Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-03-03
White Hand:
"A Tale of the Early Settlers
; of Louisiana. :
BY AUsTIN c. BURDlcK
CHAPTER vII.-(Continued.)

>~~~~~-~~~~~~~
CHAPTER vII.-(Continued)
''Speak to me, Louise uttered Gou-
part, now speaking quickly and eagerly,
land tell me if you have forgotten those
words 1 used to speak. Have you for
gotten them?"
''No-not one"
''Then. let me speak them again. Let
me now speak them as one who knows
the ways of life; and to one who can
judge for herself Of the deep meaning
that passing years have given to all those
emotions that have outlived the destroy
ing wear of time. In the heart where
thine image was first enshrined, none 9TH
er has ever come. / have cherished your
sweet face, and in humble prayer have l
begged that 1 might see you on1e more
on earth. And, at times, my soul has
been wild enough in it's flights of hope
to picture that one most holy thought of
all-life-union with the dearly loved one.
When my feet first touched these shores,
l dreamed not that 1 was near to thee.
But l found you, and here l sat me down
to pray with more of hope, and to hope
with more of promise. And now, Louise,
let me ask you, as l have asked you
hundred times before, will you be my
wifeY'
"Goupart, have a father whose every
earthly wish is for the good of his chill
dren, and not for worlds would IL"
Il understand" said st. Denis, as the
maiden hesitated and stopped. And be
assured that 1 would not ask, even for
life itself at thy hands, against thy no.
BILE fathers wish. But suppose 1 ask
him and he bids me take you?"
v L 1ty
what in heart have been for years"
A short time longer those two sat there.
and their words had solemn, prayerful
cast such as marks the holiest gratitude
of the human soul; and as they walked
towards the house, they spoke not Of the
subject upon which their life joys hung.
1t was already dusk when they reach
ed the hall, and while Louise went to re-
move her moccasins, St. Denis went to
seek Brion st. Julien. He found him in
his library.
How now, Goupart?" cried the old
man, as his young friend took seat.
What has happened? Any more In
dians? What on earth makes you look
SO sober?'
"It is deep and sober subject which is
on my mind" answered the youth.
AhC2A ouL W ilA II, 1OA oAAA AoIASA SOAA
fessor here,
st. Denis knew the marquis too well to
hesitate, and he spoke boldly and to the
point.
MY friend,'' he said, ''that love ey
cry member of your immediate family
must be apparent to you; but you will
not be jealous if l also inform you that
my love for Louise is rather stronger
than for any one else''
st. Julien arose and placed his hand
upon the youths head, and, while big
tears gathered in his eyes, he said:
"Goupart, my noble boy, you nave
made me the happiest of men. o, have
prayed for this moment many a time,
and now it has come. Among all my ac
Quaintances, you were the only one to
whom my hopes could turn. You shall
take my child, and you shall take me.
/ am growing lazy, if not old, and not
much longer will Simon remain with me-"
"Ah," uttered the youth, with look
of relief, sis Simon going?"
"Yes. He isn't just the man for me.
] will not have dissension, and so we
keep peace; but yet much of my nephew's
conduct makes me nervous. l do not like
his plans about the estate, and yet he
shows an abrupt, willful spirit if I offer
a word of expostulation. He seems bent
on realizing all the ready money he can
from the place without the least regard
to its future worth and improvement. /
do not like it. Yes, yes-Simon must
seek some other home"
'Harkp' interrupted Goupart. "What
was that noise?''
81 heard nothing" said the old man.
Let me look a moment" And thus
speaking, the youth went to the door
and looked out. But he saw nothing He
stepped out into the entry; but there was
DC one there. 81 must have been mis-
TAKEN" he said, as he returned to the
library and closed the door after him.
Ah he did not look in the right place
Had he cast his eyes up to the ceiling,
he would have seen a small hole where
the host once had a copper pipe lead
down to feed a showering bath. And had
he but gone up into the small lumber
room overhead, he would have found
man there, lying fiat, like serpent, with
his eye to that small aperture; and he
would have seen at a glance that the
watcher could both see and hear all that
transpired in the library!
CHAPTER VIII,
Days flew on now upon golden wings. |
and suspicion had ceased to work in even
Goupart's mind. Old Tony had watched
carefully, but he could find nothing IN