The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-02-28

-.---- A
LaroQue had bat to make a sign to be free.
BY his marriage Roger Laroque had formed
excellent relations with the best Partisan
society. He went much into company, and
they were both, he and his wife, very happy,
particularly when in 1866 Suzanne was born.
Before his marriage with Henriette, Roger
had met one evening at a ball woman whose
remarkable beauty surprised and troubled
him. She was Nine. Julia de Noirville, wife
of a celebrated lawyer, and daughter Of q
Spanish father and an Arab mother, and she
had the seal of her races strongly marked in
her features and her nature. Her profile was
perfect, with fine nose, beautiful mouth and
teeth, and magnificent eyes full of ardent
flames. Her form was slender, yet rounded
with perfect grace, and her every move
ment was full of a soft and languorous charm.
What fatality pushed them forward, who
can tell! Love? IL he had had time to reason
with himself regarding the strange infatua-
zion that drew him onward, perhaps he might
have resisted, but in his unthnking youth,
borne upon q resistless and rapid current, lie
fell victim, and after he haG. fallen lie
blushed with shame to have so easily coded.
But it was too late; he was Julia's slave.
We cannot explain nor excuse such fault,
bitter fruit in after years.
Julia loved Roger with q strength and
depth of passion that frightened while it
wearied him. Relying upon that strange
prescience of true love Julia knew that
Roger did not love her, had never loved her,
and her untamed nature made her fierce and
cruel in her demands. This was the only
fault in the life of Laroque, and he was to
expiate it cruelty.
Lucien do Noirville, the lawyer, had mar
ried Julia during voyage he had made in
Algiers. The first years of their marriage
his life was calm enough. Julia had two
children, boys, and when they were, so to
speak, out of her arms sho plunged into the
widest extravagances, and her toilettes were
tho marvel of all who saw her and who knew
that Lucien although making comfortable
income, could not afford such unlimited ex-
pense in dress and jewels.
AT last Lucien was constrained to have an
explanation with his wife, the more so as he
had overheard some very severe criticisms -
her extravaganza during the evening ut Il
ball. As SOON as they were at home he came
to her and said:
Julia, L have something to say to you,
and it is useless to put it off any longer, for
it is vital subject We are not rich, as
you know and yet your toilets cost more
every year than all our other expenses, and
with them almost exceed our income. Twice
before this L have paid bills which you have
contracted which were more than $4,000
francs. While do not object to your dress
ing as well as our means afford, do not
wish you to go into debt again. l have a
horror of debt, and we have also the future
of our children to consider"
For an answer Julia gave him al indiffer-
ent look as she unfastened her magnificent
hair and let it fall over her shoulders
at is, therefore, important, even urgent,
that you check this reckless extravaganza, ~
continued Lucien, little bitterly, as lie OBJ
served her indifference. listen to what |
say, and it is my last word upon the subject.
II you do not take heed of what say l shall
leave you, and separation will cause great
scandal and it will break my heart, for love
you"
''If you loved me-" said she scornfully,
though she grew pale. show could you conte,a,-
plate such an endingy'
81 do love you, said he, rising to tale leavs
of her, "but remember that have two sons to
think of as well as my honorable name; and
beware, Julia, that You disobey my COM
mapd, for l am resolved to pardon no more,
and painful as a separation would be, shall
ask it in the interest of my children"
With this lie retired, having said what he
considered to be his duty. Julia smiled dis
painfully before him, but sank into chair,
pale and frightened, when he had gone. II
she had loved her husband, the sacrifice Of her
extravagant taste would have been triae,
but, unhappily, she did not love him. She
had married Lucien for freedom from q
craniped and narrow life in Algieis, and
found her only pleasure in the excitement the
admiration of her rare beauty brought.
This conversation and the decision of Iiucien
came in an evil moment, for she had con-
tracted, unknown TO him, new debts to the
the amount of 100, 600 francs. For six month";
her creditors had waited peaceably and then
they began their demands, and lately they
had tormented her beyond measure for the
settlement of their bills. She now beheld
herself in pit from which there was no g.
cape On the one hand the impatient cred
itors threatening to go to Lucien, and on the
other hand his righteous anger and his threat
OF public separation. IL was years before
this that she had met Roger Laroque, then
little more than boy, and she had loved him
with such ardor that she forgot everything
else--Lucien, children, the world and even
her luxurious toilettes, and her debts as we'll
Lucien de NoirviIle was one Of the busiest
lawyers of Paris, and Julia had, therefore, a
complete liberty, and frequently went to
amusements and in society alone, and there
met Laroque, who was barely known to
Lucien, as they had met but once or twice IN
company.
But this last interview with Lucien on the
subject Of the debts, of which he knew ~
yet nothing, was the cause OF Roger La
roque's reception of a letter from Julia asking