Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-04-07
RYAUsTIN c. RURpIcK
CHAPTER XIy-(Continued !

CHAPTER XIV.-(Continued
"Simon Lobois." she said, in a freezing
tone, "spare me from your professions
of love, for they only add to my misery.
Now answer me a solemn question:
Where is my brother?'
"Your brother?" Simon uttered, start
ing in spite of himself. What should 1
know of him?"
"But do YOU not know of him? she
asked, looking him steadily in the eye.
81 do not" But he trembled while he
spoke; he could not help it,
"But you know he was seized by the
Indians on the same night that l was"
''How should know?''
"Simon, it is strange that you have
never once asked me concerning the event
of my abductionv'
"I-I-a-have had enough to think
of without that. My love for you has
engroSsed my every thought, and claimed
my whole attention.
"Then you know nothing of hi1n?'
"I-I-why, how on earth should IT'
"Neyer mind. If you do not, then that
is enough. Now, appoint the time for
the wedding when you will"
''It shall be this very day."
GAS you will. If it must be so, l care
not for time. Henceforth all times are
alike to me-"
SAY, sweet Louise, all of joy"
"Yes-such joy as the lost child feels
in the deep wood; such joy as the poor
orphan feels when she stands by the
cold corpse of her dead parents"
Nonsense! But come; you shall find
better quarters than these"
So Simon Lobois led his promised bride
+ho hoaR m fhp
dwelling from whence she had been TAX
en- on the. previous night, and then he
went out to hunt up some more fitting
garb for her to wear. He went to the
Governor, and there he succeeded in pur-
chasing a suitable habit. It was a dress
made after the fashion of the times, Of
pale blue silk with scarlet facings, and
worked with silver lace and thread. 1t
belonged originally to one of Perier's
daughters, but she had never yet worn
it, it having been made for her wedding
dress, and her lover dying on the eve of
marriage.
The dress fitted Louise to fault, and
when thus prepared, she suffered herself
to be led to the church, for Simon had
determined that there should be no sub
sequent question about the Legality Of his
marriage When they entered the rude
church they found quite number of
people collected, and the aged priest was
there in his robes.
The poor girls head ached, and when
she stood before the priest she trembled
violently, and even Simon was startled
when he saw how pale she looked.
go on" she whispered. 20, go on,
and let me out from here, or shall die."'
The priest commenced the ceremony,
~ G;c-
tinctly. Then the holy man turned to
the bride, and he asked her the usual
questions. She looked up, and in faint,
forced voice, she replied:
'To the best of my abilities l will do
all this"
What more could human law require?
Even Simon was surprised, for he had.
feared she would hesitate. But he knew
not how sick and faint she was, and that
she might have answered thus promptly
in order to hasten the ceremony, for she
wanted fresh air. The ceremony was fin
ished, and the nuptial tie had been form
ed, and the marriage was registered in
the great parchment book of the clerk.
The fee was paid, and then the bride
groom turned away.
.'In heavens name, my wife," cried
Simon, as they reached the open air,
'what is the matter? What is it that
thus affects you?'
80, l am sick-sick as death!' was the
faint reply. "Hasten-hasten to our
home, or 1 shall fail and sink by the
waysideP'
Simon saw that his companion spoke
the truth, and with quick steps he hur-
ried on, sometimes bearing his bride in
his arms, and anon helping her to walk.
AT length they reached their dwelling,
and Loppa was at once sent for the ply
sician. The old man came, and at a
glance he saw that his patient had a re-
= lapse of her fever, and this time he shook
his head as he remarked:
1--WE can't drive it off this time, Mon
sieur Lobois. 1t. is firmly seated, and
must have it's run. But the lady has
sound constitution, so you need appre-
hend no danger. But she has not fol-
lowed my directions, l am sure, or she
would not thus have sunk. Has she had
the nutritious food | ordered p'
Simon stammered out reply to the eff
feet that the negro woman might have
neglected it.
The physician dealt out his medicine
and having given directions for the care
of his patient, he retired. Simon pro-
cured for his wife another attendant, so
as to have two of them, and then he in
formed. Louise that his business called
him up the river.
''To. the chateau?" asked she, family.
"Yes. l was in hopes that you would
have accompanied me, but that is now
impossible. However, 1 must go, though
I shall return as soon as possible"
"And what will you tell my fatherY'
Simply that you are my wife. OF
course shall explain how I rescued you
from the savages, and how, in return,
claimed your hand. But have prepared
the best of care for you during my alb
sence, and you shall not want for any
thing. The physician will be regular in
his visits, and I hope to find you well
when I return"
The invalid betrayed no sorrow at the
departure of her husband, nor did she
exhibit any extended signs of deep affec-
: ton at his adieu. She closed her eyes
as he spoke the parting words, nor did
she open them again until old Loppa came
and whispered in her ear that her hus-
band was gone.
pTER Wv