Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-04-07

head, and surely many deep line of
care was added to his brow. st. Denis
looked not so pale, but a sorrowful look
was upon his face, and in his dark, rich
brown eye dwelt melancholy light, sueh
as could only come from a bruised and
bleeding heart. His hands were folded
upon his bosom; his eyes bent upon the
| ground, while within his own stout arm
was locked that of his companion.
"We can search no more" said the
marquis, in broken voice. They must
either have been slain, or else borne away
off to the far homes Of the Chickasaws."
"And do you think old Tony's report
can be relied upon?' asked Goupart.
"Yes. He says he is sure, and if he
feels so, then it is So"
'Then our only hope is in enlisting the
whole French force in our behalf. for
these Chickasaws are a powerful, war
like people, and not easily overcome"
"Ah, we cannot do that" returned the
MARQUIS, sadly. "The Governor, Perier,
| is not a warm friend of mine. He had
set his eyes upon this place before l
bought it, and he meant to have gained 1T
free of cost. He dares not show open
| hostility to me, but he would not help
me-"
"Then," said Goupart, 81 will myself
go in search, even though / disguise my
self in the outer semblance Of the red
man."
But the marquis shook his head dubi-
ously at this.
mo, no." he said. ''You would on'y
! throw away your own life, and then l
should be left all alone. could not
live, .Goupart, if you, too, were gone.
| Alas! what of life Is left to either OF US
now! / had just seen the opening of
| life's promise-the budding of my SOULS
great hope-when this drear midnight
Gamer
For while after this they walked on
| in silence All search had been made
that could be planned with reasons but IN
vain. Old Tony, who was quick of wit,
and who had not forgotten the Wild life
| of his youth, had followed the trail OF
the marauders a distance of forty miles,
| and there he lost it upon branch OF
| the Tickfah. This trail led in south
| easterly direction, so the bereaved on s
| had not a shadow of doubt that Louis
| and Louise had been taken to the distant
homes of the Chickasawss
| The day was drawing near to its close
when one of the female domestics rushed
| into the sitting room and announced that
l
marquis and st. Denis started to their
feet. and gazed upon each other earnest
| ".
60" uttered the old man, 81 wish [
knew that Simon was innocent of all
crime In this The words were spoken
with strong, sudden emotion, and show
ed that the speaker had been racked with
| dark doubts.
'I would not say that he is guilty OF
! all this" returned Goupart; "but things
rest most darkly against him. However.
we can easily tell. His face is very apt
to reveal the emotions of the inner man.
| and l feel assured he will betray him
self"
The marquis took turn up and down
the room to compose himself, and by the
time he had done this, Simen's footstep
sounded in the hall, and in a moment
more he entered. He moved quickly up
to St. Julien and caught him by the hand.
"Ah, my good, kind father" he uttered,
81 have been detained longer than l ex-
pected. But am happy to find you
| WELL"
Then the black-hearted man turned to
! Goupart, and with stiff, formal bow. he
] said:
Monsieur St. Denis. hope you are
we'll"
But the noble youth spoke not in re-
! ply. He could not. He detected in 81
mons eye look of triumph that was not
to be mistaken, and from that moment
| his suspicious were all alive again.
But l do not see Louis. Where is
hep asked Lobois, after he had taken
a seat.
The marquis gazed fixedly into the
| h,1f ho h.
ing there out of the way.
Louis is-is-goner the old man ut
tered.
"How? Have you not found him YETI"
'Then you knew he was goneY' said
the marquis, with quick glance of fear.
'Yes-1 knew that both your children
| were gone from here"
"How?' the old man asked.
Louise herself has told me the story"
was the calm response.
Both the old man and the young start
! ed to their feet.
Louise! Louise told your gasped
/ Goupart.
Eyes, monsieur returned Simon, gaz-
ing upon the youth with look of malig-
] nant triumph. 81 had the good fortune
to rescue the loved damsel from the hands
of the Indians"
At this juncture the marquis sank back
to his seat, and Goupart followed his ex-
ample.
"And where is she now?'' the stricken
parent asked, in a whisper.
''She is at New Orleans. should have
brought her with me, but the state of her
health would not permit. She has a
fever; but you need not fear, for l have
left the best Of care for her."
"But how-where-did you find herr"
"It was most strange answered ST.
mon, assuming devout look. while in
New Orleans, heard that small party
of Chickasaws were on their way to-
wards Lake Pontchartrain with a white
girl a prisoner. I knew, of course, that
the red villains had been lurking about
here; and, moreover, knew of no other
point from whence they could have
brought such a prisoner, short of the fort
| at Natchez The fear became SO firmly
fixed that I resolved to set out; so l en-
gagged the services of one who knew the
region round about the lake, and having
hired some men who belonged to a ship
then lying in the river, 1 obtained two
small boats and set out. We crossed the