The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-02

INttQllilESl '!aMviA W
Roger! Roger! Great Godl'
The scene lasted but q second The two
lifted fists fell, but Laronette turned at the
same instant, escaping the blow. He gave
but one cry Of ''Murderl" and then there wa,
Il short but deadly struggle. Tbs murdsrer's
hat fell, summer hat, high, gray, and bear
ing black ribbon band. The candle rolled
on the table, but before it went out a dark
face, covered by thick, black beard appeared
like n fash. There was no more noise Dark
ness reigned in that room. Larouette, weak
as he was, tried to defend himself The MUIR
ilerer was colossus. Still tho fear Of death
lent him force. Larouette tried to cry for
help. Then there was q flash and heavy
defamation, and that was all.
Henriette drew back, with chatterirg teeth
Great drops Of sweat stood on her brow She
looked like one suddenly gone mad. Sho re-
peated, breathless, in an agony of torture al
this sudden rcndnS Of ell her happiness:
Roger! Can it BET He. Oh, holTibe!"
And now, in the midst Of this wretchodness,
came the thought Of her child: her child
whose existence she had forgot ii, that sub
lime agony; of her child, who had been the
first to recognize her father.
SUZANNE" said she with painful effort.
"MaInnn!' said faint voice behind her.
Victoria had brought lamp, and now one
could see clearly into the bed room. Through
the lace shade the light fell directly upon the
child's face. She did not cry. She made nc
gesture, but her eyes were strangely fixed.
Sho must have seen and understood, for hey
forehead, SO pure and SO candid, had suddenly
become indented with deep wrinkle She
had aged i'll that instant many years, and sh.
had the face almost of woman. Then
Hcnriette clasped her in her arms in q wild
pain and lifted her, and then laid one hand
over the child's eyes
''You have seen nothing" gasped she
breathlessy. "You have seen nothing and
you have heard nothing. Listen to me well,
and understand he. You must remember
that you have seen nothing and have heard
nothing"
'No. mammal shall have seen nothing,
and l shall have heard nothing"
1t was no longer that siivcry, sweet voice
of q child; it was the grave voice of the
mother Suddenly aged by horrible spec
tacie, the Child recognized clearly the whole
OF her future and its significance
You will never say anythinga"
Nothing, ever, mamma"
"Never. Ii you love your poor mother,
never tell what YOU have seen, what you have
heard, no matter what threats, prayers or
temptations are brought to bear upon YOUR
Never, except on Your order, mother
She called her mother" now; the child was
10 longer baby to say mamma"
That is right; and may God have pity OH
your feebleness and innocence, however hard
he may strike me-"
She did not weep, though the nervous sobs,
stranged i'll her throat nearly stifed her.
Still she had strength to close the window.
and Oh returning toward her bed she saw that
her maid, dumb and frightened, was still
there. Henriette thought she must faint, but
gathered force enough to say:
"You can CO. Victoria. will put Suzanne
to bed myself"
MADAME, dill you not see, not hear7 Therei
Near us, very near"
"What! What was it?"
"a pistol shot"
"Y GU are crazy. Leave u.s."
Excuse me, madame, but thought heard
one"
Victoria went out trembling, and Henr:ette
happened to glance in her glass. She drew
back i'll alright. so terrible was her own ap-
pearance. AT this instant she heard stifled
groali, and turning she found Suzanne Oh the
carpet in commissions. She sprang to the
child, and lifting her in her arms caressed her
with a wild delirium of love and terror.
"My child, my darling child, oh, be calm!
Go not be afraid am here. Oh, my baby!
what shall do!"
But Suzanne, shaken Ivy violent hysteria.
hear>i nothing. Henriette used all the means
in her power to restore the child, but the con-
vulsions continued for long time-an eter-
nifty it seemed to the stricken mother. At
last the commissions ceased and the child re-
gained consciousness, and looking her mother
IN the eyes repeated with her dry little lips:
"No. mother; l shall have seen nothing; l
shall have heard nothing"
And they wept in each others embrace.
Suddenly they both shivered and rose to-
gether; but Suzanne dill not let go her clasp
about her mothers waist The gate which
he'd from the lawn to the Rue de Versailles
was creaking on its hinges. Steps were heard
.pon the gravel walk; key turned In the
.ock of the front door.
at is he:" murmured Henriette.
Suzanne held her arms clasped still more
tightly around her mothers waist. 1t was
pOSei GarOQuo. nenl1SJCe knew his step,
and hastily put out the lamp, leaving only
the night light burning, and, staggering to
her door, locked it. She trembled lest he
should come into her presence. They listened
with bated breath to the steps coming nearer,
and which stopped at last before their door,
and in the midst of the death like silence they
heard distinctly his breath, coming in heavy
gasps as If he had run until almost breathless
They heard his hands as he felt about trying
the door, and they heard him knock softly,
and a voice said:
"Henriette, Henriette; are you asleep7"
The mother and child stood together
clasped in wild embrace, their eyes rivsted
on that corner of the room as il death had
awaited them there. They took care not to
make sound, and even the mother placed
her hand upon the child's lips. Roger, think
ing that they were asleep, retired softly, care
full not to awaken them Opposite to that Of
his wife and at the other extremity Of the
parlor was his own room, and he entered It.
Every sound ceased. Everything seemed to
sleep. Only quarter Of an hour ago these
two had been on the balcony. happy and i'm
patient to see Roger. And now three lives
were wrecked in that short space.
Midnight sounded, and at last 1 o'clock
Henriette did not try even to sleep. She sat
lilent and overcome IN tho chair beside ~