Nothing else was found among the papers
that could lead to a discovery of either the name or the place of
residence of the wife of Hutter. All the dates, signatures, and
addresses had been cut from the letters, and wherever a word occurred
in the body of the communications that might furnish a clue, it was
scrupulously erased. Thus Judith found all her hopes of ascertaining
who her parents were defeated, and she was obliged to fall back
on her own resources and habits for everything connected with the
future. Her recollection of her mother's manners, conversation,
and sufferings filled up many a gap in the historical facts she had
now discovered, and the truth, in its outlines, stood sufficiently
distinct before her to take away all desire, indeed, to possess
any more details. Throwing herself back in her seat, she simply
desired her companion to finish the examination of the other articles
in the chest, as it might yet contain something of importance.
"I'll do it, Judith; I'll do it," returned the patient Deerslayer,
"but if there's many more letters to read, we shall see the sun
ag'in afore you've got through with the reading of them! Two good
hours have you been looking at them bits of papers!"
"They tell me of my parents, Deerslayer, and have settled my plans
for life.
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