Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-09

-------J
 Instinct ,Uas stronger than .viU
 But they soon recovered from their inn pulse, and Henriette saw that it was trap that had been laid to surprise her and she had allowed herself to be taken She pushed Su- same into the fathers arms and the child closed her eyes as she obeyed her. Laroque forgot his grief ill his child's embrace, and he had his arms about those two beings he held most dear.
 "Henriette! My good and dear wife, how happy am" And then turning toward the judge, he said:
 "You are very kind, sir, and l thank you with all my heart for permitting mo to see my wife and child. No matter what may be the conclusion of this horrible affair, thanE you for your generous consideration of hus- band and fathers feelings"
 "You have nothing to thank mo for," said the judge coldly. q told you that you were seen to enter Larouette's house, and to have assassinated him."
 "By a woman and q child. Very well; let them confront me-"
 "You were seen," continued the judge, "by a mother and child. There they are-your wife and your child"
 "They saw mel Me! My wife and child saw me kill Larouettel Take care, sir; You calumniate."
 Then he sprang forward and took hold of their arms and shook them. He hurt them, poor man, without knowing it.
 "You saw me-you two, they pretend. You hear them tell me that you accuse me- that you saw me. Speak! Protest! Rise and tell that man who accuses me that He has lied about it, that it is not, could not, be true; that you could not have seen Roger Iaroque commit crime of which he is in- capable.
 They could not speak He still grasped their arms and begged them to deny this foul charge. At last Henriette rose from her chair, and with difficulty stood before him. "Henriette, Suzanne, what ails youa Are you cannot speak?"
 Roger" said Henriette, painfully, "M. De Lignerolles is wrong to tell you that we were witnesses to murder. For three days they have pursued us, Suzanne and me, to force us to avow what we have not seen. I have but to repeat to you, in my own name and that of my child, what we have already said many times. We know nothing of how that murder was committed, and we do not know why they dare accuse you." "Ah, that relieves me. You have spoken. It is impossible that you could have seen me, since was not there. but for an instant was frightened of know not what" Then, l turning to the judge, he cried: "Why did you bring my wife and child 1 here, telling me that they were witnesses? You go beyond your power as judge. You l have just told me falsehood, which my wife 1 has proved to be one. The law, perhaps. 1 justides such deviations from truth, but do not"
 The magistrate answered gently, for he 1 pitied that poor mother and child: s,~ A1,a4@ @l,,xv "Proved?" said Laroque, calmed by a su- l preme effort. "Henriette, you hear. I can l say nothing. What do you say?" "That cannot be, since understand noth- 1 ing of what they ask of me-" Victoria was recalled, and the poor servant repeated word for word what she had said before. emitting nothing. Roger listened l breathless, his nerves strung to their highest tension, and trying to comprehend. Then he rose with haggard eyes and stretched out his hand, saying:
 "Take care of mel I feel am going mad!"
 After a long silence he seemed to under stand, little by little. Now he knew. Hem riette and Suzanne had seen. but what? They had refused to speak. Whys He must know. Roger threw himself on his knees before bis wife, took her hands and caressed them, and then, as though he would have spoken to Q child, he said:
 "TeI tho truth. Is it true that you saw mel You denied it, did you not? Up to the last minute you say that you did did not see that murder committed, and Su- zanne said the same. They questioned you in vain. But now, my dear wife, and you, my little daughter, must tell all. Do not be afraid, since am not guilty, to tell all you know. They accuse me, but perhaps your testimony will prove my innocence"
 He held his wifes and childs hands all gathered in his and he kissed them all to- gether Mother and child. with pale faces, kept silence.
 The magistrate intervened.
 q brought you into the presence of your husband" ;" said he, abecause I hope still that you will listen to his prayers and understand that you had better tell all Jou saw, no mat ter what it was, for his sake, than to keep this strange silence. Your husband will tell you , Iplainer than I can that it is in his interest that you speak. To all of us it is evident that lyou and your child saw this murder. The gravest charge hangs over your husbands head. Therefore, if you refuse to speak it is because your husband is guilty in your eyes.
 Then, turning toward the unhappy Roger hs continued:
 "Explain well to your wife and you 1a@s1(srl aua may sbh bs happier than VI