The Caldwell tribune., 1903-05-02
|WFliitte Hand!
"a Tale Of the Early Settlers
{ Of Louisiana.
3 BY AUSTIN c. BURDECK
CHAPTER XIII.
BY AUSTIN c. sURDIcK

d
was firm and uncompromising, but yet
kind and considerate as far as her care
of her charges welfare was concerned.
Louise had made some examination of the
house In. which she was confined, and she
was satisfied that she could not escape
from it without much labor and trouble.
1t was on the fifth day Of her sojourn
there that she was aroused from fit Of
deep thought by the entrance of Simon
Lobois. He came in with a warm smile
upon his face, and after some remarks
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 a keen gaze she fixed her
deep blue eyes upon him.
E'Sweet cousin," he said, in tone of
extreme softness, why was it ordered
that / should be the one to save you
from the jaws of death? Why was l
singled out?" r1
'Surely, Simon, it was because you, OF
all others. were in duty bound to save
me-" replied Louise.
"Ha! how SOP" the cousin asked, with
O slight start, but quickly recovering HIM
self.
"Why, because to you my father gave
O handsome salary for taking care of
me-"
II should say that you had shown an
early disposition to throw off the yoke Of
my authority"
''Ah, how soY
''Your own sense will tell you how"
Simon responded, somewhat bitterly.
20, meant no play upon the past, my
A1orn rnlO
tive, you know-and hence you ought to
save me-"
"And this is the gratitude you feel for
the service I 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
any deep acknowledgment"
Lohois seemed for the moment nom
,plussed by the off-hand manner in which
Nhe was thus far met, but his forces were
soon in order again, and he renewed the
attack.
"Louise, you remember the conversation
we once had in the study2"
"Perfectly, Simon. And you remem
FDef Ine answers SdNe' AeplASu Luo
girl.
"Yes-I do remember them; have re-
'membered them ever since. And now let
me assure you that l 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"
II am. A love such as mine cannot
~ oP .nt1
view. 1t has been cherished too long,
and has become too deeply rooted. From
one less loved might have turned away
under such a rebuff, but not from you.
No, no, Louise; have come now to ask
that one question again. Remember now
the debt you owe me; remember the dOu-
BILE claim l now have"
Double claim. Simon"
"Ay--a double claim. First, the claim
resulting from the care l have held for
you since early childhood; and, second,
this last claim founded in the very saw
ing of your life"
at was curious that you should have
been the one to save me-wasn't itY'
said Louise, looking into her companion's
face with an expression he could not ana
lyze, though he tried hard to do SO.
''It was," he replied.
"And that you should have landed just
in that place, too?" pursued Louise, with
out removing her close gaze from hel
dark cousins face. And how strange
that they should have camped directly
by the boat landing. where the whites
would be sure to come If they crossed
the !ake-wasn't it2-especially when WI
consider what a repute they have fo
shrewdness and cunning?"
Simon Lobois WINGED at this, and
perceptible tremor ran through hi
frame. But he recovered himself witt
an effort, in a few moments.
at is strange" he said, "and L hav
often said SO since. But can see in |
only the opportunity Of pressing m
claim to your heart and hand now wit
more hopes of success. l must ask yo
now if you will accept the heart an
hand offer you?"
"Simon Lobois. you know cannot d
it," uttered Louise, in firm, frank tont
Beware. Louise! l ask you kindl
now. l confess my love and l beg @
you to accept it."
"a husbands love from you l neve
can accept, Simon"
Think carefully ere you speak,"
But what mean you? have though
carefully, and have equally as candidl
told you that yours can never be. Nov
what more can you ask?"
Il shall ask but little more," returne
Simon, through his set teeth. ~ am mo-
in a position to command"
"Speak plainly, monsieur"
'"rhen, plainly-you must be my wife,
But l shall simply apply to the Go
ernor"
THAT will help you none. for Peri,
Is my friend, and has pledged me his a
sistance.'
"But he will listen to the prayer of
helpless girl"
mot when that prayer Is prejudici
to the interest of his friend. He is an
ious that all the marriageable femal
should be married as soon as possible
short, my dear cousin, he has piedgt
me his word as a man, and as an office
that you shall be my wife. Now VIII
say your"
o5's ''I should certainly say that he was
great scoundrel," returned Louise,
garding her companion with fixed loo
FYou are cool, mademoiselle2" '~
ttpacausA d0 mt helieVA that Won c