The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-06


But they soon recovered from their i'm
pulse, and Henrietta saw that it was trap
that bad been laid to surprise her and she had
allowed herself to be taken. She pushed Su-
same into the fathers arms and the child
closed her eyes as she obeyed her. Laroque
forgot his grief in his child's embrace, and
he had his arms about those two beings he
held most dear.
happy ami" And then turning toward the
Judge, he said:
"You are very kind, sic, and thank you
with all my heart for permitting ME to see
my wife and child No matter what may be
the conclusion of this horrible affair, 1 thank
you for your generous consideration Of hus-
band and fathers feelings"
"You have nothing to thank me for" said
the judge coldly. 81 told you that you were
seen to enter Larouette's house, and to have
asSassinated him"
@By woman and child Very well; let
them confront me-"
"You were SEEM" continued the judge, "by
q mother and child. There they are-your
wife and your child"
"They saw mel Mel My wife and child
saw me kill Larouettei Take care, sir You
calumniate"
Then he sprang forward and took hold Of
their arms and shook them. He hurt them,
poor man, without knowing it.
"You saw me-yOu two, they pretend.
You hear them tell me that you accuse me,
that you saw me. Speak, Protestl Rise
and tell that man who accuses me that he
has lied about it, that it is not, could not,
be true; that you could not have seen Roger
Laroque commit a crime Of which he is in
capable"
They could not speak. He still grasped
their arms and begged them to deny this
foul charge. At last Henriette rose from
her chair, and with difficulty stood before
him.
"Henriette, Suzanne, what ais you! Are
you sick9 What have they done to you that
you cannot speak!"
Roger" said Henriette, painfully, an. De
Lignerolles is wrong to tell you that We were
witnesses to murder. For three days they
have pursued us, Suzanne and me- to force
Us to avow what we have not seen. l have
but to repeat to you, in my own name and
that of my child, what we have already said
many times. We know nothing of how that
murder was committed, and we do not know
why they dare accuse you"
"Ah, that relieves me. You have spoken.
1t is impossible that you could have seen me,
since was not there, but for an instant /
was frightened of l know not what" Then,
turning to the judge, he cried:
why did you bring my wife and child
here, telling me that they were Witnesses
You go beyond your power as judge. You
have just told me a falsehood. which my wife
has proved to be one. The law, perhaps.
justifies such deviatiOns from truth. but do
not"
The magistrate answered gently, for he
pitied that poor mother and child:
sit is proven that they saw you"
"Froveds" said Laroque, Gained by su-
preme effort. "Henriette, you hear. I can
say nothing. What do you say2"
THAT cannot be, since l understand moth
ing of what they ask of me.n
Victoria was recalled, and the poor servant
repeated word for word what she had said
before. emitting nothing. Roger listened
GREATNESS, his nerves strung to their highest
tension, and trying to comprehend. Then he
rose with haggard eyes and stretched out his
hand saying:
Take care of me! feel am going madl"
After long silence he seemed to under
stand, little by little. Now ne knew. Hen
tlette and Suzanne had seen. but WHAT They
1ad refused to speak. Why? He must know.
hoser threw himself on his knees before his
VIE, took her hands and caressed them, and
Gen, rs though he would have spoken to
Child, he said:
iell the truth. Is it true that you saw
.nei You denied it, did you nots Up
" Inc last minute you say that you did
oiu not see that murder committed, and SUI
= t1nhe SAID the same. They questioned you
- VAN. But now. my dear wife, and you,
ntlle daughter, must tell all Do not be
S'a' slee aro not guilty, to tell AL you