Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-03-03

as they went out and snuffed DIP the
sweet, baimy air of the beautiful even
| ing, Louise clapped her hands and pro-
| posed a game of 'hide and seek" The
others shouted acquiescence, and even
! the old man was bound to join in the
| sport. Louise and her brother knew all
| the hiding places within the enclosure,
and the former pulled Louis aside, and
whispered merrily with him.
Now, none Of that" said Goupart-
'none of that! 1t is not fair for you to
conspire against me. If you two put
your heads together I'll go and charter
old Tony to come and help me. Now
mindv'
But the only answer he received was a
| joyous laugh as Louise ran away to dress
herself for the outdoor sport.
The moon rode high in the heavens.
and her face was but slightly turned
away from earth. In the wide courtyard
| the merry voices rang tunefully out upon
the calm night air, and the glad notes
were caught up and flung back by the
| distant forest.
Away over the brow of a gentle hill,
where a copse of beautiful acacia trees
were left standing, moved many dark
objects. They were crouching in the
wood, and listening to the shouts that
| came from the distant dwelling. Anon
| they gathered together and conversed In
a strange tongue, and then they moved
slowly up the hillside, and crept down
towards the corn field. On they moved,
like specters in the moonlight, until they
neared the high barricade, and then set
tied lower down and crept on like huge
cats approaching their prey. Straight
they moved towards the postern, ana
there they lay, beneath the wooden wall,
and listened to the merry voices from
within. Soon one of them arose to his
feet He was in the shade Of the wall,
but yet the many colored paint upon his
dark skin could be seen, and the dusky-
browed warrior was no more concealed.
They were ala score of them-painted
in the same fantastic manner, and the
same dusky hue marked the brow of
each. He who had arisen to his feet pro-
duced something from his pouch, and
applied it to the lock Of the heavy post
ern. 1t was a key! And how came that
child of the forest by the key of st. Ju-
liens gate?
The shouts now come from the garden.
11dIhs AGS-lucy are d1 luS1C upOA bAC
other side of the house. They have just
found Goupart, and are now dragging
him forth from his hiding place.
Carefully the Indian turns the key in
the lock, but the gate is fastened within.
The heavy bolt has been surely thrown
back, and yet the gate opens not. But
there is no time to be lost. The red men
whispered together a moment, and then
80 hic lynooa nd
when a second has mounted upon his
shoulders, he arises. They are both tall
men, but he who stands upon his COM
panion's shoulders cannot quite reach the
tops of the stout pickets. Another man
stands firmly by the side of the lower one
and then he above places one foot upon
the second shoulder thus offered him.
Now third man springs nimbly up, and
having mounted upon the shoulders of
him who stands thus elevated, he gains
the top of the barricade, and in mo-
ment more he drops upon the ground
within. Soon the postern is opened and
six men enter, leaving the remaining ones
without, and then the gate is almost
closed, and thus held, SO that it can be
opened when need comes.
Away towards the stable these specters
glide, and soon they are hidden; for they,
too, will play at the game that the pale
faces have set on foot.
Many times had Goupart hidden, and
as many times had he been easily found.
And now he and the marquis chose to
hide together, and after a deal of shout
ing, the brother and sister pull them out
from behind the thick cluster of vines
that grow against the garden fence. Next
Louis and Louise scamper away, laugh
ing and clapping their hands, for the
utter delight Of the father, when they
purposely let him find them, has warmed
them into almost a frenzy of joy.
"Stop-stop!" cried the marquis. as his
children start. ''Isn't it becoming too
damp for you Louise?"
so. no! Never fear for me-"
But the dew is now fairly wet upon
the grass, and fear you'll take cold
''No-no, fatherp' cries the joyous girl.
"Don,t let the first chill frighten you"
"Well-go this once, and then We'll
60 in. I'm growing chill and cold''
"Ay-you shall have a job before you
find us. Now watch for the word"
Away they went towards the barn,
and as they turned the angle of the
house. and were thus lost to sight, Gou-
part remarked:
''It is growing cold"
cay" returned the old man. "This dew
is falling fast, for l can feel the damp
ness on my feet. While we were excited
did not feel it. But I can stand it,
only l feared that Louise might take
some cold; and you know that would not
be pleasant
NO" said Goupart-and the tone of
his voice showed that he, too, had enter
tanned some fears. "Hark!' he added.
81 think l heard them CALL All, they've
got some deep hiding place this time, for
l heard the voice as though it were
stifed. But we'll find them. Gomez
And away they ran towards the point
from which the voice had proceeded.
They searched all around the barn, under
the cart. In the straw, behind the doors;
and then they went to the stable, and
here, too, they overhauled everything
they could move, the old man even mov-
ing a board that lay against the fence. 4
''INhey must have slipped around into
the garden" said Goupart.
And so back to the garden they turned.
Il