Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-01-04

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Roger! Roger! Great God!"
The scene lasted but O second. The two
lifted fists fell, but Laronette turned at the
same instant, escaping the blow. He gave
but one cry Of "Murder!" and then there was
short but deadly struggle. The murderer's
hat fell, summer hat, high, gray, and bear
ing black ribbon band. The candle rolled
on the table, but before it went out dark
face, covered by thick, black beard appeared
like fash. There was no more noise. Dark
ness reigned in that room. Larouette, weak
as he was, tried to defend himself. The MUIR
derer was colossus Still the fear Of death
lent him force. Larouette tried to cry for
help. Then there was flash and q heavy
detonation, and that was all
Henriette drew back, with chattering teeth.
Great drops of sweat stood on her brow. She
looked like one suddenly gone mad. She re-
peated, breathless, in an agony Of torture at
this sudden rending of all her happiness:
"Roger! Can it BET Hel Oh, horrible!"
And now, in the midst Of this wretchedness,
came the thought Of her child; her child,
whose existence she had forgot in that sub.
lime agony; Of her child, who had been the
first to recognize her father.
'Suzanne," said she with Painful effort.
Mammal" said faint voice behind her.
Victoria had brought lamp, and now one
could see clearly into the bed room. Through
the lace shade the light fell directly upon the
Guilds face She did not cry. She made no
gesture, but her eyes were strangely fixed.
She must have seen and understood, for her
forehead, so pure and so candid, had suddenly
become indented with deep wrinkle. She
had aged in that instant many years, and sho
had the face almost Of woman. Then
Henriette clasped her in her arms in wild
pain and lifted her, and then laid one hand
over the child's eyes.
"You have seen nothing" gasped she
breathlessly. "You have seen nothing and
you have heard nothing Listen to me well,
and understand me. You must remember
that you have seen nothing and have heard
nothing"
mo, mammal shall have seen nothing,
and shall have heard nothing"
Itwas no longer that silvery, sweet voice
of child; it was the grave voice of the
mother. Suddenly aged by horrible spec
tacle, the child recognized clearly the whole
of her future and its Significance.
"You will never say anythingP'
aNothing, ever, mamma" -
."Never, if you love your poor mother,
never tell what you have seen, what you have
heard, no matter what threats, prayers or
temptations are brought to bear upon you"
"Never, except on your order, mother"
She called her another" now; the child was
no longer baby to say mamma"
"That is right; and may God have pity on
your feebleness and innocence, however hard
he may strike me-"
She did not weep, though the nervous sobs,
strangled in her throat, nearly stifed her.
Still she had strength to close the window,
and on returning toward her bed she saw that
her maid, dumb and frightened, was still
there Henriette thought she must faint, but
gathered force enough TO say:
"You can SO, Victoria. will put Suzanne
to bed myself"
"Madame, did you not see, not heara Therel
Near us, very near"
"What? What was it?"
"A pistol shot"
"You are crazy. Leave us"
Excuse me, madame, but thought heard
one"
Victoria went out trembling, and Henrietts
happened to glance in her glass; She drew
back in alright. so terrible was her own ap-
pearance. At this instant she heard stifled
groan, and turning she found Suzanne on the
carpet in convulsions. She sprang to the
L., 1,o,
with wild delirium Of love and terror.
"My child, my darling child, oh, be calm!
do not be afraid-I am here. Oh, my baby!
what shall do?"
But Suzanne, shaken by violent hysteria,
heard nothing. Henriette used all the means
in her power to restore the child, but the con.
vulsions continued for a long time-an eter.
nifty it seemed to the stricken mother. At
last the convulsions ceased and the child re-
gained consciousness, and looking her mother
in the eyes repeated with her dry little lips:
"No, mother; shall have seen nothing; I
shall have heard nothing"
And they wept in each others embrace.
Suddenly they both ishivered and rose to-
gether; but Suzanne did not let 60 her clasp
about her mothers waist. The gate which
led from the lawn to the Rue dc Versailles
was creaking on its hinges. Steps were heard
upon the gravel walk; key turned in the
lock of the front door.
"It is he!" murmured Henriette
Suzanne held her arms clasped still more
tightly around her mothers waist. 1t was
Roger Laroque. Henriette knew his step,
and hastily put out the lamp, leaving only
the night light burning, and, staggering to
her door, locked it. She trembled lest he
should come into her presence. They listened
with bated breath to the steps coming nearer,
and which stopped at last before their door,
and in tho midst of the death like silence they
heard distinctly his breath, coming in heavy
gasps as if he had run until almost breathless
They heard his hands as lie felt about trying
the door, and they heard him knock softly,
and voice said:
"Henriette, Henriette; are you asleepa"
The mother and child stood together
clasped in wild embrace, their eyes riveted
on that corner Of the room Us if death had
awaited them there. They took care not te
make sound, and even the mother placed
her hand upon the chids lips. Roger, think
ing that they were asleep, retired softly, care
full not to awaken them. Opposite to that o!
his wife and ut the other extremity of the
parlor was his own room, and he entered it.
Every sound ceased. Everything seemed to
sleep. Only quarter Of an hour ago thae
two had been on the balcony, happy and i'm
patient to see Roger. And now three lives
were wrecked in that short space.
Midnight sounded, and at last l o'clock
Henriette did not try even to Sleep She sat
silent and overcome in the chair beside the
bed of her child, and at last, thinking that
Suzanne slept, she turned her gaze toward
her, and seeing the eyes closed thought thet
the poor little thing had forgot her fear and
horror, at least for time.
"Oh, my God" whispered she, shave pity
upon that poor innocent one."
She then rose softly and crept to the door
and opened it slightly ard listened. There
was no sound She crept like shadow into
the parlor and took n few steps forward, but
suddenly stopped behind the piano, as she saw
that Rogers door was wide open, and by the
light of a lamp she could see him seated, pale
and distressed, with his head leaning upon
his hands. His face was convulsed, his eyes
fixed and his hair and beard in wild disorder.
Roger was 30 years old; at this instant he
looked so. On the bureau, within reach OF
his hand, lay small revolver, the revolver
which had triumphed over the last agony OF
M TarOuetta And the lamn burned on with