Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-04-14
White Hand:
"A Tale Of the Early Settlers
; of Louisiana. :
BY AUSrIN C. RURDIcK
CHAPTER Xv.-(Continued.)

"Why, really, gentlemen" said Simon,
after he had picked the paped up, lone
would think there was something surpris-
ing in a simple marriage. And you, sir, y
he added, turning to the marquis, II
should not suppose that you would won
der at this, especially seeing that you
yourself gave me permission to seek
Louise for my WIFE"
II did not" groaned the old man. so,
I never gave it!''
you told me distinctly that I might
ask Louise for her hand, and that if she
consented you should bid her follow her
own choice"
But that was after you had fAirly
hunted me down with questions-after |
had refused to listen to you on the sub
ject. But my child never freely gave her
consent to this. She could not have done
so. o, Simon, you have eforced her to
this! You have But the poor man 8
emotions were too powerful, and his
speech failed him. A moment more LIE
gazed into the villains dark features, and
then he bowed his head and burst in o
tears. He sobbed as though his noble
heart would break.
"Ha, ha, ha! you didn't want me for a
son-in-law, then," the scoundrel uttered,
in a coarse tone; "for," he added, turning
a defiant look upon Goupart, 'you meant,
no doubt, to have had a more beautiful
husband for her."
"You will be careful how you use your
tongue in my presence" spoke Goupart,
in a hushed tene, the very breathing of
which told that there was a smother-ns
volcano near at hand. ~
Hobo, monsieur!" the fellow replied;
you hoped to stick your fingers into the
old mans gold pots, eh? / understand
the reason of your coming here very well.
But rest assured you won't handle the
money through the daughters pockets. -
Hush, Simon Lobois! l am move
now more deeply than 1 can bear, so be
careful that you move me no more. 1t is
enough that you have crushed this old
mans heart, and overturned his life cup"
Hobo! thou art wondrous sensitive,
Monsieur st. Denis. You have lost the
prize, eh? I suppose if you had married
the daughter, 'twould have been all right.
But you're little behind the coach this
time. However, if you remain here long
enough, you shall see the BRIDE"
''Villainw gasped the marquis, in a
frantic tone. 20, would you had killed
me ere you had done this thing!''
Dulp A1OHS1cuIs "udL uO yOu Medn IL
the girl chose to marry me, what can
you obiect?"
"She did not choose so to do. o, she
never consented to wed with such as you
of her own free will"
"Such as mer' Kissed Lobois. "And so
you would spurn me now, Ell? You have
found a new flame in your dotage-have
you? Monsieur st. Denis, l give you joy
n4 Tho friend how OoinoI. h11t
can't give you up the wife. You did 1t
well, but I'm afraid you'll have to work
some other way for living now, unless,
indeed, monsieur lie marquis may take
pity enough on you to give you a few
crowns just to find you in bread and salt
until you can get your eyes upon some
other heiress!''
This was spoken in coarse, sneeiing
manner, and during it's delivery Lobois
had kept his eye fixed upon the youth
with look of fiendish exultation.
Goupart st. Denis could not have NOV
ed more quickly. Not in all the language
Of all the world could words have been
found more, insulting. With one bound
he was by the dastard's side, and on the
next instant he dealt him a blow upon
the face that felled him to the floor like
q log.
80, ST. Julien, could not help it! For
give me!'
"Goupart, do not blame youv'
For some moments Lobois lay upon the
floor like one dead, and the youth was
beginning to fear that the blow might
have been fatal, when the villain moved,
and shortly afterwards he arose to his
feet. He gazed a moment upon his enc
my with a deadly look, and then, as he
noticed that the blood was trickling down
his face upon the floor, he turned towards
the door.
"Goupart St. Denis, thou shalt answer
for this!'
And thus speaking, the villain left the
room.