Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-02-24
|WhiteHandI
"A Tale of the Early Settlers !
, of Louisiana. )
CHAPTER VI.
BY AUSTIN c. BURDICK

seemed to have thoughts which he wish
ed to keep from the other. Goupart
was the first to break the silence.
Louis" he asked, in half careless
tone, ''does Simon Lobois love your Sis
ter?'
Louis fairly started at the strange
question, and after regarding his COM
panion for moment, as if to assure
himself that he had heard Alright, he re-
piled:
Love herr? Simon live Louise? What
do you mean?"
Il mean what L ask. Has Simon Lo-
bois ever thought Of marrying with
Louise?"
"Why, what question! Are your wits
turned? But why do you askF
'sSimply because II wished to know.''
"Ha' Goupart, you suspect something.
Now, out with it. If you love me, tell
me all. Am I not right?'
II cannot say that I really suspect,
Louis, but can see some small straws
in the wind, and should like to find
which way they lie."
$50 ahead. Speak on"
"Then listen, Louis. You heard the
answer that red villain made when you
asked him who sent him to kill us? He
said they did not mean to kill you. Do
you believe he spoke the truth then?"
'Yes, Coup; they meant to kill one of
us, and only one. The arrow that came
near your head was meant for you, only
you must have moved after the shaft
started. Had they meant death for both
Of US, we should hardly have known
what killed US, for then they would have
been at home in their work. When we
started up, they could not we'll shoot you
without endangering my life, and thus
they got bothered. They were mistaken
in their estimate of my character, fer
they really believed, when they drew
their t9mahaWks, and commenced their
death=hoWl and dance, that we SHOULD be
frightened out of our Wits"
i"They were mistaken, in TRUTH" return
ed Goupart. And then, in a changed
tone, he added, But you see they meant
to kill me, and only capture you. Now,
what does it mean? Can you inform me
Of any possible pin whereon to hang a
thought?"
For some distance Louis walked
4thoughtfufy on, and when he spoke, his
voice was very low and distinct
H"You asked me if Simon Lobois loved
my sister? Had you any reason for sus-
pecting such thing?"
It was now Goupart's turn to hesitate,
but 1t was not for long time.
81 have reason to believe that he hates
me. Now, why should he be 70? While
l knew him in France, we Were on the
most friendly terms. To be sure, used
to beat him at the pistol, but then he
more than made up for it in the sword
play. But we were the best friends inl-
aginable. Now, however, he hates or
fears me, and the more he tries to hide
it, the mone plainly can I see it. Naiai
whence comes it, If not from his fea
losing Louise?"
s'Goupart, there's a show of substa
there! Yet never thought that Sir
was man to love deeply"
'"To love whatT'
"Why-any female"
"Ah." returned Goupart, che may h
strong affection, however, for Sd
thousand pieces of hard, yellow q
The dying man said, if you remem
that there was a strange bird in
eagles. nest!'
Yes-yes."'
~ might have feared that suspic
weuld fall on me, had not | been one
the intended victims. But tell me, Lol
what you think OF 1t.
Il know not what to think now! i
you have touched a strange point.
mill watch Simon Lobois when we rea
home.'
"We will,'' uttered Goupart, eager
'We will watch him.
"Ay," resumed Louis, upon who
mind the startling suspicion seemed
work now, 1--WE will work it so that
win come upon him suddenly; and VIII
we tell of our adventure, we will no
his face. / have loved that man in da!
gone by, for he. has been faithful to NJ
yet have found him growing somewha
strange of late. Ha. what's that
Louise, as I'm a sinner! Coup, I'll as
her a question now, ere we reach th
housew
The two hunters had now reached th
field next to the dwelling, and they sa
Louise, accompanied by Tony and on
female slave, coming to meet them. A
soon as the first merry greetings wei
over, and Tony had taken the veniso5
Louis drew his sister aside.
"Leuise,' he said, assuming a smil|
though he felt it not, Il know you wi
pardon me IL I ask you a very FOOLS
question, but yet l hope you will answa
me truly. Has Simon Lobois ever sal
anything to you whereby you could SUI
pect &hat he wished to possess you I'D
his?''
why, Louis, what has put such
thing iate your headY' uttered the beat
tiful girl, looking her brother.in the fad
with a smiling expression.
1.-THE thought has come to me, and it
really for my interest to know. Now tie
me If he has ever let drop any word
that effect"
.Really, Louis, ought not to"
..Aha! you've exposed yourself. No
out with it,
tWell, then, he has"
II thought So"
.'I told him l should fear he was Graz
If he ever spoke SO again."
"Then he spoke plainly-he-"
"I'll tell you, Louis. He swore b
should die if I did not wed him; and
laughed at him, and told him he wa
crazy I never dreamed of such thin
before"
"And when was this?'
son the very next night after Goupart'
arrival"
Shortly after this the brother and sis
ter allowed st. Denis to rejoin them,