Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-02-17
White Hand
"a Tale of the Early Settlers 5
; of Louisiana. >
CHAPTER IV.-(Continued.)
BY AUSTIN c. BURDIcK
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a moment upon the character of the
lovely pupil as he knew it, he would have
known that she could not descend to sport
with his feelings. Then he still might
appeal to her heart.
'Alasw he murmured, choking down
his Indignation, ''you know not what you
do. You know not the deep love that
dwells like a consuming fire within. But
l will not ask you to marry me now. Only
promise that, some time, you will be
mine. Give me your heart. and pledge
me your hand. And then we will be mar
ried when you are older. o, DO not re-
fuse me thisp'
My conscience, Simon, if we wait for
that, your hair will be gray, and you will
have to walk with a staff. And then
what a sorry-looking couple we should
make! Don't, Simon--don't talk so any
more. It's foolish in you to do so. l do
really begin to think you are in earnest.
But l don't want to hear you speak so
any more-truly, DON'T
''Then you will never love me?'
"Why, love you now, cousin. l have
always loved you. Why will you be so
foolish?''
''Alas, Louise! you have struck the
dagger to my soul. The lamp of my life
has gone out, and all my hopes are sunk
in utter darkness! You have done thus
much. Now, in mercy, take my dagger
and finish my pain. Take away the life
you have cursed, and let my soul escape
the agony it must endure while near thee
when thou art not miner'
''Stop, Simon," interrupted the maid
en-, just as he was putting ON the finish
ing stroke and look of agony. Il can't
be your wife; | never can. So there's
an end Of that matter. And now let us
forget that we ever had any such foolish
talk
"And how long has this been your
mind?' fairly hissed Lobois, as soon as
he could so far recover from his utter
amazement as to speak.
''How long?" repeated Louise, in sur
prise. ''Why, you might as well ask me
how long twas since had resolved that
1 would not marry with old Tony, just as
well-exactly. Nature set up the barrier
when she made me your cousin eighteen
years after your birth. Now"
At this moment Loaiae heard her faith
er calling her from the hall, and she
started up.
''You hear?' she uttered. ''My father
wants NE. Now you won't think any
thing more of this-will you? Put off
that ugly-looking face as soon as you can
and then come out and join US in our So
cial enjoyment There-he calls again.
Here / am-comingv' And with these
words, the buoyant, happy-hearted girl
tripped out from the room.
For some moments, Simon Lobois stood
like one thunderstruck, and seemed
watching, with a vacant stare, the place
where the young lady had been standing,
as if luEid gleam of vivid lightning had
made its transit. Then he started back
apace and clenched both his fists.
"By heavens!' he uttered, while his
face turned livid with rage, ''and shall l
bear this? Shall 1 sit calmly by, and see
another carry off the maiden and pocket
the half Of st. Julien's fortune? Shall /
see that wealth which has been so long
in my grasp-that wealth which l have
looked upon as mine, now wrested from
me? For years I've cherished this fond
hope-this picture of wealth, and now it
must not be blown away thus. st. Ju-
lien is worth this day five hundred thou
sand crowns, and they shall not have it
shall not!'
CHAPTER V.
A week had passed away since Simon
had confessed his romantic love for
Louise, and during that time he had
maintained much of his wonted compos-
ure. For day or two after the morti-
flying repulse he had been moody and
taciturn, but he gradually overcame it.
and now he smiled as usual, and made
himself generally agreeable. One after
noon, as soon as dinner was over, Gou-
part and Louis started off ON hunting
expedition. Their pistols they concealed
within the bosoms of their hunting shirts,
so that they might not catch in the
bushes, and their knives were in like man
her protected. They both had excellent
Toledo rifles, and set off in high spirits.
With quick steps they made their way
up the river, until they had passed the
bounds of the clearing, and then their
steps became more cautious, for they
hoped there might be a deer somewhere
at hand.
They had hunted about in the forest
for nearly an hour, when a movement
among the bushes at some distance at
tracted their attention. and upon creep
ing carefully up, they saw large deer
at a small brook that emptied
into the river close by.
"See," whispered Goupart, "here are
his tracks,"
Louis looked at the spot which his
pointed out, and a sudden
start caused Goupart to ask him it's
cause.
That's the track of a man." said
Louis.
''Some of the negroes have been out
here" suggested Goupart.
mo, no. returned the other. "They
have not been out here to-day"
But that may have been made yes
terday, or several days ago"
NO." said Louis, still gazing upon the
track. "This was made to-day. Just
look, and you will see that these leaves
are still damp ON the upper edges where
the foot has pressed them up. These
other leaves, you see, are dry where the
edge is free Of the earth. Then here
see this broken twig; see where it has
been pressed down. Now look" And as
be spoke, he lifted the twig, and showed
the place where it laid was perfectly
Try, whereas, had it lain there even over
night, it's bed would have been damp.
."Then there's been an Indian here,
shT