Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-01-18
c1Xa2e gesture she seized q small poii

E4lt@t|*::5 ~
And pierced the photograph through tho
heart
and pierced the photograph through the
heart Then on the back of it she wrote the
date of the murder-"the 2Sth Of July, 1872"
and little lower the date Of the arrest
"the SOth of July, 1S72"-leaving the place
for the date Of the sentence.
A few days later Lucien said to his wife:
II do not plead in court, but I shall be
heard once more"
Vaguely uneasy Julia said:
"What cause are you about to undertaken
."Don't you know? Do you suppose that
am going to leave Roger without defense, in
tho hands of the president and jury at the
court of nssizes? I shall defend him and
snatch him from their hands-that is, If
nv strength holds out Perhaps this is the
only time they will ever see poor, mutilated
body carried into a court room to defend q
brother in arms"
She shuddered in spite Of herself. Her
husband defending her victim! She had not
Thought of that. And he might save him.
What then would become Of her vengeance9
"When YOU know the evidence against him,
perhaps you will not feel so sure of yourself !"
Lucien smiled "He is no more guilty than
am, There are certainly some singular things,
for instance, the money which was marked,
| etc. but Roger AYERS it was in payment OF
n loan, but he refuses to name the person.
! What hc will not tell the justice he will tel
me- Nv opinion is that there is woman in
this affair, somewhere. When l shall have
]enrned his secret shall know how to defend
him, and his secret must have"
Her throat frightened, and she clasped her
hands together mechanically and felt that she
must faint. The next day Lucien, on his
crutches went painfully up the long staircase
at the court of Versailles.
Roger, after the examination already ex"
nlained. had remained in condition of conf
nlete prostration. He had hoped until the
iast minute. for he said to himself: "They do
not condemn innocent men, and one day they
will discover the assassin" But the days
passed, and every one brought against Lin
some new proof Of guilt, and, most poignant
grief of all, his wife and child were lost to
him, for it was only too evident to him that
they believed him guilty.
He lay stretched OH his bed, not asleep, but
worn and weary, when jailer came and
called him rudely and opened the door to let
Lucien come in, and, overpowered with
emotion, he almost fell, and Roger received
the poor manned man in his arms.
"Ah, Lucien, then you believe me lnno-
cent?"
"Of course do I know you are and hope
to prove it, Did you think for moment l
was going to let another lawyer undertake
your case? What is the matter! You do not
look pleased. What makes you look at me
with that wild air2"
Roger drew back, ashamed, overwhelmed
at the thought that this noble man had come
| forward, and believed him when no one else
would, and offered to defend him, whom
more than any one else in the world Roger
had wronged, It was too much. Roger wept
bitterly.
Lucien said, laughingly, "Have done with
such childishness, my brother in arms and
heart. know that it is very annoying, and
that it causes you profound grief and trouble;
but since you are innocent and am here to
defend you, it will soon be over"
II wept, Lucien, because I cannot accept
your help, and because your devotion touches
me So"
"How ridculously you talk, Rogerl But
am here to serve you, and not to hear COM
pliments. Now tell me why don't you want
me for lawyer"
II cannot" said the poor man, and think
ing again of suicide, what to do, what
way out of this new phase of his sufferlngs.
| At last he decided.
"Lucien, do you know the proofs they have
against me2 You must have seen that they
are extremely grave. Don't deceive yourself,
Lncien; they will condemn me; they cannot
| do otherwise, and you will fail. I shall not
retain lawyer. They can give me one or
not, as they choose"
"Thut is one Of your reasons9"
dyes"
"If that is all we will talk Of other things"
Roger shook his head. He did not know
| what to say. There was but one thing clear
| in his mind, and thatiwas that he could not
permit Lucien to defend him. The lawyer
took one of the prisoners hands in his own.
| He read that there were combats in that SUI
fering soul, but could not divine the cause.
"You do not understand me, then, Luclen.
| am obliged ut last to avow the truth. did
kill Larouette!"
"Are you crazys'
"It is the truth, and do not wish you to
defend me- Lucien, for do not wish to be
saved, and am not worthy of your defense"
$50 you admit that you are the assassinl
| And all these reproaches, these tears and
groans, these denials before the judge3"
"Comedy To make them believe Inc inno-
cent"
"Well, then, you authorize me to tell NJ. De
Lignerolles, so that when the case comes on
we can plead guilty and throw ourselves on
the mercy of the court. Is that it!""
Roger made sign of assent.
"Now, Roger, you know very well that l
| don't believe one word OF that"
This was too much for Roger, this proof of
grand affection, and he gave up utterly all
attempt at subterfuge. But this strange OBJ
stinacy had given birth to an underlined sus-
picion in the mind of Lucien; more all un-
easiness than suspicion. but like the unrea-
sonable fear of a coming trouble. Later that
scene came into his mind.
"Now, since you have done with childish
/ ness, wish you to answer my questions. All
that you have said to the three magistrates is
true, is it not2 You have omitted nothing,
added nothing"
"Nothing, assure you"
Lucien then questioned him minutely upon
the whole affair from beginning to end, and
he noted down such few facts as he thought
might help him. After all that had been
written he said
"Now, the next question is, from whom did
YOU receive those notesa This you must
tell me-"
"Do not insist, Lucien. That I cannot tell
you"