The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-20
ROGER LAROQUE.
Adapted and Translat d rom the French
of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARPER.

ABat the guilty one. Have you ever
thought it was that womans"
yes, hut cannot believe she did it. Had
she lover who gave her the money? Was
it for vengeance! ! am lost in conjecture.
But / shall never give up my intention to
clear up this crime"
Long they talked Of the past, of poor Henri.
cite, whose body they found in the river.
though unacceptable, and whom thew
buried piously in the little churchvard at
Vile d'Avray. of the machine works which
the good old Rernardit still managed for Su.
cannes sake Then he gave Roger what
money he had, which was some 81, 900 francs.
which was the profits of the past year and a
half and a suit of his own clothes. When
all this was done it was nearly / o'clock.
Roger said:
II must go from here at on the train. and
it will be necessary to rouse Suzanne and get
her dressed"
With heavy hearts the old couple reused
and dressed the child and wrapped her in
warm fur cloak and hood and pulled thick
wooden stockings over her shoes that she
might not be cold. A small bundle of neces-
saries for Suzanne was made up, and then
the time had come for them TO 60 The old
aunt wept those hard wrung tears of the
aged as she wrapped the little child she loved
so tenderly, and then they opened the door.
The weather had changed and the snow was
falling in great fakes, obscuring the road
and rendering it almost impossible to see
yard in advance.
"Roger," said the old man, II forgot to
say that Suzanne, after the fever she had.
has never seemed to remember that dreadful
experience. She thinks that you and her
mother are travelling I would not try to
awaken her memory. She will lie happier
80. think God had pity upon her youth and
tenderness and so yelled her memory"
God grant it," said Laroque. II wish I
also might forget"
Suzanne had not aroused enough to know
anything that was taking place, or that she
was being dressed for a voyage. But at last
she opened her eyes,
ais it morningr said she drowsily.
@No, precious one," said the old lady. SIT
Is in the middle Of the night, but we had to
take you up to tell some good news"
as it Christmas?r
mo, darling, bat your dear papa, who has
been away SO long, has come home"
A nervous tremOr passed through the deli.
cate frame OF the child and she took on sud
denly that same look she had worn during
those terrible days. but she said nothing, and
the three anxious persons around her did not
notice By and by she said slowly:
"Father has comet Where is he, thentn
Then Roger stepped forward and took her
in his arms and covered her with kisses, and
be d d not notice that she did not kiss him.
Then he asked:
"Are you glad to see me, my child?"
Eyes, father"
ave will not be parted again. We are go
ing away together"
"Gong awaya Going to leave Val Dieu and
good uncle and aunt? Father, why cannot
you stay here!"
"For reasons which you cannot understand.
my darling"
II am very sorry to leave here. father, but
we will CO."
"She has entirely forgotten" said he, thank.
fully, to himself.
AT last Suzanne, muffled up to the eyes, was
ready, and the old aunt, with tears streaming
down her withered cheeks, sail:
Go, my child, my daring. J en- too old to
hope to ever see you again. Take, then, my
last kiss, and may God guard you and guide
you'll"
Then the uncle kissed the pale little face,
and his heart swelied with grief, but no tried
to bear up.
"My precious baby said he. "your father
needs you, and you must go. He will do all
he can to mako you happy. Do the same for
him. If you ever come back to France, come
home here, where you are our own child.
God bless you. Roger, write to us, and let US
know how she is, and send her photograph it
you can, and as often as you want money
send for it."
"Good aunt and uncle, will never forget
you. and I will love you forever" said the
child.
Then Roger took her in his arms and went
out into the tempest of snow and icy wind,
and i'll twenty minutes more they were speed
ing away toward the frontier, while the two
desolate old people wept in their deserted
home