The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-04
ROGER LAR0QUE.
Adapted and Translated from the French
of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARPER.


upon his breast and his heart in mingled tu-
multi of joy and despair, his mother watched
him attentively, and at last decided that she
would go alone and ask of NJ. Forney that
he consent to receive Raymond as sutton for
the hand of Suzanne.
She loved Raymond so tenderly that she
could not bear too see his visible suffering.
When she asked Pierre the following day to
harness the pony phaeton for her, as she wished
to drive out alone, he said:
Mother, have wished for some time to
speak to you, and if you can spare few mo-
ments I will say what wish now. You ars
going out to drive Will you not 60 as far a.
the White House and ask M. Forney's per-
mission for me to address his daughter1 OF
course, you could not have known anything
of my heart, as 7 could not gather courage
enough before to speak of it, but I feel as If
life will hold little charm for me if I cannot
win Miss Forney for my WIFE,"
Julia sat as # petrifed. She had known
before that Pierre admired Suzanne, though
for awhile she forgot, but now, while her ia
vorite sons fate hung in the balance, she
could not think Of his pain. Besides, she
thought that the extreme quietness of this
avowal betckened a lack of feeling and that
Raymond loved more profoundly and would
suffer more; therefore, she took Raymond's
part in her mind.
II will do as you wish, my son" said she,
"but be prepared for a disappointment. I
have some reason to think Suzanne's heart is
engaged elsewhere"
"The man who becomes her husband will
have reason to be thankful for so great q
blessing" said Pierre growing white to the
very lips and turning away. Little did he
imagine that Raymond loved her.
Suzanne was sitting in her room when
Nine. De Noirville drove up and she felt q
premOnition Of what was coming. Julia
asked only to see M. Forney, and Roger
went down to the reception room in obedience
to her request. His heart beat high with
unpleasant emotions which he always felt in
her presence, but he had schooled himself
to bear it in the pursuit of his purpose.
81 have not come to make a simple VISIT"
said she, "but to ask great favor of you, one
SO great that my heart fails me before ask"
"Speak, madame" said Roger.
"My son Raymond loves your daughter
with all his heart, and have come from him
to beg your consent to his paying his adj
dresses to Mile. Forney, if you have made no
previous arrangements with another.
breathless At last he said hoarsely:
impossible! Impossible!'
"Sir," continued Julia, she is poor, but he
has talent and honor His father was one Of
the best lawyers in France, and Raymond in
herits his ability. You must have heard Of
his father, M. Forney. His name was Lucien
De Noirville."
81 think have heard his name," said Roger
painfully. There was something, think, in
the papers about-some troublesome poig-
nant"-
"You have heard that then?" said Julia in
constrained voice.
"Did he not die in the midst of an address
TO the jury, in the interest of friend accused
of robbery, ] think followed by assassi-
nation-a friend and brother in arms, whom
he believed innocent?"
"He was innocent, that friend. He was,
indeed~s
"What became of this mana He was con-
demned, was he nots"
eyes, but most unjustly; and he was killed
year or so afterward while trying to escape
from the galleys."
Her head dropped, and she would have
fallen to the floor without his aid
at is nothing; slight giddiness. There
are some recollections that are very painful
in every life,' said she. There was silence
of some moments. Then she resumed:
$50 you will not accord me the happiness
of my sOn?"
He made no answer He was passing in re-
view all that dreadful past with its tragic
history. He tried to think whether he would
MOI he in some sort repairing his wrong
toward Lucien if he gave his only child to
Lucien's son. Strange fatality that brought
Julia to his feet to supplicate the happiness of
her best loved son at his hands. Was he not
in honor bound to give his sole treasure into
the keeping of another's hands, smothering
his own grief. to restore a little Brightness in
the home he had left desolate? He decided
and his nervous march ceased, and he stood
before Julia with his face set and white, as
must have been those of the saints and
martyrs.
ut shall be as my daughter DESIRES" And
then he sent a servant to bring Suzanne to
him.
Suzanne" said he, ''can you divine the
reason for which have called youg"
81 am sure cannot" answered she, trying
to smile unconcernedly.
Consult your heart, my child. Is there
anything you desires"
Nothing, father, but your love-"
She knew now, and felt that the battle she
had fondly supposed ended had but begun.
And then she continued
II do not quite seize your meaning; but
have no secrets from you, and want nothing
that you cannot give me-"
Suzanne, Mme De Noirville has come here
today to ask my consent to your marriage
with her son Raymond have told her that
1t should be for you to decide. What do YOU
answers"
81 have told you often, father, that 1 do
not wish to marry. I have not changed my
mind"
II shall not always be with you, my child
l may die, and you will be left alone without
protection or friends"
u have told you, father, I never wish to
marry"
"Tell me, my dear child, do you love any
one elses Be perfectly frank with me. If
there is another whom you love in your heart.
tell your father, my dear"
"Oh, father, that is most unkindl l never
loved any one as well as do you, and never
shall. Please say no more about it, for shall
never CHANGE
There was such an accent of determination
in this that Rogers thoughts flew back
instantly to the time when this child had
maintained in the face of everything that she
knew nothing; saw nothing" and he gave
up the attempt to alter her decision.
"This is strange" said her father.
Nine. de Noirville desperate, thought Of
Raymond. SIS this your last words Have
you no pity even for him. for his mother,
whose happiness is bound up in hisg'
u am truly sorry" said Suzanne, 'sbut
cannot change my resolution, which has been
taken long since"
Julia returned home with her heart in .
tumult. She had failed. Pierre took her
melancholy air as the death blow to his hopes.
and only asked hoarsely: