The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-05-14
CHAPTER XYIII


story, and as she did so. more than one
bright look of holy gratitude was cast
upon the beautiful Coqualla.
"And now," said she, in conclusion, 81
am able to give you some clue to the great
mystery which underlies the whole.
When Stung Serpent was upon his DEATH
bed, he sent for me, and he told me all,
and he gave me this paper in token Of
his truth. Read it, father, and know
what a villain you have kept beneath
your room.'
AS Louise handed her father the paper,
Simon Lobois started to his feet
"BackP shouted Louis, sprinsing for
ward and pushing him back into his
chair "Tony, watch this man, and see
that he does not leave the ROOM"
Old Tony, who had stood by and heard
all, now moved to Simon's side, and as
the villain gazed upon the huge bulk of
the negro he uttered sthed groan, and
settled back.
The marquis read the paper aloud. 1t
was as follows:
''This is my bond that | will pay to
Stung Serpent one hundred large pieces
of gold, In French coin, when he shall
have removed Louis and Louise st. Ju-
lien from their home. And he, on his
part, promises that said Louis shall lie
killed, and that Louise shall be sent safe
ly to the middle trail on Lake Pontchar-
train. SIMON LOBUIS."
That was enough. Simon denied it all,
then swore, then drew his sword, and
then--Tony knocked him down; and ere
long afterwards he was taken from the
room.
Before noon. Louise had contrired,
with CoQualla's assistance, to remove the
last stain from her skin, and when she
stood, all white and pure she saw a tear
on CoQualla's dark cheek.
''What is it?" she asked.
Nothing" was the reply.
"Ah, tell me the truth. Coqualla will
not deceive her sister,"
"No-no" murmured the noble girl,
throwing her arms about Louises neck,
and pillowing her head upon her bosom.
'But you will forgive me. CoQuala has
left her people forever, but she has not
left her skin"
Dul lell me dlly my sister.
"Coqualla loved the White Hand, and
she was only sister. Now Coquala has
seen another with the same beautiful
face. But she does not murmur. She is
content only"
go on, my sister. Tell me ALL"
IF COqualla was white, she could love;
0, my sister does not know how sic
could have been loved had she not been,
Coqualla's sister,"
Louise had read the girls secret, and
as she gazed into those soft, mild fea-
lures, she uttered, with all the truth of
her soul:
"CoQualla does not need a whittier skin.
She is beautiful enough. know Co
qualla's heart, and her face is as pure as
that"
The maiden princess blessed her sister,
and wiped away her tears, for she heard
some one coming.
On the next morning the room where
Simon Lobois had been put was found
empty, and the slave Peter was also
found to be missing; but no search was
made for them, for the one was worth
less and the other carried guilt enough
to punish him with its shame and bur-
den.
And now joy was once more in st. Ju-
liens household. Goupart and Louise
wandered about together, and for a while
Louis was left alone, for the only other
young person with whom he could asso-
ciate seemed to shun him. One day
Louise drew her brother one side, and
whispered with him. for sine had that
found CoQualla In tears, and the
poor princess had murmured the thought
of going back to the homes Of her fathers
to lie down by their graves. But what
Louise said to hsr brother may not be
known-Only, an hour later, Louis aud
Coqualla walked away down in the gar
den.
At length the old cure. Father Languet.
made his visit to the chateau, and there
was work for him to do. Goupart and
Louise were made one for life, and this
time the blushing girl was fastened.
But the work ended not here. Louis |
st. Julien had spent many hours with
Coqualla, for he had become her teacher, |
and he had opened to her mind the |
riches Of the Great Book. Anl while |
she had studied that, he had studied her
At first he was surprised at the Won
drous depth of her mind, but he was no |
less awed by its sublime purity and gran
deur Of conception. And thus he probed |
her heart to its inmost depths, and he |
found it as noble and pure as it was gen.
erous and loving. Ere he knew it, he |
had loved her, and almost unconsciously !
the story Of his love dropped from his !
lips.
"COqualla," he whispered. thou didst
love my sister for her face. Mine is like |
Il. Love me. then, and be mine for lie. 1
love thee, for thou art all lo,e and 1
purity to ne"
And Coqualls placed one Of her soft ,
hands in his, and then rested her head