The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-03-14
ROGER LAROQUE.
Adapted and Translated from tho French
Of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARpra.
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII
The case dragged Oh for several days, and
nothing of Importance interviewed. To all the
questions Roger answered.
II am Innocent but shall not defend my
self. They can do as they please with me-"
He delivered himself up to the fatality
which seemed to have taken possession of
him. II there had been the least doubt in the
mind OF the Justices or lack of connecting
links in the chain OF evidence, Roger might
have been saved, but unhappiy everything
seemed to point to his guilt, and all these
things formed i'm the mind of M. De Ligne-
ROLES an unshalsable proof. After this first
examination the case was sent up to the court
of assizes of Seineet- Disc, then in session at
Versailles.
Henriette learned this through the papers.
She went out no more and seemed buried in
a strange torpor, mental and physical. She
never pronounced word and even seemed to
forget the existence of her little girl, and sat
hours without moving or appearing to see.
She ate almost nothing and did not attempt
to go to bed at all, and il she did sleep 1t was
sitting in her chair.
Her little girl watched over her as IL she
was the mother and Henriette the child, and
she doubtless would have starved had it not
been for the child.
Henriette had an uncle who lived at some
.thirty OF forty miles from there, and hearing
Of his nieces trouble, he and his good old
wife left their home and foundry and
hastened to her, and the childless old couple
did everything they could possibly imagine to
tighten her sad load.
One morning Henrietta was gone. There
was no trace Of her to be discovered and the
most diligent search revealed nothing, until
one day, some six or seven days after her dis
appearance policeman found on the bank
of the river d tiny slipper which was recog-
nized as hers.
Then they dragged the river and searched
for miles along its banks, but they never
found the body of poor HeIrette, and the
uncle and aunt remained in the house TO keep
charge of it until Rogers trial was ended.
Little Suzanne sat listless and pale in.her
chair day after day, rousing but seldom,
though she never mentioned the absence of
her father nor the dreadful ordeal through
which she had passed.
Mime. Do Noirville had dreamed of ven
geance. She was now avenged moro COM
pletely than she had wished. She had threat
ened Roger with its weight. "Revenge me,
but revenge me WE'LL" she had cried to
Luversan; their compact was concluded. A
few days after this Luversan, and only two
hours after the muder of Larouette, appeared
at a ball where Julia was. He was some
what pale, but cool and correct, and his dress
was irreproachable. He came up to her and
handed her a package of bank notes.
"What is this?" asked she.
"The 100,0 900 francs which you owe Roger
Laroque Tomorrow morning he must have
these in his possession without fault or fail
ure."
II thought he was in very stratened cir
cumstances"
ale isl
"Then this is safety. Is that my ven
geancew
Through that he is lost"
81 will do it, though do not understand
it."
She took the notes and hid them while Lu-
versan showed himself few moments among
the guests. The next morning sho drove to
Iaroque and left him the package of money,
with what results we know.
1t was two or three days later before Lucen
heard of Rogers arrest, under the accusation
of robbery and murder
''rhat is the widest folly" said he, and
without losing time he went direct to NJ. Lie
nard, and he gave Lucien full information of
the case as far as it had gone, who was un-
sparng in his denunciation of those who had
conspired to accuse Roger of so horrible q
crime.
Returning full of rage and Indignation, he
was the first to tell Julia. She grew pale,
but listened without saying word. Now
she understood. Luversan had killed La
rouettc and Roger was to bear the blame.
She cxulted over her vengeance. Roger was
lost if she did not speak. She was not touched
by tho sublime devotion of Laroque, who
preferred n condemnation and almost certain
death to dish9noring Lucien by revealing the
truth. Her hatred was not yet appeased.
She had pleaded so much without having been
heard, had shed so many bitter tears, that
now she wished that her tears might be as
nothing beside those of Roger.
The night sho heard Of this she went to q
secret drawer in her bureau and taking there
from photograph Of Roger, she looked at
it with burning eyes, and then with a half
savage gesture she seized n small poipnard