Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-03-24

Tickfah trail. and I could think of no
place from whence they could have
brought a young white maiden captive
in that direction save from the estate Of
our father. | say our father, for surely
he has been a father to me. The more
l thought of the matter, the more con-
frmed my fears became. A French ship
lay in the river, and 1 easily hired some
of her men to come with me. ., Louise,
do you realize how great is the blessing
thus fallen upon you? What must have
been your fate had | not found you as |
did?''
But the maiden did not reply. She
was thinking how fimsy and improbable
was the story her companion had told,
and she wondered if he thought her such
a simpleton as to believe all he said.
do you realize what fate must have
been yours?" Simon urged. "A death
of torture, or life of misery"
Il know the Indians are sometimes re-
vengeful, but l do not think they would
have murdered a defenseless girl" said
Louise.
"Ah, you do not know them. You do
not know these Chickasaws. They are
monsters of cruelty"
"And yet they have been very kind to
me-"
Kind, Louise? Then why are you so
pale and wan?-and why so feeble?"
Because I am not well. 1 am sick.
Last night had a severe fever, but my
captors prepared some medicine from
roots that they found in the earth, and it
relieved me at once"
"Ah, that was but to hold you up on
P,1% rialy
now. Let me fix a place for repose."
Simon spread blanket upon the boats
bottom in the stern Sheets and fixed it
so that Louise could lay her head upon
one of the thwarts, and when this was
fixed, she availed herself of the oppor-
tunity for rest thus afforded, for she
was in truth sick and faint, and her head
ached. 1t was not all the result Of mere
fatigue or fright, but disease had abso-
lutely fastened upon her-a slight cold,
perhaps, at first, but now verging to a
fever.
Yet Louise slept, and when she awoke.
she found the sun shining down full up
on her, and the boat had reached the
southern shore. She was assisted to
land, but she could not walk. However,
horses were at hand, and when she was
seated in the saddle, the party started
across the land towards New Orleans,
which they reached before noon. The
place contained not more than hun ired
dwellings, and those were humble and
primitive in form. The territory of the
town had been laid out into squares.
sixty-six in number, Of three hundred
feet each. These squares were eleven in
number upon the river, and six in depth:
A14 L -l,,ko al. 80 49,
ural state of the land, it's geographical
position had marked it out in the mind
of It's founder as the nucleus of a mighty
city. His quick and comprehensive mind
understood the advantages of the position
in a commercial point of view, for he saw
that here was the natural point between
ocean and inland navigation.
To a low, wooden house ON Bourbon
street was Louise conducted, and at her
own request she was at once shown to a
bed, and physician sent for. An old
negro woman, named Loppa, came to
wait upon her, and in a little while the
physician came. He was an old man.
and well skilled in drugs. He examined
the patients pulse, her tongue, and ask
ed numerous questions, and then an
nounced that with care she might be well
in very few days.
During the rest of that day and the
following night, Louise saw no more Of
Simon Lobois. Her head ached much,
but finally the old doctors potions quiet
ed the nervous action, and late in the
evening she sank into a gentle slumber.
On the following morning she felt much
better, so that the doctor smiled when
he came. In three days from that time
she was fairly recovered from her dis
ease, though she was very weak, partly
from the severe shock she had received,
and partly from the effects of the medi-
cines she had taken. At all events, the
physician deemed it not necessary to call
again, and only ordered now that his pa
tents diet should be strictly attended to.
As Louise thus began to regain her
strength, she wondered when Simon Lo-
bois would take her home. She had ask
ed him once, but had gained no direct an
swer.
(To be continued.)