Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-03-26
|WhiteHand|
"a Tale Of tho Early Settlers
! Of louisiana.
/ nv AUSTIN Q. sURpicK
CHAPTER XII.

" would not be nAfes Ihe old bekrra
was hrm and uneompromlalng, but ~
kind aud conaiderate us far as her cal
OF her charges welfare was concerned
Louise had made some examination Of th
house In which she was confined. and uh
was satisfied that she could not escap
from Il without much labor aud trouble
II was on the tfth day OF her aojonri
there that she was aroused from III o
deep thought by the entrance OF slmoi
Lobois. lie came In with q warm smll,
upon his face. aud after some remark
upon Loulse's Improved looks, he took
seat by her side. She did not shrlnl
from him, nor did she seem afraid o.
him. but with keen gaze she fixed hcI
deep blue eyes upon him.
Sweet cousin" be said, In a toae oI
extreme softneas, why was Il orderet
that | should bc the one TO save yor
from the jaws OF dcathi Why was
singled outf'
Surely. Simon. II was because you, Of
all others. were In duty bound 10 save
me-" replied Louise.
''Ha! how aoT" the cousin asked. with
slight start. but quickly recovering him
self.
why, because 10 you my father gave
me In charge. Because you have received
handsome salary for taking cafe OF
me-"
II should say that you had shown an
early disposition to throw of the yoke OF
my authority"
"Ah, how sof''
"Your own sense win tell you how"
Simon responded. somewhat bitterly.
20. meant no play upon the past. my
cousin. But then you are my near rela-
tive, you know hence you ought TO
save mo-"
And this in the gratitude you feel for
the service have done you"
"Now, Simon. you did not ask me how
! felt. You only asked mo why II was
you were singled out TO save me. Most
truly. for all OF good you have eyeasdone
me do ! feel most duly grateful. For all
your acts Of kindness TO me. you have
my deep acknowledgment"
Lobols seemed for the moment non.
plusscd by the oK.hand manner in which
he was thus far met, but his forces were
soon In order again, aud he renewed the
Louise, you remember the conversation
We once had In the studyl"
Perfectly, Simon. Aud you remem.
ber the answers | gayew replied the
girl
"Yes-I do remember them: have re.
membered them ever since. And now let
me assure you that | look upon this
strange event as an opportunity granted
by heaven itself for me to ask those
questions over again."
"Simon Loboisl Are you IN earnestT'
II am. A love such as mine cannot
be cramped by the result of one inter-
view. IL 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 ASA
that one question again. Remember now
the debt You owe me; remember the dou-
bic claim | now have"
Double claim. Simonl"
"Ay--a double claim. First, the claim
resulting from the care | have held for
you since early childhood; and, second
this last claim founded in the very saw
Ing Of your llfe."
ut was curious that you should have
been the one to save me--wasn't itT
said Louise, looking Into her companions
face with an expression he could not ana
lyze, though he tried hard TO do so.
at was," he replied.
"And that you should have landed Just
In that place, toop pursued Louise with.
out removing her close gaze from her
dark cousins face. "And how strange
that they should have camped directly
by the boat landing, where the whites
would be sure to come II they crossed
the lake--wasn't it2-especially when we
consider what repute they have for
shrewdness and cunnlngY'
Simon Lobois WINGED at this, and
perceptible trem0r ran through his
frame. But he recovered himself with
an effort. In a few moments
'It Is strange" he said, "and have
often said so since. But can see In Il
only the opportunity OF pressing my
claim to your heart and hand now with
more hopes of success, must ask you
now II you will accept the heart and
hand offer your
Simon Lobois. you know l cannot do
II" uttered Louise. In firm, frank tone.
Beware, Louisel ask you kindly
now. confess my love and l beg OF
you to accept It."
"a husbands love from you never
can accept, Simon"
Think carefully ere you speak"
But what mean you? l have thought |
carefully, and have equally as candidly |
told you that yours can never be. Now. |
what more can you askT'
u shall ask but little more," returned !
Simon, through his set teeth. II am now
In position to command"
Speak plainly, monsieur"
'Then, plainly-you must be my wife,.
But l shall simply apply to the Gov
ernor."
THAT win help you none, for Perier
Is my friend, and has pledged me his as
Bistance."
"But he will listen to the prayer of
helpless girl"
mot when that prayer Is prejudiciaId
to the interest Of his friend. He is anx-
ious that all the marriageable fema,es
should be married as soon as possible. In
short, my dear cousin, he has pledged
me his word as man, and as an officer,
that you shall be my wife. Now what
say your" 4
Il should certainly say that he was
great scoundrel," returned Louise, re-
garding her companion with fixed look.
You are cool, mademoiselle ?"
Because do not believe that you can
be In earnest. monsieur"
II am In earnest, Louise! and, more