The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-05-09

was upon MS race, ana IN MS uaFkt Eieu
brown eye dwelt melancholy light, such
as could only come from bruised and
bleeding heart. His hands were folded
upon his bosom: his eyes bent upon the
ground, while within his own stout arm
was locked that of his companion.
1--WE can search no more" said the
marquis, in broken voice. "They must
either have been slain, or else borne away
off to the far homes of the Chickasaws."
"And do you think old Tony's report
can be relied upon?' asked Goupart.
Eyes. He says he il sure, and If he
feels so, then it is so.''
Then our only hope is in enlisting the
whole French force in our behalf. for
these Chickasaws are powerful, war
like people, and not easily overcome"
"Ah, we cannot do that" returned the
marquis, sadly. "The Governor, Perier,
is not warm friend of mine. He had
set his eyes upon this place before /
bought it, and he meant to have gained it
free OF cost. He dares not show open
hostility to me, but he would not help
me-" #
'"Then," said Goupart, II will myself
go in search, even though disguise NY
self in the outer semblance of the red
man.
But the marquis shook his head dubi-
ously at this. ....z. ......-...
"No, no." he said "You would only
throw away your own life, and then
should be left all alone. l could not
live, Goupart, if you, too, were gone.
Alas! what Of life Is left to either of us
now! l had just seen the opening Of
life's promise-the budding of my souls
great hope-when this drear midnight
camel!
For while after this they walked on
in silence. All search had been made
that could be planned with reason, but in
vain. Old Tony, who was quick of wit,
and who had not forgotten the wild life
of his youth, had followed the trail OF
the marauders a distance Of forty miles.
and there he lost it upon a branch of
the Tickfah. This trail led in south
easterly direction, so the Dereaved ones
had not 4 shadow Of doubt that Louis
and Louise had been taken to the distant
homes of the Chickasaws.
The day was drawing near to its close
when one Of the female domestics rushed
into the sitting room and announced that
Simon Lobois was coming. Both the
marquis and st. Denis started to their
feet, and gazed upon each other earnest
".
co." uttered the old man, ~ wish |
knew that Simon was innocent Of all
crime in this" The words were spoken
with strong, sudden emotion, and show
ed that the speaker had been racked with
dark doubts.
II would not say that he is guilty of
all this" returned Goupart; 'but things
rest most darkly against him. However,
we can easily tell. His face is very apt
to reveal the emotions of the inner man.
and feel assured he will betray him
SELF.
The marquis took a turn up and down
the room to compose himself, and by the
time he had done this, Simon's footstep
sounded in the hall, and in a moment
more he entered. He moved quickly up
to st. Julien and caught him by the hand.
"Ah, my good, kind father" he uttered.
81 have been detained longer than l ex-
pected. But | am happy to find you
WELL"
Then the black-hearted man turned to
GOupart, and with a stiff, formal bow. he
said:
Monsieur St. Denis, hope you are
we'll"
But the noble youth spoke not in re-
ply. He could not He detected in 81
mons eye look Of triumph that was not
to be mistaken, and from that moment
his suspicious were all alive again.
But l do not see Louis. Where is
he? asked LObOis, after he had taken
seat.
The marquis gazed fxedly into the
speakers eye, but he could detect no III
ing there out of the way.
Louis is-is-gone! the old man ut.
tered.
How? Have you not found him vet?
''Then you knew he was gomez" said
the marquis, with quick glance of fear.
@"Yes-I knew that both your children
were gone from here"
'How?" the old man asked.
Louise herself has told me the stor-."
was the calm response.
Both the old man and the young starr
ed to their feet.
Louise! Louise told you" gaspel
Goupart.
Yes. monsieur" returned Simon, gaz-
ing upon the youth with look of maltg-
nant triumph. II had the good fortune
to rescue the loved damsel from the hands
of the Indians"
At this juncture the marquis sank back
to his seat, and Goupart followed his ex-
ample.
And where is she now?' the stricken
parent asked. in a whisper.
"She is at New Orleans. should have
brought her with me, hut the state of her
health would not permit. She has a
fever; but you need not fear, for l have
left the best Of care for her."
But how-where-did you find her?"
at was most strange" answered ST.
mon, assuming a devout look. while in
New Orleans, l heard that a small party
Of Chickasaws were on their way to-
wards Lake Pontchartrain with a white
girl a prisoner. knew, of course, that
the red villains had been lurking about
here; and, moreover, knew of no other
point from whence they could have
brought such a prisoner, short of the fort
at Natchez. The fear became so firmly
fixed that l resolved to set out; so en-
gagged the services of one who knew the
region round about the lake, and having
hired some men who belonged to ship
then lying in the river l obtained two
small boats and set out. We crossed the