Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-01-18


But they soon recovered from their i'm
pulse, and Henriette saw that it was a 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 Us she obeyed her. Laroque
forgot his grief in 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 ami" And then turning toward tho
judge, he said:
"You are very kind, sir, and thank you
with all my heart for permitting me to see
my wife and child. No matter what may be
the conclusion Of this horrible affair, I thank
you for your generous consideration of hus-
band and fathers feelings"
"You have nothing to thank me for" said
the judge coldly. II told you that you were
seen to enter Larouette's house, and to have
assassinated him"
"By woman and a child. Very well; let
them confront me-"
"You were seen," continued the judge, "by
mother and child. There they are-your
wife and your child"
"They saw me! Me! Ny wife and child
saw me kill Larouette! 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
Laroque commit a 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.
sHenriette, Suzanne, what ails you! Are
you sick2 What have they done to you that
you cannot speak!"
"Roger," said Henriette, painfully, IN. Dc
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
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 al instant
was frightened of know not what" Then,
turning to the judge, he cried:
"Why did you bring my wife and child
here, telling me that they were witnessesi
You 60 beyond your power Us judge. You
have just told me falsehood, which my wife
has proved to be one. The law, perhaps
justifes such deviations from truth, but dc
not"
The magistrate answered gently, for he
pitied that poor mother and child:
at is proven that they saw you"
"Provedl" said Laroque, calmed by su-
preme effort. "Henriette, you hear. l can
say nothing. What do you say?"
"That cannot be, since I understand moth
ing Of what they ask of me-"
Victoria was recalled, and the poor servant
repeated word for word what she had said
before. omitting nothing Roger listened
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 me! feel am going mad!"
After long silence he seemed to UNDER
stand, little by little. Now he knew. He'll
riette and Suzanne had seen. but what? They
had refused to speak. Why? He must know.
Roger threw himself on his knees before his
wife, took her hands and caressed them, and
then, as though he would have spoken to
child, he said:
"Tell the truth. Is it true that you saw
me? 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 he
afraid, since am not guilty, to tell all you
know. They accuse ME, but perhaps your
testimony will prove my innocence"
He held bis wifes and child's hands oil
gathered in his and he kissed them all to-
gether Mother and child, with pale faces,
kept silence.
The magistrate interviewed.
~ brought you into the presence of your
husband" said lie, 'because l hope still that
you will listen to his prayers and understand
that you had better tell all you saw, no mat
ter what it was for his sake, than to keep this
strange silence Your husband will tell you
palmer than l can that it is in his interest
that you speak. 10 all of us it is evident that
you and your child saw this murder. The
gravest charge hangs over your husbands
head. Therefore, if you refuse 10 speak it is
because Your husband is guilty in your eyes"