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

Rome, but too weak yet to venture out. Como,
want to see you more than l can say. Your
more than brother, LUcIEN."
To go TO Lucien was TO see julia again, to
place himself between her and that poor man,
that maa to whom he was bound 10y the ties
of common danger and comradeship. whom
he loved with love passing that OF women,
and who was now chained down forever 10
his chair. What should be dot How escapef
After long struggle with himself he de-
cided to go. IL will see Julia" said he, "and
have an explanation. She will understand
that there must be nothing more between US,
not even smile, look, q clasp OF the hand.
Wrong as we were before, now it would be
million fold more horrible"
So he went to see Lucien. Noirvills was in
his room, and it was Julia who came to meet
him. She sprung forward, her hands ex-
tended. Almost year had passed since she
had seen him. Her beauty was even greater,
more dazzling than before, prouder and more
imperious. But she loved Roger, and she
grew soft and wonanly in his presence.
Roger bowed in respectful silence, not even
Offering his hand.
Roger! Rogerr' she said. "How much 1
have thought Of you. How much l have
suffered"
She checked herself suddenly at the express
sion of unutterable horror depicted on his
| face. Then he spoke:
"Julia, we must bury the past, and may God
pardon us am the friend, the brother OF
Lucien. Do you understands
, And while she shrunl back suppressing her
hearts cry for its breaking agony, he went in
to Lucicn. He was lying on lounge, pale,
thin, unrecognizabe and almost without
breath. His beard had grown. Two wooden
| legs had been adapted to his MANNED limbs.
When lie saw Roger his face lighted up, and
his eyes filled with tears, and the men en-
braced with full hearts.
"In what n state you find me, Roger" said
Lucien, showing his wooden legs. "Dr.
| Champeaux told me all, and without you
should not be here to-day, but after all what
a poor service it was" He sighed heavily,
then said: "But am very ungrateful. Ii
had died what would have becomes of Julia
and my children? Alive, even il l cannot
plead longer, can ut least have all office for
consultation, and thus assure them their
bread"
When Roger, seeing how weak he was,
wished to retire, Lucien opposed and babe q
servant call his wife, and she came
"Herc is Roger Laroque, whom we have met
as friends before the war. l saved his life;
| lie saved mine. l love him like brother.
Our families from hcnceforth, l hope, will be
but one" Julia bowed without answering.
When Roger left she accompanied him, and
at the moment he was about to open the outer
] door she seized his arm with an iron grasp.
$50" she said, "you have not one word for
mei''
He pointed silently toward the room where
| Lucien law then said:
an the namo Of pity, if not love for him
| hush"
But Julia seemed insane. Her anger grew
beyond bounds.
DIT is finished between us, thon; oil ended
forever!'
Roger, scarcely able to articulatc, wills
pered hoarsely:
off knew some means Of effacing, even a,
tie most cruel sacrifice, the awful remem'
brance of what exists between US l would
take it at the cost Of my lifev'
"Roger Roger"
"But," no continued, with profound sad
ness, "your duty is traced clearly. Julia
Lucien, mutilated, isolated, needs all your
devotion, and so your fault will have been, in
time, expiated. For me, do not know how
to expiate mine, and must bear its weight
my whole life through