The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-05-07
.WhiteHand|
"a Tale Of the Early Settlers F.;
E Of Louisiana. ;
BY AUSTIN c. BURDIcK !
CHAPTER XXI.

kind, and so was the physician. Yet
Louise had very severe sickness, and
a part OF the time she was out Of her
head. But gradually the delirium passed
away, and she was at length able to sit
up. 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. 1t was at the close Of the
fourth week that her husband returned.
Have | been away longer than you
expected?' he asked.
mo" was the quiet reply, "for I've
expected nothing about it."
"Ah" uttered Simon, with show Of
chagrin.
Il have been too sick to expect any
thing" explained Louise.
"0r' uttered the husband, more mild
ly.
"Yes-I hare been very sick. | even
feared at one time | should never see
you 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? l noticed your hand was
rolled in rags. What has happened?
Have you been fighting the wicked In
diansT'
Again Simon bit his lip, but he kept
calm.
at hou. Lod a J,ol an 1vour accountu
SIS it possible? How was it?'
II heard you insuted most grossly, and
/ would not bear it."
"You should not have borne it, at least,
If you loved your wife. But who was
itY"
"Goupart st. Denis"
Louise started.
Explain" she said, earnestly and Gag
erly.
"Ha! the name moves you, does itY'
"Why should it not? You know he
was once lover of mine"
This open avowal, so frank and hon
est, seemed to please Lobois, and he
went ON to explain:
mo matter what was said, but St.
Denis struck me. OF course | challenged
him. We chose swords. Your father was
present He would have stopped it If he
could, for he feared should get hurt
"As you did,"
"Listen. We fenced awhile, and
found that the boy was at my mercy.
Twice / refused to press my point upon
his open bosom. Finally, when / 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 | only tOyed with him.
This is only boys play, said l. Then
put up your sword said he. did so
and just as my point touched the ground
he brought me a 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 itr
"Well, then, | think you have told me
very fine story"
"Eh? Do you doubt my word2'
doubt you? Doubt the word Of ST.
mon Lobois? Believe that my own hus-
band could speak falsehood? Never, 81
mon-neverw
Sharply the scamp looked into Louise's
face, but he could detect nothing there,
save calm, cool expression of utter sim
plicity; yet he knew she was quizzing
him.
but you did not tell me how this all
came out" she said. "What did you
do after Goupart had struck you on the
handp
"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
csHtempt."
Poor Goupart! Did he know how deep
was your contempt for him?"
'What mean your
"Why, simply that you could have in
hicted no worse punishment upon him
than to have let him know that you held
him in contempt. 1t must have nearly
killed him"
Look ye, my fine girl, you are ventur-
ing on dangerous ground. You may say
too muchw 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. l have but
Just recovered from a 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
bard things in jest, and have even pull
cd 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
was Modified in a moment.
LET 1t pass" he said; "only in future
choose light occasion for light eonYer-
sation. And now to something OF more
Importance. When can you be ready
TO 90 up the riverT"
AT any time" answered Louise.
"Very well. l will see the physician
this evening, and be governed somewhat
by his advice"
Shortly after this Lobois went out, and
Nuth ANhuAHtu ne ludI Llc
doctor would come in the morning. So
that night Louise was left with Loppa,
and on the next morning the doetor came.
and with him came the anxious husband.
The former examined his patient care
fully, aud he expressed the opinion that
the wife should not undertake the jour
ney under week at least.
Then l believe | shall go to Biloxi.
There is a ship ready to sail, and l 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
an immense fortune, and be was prepar-
ing the way to put it to immediate use,
his main object being to obtain a profita-
BILE cargo to return to France, whittier
he meant to take his wife as soon as he
could dispose Of the few remaining OBJ
stacles that stood in his way. He start
ed that very night for Biloxi. and his
wife was once more left to the kind care
Of her sable attendant.
A week passed away, and her husband
came not. She had now so far regained
her health that she could walk out In