: 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
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