nothing but the best at tbe Hub. Clothing for men and boys at the Boston Clothing House, 439 Smithfield street Are Son Forbidden to Take Anaesthetics To get your teeth extracted? If so, try Dr. Smith's Bonell freezing process, which benumbs the gums so that very little pain is felt It is perfectly safe; so bad effects after. De. F. H. Smith's Dextai. Offices, 504 Penn avenue. Office hours from 9 a. it. to fi p. at Jjace Curtains. See our $1, $1 25, $1 50, $2, $2 60 a pair quality. Some special bargains. Geo.W. Ssamak, arwssu 136 Federal st, Allegheny. Furniture. If you want a bookcase, chiffonier, ward robe, sideboard, folding bed, mnsie or par lor cabinet, callon Dain & Daschbach, 111 Smithfield street xhssu See our handsome India silks, just re ceived, at Ladies' Suit Parlors, 29 Fnthave. Grand Millinery Opening; Continued to-day at Bosenbaum & Co.'s. You can't get the good of yonr electrio light unless you have proper shades or globes. The most complete assortment and newest designs are to be found at Craig head's Lamp Store, 615 Smithfield st. s Faded hair recovers its youthful color & softness by useot Parker's Hair Balsam. Parker's Ginger Tonic cures inward pains. Grand MIHtnerr Opening:' Continued to-day at Bosenbaum & Co.'s. jL A I . J. jf . " . i ' .-. ht
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers