Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-05-07
|WhitGHand|
"A Tale Of tho Early Settlers !
E Of Louisiana. /;
/ BY AUSTIN c. BURDIcK I
CHAPTER XXI.
BY AUSTIN c. BvRpIcK
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CHAPTER XXI.
Slowly and painfully dragged away the
hours and the days TO the poor sick wife
la New Orleans. Old Loppa WAS very
kind, aud 80 was the physieiun. Yet
Louise had very severe sickness. Gni
pntt OF the time she was ont OF Ter
head. Isn't gradually the dciIlium passed
away, aud she was at length able TO sit
np Three weeks had she lain thus ere
she could rise from her bed: but on the
fourth week she was able to walk about
the room. II was at the close OF the
fourth week that her husband returned.
Have been away longer than you
experted?" he asked.
NO" was the quiet reply, "fOr I've
expected nothing about t."
'Ahl' uttered Simon, with show pf
chagrln
II have been too sick to expect any.
thing" explained Louise.
or uttered the husband, more mild
ly.
"Yes~I have been very sick. even
feared at Que time | should never zee
sou again"
There was something so piquant in this
that Simon was sure there was sarcasm
In it. but he chose not to expose his
doubts.
II. TOO. have been laid up" he said,
after gazing into her face for some mo
ments.
"Ah-how? ! noticed your hand was
rolled In rags. What has happenedf
Have you been lighting the wicked In.
diansT
Again Simon biz his lip, but he kept
calm.
Il have had duel on your account"
us II possiblel How was itF'
81 heard you inSulted most grossly, and
| would not bear It,"
"You should not have borne II, at least,
II you loved your wife. But who was
III"
"Goupart st. Denis"
Louise started.
Explain" she said, earnestly and eag-
erly
lila! the name moves you, does itT'
why should II notY You know he
was once lover of mine"
This open avowal, 30 frank and hon
est, seemed TO please Lobois, and he
went on to explain:
mo matter what was said, but st.
Denis struck me. or course | challenged
him. We chose swords. Your father was
present. lie would have stopped it II he
could. for he feared should get hurt. ;"
"As you did"
"Listen. We fenced awhile, AMI
found that the boy was at my mercy.
Twice refused to press my point upon
his open bosom. Finally. when l saw
that 'twould be downright murder for
me to kill him, | bade him put up his
sword He asked me for what-for he
knew not that l only toyed with him.
This is only boys play said |. Then
put up your sword said he. did so,
and just as my point touched the ground
he brought me blow across the hand,
What do you think OF thatT
Perhaps ought not to speak my
thoughts"
"Surely you ought What do you think
Of itf
well. then. think you have told me
very fine story"
"Eh? DO you doubt my word?'
doubt you? Doubt the word of ST.
mon Lobois? Believe that my own hus-
band could speak falsehood? Never, 81
mon--ncver!'
Sharply the scamp looked into Louise's
face. but he could detect nothing there,
save a calm, cool expression of utter SIM
plicty; yet he knew she was quizzing
him.
''But you did not tell me how this all
kn anfI ttNNhat AID
do after Goupart had struck you ON the
handY
"What could do? My hand was pow
erless. / might have knocked him down
with my left hand, but spared him. He
was beneath all notice, save that Of mere
contempt"
Poor Goupart! Did he know how deep
was your contempt for him"
"What mean your
"Why, simply that you could have in
fiicted no worse punishment upon him
than to have let him know that you held
him in contempt. 1t must have nearly
killed himw
"Look ye, my fine girl, you are ventur-
ing on dangerous ground. You may say
too much" uttered Lobois, now showing
his anger.
Louise bowed her head a moment, and
she seemed to think that her companion
spoke the truth. for she quickly replied,
after she looked up;
Excuse me-pardon me. have but
| lust recovered from severe sickness,
and my first feelings were naturally those
of JOY and gladness, and you know how
often you and have joked and pestered
each other. We have often said very
hard things in jest, and have even pull.
ed your hair till you fairly cried with
pain, and yet you never got provoked be-
FORE" =
This was spoken so earnestly, and with
so much apparent feeling, that Simon
WINS Modified in a moment.
"Let 1t pass" he said; "only In future
choose q light occasion for light CONVEX
sation. And now to something Of more
Importance. When can you be ready
to go up the riverF"
"At any time," answered Louise.
Every well. will see the physician
this evening, and be governed somewhat
I, by his advice" -.
Shortly after this Lobois went out, and
when he returned he reported that the
doctor would come in the morning. So
that night Louise was left with Loppa,
and on the next morning the do tor came
and with him came the anxious husband
The former examined his patient care
fully, and he expressed the opinion that
the wife should not undertake the jour
lney under a week at least.
!, "Then believe shall go to Biloxi
There is ship ready to sail, and have
some business to do there"
Louise expressed her entire willingness,
so Simon resolved to go, In truth he
was now expecting soon to be master Of