Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-05-14
|WhitHHand|
"a Tale Of Tho Early Settlers
( Of Louisiana.
-
{ BYAUSTIN Q. BURDIcK
sY AUSTIN Q. BURDIcK
1~~~~~~ ~&~~S~~%~~S
CHAPTER xXII.-tContlnued.) }

Hoba OF the marquis.
.Shall such foul mockeFy standr' At
length said ~. Denis, In agony. Let u
be torn In sunder and cast aside. By no
law OF justice or right can-----'
"IIoldr interrupted Lobois, who had
now nerved himself up TO the conflict
You but make useless disturbance
when you thus give thought to the idea Of
annulling the bond Of marriage between
my wife and myself. Ere took the hnnl
step consulted with the governor, aud
he bade me go on, and have his pledge
of sustaining me. You have heard my
wlfes story. That ] used stratageIn TO
gain her hand, admit. for saw m in'
terloper was about to snatch the priAe
from me. And now you know all. Hence
forth trust nothing may occur to mar
the harmony OF our social intercourse.
Turning to 1t. Denis. he added. tri'
umphant look settling on his sharp tea'
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.
Ii you have the common sense suppose
you have, you will see the necessity OF
this; and II you have the feelings OF 0
gentleman. you viii not hesitate"
Goupart raised his clasped hands to-
wards heaven, exclaimlng;
"Has II come 10 thisl Must all my
hopes thus fall back upon my broken
heart, aud the sweet dream of years enl
In black despair Louise, beloved OF my
soul, lost, but still cherished one
His words failed him, and he bowed his
he'd In n passionate burst OF tears. In
moment more he heard low cry OF
hopeful tone. aAd pair OF arms were
twined about his neck. He looked up
but IL was not Louise II was the How
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 heavenward, and giving thanks to
the Great Spirit. st. Denis started as
he gazed into the deep blue eyes fastened
ON him. A moment more, he heard his
name pronounced in d tone. sweet and
| familiar. that male his heart bound Wild
| ii In his bosom.
"Thls scene has progressed fal
enough" now spoke the one Simon be-
lieved to he 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'
tions"
"Ha-ha, Louise, you have gone too far
nowI' Lobois uttered, confidently. II
| "a rpi N.ua hat n
Jest, you were mistaken. You'll find the
knot too strongly tied to be cast of 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 herr"
"A--and-are you not married to mel
| Are you not my wifef
81 think you'd find me hard one tC
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 Goupart's arms? How have
longed for this moment! Up-up, my
fatherl Thy children are safe, and II
they have returned to thee In exchanged
guises, be assured they left thee in the
same way"
"How2" gasped Simon, starting bach
and turning pale, "You-you--"
"Why, am your wife, Simon, IL yor
say so; but II you keep me, you shall ight
a duel with me every morning, and wei
alternate till one of us falls; first morn
Ing, pistols-next morning, swords. Yoi
have seen me shoot some"
At this juncture the truth had forced
itself to the old marquis mind.
"It must bew be whispered, seizing hi
noble son by the hand. ut must be M!
own noble Louis! Assure me do no
dream"
"You do not, father, for am your owl
Louis. But see-here comes Louise
Don't cast her off because her skin i
duskyW
"Is It possblev gasped Lobois, as h,
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, an,
the daughter is the son! There's fou
plot here!"
"Ayw cried Louis, tearing the ricl
gown he wore from his body, and re
vealing the light undress Of French Of
ficer, "there has been foul plot, an,
you can well explain it!'
"Me-explain :" stammered the villain
gazing first at the youth and then at tn
maiden, who yet wore her Indian dress
"Who are your he gasped, starting to
wards the seeming Indian, and seizin
the dusky arm. Speak! Who are ye?
81 am one whom you once sought for
wifew
"Louise st. JulienT'
"Yes."
| "Ah! Duped-befooled! But-there'
q plotp
A few moments more he gazed upo
the two metamorphosed ones, and ther
utterly powerless from mad delirium, h
sank down.
But Simon Lobois was not the onl
one in the dark. The old man and 81
Denis were lost In amazement. The lat
ter had clasped his own loved one to hi
bosom, and she had whispered into hi
ear the sweet promise of love once more
yet he could, not understand it.
II see you are all astonished," sal
Louis, "and will tell you what kno,
of this funny affair. So sit down an
listen; sit DOWNFALL of you"
And down they sat, Coqualla keepin
{ close by her companions side, and. seen
Ing as happy as the rest of the happ
/ annq