The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-06

heart
and pierced the photograph through the
heart Then on the back Of it she wrote the
date of the murler-"the 2Sth Of July, 1872"
and a little lower the date of the arrest
"the Both of July, 1672"-leaving the place
FOR the date of the sentence.
A few days later Lucien said to his wife:
II do not plead in court, but shall be
heard once more"
Vaguely uneasy Julia said:
"What cause are you about to undertaken"
"Don't you know2 Do you suppose that
am going to leave Roger without defense, in
the hands of the president and jury at the
court of assizes? / shall defend him and
snatch him from their hands--thas is, if
my strength holds out Perhaps this is the
only time they will ever see poor, mutilated
body carried into court room to defend a
brother in arms"
She shuddered In spite of herself Her
husband defending her victim! She had not
thought of that. And he might save him.
What then would become Of her vengeancei
"When you know the evidence against him,
perhaps you will not feel so sure Of yourselfH
Lucien smiled: "Heis no more guilty than
am. There are certainly some singular things,
for instance, the money which was marked.
etc., but Roger AYERS it was in payment of
a loan, but he refuses to name the person.
What he will not tell the justice he will tell
me- My opinion is that there is woman in
this affair." somewhere. When l shall have
learned his secret shall know how to defend
him, and his secret must have"
Her throat frightened, and she clasped hei
hands together mechanically and felt that she
must faint. The next day Lucien, on his
crutches, went painfully up the long staircase
at the court of Versailles.
Roger, after the examination already ex.
planned, had remained in a condition of com.
plete prostration. He had hoped until the
last minute, for he said to himself: "They do
not condemn innocent men, and one day they
wiz discover the assassin" But the days
passed, and every one brought against him
some new proof of guilt, and, most poignant
grief of all, his wife and child were lost to
him, for it was only too evident to him that
they believed him guilty.
He lay stretched on his bed, not asleep, but
worn and weary, when a jailer came and
called him rudely and opened the door to let
Lucien come in, and, overpowered with
emotion, he almost fell, and Roger received
the poor manned man in his arms.
"Ah, Lucien, then you believe me limo
cent?
"Of course l do. l know you are and hope
to prove it. Did you think for moment
was going to let another lawyer undertake
your casei What is the matterl You do not
look pleased. What makes You look at me
with that wild aira"
Roger drew back, ashamed, overwhelmed
at the thought that this noble man had come
forward, and believed him when no one else
would, and offered to defend him, whom
more than any one else in the world Roger
had wronged. 1t was too much. Roger wept
bitterly.
Lucien said, laughingly, "Have done with
such childishness, my brother in arms and
heart l know that it is very annoying, and
that it causes you profound grief and trouble;
but since you are innocent and I am here to
defend you, it will soon be over"
Il wept, Lucien, because l cannot accept
your help, and because your devotion touches
me So"
"How ridiculously you talk. Rogerl But I
am here to serve you, and not to hear COM
pliments. Now tell me why don't you want
me for lawyerf"
II cannot" said the poor man, and think
hiS AGAIN u SoiSidC. "udb w w, WLdt
way out of this new phase of his sufferings.
At last lie decided
"L.ucien, do you know the proofs they have
against met You must have seen that they
are extremely grave. Don't deceive yourself,
Lncien; they will condemn me; they cannot
do otherwise, and you will fail. I shall not
retain lawyer. They can give me one or
not, as they choose"
"That is one of your reasonsr