Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-01-18
Then, turning toward the unhappy

Then, turning toward the unhappy
Roger, he continued:
"Explain well to your wife and your
daughter, and may you be happier than we
were."'
"Henriette, you hear what the judge says.
What he says is true, dear. Your silence ap-
pears very strange to them, and naturally
they believe that Victoria tells the truth.
Now know that you could not have seen me
at the cottage and have nothing to fear; so,
my darling, since I am innocent, and you
could not have seen me, if you did see any.
body you should tell it, even in my interest.
So, Henriette, my wife, tell US what you
know"
Still no sound, no movement from Hen
riette, whoseemed like one magnetized
"Did you hear me, Henriette!"
She made an affirmative sign.
"Why then persist in this silence, which Is
my condemnationW
II have nothing to say"
"Henriette! Victoria's testimony is precise.
And your trouble, your pallor and your
strange manner betray you. And remem-
Der now that Suzanne was i'll the next day
and had convulsions. O, my wife! if have
ever deserved any kindness at your hands
have pity on me now and tell US what you
saw s,,. AZ ...........5 - !.
"Not having seen anything can certainly
tell you nothing"
20, Henriette, you accuse me! am your
husband, and in spite of my innocence, you
condemn mel"
What superhuman force kept this poor
wife alive during these horrible moments
none can tell. To speak was to prove him
guilty; to keep silent to accuse him. Again
Roger begged her by every endearing term to
tell him what she saw; he pleaded with tears
standing in his eyes, and recalling their eight
years of life together, and asking her in what
had he offended her that she should thus in
jure him. Her lips remained closed, but her
eyessaid: lilies, liesw
He rose to his feet discouraged and walked
back and forth moment, and then stopping
before her said:
"Henriette, you are condemning ME. You
love me no longer, perhaps never did, but re-
member, whatever comes, that I love you,
and shall love you as long as I live. That
shall be your punishment and my revenge.
I have done all I could, M. De Lgnerolles."
The judge pointed with his finger to
Suzanne, who was seated on her mothers
lap. Roger understood One last hope re.
manned.
Roger. Henriette arose and retired to the
ante room. Roger took the child in his
arms and lifted her above his head, smiling.
@You don't love me any more, then2" he
said to her as she looked at him with wild,
hunted expression. OF her pretty dimples
and cunning little childish ways there re-
mained nothing. She looked like woman
whom pain had long possessed. She was rosy
and white once, now her color was leaden
gray, and her forehead wrinkled.
"Why do you give me such pain, my little
birdY" said Roger, kissing her between nearly
every word. Did I ever make you cryi
Have not always been good papa to you,
and done all I could to make you happyi
Was it then only because brought you play
things that you loved me?"
The child seemed to not hear him.
Suzanne! my dear little girl, don't you
remember the night Of your birthday, you
waited for me on the balcony9 Do you re.
member?"
"Yes, father, I remember"
"Could you s. across and into the little
cottage under the chestnut tree!"
"Yes, the neighbours house."
ayes, dear, and now tell me what else you
saw. Answer, my baby. 1t is your father
who asks"
II didn't see anything else."
Suzanne, tell me what you saw, for am
sure you sow something"
mo, mother and saw nothing"
"That is not true! 1 have persuaded you
gently; now order you to tell me. Tell mel"
10, father, you frighten mel"
"You were on the balcony. What did you
see theres You must have seen all. If you
do not tell shall take you with me to prison
in dark place with all sorts of horrid ami
mails to bite you. Speak Come, speak,
sayr
Father: have pity on me-pity!"
"Why should pity you when you remain
80 obstinate and will not tell2 I do not love
you; you are not my child. My little girl would
not have treated her father So Suzanne, I
know not how to make you break this cruel
silence"
Anger took possession Of him. He saw his
only hope of liberty, life itself, fading away
from him. He suddenly seized his child and
shook her with violence, saying:
"Speak, speak, insist"
At this instant Henriette rushed to his side
and took the child from his unresisting hands,
and said in q voice that none but him heard:
"Strike, then; kill us rs you killed him!"
His uplifted hands fell softly upon those
two heads, and with one lingering caress and
one look of agonizing entreaty and SUPER
natural love- he sank unconscious on tho
floor; and when his wife and child were gone
it was but IN inert mass they carried back to
the cell.