The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-02-13
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
WhiteHaIld|
"A Tale Of the Early Settlers !
! Of Louisiana. +;
CHAPTER 1y.--lcontInued.l J
, BY AUSTIN C. sURDIcK
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

For some moments Simon gazed upor
the fair girl in utter astonishment. ~
was at loss to understand whether sh'
was making game Of him, or whether sh'
was in earnest. But had he reflected fol
moment upon the character OF tins
lovely pupil as he knew il, he would have
known that she could not descend to sport
with his feelings Then he still might
appeal to her heart.
"Alasw he murmured, choking down
his Indignation, you know not what you
do. You know not the deep love tina,
dwells like a consuming fire within. But
/ will not ask you to marry me now. Only
promise that, some time, you Will be
mine. Give me your heart, and pledge
me your hand. And then we will be mar
ried when you are older. o, do not re-
fuse me this!9 @
my conscience, Simon, If we wait for
that, your hair will be gray, and you will
have to walk with staff. And then
what a sorry-looking couple we should
make! Don't, Simon-don't talk so any
more. It's foolish in you to do so. | do
really begin to think you are in earnest.
But l don't want to hear you speak so
any more-truly, don't"
"Then you will never love me?"
"Why, love you now, cousin. have
always loved you. Why will you be so
fo0sishP'
"Alas, Louise! you have struck the
dagger to my soul. The lamp Of my life
has gone out and all my hopes are sunk
in utter darkness! You have done thus
much. Now, In mercy, take my dagger
and finish my pain. Take away the life
you have cursed, and let my soul escape
the agony it must endure while near thee
when thou art not minel'
"Stop, Simon" Interrupted the maid
en-, just as he was putting on the finish
ing stroke and look Of agony. II can't
be your wife; / never can. So there's
an end Of that matter. And now let us
forget that we ever had any such foolish
talk"
"And how long has this been your
mind?" fairly Kissed Lobois, as soon as
he could SO far recover from his utter
amazement as to speak.
How long?" repeated Louise, in sur
prise. "Why, you might as well ask me
how long twas since | had resolved that
would not marry with old Tony, just as
.well-exactly. Nature set up the barrier
when she made me your cousin eighteen
years after your birth. Now"
At this moment Louise heard her faith
er calling her from the hall, and she
started up.
"You hearT she uttered. my father
wants me. Now you won't think any
thing more Of this-will you? Put off
that ugly-looking face as soon as you can
and then come out and join us in our So
cial enjoyment. There--he calls again.
Here l am-coming" And with these
words, the buoyant, happy1hearted girl
tripped out from the room.
For some moments, Simon Lobois stood
like one thunderstruck, and seemed
watching, with vacant stare, the place
where the young lady had been standing,
as II lurid CLEAN Of vivid lightning had
made Its transit. Then he started back
apace and clenehed both his fists.
''By heavensf' he uttered, while his
face turned livid with rage, "and shall l
bear this? Shall sit calmly by, and see
another carry off the maiden and pocket
the half of st, Julien's fortune? Shall
see that wealth which has been SO long
In my grasp that wealth which | have
looked upon as mine, now wrested from
me? For years I've cherished this fond
hope-this picture of wealth, and now it
must not be blown away thus. st. Ju-
lien Is worth this day five hundred thou
sand crowns, and they shall not have It
all-they shall not"