The age-herald., 1898-10-16

you are astonished at her air of cheerful ness,s at the almost happy and infinitely kindly smile that plays over her handsome features. T must keep cheerful face, if only for the sake of the children" Mme. Dreyfus explained to me in answer to con- gratulations on her appearance. "The idea that such a man could be traitor is too shy. His whole nature is opposed to every thing that is underhand and shifty. All those who know him are aware how he de- tested intrigue, how frank he was, how in- capable of furthering his own interests by recourse even to the petty dissimulation that is often tolerated in everyday life"
 Captain Dreyfus letters to his wife were shown to the interviewer It should be explained that Mime. Dreyfus does not re- ceive the originals of the letters, which are sent in the first place to the central prison authorities, who have them copied; it is these copies that reach her toward the 18th of each month. Needless to say, there is nothing to prevent the authorities mak- ing whatever suppressions they choose, and 1t Is certain that they have made extensive use of this right In one of these the ex- captain writes:
 'It is again to you that I write. for you are the only thread that still binds me to life I know that all my family, and all yours as well, love and esteem me; but, after all if were to disappear, their sor- row, though great it is, wouldsvanish in time. It is solely the thought of you, my poor darling, that enables me to struggle It is the thought of you that keeps me from suicide How all my love for you comes home to at this moment! Never before has it been more immense-more ex- elusive. 1 still cherish slight hope of rehabilitating my name, but rest assured that if I am successful in treading this Calvary to the end, it will be uniquely for your sake, my poor darling 1t will be to avoid you a fresh sorrow in addition to all those you have already supported"
 His only solace is the thought of those he loves. "All around me is the most pro- found silence, only broken by the moaning of the sea. Traversing the distance that separates us, transport myself in thought amid you, amid all those who are dear to me- and whose thoughts, know, often go forth to me. Frequently at this hour or that I ask myself what my dear Lucie is doing, and in my mind I send her the echo , of my immense affection. I then close my eyes and there seems to pass before me your figure and those of my dear children. Do not weep, then, dearest. 1 will struggle to the last minute for your sake and that of my children"
 For four long years Mime. Dreyfus has striven to convince the universe of her hus- bands innocence, and a harder task still, to bring home the suspicion to the authori- ties of her own country that a hideous in- justice has been perpetrated. The miracle has come to pass. Today Mime. Dreyfus is confident that her final triumph is only a question of time.
 I asked her what, in her opinion, was the explanation of the calamity that had over taken her husband. q think" she an- swered q still think, in spite of all that has happened that the origin of our trouble was a mistake I cannot, will not believe tiIat an innocent victim was Intentionally singled out. By a strange and terrible freak of chance there was some resem- blance between my husbands writing and the writing of the 'bordereau, and it was t---s similarity between the two handwrit- irgs that was the cause of the initial blum der. unhappily, the blunder was willfully perpetuated. What was mistake to be- gin with developed into a crime into se- rles of crimes. have told you of my hus- bands reserved manner toward persons wllh whom he was not intimate. This at titude undoubtedly made him enemies Be- sides, it cannot be questioned that he was very clever, and assured of a brilliant ca reer, and certain persons were jealous of him."