The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-02-21

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Henrictte did not weep
"You must suffer greatly, and pity you
from The bottom of my heart" said Lacroix
gently.
II do not need or want your pity. The
whole past life of my husband proves his in
nocence. An honest man does not become
murderer from one day to another without
motives. You can accuse him, orrest him,
try him in the courts of justice, but he will
pass through all with a clear name. But it
pains me to think of all this unmerited
trouble"
Assassin without motivess Do you know
anything about your husbands business,
madamcs" With this he placed before her
the accusing letters. She read them as in
dream, and she understood all, but she said
no word, though she could not suppress
gesture of horror.
"Now, madame, shall be obliged, even in
spite of my own wish, to interrogate your
little girl We will go to your house, as she
is too i'll to come here"
NJ Lacroix accompanied Henrietta to the
villa and went with her to the parlor.
$50, then, you wish to speak with Suzannea
You wish to question her, although tell
you she is sick?'
She bent her head discouraged, and walked
slowly to her bed room. Suzanne was there,
and sprang to her mothers arms, and as she
kissed her Henriette whispered in her ear.
Remember" They then returned to the
room, and Henriette said:
"Go, my child, TO this gentleman and
answer whatever he asks you"
Suzanne advanced timidly and placed her.
Iot,x IF M IacrOix who
put his arm around her and kissed her fore
head kindly "She has her lesson and will
say nothing" thought he. Gently he spoke,
putting his hand beneath the little chin SO as
to look full into the lovely eyes of the child:
sDo you remember what you did night be-
fore last, little ones"
She reflected moment, and then answered
in firm, clear voice:
"Why, yes, sir. l played In the garden,
and watered my flowers, and I made big
bouquet of roses for the dinner table, and
then / played with my new big doll, which
mamma gave me that morning because was
seven years old that day. And then helped
mamma, and we made my doll lovely blue
satin dress, and we put it OH, and we made
her hat just like it. That was all, think"
"But in the evening-after the lamps were
ightedg"
II did nothing. staid by mamma, who
was teaching me verse to say to papa; but
did not say it until the next morning, because
papa did not come home until was in bed"
"You forget many things"
"That may be; don't know"
"Do you know how late it was when you
went to bed!'
II do not know. Perhaps mamma could
tell you"
"When you were on the balcony what did
you see in the street."
Nothing
"Did you not see q man, tho very one you
were waiting for, your father? Did you not
see him go into your neighbours house9 Did
you not call him, and then say: Look, there
goes papa into the neighbours house, and an
instant after heard pistol shot, which must
have frightened you9 Now, tell me the truth,
my child"
mo- sir; and 1 do not know what you
mean" And the courageous child looked at
her mother with an infinite tenderness.
Henriette was seated near the window, where
she could see Suzanne without being seen by
Lacroix, who was vexed and Inundated by
his lack of success with these two weak
creatures, who were still too strong for him.
MADAME, /" said Lacroix suddenly, II would
be obliged to you if you would leave me alone
with this child few minutes. From your
room you can hear all we say"
Henriette rose and walked feebly to her
room, where she dropped, an inert mass, on the
first chair. snow then, dear, listen to me.
In obstinately refusing TO tell Inc what you
saw you are doing great harm to your
father. Why will you not tell me all you saw
and heard? Who are you afraid off Did your
mother tell you to keep silents 1t she did she
was wrong. l do not want to harm your
father. There are people, though, who pre-
tend that they saw him go night before last
into M. Larouette's house to kill him and take
his money. You love your father, l am sure,
and want him to come back to you. Well, If
they prove that he went there he can never
come back, and perhaps they will send him
away to prison, and you will never see him
again. Perhaps even they would do wores
than that 1t depends upon you whether he
ever comes back or not. You saw the man
who killed Larouette. If it w0s your father
do not tell me, but IL it was somebody else, do
not be afraid to speak"
During this artfully arranged speech the
door little girl had tried to stif]e her sobs,
and now, almost bursting with restrained
grief. fear and terror, she sobbed brokenly:
"I don't know what you want of me. / can
nos say what / do not know, and know
nothing and saw nothing. What makes you
cause me such griefF'
The tears chased each other down that pale
childs face in veritable torrents, and she
stood before him without so much as trying
to wipe them away, her little hands hanging
helplessly by her side
II am sorry have caused you trouble,
poor little one. Go and join your mother.
And Suzanne triumphed in that terrible
struggle of man of the world, magistrate
and a commissaire of the police against q
simple child.
aShe had learned her lesson. thought as
much"
At this moment some one raped on the