Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-05-19
|WhiteHand|
"A Tale Of the Early Settlers !
E Of Louisiana. ;
BY AUSTIN c. BURDIcK
CHAPTER XXII.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER XXII.-(Continued)
For some moments after this recital,
not word was spoken, and the only
sounds that broke the stiffness were the
sobs of the marquis.
"Shall such foul mockery stand?" at
length said st. Denis, in agony. Let it
be torn in sunder and cast aside. BY no
law Of justice or right CAN
"Hold!' interrupted Lobois. who had
now 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 l consulted with the governor, and
he bade me go on, and have his pledge
of sustaining me. You have heard my
wife's story. That l used stratagem to
gain her hand, l admit, for l saw an in
terloper was about to snatch the prize
from me. And now you know all. Hence
forth l trust nothing may occur to mar
the harmony of our social intercourse.
Turning to ST. Denis, he added, 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 1 suppose
you have, you will see the necessity of
this; and if you have the feelings of a
gentleman, you will not hesitate"
Goupart raised his clasped hands to-
wards heaven, exclaiming:
HAS it 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
ht9 in 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. A voice of
thanksgiving next fell on his ear, and he
saw the Indian girl on her knees, with
her hands clasped, her streaming eyes
raised heayenward, and giving thanks to
the Great Spirit. St. Denis started as
he gazeds into the deep blue eyes fastened
on him A moment more, he heard his
name pronounced in tone sweet and
FAMILIAR, that made his heart bound Wild
ly in his bosom.
'sThis 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
now!' Lobois uttered, confidently. 'If
you imagined your marriage was but
jest, you were mistaken. You'll find the
knot too strongly tied to be cast off at
will"
Poor fool! Cannot you open your
eyes? Simon Lobois, did you think Louise
St. Denis would have married you while
life remained2 Did you think she would
have stopped to mate with you when the
grave was open to her?
"A-and-are you not married to me?
Are you not my wife?
81 think you'd find me a hard one to
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, ST.
moni Don't you see that Indian youth
resting in Goupart's arms? How have
longed for this moment! Up-up, my
father! Thy children are safe, and if
they have returned to thee in exchanged
guises, be assured they left thee in the
same way"
How" gasped Simon, starting back
and turning pale. "You-you-'
''Why, l am your wife, Simon, if you
say so; but if you keep me, you shall fight
a duel with me every morning, and Well
alternate till one of us falls; first morn
ing, pistols-next morning, swords. You
have seen me shoot some." -
At this juncture the truth had forced
itself to the old marquis mind.
''It must be!' he whispered, seizing his
noble son by the hand. sit must be my
own noble Louis! Assure me do not
dream"
"You do not, father, for I am your own
Louis. But see-here comes Louise.
Don't cast her off because her skin is
duskyv'
rs 1t possiblev' gasped Lobois, as he
saw Louise sink on her fathers bosom.
There's been some foul witchery here
some deep, Internal machination! Louis!
-Louise! The son is the daughter, and,
the daughter is the son! There's a foul
plot here!'
"Ayw cried Louis, tearing the rich
gown he wore from his body, and re-
vealing the light undress of French of
icer, there has been foul plot, and
you can we'll explain itp'
''Me-explain?" stammered the villain,
gazing first at the youth and then at the
maiden, who vet wore her Indian dress.
Who are you!" he gasped, starting to-
wards the seeming Indian, and seizing
the dusky arm. "Speak! Who are ye?'
II am one whom you once sought for
wifew
Louise st. JulienY'
Eyes"
"Ah! Duped-befooIed! But-theres
a plot!'
A few moments more he gazed upon
the two metamorphosed ones, and then,
utterly powerless from mad delirium, he
sank down.
But Simon Lobois was not the only
one in the dark. The old man and st.
Denis were lost in amazement The lat
Ter had clasped his own loved one to his
bosom, and she had whispered into his
ear the sweet promise Of love once more,
Vet he could not understand it.
"I see you are all astonished," said
Louis, ''and will tell you what know
If this funny affair. So sit down and
listen; sit down-all of you.''.