Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-03-26


over. you 20 not from this place until
ron are my wItel Do you understant
thatT'
"If-if--I thought you could mean Il
Simon, ! should begin 20 be alarmed,
said the maiden, Ia q tone that woult
seem 70 indicate that she did not reall,
credit the statement she had heard.
II do mean Itr' he replied, slowly ant
meanlngly.
"Blmon LoboIa, lock mo In the eye, ant
assure me solemnly that you mean wha
you have said" Louise spoke this In 81
earnest, eager tone, with her hands clasp
cd and half raised towards her darA
cousin, and her lips firmly compressed.
II was some moments before Loboll
replied. There was something In th'
deep blue eye that was hxed 80 eErnestll
upon him. and In tho calm, earnest fea
lures that met his gaze, that moved hin
more than he had counted upon. But theI
he was not the man 10 break down now
lie was not the man 20 give up the frui
tion OF n hope that he had cherished with
his very life for years. lie was playing
for q golden stake OF immense value, ant
now that he held the leading hand, b.
meant TO use 1t promptly, and without
compromise OF any kind.
Louise NJ. JuIien," no NJ length re-
piled. II mean just what l have said
You 20 not from this house until you are
my wife! From this purpose ! will not
awarva."
a quick flush passed over the girls
face, and her lip qniyered A moment
the thought Of spurning the wretch was
present with her. but the thought, most
| probably, Of her defenseless position kept
her tongue under guard.
Simon" she murmured, after while
of silence, ''yon will not be SO cruelT
And Is Il cruel 10 want a beautiful
girl, whom one loves. for wifef"
but what can you want with a wife
who can never love you In returnT'
IN teach you 10 love me-"
"As well might you teach me to love
the great crocodile | saw the soldiers
playing with In the street this morning.
Then Ill teach you to fear meg'
You've done that already, monsieur" j"
$50 much the better then; you'll mind
me the quicker"
But why@why should you do this
ihingT'
TN tell you," spoke Simon, turning
with sudden emphasis upon the girl.
There Is no need that should pretend
TO deceive yon, nor could l. probably, II
tried. For many years have had
the charge OF your fathers Books and
business. You know he Is wealthy-more
wealthy than any other ten men In the
colony. When he came here into this Joy.
forsaken wilderness, | came with him 10
help bim. The thought came to me, az
beheld your mind expanding under my
care, that at some future day | might
possess your heart and hand, and thus
the half OF your fathers fortune would
DO mine. so ! strove TO make you all
could, and the property multiplied as
fast as possible. The wealth has grown
In bulk under my care, and now l am not
ready to give all up. am not willing to
ses the hopes of lifetime blasted lust
fFasn the mere whisa OF a capricaons giFl.,'
But do you think my father viii allow
his property to fall Into your hands when
he knows that married you from Abso.
lutte compulsionT" asked the fair girl,
earnestly.
He cannot well help It. He cannot
cut me of without cutting you of, too"
"But he will demand a dissolution OF
the union between u.s."
"Ha! he cannot gain II If he does.
am prepared there. and | know the
ground on which l stand. The king has
empowered the company to frame domes-
tic regulations to meet the wants Of the
colony, and they have already passed a
resolution that every sane, sound girl, OF
seventeen years or upwards. shall marry.
II proposal Is made from respectable
source"
"Ay-but the payment of a hundred
livres can remove the obligation"
$50 It can. But no power can annul
the marriage tie."
Then mark me, Simon Isobois! | will
bid my father that he lot me live In pen
ury and want, for, as your wife, my sor-
row will have reached It's climax; so you
shall not thus gain the gold you covet."
And mark me. Louise st. Julien!
While your father withholds the half of
his fortune from yon, | will reduce You
to such suffering as shall force me TO bind
YOU to prevent you from taking your own
life to end your tortures"
A few moments OF silence ensued, and
then Simon said. in softer tone:
"But let us drop this profitless talk.
You will consider of this, and know you
will calmly settle down into state OF
reasonable acQuiescence Now give me
n direct answer. viii you become my
wife without any further act OF compul-
sionP'
Il should judge you had heard enough
to know mS~mind."
But | would know IL must compel |
you. Mind, nowl My resolution is fixed. |
have counted the cost, and am resol ed |
upon the throw. When we return, Won |
may tell your father, IL you please, that |
| compelled you to become my wife, bur |
| shall not care. He cannot take you |
from me after the church has bound YOU
to me, and IL he seeks otherwise to harm
me, he will only heap suffering upon the
head Of his own child. Your father gave
me permission to seek your hand"
II do not believe it. Simon"
Il care not for your belief. That he
told me. so Is true, aud now, have sought
gou, Will SOU be my wife3"
"Neverp'
"We shall see."
And with this, the wretch strobe from
he apartment.
CHAPTER XIV