Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-05-25

he dropped into her cup as she turned from
the table to take the coffee pot from the hearth.
His own cup was filled by her and set at his
plate with his own hands. You have already
been told how and why the cups were changed.
Mrs. Laroche's kindness and attention to her
husbands comfort was the means of preserv-
ing her life. He had prepared the poison for
her, but terrible retributive providence
caused him to drink Of his own devices"
During the time DR.. Houser was giving his
testimony as to- the confession of the dying
man, Mrs. Laroche sat like one bewildered
and scarcely able to take in the import of his
language. His meaning seemed to come to
her slowly and by degrees. She seemed only
to gather the full meaning of his words, when
he paused, overcome by the painful recital.
"Great Heavens !" cried she, rising to her
feet, and clasping her hands in wild and
frenzied manner, "this terrible story cannot
be true He would not have killed me when
he knew how willing would have died for
him. God of Heaven it is not true it is
not true It is all horrible dream! Wake
me! Wake me wake me or die %
ssI feared it would be the death of her."
said DR.. Houser, as he made his way through
the excited throng to the side of Mrs. Laroche
who had fallen and lay shivering and moaning
in the prisoners dock, like one from whom life
was departing. The human Judge, whose
sympathies were painfully excited, gave orders
that she should at once be removed to COM
Portable quarters in some private house where
she might be at once consigned to the care OF
female friends, and upon returning to con-
sciousness, have nothing around her to remind
her of the fiery ordeal through which she had
passed.
It was now too clear case to admit OF dis
cussion. Dr. Houser was vainly and wanton-
ly recalled, and underwent a redirect exalni-
nation by the prosecution, but declined fol-
lowing them in examining the witness, who
but repeated his plain, unvarnished story.
They had been employed by the next of kin to
the deceased, ostensibly to see that justice was
done, but in truth, with the base motive of
making victim of her who stood between
them and the rich estate that excited their
coyetousness. closed the case late that af-
temoon, entering upon no defence Of my eli
ent-for the testimony had amply vindicated
her fair fame-but exposing the greed that
would have made her a victim, even after her
innocence was established beyond all question
or cavil They had ostracised her first from
their exclusive circle, and, at last, sought to
slay her under the forms Of law. The jury
brought in verdict Of acquittal without lessV-
ing their box. Then there went up shout
that shook the building, and was with difficult
ty repressed
Fat, stalwart, old Joe Stacy, towering above
the crowd by his shoulders and conspicuous
for his immense bulk, threw back his head and
huzzahed so loudly and Sc Justify after all 9TH
ers had been reduced to order and quiet, that
he was caught, fagrante dehcto bya constable,
dispatched by the judge for his arrest, seized
by the elbow and brought to sudden hush.
midway between one of his longest and loud
est huzzahs, which died through his nose with
a nasal twang so ludicrous and comic, that it
occasoned a peal of laughter through the
courtroom. He only escaped heavy fine
for his offence by the inability Of the presid-
ing Judge to control his amusement sufficient
ly to deal with his case with becoming gravity
and seriousness.
"You proved that alibi splendidly by DR..
Houser, squire" said Joe, slapping me ap-
provingly on the shoulder, as we went surg
ing out from the room, on the adjournment Of
the Court
'sIt wasn't an alibi, Joe."
"Well, call it what you will, it was just as
good as one, and answered just as well, if not
BETTER" said old Joe, in the joy of his heart.
ssBut don't you forgit to come round this
evening and draw that reposit out Of the
Savings Bank. It's counted out and tied up
by itself in scrap of yellow calico, all ready
for YOU"
Mrs Laroche had a serious attack of illness,
but the skill of DR.. Houser and vigorous COLI
stitution brought her through unharmed.
She was not permitted to carry out her
design of renouncing her right and title to
her deceased husbands estate. Before many
months there was another claimant, whose
rights she was not authorized to dispose of in
this summary manner, posthumous heir, who
is now handsome lad.
Her good name was so amply vindicated by
the result of the trial, that, at my earnest rer-
resentation, she retained the third OF the es-
tate to which she was legally entitled. But
she never re-entered the doors of the grand es-
tablishment at Magnolia Hill. There were too
many unpleasant associations connected with
that place to render it pleasant home for her,
Old Jacob was, for several weeks, kept in
ignorance of the sore trials that had befallen
his daughter. In the meantime, strange as
that fact may seem, he had amassed fortune
His homestead was discovered to include
valuable gold mine, which he sold out for q
considerable sum, and bought him pleasant
cottage not far from Magnolia Hill, where, to
this day, he resides with his daughter and her
son. Happy old Jacob thus to repose, in the
evening of his days, in a pleasant home of his
own, after so long an experience of the evils OF
poverty.
Mrs Laroche has lost none of her rare beau-
ty. Chastened by sorrow, she lives secluded
life, except in so far as works of mercy, love
and charity call her to mingle with those
around her. Even the stranger, however,
sees written upon her brow, traces of that 81
lent sorrow impressed there by a broken trust
in human love, that, not knowing her priceless
worth, would have crushed and thrown her
aside.
THE END.
"BLooD AToNEMENT."-T Mormon doc
trine of s.blood atonement," is one of the
strangest features of that extraordinary re-
ligion The law, under which so many muir
ders have been committed, reads thus: 'There
are sins which men commit for which the
blood of Christ cannot atone but when the