Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-13

written in French, ofcourse, so had better
translate it for you.
''If you please, f" said Doggett, who, with
out the aid of Jessie, would have been
puzzled to know what to do with the docu-
ment if it had been handed to him in its
original state.
The letter, which was dated in the early
part of the year. and might be taken as rep
resenting both Madame Jaquet's mature
thoughts and the embodiment Of her latest
decision, she had probably neglected to de-
stroy, in consequence OF. her illness, which
supervened upon the discovery of her hus-
band. 1t read as follows:
My Dearest Child:
If those whose love is pure and strong are
ever permitted to revisit the scenes of earth,
1 shall be with you when you read these
lines, traced by trembling hand that will
be cold in death when you learn the last
wishes of your mother.
You are q to-day. After much hesitation
1 have decided that you shall know the
great trouble of my life, upon which my
lips have kept silence so long. / have come
to determination not to destroy my papers,
among which this secret lies hidden, but to
leave YOU to discover all that have not
strength to say.
1 had some idea of this in my mind when
many years ago began to write down an
account OF the mystery ESQ far as I could un-
ravel it) of your poor papa's disappearance
during those terrible December days of
which we have often spoken together, and
which are burnt into the memory of every
true son of France.
But if 1 deemed it possible that you would
let your mothers last words fall to the
ground, and under some fanciful idea of
avenging my wrongs, would continue to
prosecute my search, would destroy every
thing that could aid you in design so ab-
horrent to all my feelings. You will un-
derstand, that have left my memoranda as
a trust; you have no option but to be the
trustee of my wishes.
Why do I speak of my wrongs? I am
not conscious of any. Ihave never doubted
that some inscrutable fatality that he could
not resist prevented your father making me
the companion of his flight, and that the
same fates have prevented our meeting
again. To believe otherwise would kill me-
In this faith 1 shall die, as J have lived.
Only from his lips could believe in his
dishonor.
But / have often wondered whether my
child would share my opinions
You have not known your father, and
cannot conceive how great, how wise, how
brave, how noble he Is. Toyou the story
may seem susceptible of another interprets-
ton. Do not entertain it. But ii you
must, and it should come to light that 1
have labored under a delusion (Which can
not for a moment believe), charge you to
forgive him. So strongly do lay this com
mand upon you-who have never grieved
me bv disobedience-thst were it possible
that nv death were traced to your fathers
hand (how ridiculousD, must still COM
mand you to forgive him. On no pretence
must YOU venture to interfere to avenge
what YOU think to be my wrongs.
WHY do I write thus? Listenl Yester-
day / had dream. 1t was not an ordinary
dream, for was awake. fell into q rev.
erie. and then my Osenses seemed to be
closed, and I saw you taking up my search
with bitter, black thoughts working in
your mind. 1 have sought your father for
loves sake. You were seeking him in hate,
and misery came of it; misery to you beta.
Now L, your mother, stand between the
two who have had my whole heart, and I
forbid it. You shall not injure one hair Of
his J. sad.
You wiIIobey me, my child, and on your
obedience will rest the blessing of your
mother, whose love neither time nor death
can kill.
A thousand burning kisses I press upon
your lips now, while hold you to my breast
in a last embrace.
If time proves my vision false, and You
meet nv Felix, tell him that your mother
loved him to the last, and died in the faith
that we should meet again in happiness.
May God and the Holy Mother and all
His holy angels have you in their keeping
until you are reunited with
Your mother,
CLAIRE.
Some moments passed in silence.
Philippe was incapable of speaking, and
Doggett's mind was too busy considering
his next step to care to break through the
silence. The solemn hush of great awe