Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-09-25
..WhiteE|iIarld|
"A Tale Of the EARLY Settlers ;
! Of Louisiana. !;
BY AUSTIN c. EuRDICK /
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BY AUSTIN c. RuRDlcK
CHAPTER XIII.

several NlIucS nNu LOUISE NN-=tStFh ~
Loppa the idea of her looking out about
the town, bat she had been informed that
il would not be safe The old negfess
was firm and uncompromising. but vet
kind ard considerate as far as her care
OF her charges welfare was concerned.
Louise had made sonic examination Of the
house in which she w confined, and she
was satisfied that she could net s.ape
from it without much labor and T able.
II was on the fifth day of her Darn
there that she was aroused from Il nj Of
deep thought by the entrance Of Simon
Lobois. He came in with warm slnile
upon his face, and after some remarAs
upon Louise's improved looks, he took
seat by her side. She did not shrink
from him, nor did she seem afraid OF
him, but with Il keen gaze she uXei hsF
deep blue eyes upon him.
Sweet cousin. he said, IN tone Of
extreme softness. why was il ordered
that | should be .he one 70 save You
from the iaaM of death? Why was |
singled ousy"
Surely, Simon, it was because yo1 81
all others, were in duty hound t. save
me, replied Louise.
"Ha! how soy' the cousin asked, with
SllEIIL START bAt A4a4tNt9 iFtNN A'tAs -At@--
self.
r.Why. because to you my father gave
me in charge Because You have feceived'
handsome salary for taking care ii
me-
Il should say that you had shown an
early disposition to throw of the yoke OF
my authority
'.Ah, how so!"
Your own sense viii tell yoa how
Simon responded. somewhat bitterly.
20. i .leant no play upon the past, my
cousin. lhtt then yoa are my near rela-
tive, you ow aud hence you ought 10
save me"
And this is the gratitude You feel for
the service | have done you"
Now, Simon, you did not ask me how
/ felt You only asked me why it was
YOU were singled out to save me. Most
truly, for all of good you have ever done
me do / feel most duly grateful. For all
your acts OF kindness TO me, you have
my deep acknowledgment"
Iobois seemed for the moment non
plussed by the off hand manner in which
ne was thus far.net, but his forces were
soon in order again, and he renewed the
attack.
y
we once had in the study
Perfectly, Simon And you remem-
Der the answers l gayeT replied the
girl.
''Yes--I do remember them; have re-
membered them ever since. And now let
me assure you that | look upon this
strange event as an opportunity granted
by heaven itself for me TO ask those
questions over again"
"Simon Lobois. Are you in earnest"
Il am A love such as mine canrot
be cramped by the result Of one INFER
view. 1t has been cherished too long,
and has become too deeply rooted. From
one less loved | might have turned away
under such rebuff, but not from YOU
No, no, Louise; have come now to ask
that one question again. Rep ember now
the debt you owe me; remember the dou-
bic claim ! now have"
Double claim. SimonT'
"Ay--a double claim. First the claim
resulting from the care | have held for
you since early hildhood- and, second.
this last claim founded in the very say
ing of your life"
1T was curious that you should have
been the one to save me-wasn't it,"
said Louise, looking into her companions
face with an expression he could not ana-
lyze though ne tried hard to do 50.
at was.H he replied.
'sAnd that Won should have landed just
in that place, tooT' pursued Louise with
out removing her close gaze from her
dark COUSINS face. And how strange
that they should have CAMP d directly
by the boat landing, where the whites
would be sure to come if they crossed
the lake-wasn't it?-cspecially when We
consider what a repute they have for
shrewdness and cunningT
Simon Lobois WINGED at this, and
perceptible tremor ran through his
frame But he recovered himself with
an effort. in few moments.
1T is strange" he said, "and | have
oeten said so since. But can see in 1t
only the opportunity of pressing my
claim TO your heart and hand now with
more hopes of success. | must ask you
now If you viii accept the heart and
hand l offer you!'
''Simon Lobois. yon know | cannot do
it. uttered Louise, in a firm, frank tone.
BE, are, Louise. / ask you kindly
now. | confess my love and | beg Of
you TO accept it.
"A husbands love from you l never
can accept, Simcp"
Think carefully e. you speak
"But what meaI you? / have thought
carefully, and have equally IS candidly
told you that yours | can never be. Now,
what more can you ask"
II shah ask but little more" returned
Simon, through his SET teeth. Il am now
in a position to command
"Speak plainly, mnnsieur."
'Then. plainly-you must be my wife,
But l shall simply apply to the Gof-t
ernor."
THAT will help you none, for Perier.
is my friend, and has pledged me his as
sistance."
But he will listen to the prayer OF
helpless girl
Not when that prayer is prejudieial
TO the interest of his friend. He is anx-
ious that all the marriageahle females
should be married as soon as possible In
short my dear cousin, he has pledged
me his word as a nan, and as an officer.
that you shall be ny wife. Now what
say your
Il should certainly say that he was
Gre-t scor idrel, returned Louise. re-
gardug her companion with n fixed look.
You are cool mademoiselle%
Because do not beieye that you can
he in earnest, monsieur
Il am in earnest. Louise, and, more
over. you 20 not f .m this place until
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