The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-01

mistaken it is the lost wife"
The three men who had remained by the
side of the dead assassin heard Pivolot as he
called, and he told them to bring lights and
come with al possible speed to Villa Mon
talais, where something remarkable had
taken place 1t was only then that thew all
remembered the awful wailing cry they had
heard, and they looked at each other in hor-
rified silence, but M. Lacroix seized a lamp
and shading it with his hat ran down the
stairs, followed by Roger and NJ De Ligne-
ROLES, and they hurried across to the front
door, which Roger opened with the key he
had obtained from the agent from whom he
had rented his own house, as he had not dared
claim its possession in the name OF Suzanne,
who was its ostensible owner.
They went up the stairs, Pivolot cautioning
them against making noise, and when they
reached the parlor they found that Tristot
had already borne the body of Henriette to
her own room, with a memory for places
that would have been remarkable in any one
but himself AS soon as he received the light
he made sign for NJ. Lacroix to follow him.
and he only was permitted to enter the room.
Instantly he recognized the pale face lying
upon the pillows, apparently without life or
motion, as that of Nine. Laroque, whom he
had so numerically tortured. and whose pres
ence was mystery beyond his power to solvA
n. Lacroix went back again, and as he
tried to speak he burst into such a passion Of
penitent tears that every one was moved.
Then he said, recovering himself:
'Pivolot, you are something of a doctor.
For Gods sake do something for that poor
creature; and, Tristot, go for the doctor, and
if you see a woman anywhere bring her here.
If not, go for Mother Dondaine, and don't let
the grass grow till you bring some one.
an. De Lignerolles, you and I may have
reason to be thankful for this nights work,
which may enable us to repair the greatest
wrong we have ever DONE Roger Laroque,
brace yourself for the greatest shock you
probably ever experienced. The person who
lies insensible in your wifes bed ls-courage-
none other than she herself, alive, and l hope
soon to be restored to you. Stay, do not go
in there yet. She has tainted, and it might
be dangerous for her to see you too suddenly.
Try to wait in patience until the arrival of
the doctor. Come; you have been resigned
and patient under her supposed loss. Now
that she is alive and found, have courage just
little while longer"
Roger could not, dared not, believe them
when they told him this, and he sat like one
who has received stunning blow upon the
head which had benumbed all his faculties.
He remembered afterward that he had
thought that sometimes he had heard of such
things-things fully as unexpected and re-
markable as this-and be tried to bring bim-
self to hope that no chance resemblance had
deceived these usually astute men. Then he
thought: II will not allow myself to even
hope until am sure 1t is impossible"
II beg of you, M. Laroque, do not look so
frightened or unhappy. l assure you, on my
honor as a man, and as one who has uncon-
sciously wronged both you and that poor
young lady lying within, that am not mis-
taken; that is your wife, beyond doubt. We
found body in the river, it is true, which
was supposed to be hers, but the river, you
know, is quite far from here, and it is very
certain now that it was that of some unfor-
tunate person not your wife, Where she has
been all these years, how she has returned
and entered here, is more than l can tell, and
then, besides, her presence on that balcony
that strange cry we heard calling your name
Why, can you not see? Do you not feel?'
"Alas!' said Roger, in husky whisper, 81
have suffered so much that dare not hope.
Let me be until there is no possibility of
mistake. Oh, let me see herr"
"Was-wait just one little minute till the
doctor comes. But how is it that everything
is so clean and in such perfect order here?
This house has been uninhabited ever since
your uncle took the little one away. She
may have been living here unknown to any
body all this while"
"No, for when 1 returned to this country
one of my first visits was to this place, and
the neglected air was too painful to me, so
went as William Forney and leased both
these places, and had Mother Dondaine put
both houses in order, and if what you think
could possibly be true, I shall be deubly glad
l did So"
During this conversation Pivolot was doing
all he could to restore the poor young woma::
to consciousness, but without avail She
breathed, however, regularly though family,
and knowing nothing better to do he retired
from sight of her and stood waiting for iris
tot to return
Tristot had found and sent the doctor post
haste, without saying who he was to find at
the supposed deserted house. When he
reached there and found the two magistrates
and the American he was surprised, but when
he saw his patient his astonishment turned to
absolute fear, so that it was with difficulty
he could administer the needful remedies
When he came out of the room he saw that
the strange man appeared horribly aCitated,
and that he claSped his hands as he said in
an entreating voice: "Doctor, I pray you
tell me if you know her!'
"Who are you, and have you rigit to asks"
"He has, doctor,S said M. Lacroix, "and it
is our request that you tell him if you know. ("
Every WE'LL then. 1t is the lady whom we
have all believed dead these ten years, whose
supposed body saw and whose funeral I
attended-in a word, Nine. Henriette La
rogue"
"Are you positive-certain, without the
possibility Of doubt? Tell me true, doctor!"
"Of course l am. Haven't I known her
ever since her childhood? Have I not at-
tended her and her little girl in every illness
they hads 1 only wonder how could have
been such laundering donkey before"
Still Roger dared not hope Re could De-
lieve no one but himself, and he had not seen
her. Besides, he thought, there is but one
lamp, and by its feeble light they cannot see
clearly, and SO the poor man tried to shut his
heart against hope, fearing disappointment.
Just now Tristot was heard without. aud
some one with him, and he came I'D stairs
with triumphant air and handful OF
candles which he had hastily purchased.
The person who was with him was not
Mother Dondaine, but the good and gentle
old Nine. Dubois He had seen her hurrying
Along the street, peeping anxiously in every
direction, as if hunting for some one or some
thing
ooh, STRIP said she to Tristot, shave you
seen young woman dressed in black pass by
here? She slipped out and cannot find her.
She is just like little child in her mind, sir:
one OF Gods own you know, a natural,
and l am SO frightened don't know what
will become of her here. She never wanted
to leave us at ell in the valley.n
"Come with me- l think I know some
thing Is she your daughter?"