The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-03-07

when Henr1ette appeared before M. Lag
nerolles, the judge, sho seemed to not have
ono drop OF blood left in her whole body.
Her beautiful eyes were sunken, and ut
times she made gestures SO wild that one
might have thought her mad. A chair was
given her and she sank feebly into it,
1My mission is q painful one, madame.
You must know its motive; still, shall not
recommence the terrible interrogatory that
YOU have borne already from NJ. Lacroix and
of which he has furnished me the notes."
"You could, then, have spared me this, as
can do nothing but repeat that word for
word"
sNo, madame; for your sake, for your hus-
bands sake, hope that your answers will be
moro precise, for your refusal to explain
yourself regarding the murder of Larouette
is tho condemnation of Laroque. Tell me
that you did not recognize your husband as
the assassin and give me the real murdorer's
description, but do not maintain that you
were not witness of the crime"
at is true, however," said the unhappy
woman IN her heroic obstinacy.
Victoria was brought in and made to re-
peat oil she knew Poor Henrietta tried to
wear look of surprise, but her face betrayed
her.
.Ths girl" said she, "has a too lively ini-
agination. and it is troubled by reading too
many novels. Her story is tissue of ex-
travagant inventions. Neither my daughter
nor myself said tho words she tells you. II
we had called Roger from tho balcony he
would have answered us, seeing himself
discovered, and would not have gone into our
neighbours house, All that, therefore, Is I'M
reasonable"
"Ali that is unhappily true, madame" said
Victoria.
|. "What have / done to you, my poor girl,
that you cause me so much soirow2 And
what has my husband done that you bring
such mn accusation upon hing
~ have nothing to reproach either Of You
with, and il l could have kept what knew
| to myself should have done So"
"You see madame" said the judge, "the
deposition of this girl is clear and exact, and
does not vary. You were an involuntary
witness of that crime What did you seer
NJ saw nothing and heard nothing"
"Your silence is the condemnation Of your
husband"
"My husbands whole life pleads for him
and proves his probity."
Henrietta was led out and Suzanne took
her place in the witness chair. Both mother
and child were in deep mourning. An i'll
| tense inward fever burned in the child;
veins and showed in her checks and her great
blue eyes, which fairly blazed with light
Shc looked at the judge with terrified air.
and he took her by the hand gently and
kissed the pure white forehead.
"And you, my little one will you be more
reasonable to-day than you were yesterday
Has some one told you that you would cause
al ylnnt
you saw your birthday night when you were
on the balcony with your mother"
~ saw nothing, sir. l don't know any
thing and | wish they would let me alone
am sick, and l did not want to come.
don't know what they want me to do, mol
why my mother cries all tho time, and
can't tell you what didn't see. My mother
says it is wrong to tell lies"
She began to shiver, and her little white
teeth Chartered together in n severe chill, and
from red her cheeks turned blues
~ see," said the judge, shat you will say
nothing. You are very courageous, and ,
will neither persuade nor threaten you mol
trysto show you that the worst thing tina
could happen to your father is for you to re
main silent No, my child; another than
shall undertake that charge"
At sign from the judge Henrietta wa
brought back One glance showed these tive
that they had kept their compact.
"Bring Laroque in," said the judge in {
whisper, and an officer went for him ant
brought him. The court room was badly
lighted and Roger stopped on the threshold
at first seeing nothing. Then his eyes fel
upon his wife and child and he clasped LII
hands, and his face frightened as he gave ;
low cry of joy and sprang toward them will
open arms.
"Susanne Henriette My daughter My
beloved wife,"
But Susanna and Henriette, surprised by
his sudden appearance, drew back with {
horror so visible that the judge shuddered
Instinct was stronger than will, and they saw
in Laroque not tho adored husband ant
father but the assassin-the man with burn
ing eyes, with bushy beard, with grea
powerful shoulders and hands, whom they
had seen strange that poor old man. Ant
Roger understood this terror and was troubled
byit.
"What," he stammered, "you fly from me
In what have changed? Is it because an in
Eensate accusation hangs over me, as ridicu
lous as it Is unmerited, that l am neithe
your father Susanna, nor your husband
Henriette"
III