The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
ROGER LAROQUE.
Adapted and Translated from theFrench
of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARPER.


When Roger heard this story he was SO
overcome with joy and with the reaction Of
all the emotions through which he had passed
during the last few weeks, that he was abso-
lutely unable to sustain himself. The
doctor said:
"Well, Roger, though it seems like reading
the widest romance to discover that you are
alive and here, and to know all that has
passed, must believe it all, strange a it is.
Now have this to say, and hope you viii
obey me. l wish to give you a sleeping
potion and let you get q rest, which you
greatly need. AS to poor Hsnriette, you
may go in and see her, just to satisfy your
self, but you must not let yourself be seen.
1t is now certain that this poor child has been
demented all these years, as the result
OF the dreadful shock she experienced.
1t is possible, and even probable,
that this new shock on this poor child's brain
and nervous sensibilities may restore her rea-
son, repeating itself, so to speak, in such q
manner as to call her shaken faculties to life
by the very thing which did her the first evil
peared restless and uneasy ever since yoa
that is good symptom and showed awaken
she will be restored, still feel that am jus
titled in telling you to hope. Now, Roger,
you may just step inside the door and keep
behind the bed curtains and take one look,
but be careful no noise or motion to rouse
hAp T I'll Epok- ~ TIKI
With knees that almost refused their burden,
and eyes almost blinded with unshed tears,
Roger, sitting his worry breath, crept after the
doctor to verify or lose his last hope, and
with one last prayer to God for strength to
hear the disappointment if % it was to be, he
looked through the curtains as the light fell
upon the sleeping face of his beloved wife.
Yes, it was she. Her rich, dark hair lay In
massive waves and curls upon the white pill
lows, and the marble white brow was that
he had so often kissed Those beautiful blue
veined lids with the delicately penciled brows,
and thick, long lashes hid tho tender eyes Of
Henriette, which were the indexes of q soul
DO noble and pure. The perfect oval Of tho
face and the sensitive and beautiful mouth
were Henriette's own, and Roger often after
ward wondered why he did not die Of Joy
then.
He would have stood there forever, absorbed
IN tho deirium of his happiness, had the
doctor not como and led him out, softly clos
ing the door.
"Well, now, my boy, what do you thinkl
1t Is our lost one, is it mott You SEQ your
sufferings are over, Roger. Come, now; you
must take what / have here and 60 to your
room and lie down and give yourself up alb
solutely to repose, or we shall have you i'll
just when We want you well on her account
will stay hero and watch her tonight In
company with this good woman. Tristot, you
will 60 on to her house and tell them as much
as is necessary, and bring her good man back
with you If he will come. want all tho
familiar faces around her possible when she
does awake"
Tristot departed, after having received bis
directions from Mime. Dubois.
Then N. Lacroix and NJ De Lignerolles
rose and took their departure, saying:
1--WE must 60 about the business which
awaits us in the next house, and which. by
the grace Of God, will be the means Of restor-
ing all you have lost. aside from your ten
years of suffering. We will need Pivolot, and
you may need Tristot, so keep him here as
long as you do. We shall not require your
testimony regarding the 0erited death Of
Luversan. We will write down all as we
know it, and you can simply sign it Devote
yourself now entirely to your wife, and we
counsel you to do as the doctor says-seek q
repose which you sadly need"
They shook hands warmly and bid each
other good night, and Roger, who felt that
he could never sleep again, in ten minutes was
sleeping as soundly as a child.
Three days passed during which Henriette
slept the most Of the time, and whenever cha
reused Nine. Dubois was always beside hor.
and she saw no one else She ate whatever
was given her and acted like q tired child.
saying few words. Sometimes she looked
about her little and then slept again.
The doctor felt that crisis was approach
ing and was nearly IS anxious as Roger. who.
now that certainty had taken possession of
his soul, longed to fly to Suzanne with the
good news. Every telegram he had received
from her said that she was better, and tbe
last one said that she was almost well. Tho
doctor said to Roger:
u think she will soon rouse from this 10
thargic slumber. If it is possible would like
to have Suzanne here, for il she does awake
to reason, the shock of not finding her dauph-
ter might be fatal think you had better 60
at once and bring her."
Roger joyously started for his daughter.
and as hs was about to step on the
cars Tristot handed him q little package.
which he opened As he rode along toward
the White House. In it were several notes
from Julia to Luversan, which proved her
completely in the plan for vengeance, but
which also showed him that she had not been
SO guilty ~ her son had supposed. Roger
had telegraphed from a way station for Raw
mond to meet him, and he found the vounp
man there with face pale and careworn.
upon which was an expression Of mingled
fear and despair. Roger opened his arms
and Raymond embraced him with an almost
adoring affection. As they walked rapidly
from the station to the house Roger told Ray
mond the unhoped for happiness God had
vouchsafed him, and then said:
Raymond, hero are some letters which
prove to me, as I hope they will prove to
you, that your mother was more sinned
against than SHINING. Take them and de.
stroy them and let there be from henceforth
peace between US all, my son. Give my love
to Pierre, and tell him all. and YOU and
Suzanne shall fix your wedding day for this
fall"
Happiness and the frequent visits of Ray
mond had worked wonders with Suzanne.
who was her own lovely self again, except
for . slight pallor and that she was thinner
than usual, and that her beautiful violet eyes
looked too large for heS delicate face. The
news her father brought was so wonderful
that she could hardly believe it, and she piled
him with questions during the whole return
to Vile d'Avray.
There had BEEN little change in Henriette's
condition, unless that she awoke at shorter
intervals than before md lool,ad abo.,4 H. =.