Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-11-13
.WhiteHand|
, A Tale of the Early Settlers ;
! of Louisiana. F;
BY AUSTIN C. EURDiCk
BY AUSTIN C. RURDicK
CHArrER xXII-tContinued.)


s'Shall such a foul m0ckerv standF at
length said st. Denis, in agtly. Let It
be torn in sunder and cast aside. BY no
law of justice or right can
Hold interrupted Lobois. who had
oow nerved himself up to the conflict.
"You but make a useless disturbance
when you thus give thought to the idea OF
annulling the bond of marriage between
my wife and myself. Ere | took the final
step I "ccsulted with the governor, and
b. Dade me go on, and | haye his pledge
of sustaining me. You have heard my
wife's story. That | used stratagem to
gain her hand, | admit for / saw an IN
terloper was about to snatch the prize
from me. And now you know all Hence
forth | trust nothing may occur TO mar
the harmony of our social intercourse.
Turning to St Denis, he added, a tri-
umphant look settling on his sharp fea'
lures And as for you, sir, trust you
will see the necessity of removing your
self from the society Of those who can
only be made unhappy by your presence.
If you have the common sense | suppose
you have, you will see the necessity OF
this; and if you have the feelings of
gentleman you win not hesitate.
1oupdil IdfSeu MS tiAbptu hhhN9 ~
wards heaven. exclaiming:
Has il come to this! Must all my
hopes thus fall back upon my broken
heart, and the sweet dream of years END
in black despair? Louise, beloved Of my
soul, lost, but still cherished one
His words failed him, and he bowed his
htsd In a passionate burst Of tears. In
a moment more he heard a low cry OF
hopeful tone, and a pair Of arms were
twined about his neck. He looked up.
but it was not Louise. 1t was the flow
ing eyes of White Hand that met his
own, and darkly stained arms were en-
twined about his neck. voice OF
thanksgiving next fell on his ear, and he
saw the Indian girl on her knees with
her hands elasped, her streaming eyes
raised heavenward, and giving thanks to
the Great Spirit. st. Denis started as
he gazed into the deep blue eyes fastened
on him. 4 moment more, he heard his
name pronounced in tone sweet and
familiar. that made his heart bound wild
~ in his bosom.
This scene has progressed far
enough" now spoke the one Simon be-
lieved to be his wife. Simon Lobois,
your wickedness has come to a climax,
and back on your own head shall fall the
terrible consequences of your machina-
tionsr'
"Ha-ha. Louise, you have gone too far
nowr' Lobois uttered, confidently. If
you imagined your marriage was but a
Jest, you were mistaken. You'll find the
knot too strongly tied to be cas- OF az
will"
Poor fool. Cannot you open your
eyes? Simon Lohois, did you think Louise
St. Denis would have married you while
life remained? Did you think she would
have stopped to mate with you when the
grave was open to herg'
"A--and-are you not married to me!
Are you not my wifeg'
II think you'd find me a hard one 10
manage: for at this very moment. were
you not beneath my notice, | would chal-
lenge you to mortal combat, and I'd serve
you worse than Goupart did. Look, 81
mon! Don't you see that Indian youth
resting in Occupants arms? How | have
Ionged for this moment. Up-up, my
2qther! Thy children are safe, and if
they have returned TO thee in exchanged
guiSes. be assured they left thee in the
same way
"Howy'' gasped Simon, starting back
and turning pale. ''You-you'
why, am your wife, Simon, il you
say so; but il you keep me, you shall fight
a duel with me every morning, and Wen
alternate till one of us falls: first morn
ing, pistols-next morning, swords. You
have seen me shoot some"
At this juncture the trut! had forced
itself to the old marquis mind.
ut must be- he whispered, seizing his
noble son by the hand. 1T must be my
own noble Louis. Assure me | do not
dream"
You do not. father, for / am your own
Louis. But sec-here comes Louise.
Don't cast her off because her skin is
DUSK -
rs it possible" gasped Lobois, as he
saw Louise sink ON her fathers bosom.
There's n some foul witchety here
some deep Internal machiudtion, Louis
Louise. The son is the daughter, and
the daughter is the sou! There's a foul
plot herer'
"ayr' cried Louis. tearing the rich
GAVIN he wore from his body aud re-
,ealing the light undress of French of
fcer, there has been a foul plot, and
you can well explain it.
gazing first at the youth and then at the
maiden, who yet wore her Indian dress
who are your he gasped, starting to-
wards the seeming Indian. and seizinl
the dusky arm. Speak! Who are YEP
II ain one whom you once sought for q
wife,
Louise st. Julien
Yes"
"Ah. Durej-befooled But-thertt
q plot!'
4 few moments more he gazed upoI
the two metamorphosed ones. and then
utterly powerlcss from mad delirum, Ia
sank down.
But Simon Lobois was not the onl,
one in the dark The old man and ST
Denis were lost in amazement Tho lat
ter had ei..sped his own loved one to hi
bosom, and she had whispered into hi
ear the sweet promise of love Que, more
ye- he could not understand it.
Il see you are all astonished.' sal
Louis "and l will tell you what / knox
of this funny affair. SO sit down ai
listen. sit down-4ii of you
And town they sat. Coqualla keepin
close by her cOmpan on's side. and seen
ing rs happy as til, rest of the happ
ones
Now listen" commenced Louis. "lo
remember on that night when We playe
hide and End me in the yard. Louis
and l went of into the house before W
hid. We had planned 10 have some spoI
with Gonpart. Louise and l never rea