The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-02
ROGER LAROQUR.
Adapted and Translated from the French
Of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARPER.

which deScenuS 10 the lake, ana at TWO steps
from the woods OF the Vile d'Avray, some
fifteen years ago, behind its clenatis vines
and other climbing plants, stood the prettiest
aid most coquettish little country house
r1ssiblc to imagine The Villa Montalas, az
T. was called. had been bought few years
,rcvous by NJ Roger Laroque, well known
lnechanical engineer, whose workshops were
situated IN ST.. Maur street, and who had, be-
SIDES, az apartment Oh the Boulevard Males
E.rbcs, at No. III.
In the winter lie inhabited his apartments,
aNd IL summer be took refuge, with his wife
and daughter, at Vile TAvray, but every
rl0rning his business called him to Paris to
Iii, shops in st. Maur street, and there he
hrcaklaste, but returned in tho evening at
aboHt Z O'Clock to dinner, habit of life
quite ordinary with Parisians who, during the
summer, divide their existence in two parts,
the day for Paris, the night for the country
On the evening which affords the COM
Increment OF Our story, i'll July, 1872, at
O'Clock. quite at variance with his usual
l!abit, Roger LaINque had not yet returned
the dinner was waitinG. Ia tl,s parlor,
where two windows opened out upon the ter.
race, and i'll the dining room there was no
one TO be seen, and one would have declared
the house uninhabited, SO calm and quiet it
tee!ped III the midst Of the silence Of tine fad
iur light.
still, at the left Of the parlor, two voices
whispered. On that side was Nine La
ro1ues sleeping apartment, even still deeper
plunged in tho fast coming darkness No
J Ght burned, neither lamp nor candle. Two
VOICES, one superb, grave and sweet, Of such
timbre us would cause you to love the speaker
without even seeing her, and the other, in
f-ntinc and crystal in its childish music
They were the voices of Nine Henriette La
rogue and her little daughter, Suzanne Nine.
Laroque drew AL easy chair near the window,
Which was partly open, and seated herself
there, drawing Suzanne close to her.
This evening they awaited the coming Of
L9roquo with Impotence and the very cot
t1-e, with its profusion of flowers and fcstaI
appearance, seemed to be surprised at this
sioace and solitude. 1t was Suzanne's seventh
birthday, and she was I'll, only child, little
spoiled By the L ,...-....i OF her father, and
BOW, since the day before, the mother was
trying 20 teach her a pretty little speech
wiich she WIGS to make to her father upon bis
return. They were pretty little words O:
welcome and grateful love, ard SO they sat
here il The darkness whispering them over
and over again, that they might not be for
gotten
The half hour past struck, and Henriette
made q gesture of surprise.
Your father viii not dine at home this
evening. Come" said she; II do not wish you
& wait any longer
They went into the dining room Nine,
I3roqGe rang and ordered that dinner be
served. There were at the villa bat three
Whose name was Victoria and who had been
but two lays il her service The dinner was
nsilent orc, for ii spite OF herself q Vague
sentiment OF fear oppressed the heart Of the
young wife. Two or three times before
Roger had been retarded, but he had always
tes3raphcd.
T!ii3 evening. no news. Why? They re-
tu"n0d to the bedroom. Another hosr
dragged by. Roger did not come Henriet:e
sa. distracted by the window, c-ouchetl in the
deep rccesses Of tie easy chair Victoria
waHted to bring lights bat she opposed. Ten
o'ci0cki
Are you asleep, darIing!' asked Henriette.
NO, mamma" answered the child, whose
eyes were wide o,Ien.
a Don't you want to go to bedl"
# "Ol, no; [ want to wait and kiss papa
when he comes"
,nviette, a prey to anxiety, stepped out
Oh the balcony and leaned upon the rail- look
ing downward towards the road which Roger,
coming from the cars, habitually took.
Suzanne, standing beside her, looked Also
The night was very warm, without cloud
Tho Villa Montalais was separated from the
Vile dAvray by gardens and trees. Oppo-
site it, in the chestnut grove, a little to the
lett, was a neat little house, with green
blind. which stood directly on tho street,
while tho villa, Oh the contrary, was separated
from tAa street by q lawn, constantly re-
fres!iesi by little fountain. This cottage was
EShte !, aud the open windows showed q room
furnished with mahogany, having table in
the middle and at the back a sort of secre-
ta'y desk, pushed up against the wall At
this instant II o'clock sounded, and Hanriette
felt cold shiver of apprehension run over
her, and she interlaced her hands with fear
Ut tais instant man Of medium height
passed through the lighted room and seated
himself at the secretary, which he opened
They could see him distinctly, and Hanriette
and Suzanne looked at him. 1t was the oc-
cupant OF that cottage, and his name was
Luronette.
"Our new neighbor has returned" said the
little girl.
Tho man had taken from his coat pocket
book and had emptied and spread out before
HIM an immense sum of money in bank notes
and rolls OF gold pieces, apparently fortune
which he began TO arrange methodically,
counting and recounting with visible pleasure
lienriette and Suzanne saw his profile only,
bis back being turned towards the entrance
to his room. They heard the first quarter ring
Oh the church clock
HenIiette bent OYER her cl.ild and kissed
her forehead
81 will ca Victoria to lndress you and put
you in bed,r said she.
"Oh, mamma, one minute more. Papa
cannot be much longer"
NO, dear, it is very late. You will be
tired"
And the young mother stepped aside and
touched the bell Victoria not answering at
once, she rang again and returned to the
balcony. The moon shone pure IN a serene
Sky. Opposite, the neighbor with slow and
circualspect movement and avaricioas enjoy
ment, counted his gold and notes. Victoria
came III.
"LigAt lamp and the night light" said
Henriette, land then come and take Suzanne"
At the same Instant the little girl leaned
over the balcony clapping her hands, laugh
ing and calling:
Papa, papa! We have been waiting for
you. | did not go to sleep"
And man came up the street, few
PAGES from there. He was tall, and wore a
light gray hat, and was dressed III light
gray redingote, with a cape over the
shoulders AT Suzanne's cry he slipped under
the shadow of the chestnut trees before the
house, and Henriette. by STOPPING, had seen
HIM also.
Roger, Rogcrl" called she, ''why are you
SO late! If you knew how uneasy we have
keailn
But the man, whether he heard or not
answered nothing. He crept along now.