The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-13

they told her 50 that when they were alone
they said thankfully:
"She has forgotten all that went before thi.
sickness. Let US thank God that it IS So"
Winter, always severe in the Ariennes
came. and ice and SHOW took the place of the
grass ami fruits OF autumn, and winter an6
summer went, and winter and summer came
again. Roger had been one year and hall
in the galleys.
The snow had fallen several days and the
frost had made it hard and brittle. and trave
was almost suspended in the Val Dieu, and The
foundiies seemed silent as the heavy snow
deadenei the noises, and the wooden sabets Of
the worknen acre as silent as if made OF
wadded wo0l as they walked over the thicl
SHOW.
Night came, calm, cold and still, and IN,
moonlight gave On uDearthly brilliance to tn,
scene. As the cold vas intense ali the houses
along the street of Val Dieu were closed, and
cheerful lights showed from the open win
dows. The rigorous cold seemed to throw the
whole village into a state Of torpor. The
street was deserted, though it was but II
O'clock, except at the great foundry, wher,
they worked night and day.
At 1880 man appeared near the tunnel OF
the railroad. Oh the jetty by the river side
He had come in on the late train. He wa
tail. though he walked bent as il be bore /,
heavy weight on his shoulders. and he walkec
direct toward the foundry belonging to N
Bernariit, and when there his feet refused
70 carry him ami he leaned against An up
turned cart, as II not Knowing what eist
u do.
4 few moments be stood thus and then felt
i heavy hcnd clasp his shoulder and a voice
say somewhat rudely:
VINO are you and what are you doing
fere7''
You are NJ. Adrien Bernardit, are yor
not?'
Il am. and who are you?n
The unknown looked about him timiGly,
and then sai in Il low voice that seemed
broken by emotion:
"A!as, am Roc G.sroquem
"You, ii France ..,4 iree!'
Eyes, I am here" said Roger, lifting hi.
bat so that NJ Bernardo could sAe him
clearer, and then he continued: Sand
Su:snnc, my child2 You do not tell me il
she lives"
''Sbe lives and is well, and is with US"
Roger sighed as if a great weight wa:
lifted from his heart. There was a short 81
lence between them, then Bernardo said
Come. come home with me- We can talk
there at our ease, for you want no one to SEE
you, l suppose9
They walked in silence to the house, whers
the old lady was still sitting before the fire.
When she saw her husband come in with that
pale, ragged man, with his long hair and
heard in disorder, she rose with q look of
al !
and then coming close to his wife said:
at IS Larooue, the childs father
"You here and free?" said the old lady,
trembling. and using almost the same word,
as her husband had.
Roger bowed without speaking, and sank
into chair. Finally he mastered his emo
ton enough to ask to see Suzanne The old
couple looked ritifully at each other. Had
he come to take their ohildl
"She is asleep said the old lady.
u will not disturb her. Only let rns look
at her I never hoped to see her again Oh.
let me seq her nowl7
They opened door and signed him to fol
low. There was dainty little room. q little
bed with SNOWY curtains, and on the whits
bed slept Suzanne, the light falling softly
upon her rosy face and her shining hair He
knelt beside the bed and kissed the dimpled
hand that lay outside the cover, but SO softly
that the sleeper knew nothing.
With his heart relieved Roger retired from
the room and returned with the old couple to
the iiresi''e, and then he wept in silence for a
few moments. His heart was rent with sor.
row. and by the sight Of that little form be
loved 50 well and from whom he had beeU
so ciucllY separated year and half ago.
Suddenly he gasped for breath ami seemed
stt:,'l;e'' 10y vertigo, and WAS falling from hi,
chair whei Bernairlit caught him. aud Roger
ntrr:nurt-i as ii ashamed: Give the Gttk
bread, for PHYS sake; have not eaten for
three days.
After having eaten, Roger told his story OF
how he had escaped with three political pris-
oners, and they had made their way, step by
step, from one place to another, working
their passage as sailors until they reached
America. at New York Roger had found
position i'll a machine shop, and as soon al
he had earned enough money he had returned
10 Europe, but he had not enough, and at
Antwerp he found himself without money to
buy food, and he dared not attempt TO make
the voyage in France on foot for fear OF being
recognized. So he paid railroad fare and had
Lrcien that the Bernardits would take SUI
zanue, and here he came scarce daring 10
hops she was alive