Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-03-31
White Hand
"A Tale Of the Early Settlers ;
; of Louisiana. T.;
CHAPTER XIII.
BY AUSTIN c. RURDICK

was NrIu anu Dut -
kind and considerate as far as her care
of her charges welfare was concerned.
Louise had made some examination of the
house in which she was confined, and she
was satisfied that she could not escape
from it without much labor and trouble.
1t was on the fifth day of her sojodrn
there that she was aroused from Mt or
deep thought by the entrance of Simon
Lobois. He came in with warm smile
upon his face, and after some remarks
upon Louise's improved looks, he took a
seat by her side. She did not shrink
from him, nor did she seem afraid Of
him, but with keen gaze she fixed her
deep blue eyes upon him.
Sweet COUSIN" he said, in tone of
extreme softness, "why was it ordered
that l should be the one to save you
from the jaws of death? Why was l
singled out?''
Surely, Simon, it was because you, of
all others. were in duty bound to save
me-" replied Louise.
"Ha! how SOP" the cousin asked, with
a slight start, but quickly recovering HIM
SELF
why, because to you my father gave
me in charge. Because you have received
a handsome salary for taking care of
me-"
Il should say that you had shown an
early disposition to throw off the yoke of
my authority"
"Ah, how sop
"Your own sense will tell you how"
Simon responded, somewhat bitterly.
80, meant no play upon the past, my
cousin. But then you are my near rela-
tive, you know-and hence you ought to
save me-
And this is the gratitude you feel for
the service l have done you"
Now, Simon, you did not ask me how
l felt. You only asked me why it was
you were singled out to save me. Most
truly, for all of good you have ever done
me do l feel most duly grateful. For all
your acts of kindness to me, you have
my deep acknowledgment"
Lobois seemed for the moment nom
plussed by the off-hand manner in which
he was thus far met, but his forces were
soon in order again. and he renewed the
attack -s-ss
Louise you remember the conversation
we once had in the study?''
Perfectly, Simon. And you remem-
ber the answers l gaye?" replied the
girl.
"Yes-I do remember them; have re-
membered them ever since. And now let
me assure you that l look upon this
strange event as an opportunity granted
by heaven itself for me to ask those
questions over again.
''Simon Lobois! Are you in earnest?"
81 am. A love such as mine cannot
be cramped by the result of one inter-
view. 1t has been cherished too long,
and has become too deeply rooted. From
one less loved / might have turned away
under such rebuff, but not from you.
No, no, Louise; have come now to ask
that one question again. Remember now
the debt you owe me; remember the dou-
BILE claim L now have"
Double claim. Simon?''
"Ay-a double claim. First, the claim
resulting from the care l have held for
you since early childhood; and, second.
this last claim founded in the very saw
ing of your life"
1T was curious that you should have
been the one to save me-wasn't it?'
said Louise, looking into her companions
face with an expression he could not ana
lyze, though he tried hard to do so.
1T was" he replied.
"And that you should have landed just
in that place, too?" pursued Louise, with
out removing her close gaze from her
dark cousins face. "And how strange
that they should have camped dire, tiy
by the boat landing, where the whites
would be sure to come if they crossed
the lake-wasn't it?-especially when we
consider what a repute they have for
shrewdness and cunning?'
Simon Lobois WINGED at this, and
perceptible tremor ran through his
frame. But he recovered himself with
an effort, in a few moments.
'It is strange" he said, land l have
often said so since. But / can see in it
only the opportunity of pressing my
claim to your heart and hand now with
more hopes of success. l must ask you
now if you will accept the heart and
hand l offer you?"
.'Simon Lobois, you know l cannot do
it." uttered Louise, in a firm, frank tone
Beware, Louise! 1 ask you kindly
now. 1 confess my love and 1 beg of
you to accept it."
"a husbands love from you l never
can accept, Simon
''Think carefully ere you speak,"
"But what mean you? l have thought
carefully, and have equally as candidly
y
what more can you ask?'
II shall ask but little MORE" returned
Simon, through his set teeth. II am now
in a position to command"
"Speak plainly, monsieur"
'Then, plainly-you must be my wife"
''But l shall simply apply to the Gov
ernor."
''That will help you none, for Perier
is my friend, and has pledged me his as
sistance."
'But he will listen to the prayer of a
helpless girl.''
''Not when that prayer is preiudicial
to the interest of his friend. He is anx-
ious that all the manageable fema es
should be married as soon as possible In
short, my dear cousin, he has pledged
me his word as a man, and as an officer.
that you shall be my wife. Now what
say your
81 should certainly say that he was a
great scoundrel," returned Louise, re-
garding her companion with fixed look.
''You are cool, mademoiselle"
Because l do not believe that you can
be in earnest. monsieur"
II am in earnest, Louise! and, more