The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-02-07

The scene lasted but a second. The two
lifted fists fell, but Laronette turned at the
same instant, escaping the blow. He gave
but one cry Of "Murderl" and then there was
a short but deadly struggle. The murderer's
hat fell, a summer hat, high, gray, and bear
ing a black ribbon band. The candle rolled
ON the table, but before it went out dark
face, covered by thick, black beard appeared
like fash There was no more noise. Dark
ness reigned in that room. Larouette, weak
as he was, tried to defend himself. The muir
derer was colossus. Still the fear of death
lent him force. Larouette tried to cry for
help. Then there was a fash and heavy
defamation, and that was all.
Henrietta drew back, with chattering teeth.
Great drops of sweat stood on her brow. She
looked like one suddenly gone mad. She re-
peated, breathless, in an agony of torture at
this sudden rending of all her happiness:
"Rogeri Can it bea He? Oh, horriblel"
And now, in the midst of this wretchedness,
calbe the thought Of her child; her child,
whose existence she had forgot in that sub
lime agony; of her child, who had been the
first to recognize her father.
Suzanne" said she with painful effort
mammal" said faint voice behind her.
Victoria had brought lamp, and now one
could see clearly into the bed room. Through
the lace shade the light fell directly upon the
child's face. She did not cry. She made no
gesture, but her eyes were strangely fixed.
She must have seen and understood, for her
forehead, so pure and so candid, had suddenly
become indented with deep wrinkle. She
had aged III that instant many years, and she
had the face almost of woman. Then
Henrietta clasped her in her arms in wild
pain and lifted her, and then laid one hand
over the child's eyes.
"You have seen nothing" gasped she
breathlessly. "You have seen nothing and
you have heard nothing. Listen to me well,
and understand NE. You must remember
that you have seen nothing and havo heard
nothing"
"No, mammal; shall have seen nothing,
and shall have heard nothing"
1t was no longer that silvery, sweet voice
of n child; it was the grave voice of the
mother. Suddenly aged by horrible spec
taclc, the child recognized clearly the whole
of her future and its significance.
"You will never say anythingF
Nothing, over, mamma"
"Never, If you love your poor mother,
never tell what you have seen, what you have
heard, no matter what threats, rayers or
temptations are brought to bear upon youg"
"Nevcr, except on your order. mother"
She ,ri.''. her mother no" ,.4O aid was
No io..e :. 80. ~ cay "n:alI.. !.
Ut, . 'cls; and may God have pity Oh
your ie, u and innocence, ho"e ever baro
he my me-"
She ,iI not weep though the nervous sots,
strangied ,n her throat, nearly ~ itJ her.
Still she had strength to close tle iinlow,
and on returning toward her bed s,,i saw that
f..a-
there. Hcnriette thought she must faint, but
gathered force enough to say:
"You can so, Victoria. / will put Suzanne
to bed myself"
"Madame, did you not see, not heart Therei
Near us, very near"
"What? What was iii"
"a pistol shot"
"You are crazy. Leave u.s."
excuse me, madame, but l thought heard
one"
Victoria went out trembling, and Henriette
happened to glance in her glass. She drew
back in alright. so terrible was her own ap-
pearance. AT this instant she heard q stifled
groan, and turning she found Suzanne OH the
carpet in commissions. She sprang to the
child, and lifting her in her arms caressed her
with wild delirium of love and terror
"My Child, my darling child, oh, be calml
do not be afraid-I am here. Oh, my babyl
what shall do9"
But Suzanne, shaken by a violent hysteria,
heard nothing Henriette used all the means
in her power to restore the child, but the con.
WILSON'S continued for a long time-un eter-
nifty It seemed to the stricken mother. At
last the commissions ceased and the child re-
gained consciousness, and looking her mother
IN the eyes repeated with her dry little lips:
mo. mother; shall have seen nothing;
shall have heard nothing"
And they wept in eacK others embrace.
Suddenly they both shivered and rose to-
gether; but Suzanne did not let go her clasp
about her mothers waist The gate which
led from the lawn to the Rue de Versailles
was creaking on its hinges. Steps were heard