The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-30
ROGER LAR0QUR.
Adapted and Translated from the FrauoA
Of Jules Mary.
By OLIVE HARPER

Desperate, Roger took lbs way to "a surgeon
who lived in the city, and by dint of PRAYERS
gained permission to bring Lucien to his
house, and though he also considered the cose
utterly hopeless, promised to do all he could
in the forlorn hope Of saving the wounded
man. Roger gave the doctor his own and
I.ucen's address and what money he had
and left. The next morning he was O prisoner
AMI was taken to Coblentz, where he was
kept for two months, when he escaped.
He wrote to tho doctor, but got no answer,
and lie tried to get into Paris to see his wife
and child but uselessly, SO he Joined the army
which was fighting ct Loire. Again he wa.
taken prisoner, and again escaped After
the commune he returned to Paris, and found
his wife and child we'll, though mourning him
for dead. At once he telegraphed to Sedan
to Dr.. Champeaux, who answered: ''Noir-
vile out OF danger; amputated both legs:
shall accompany him to Paris in few days"
Soon after this he received letter from
Lucien. Dear FRIEND" it ran, II never
hoped to see you again. / am at Rue de
Rome, but too weak yet to venture out. Come
want to see you more than can say Your
more than brother, LUCIEN.S
To go to Lucien was to see Julia again. TO
place himself between her and that poor man,
that man to whom he was bound by the ties
OF common danger and comradeship, whom
no loved with love passing that of women,
and who was now chained down forever to
his chair. What should he dot How escaped
After a long struggle with himself he de-
cided to go. Il will see julia" said he land
have an explanation. She will understand
that there must be nothing more between US,
not even a smile, look, a clasp of the hand.
Wrong as we were before, now it would be Q
million fold more horrible"
So he went to see Lucien. Noirville was in
his room and it was Julia who came to meet
him. She sprung forward, her hands ex-
tended. Almost a year had passed since she
had seen him. Her beauty was even greater,
more dazzling than before, prouder and more
iinperious. But she loved Roger, and she
grew soft and woman1y In his presence
Roger bowed in respectful silence, not evea
Offering his hand.
Roger! RogerT she said. "How much
have thought Of you. How much have
suffered"
She checked herself suddenly at tho express
sion of unutterable horror depicted on his
face. Then he spoke:
"Julia, we must bury the past and may God
pardon U.s. am the friend, the brother Of
Lucien. Do you understands"
And while she shrunk back suppressing her
hearts cry for its breaking agony, he went il
to Lucien. He was lying on lounge, pale
thin, unrecognzabe and almost without
breath. His beard had grown. Two wooden
legs had been adapted to his manned limbs
When he saw Roger his face lighted up, and
his eyes filled with tears, and the men eni-
braced with full hearts
DIN what state you find me, Roger" said
Lucien, showing his wooden legs. "Dr.
Caampeaux told me all, and without you
should not be here day, but after all what
poor service it was" He sighed heavily
then said "But am very ungrateful. If /
had died what would have become OF Julia
and my childrenl Alive, even il cannot
plead longer, can at least have Oh office for
consultation, and thus assure them their
bread"
When Roger, seeing how weak he wss,
wished to retire, Lucien opposed and babe e
servant call his wife, and she came.
"Here is Roger Laroque, whom we have met
es friends before the war. | saved his life;
he saved mine. I love him like brother
Our families from henceforth, hope. will be
but one" Julia bowed without answering
When Roger left she accompanied him, and
at the moment he was about to open the outer
door she seized his arm with an iron grasp
go" she said, "you have not one word for
ne!'
He pointed silently toward the room where
Lucien lay, then said:
ain the name of pity, il not love for him,
hush"
But Julia seemed insane. Her anger grew
beyond bounds.
at is finished between us, then; all ended,
forevcr!'
Roger, scarcely able to articulate, whia-
pered hoarsely:
"If knew some means OF effacing. even at
tie most cruel sacrifice, the awful remenl-
brance of what exists between us l would
take it at the cost Of my lifel"
"Rogerl Roger!"
Out" he continued, with profound cad
ness, your duty is traced clearly, Julia.
Lucien, mutilated, isolated, needs all your
devotion, and SO your fault win have been, in
time, expiated. For me, do not know how
TO exniate mine, and must bear its weight
my whole life through"