The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-05-14
lH%~%4~~~H@A@A% AHA~A&H~~4
|WhitGHand|
IA Tale Of tho Early Settlers {
! Of Louisiana. !
sYAUsTIN c. BURDIcK
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
oHApTER xxII.-(COntInued.l

sobs OF the marquis.
'Shall such foul mockery standT' at
length said st. Denis in agony. Let II
be torn in sunder and cast aside. BY no
law of justice or right can"
''HOldp interrupted Lobols, who had
now nerved himself up to the conflict.
"You but make a useless disturbance
when you thus give thought to the idea OF
annulling the bond of marriage between
my wife and myself. Ere took the final
step consulted with the governor, and
be bade me 90 on, and have his pledge
of sustaining me. You have heard my
wife's story. That | used stratagem to
gain her hand, admit, for saw an in
terloper was about to snatch the prize
from me. And now you know all. Hence
forth / trust nothing may occur to mar
the harmony Of our social intercourse"
Turning to st. Denis, he added, tri-
umphant look settling on his sharp fea-
lures: "And as for you, sir, | trust you
will see the necessity Of removing your
self from the society Of those who can
only be made unhappy by your presence.
II you have the common sense | suppose
you have, you will see the necessity OF
this; and II you have the feelings Of
gentleman, you will not hesitate"
Goupart raised his clasped hands to-
wards heaven, exclaimlng:
HAS 1t come to this? Must all my
hopes thus fall back upon my broken
heart, and the sweet dream of years end
IN black despair2 Louise, beloved Of my
soul, lost, but still cherished one"
His words failed him, and he bowed his
he'd in a passionate burst of tears. In
q moment more he heard a low cry Of
hopeful tone, and a pair Of arms were
twined about his neck. He looked up,
but II was not Louise. 1t was the flow
ing eyes of White Hand that met his
own, and darkly stained arms were en-
twined about his neck, A voice of
Thanksgiving next fell on his ear, and he
saw the Indian girl on her knees, with
her hands clasped, her streaming eyes
raised heavenward, and giving thanks to
the Great Spirit st. Denis started as
he gazed into the deep blue eyes fastened
on him. A moment more, he heard his
name pronounced in a tone sweet and
familiar, that made his heart bound wild
ly in his bosom.
This scene has progressed far
enough" now spoke the one Simon be-
lleved to be his wife. Simon Lobois,
your wickedness has come to a climax,
and back on your own head shall fall the
terrible consequences of your machina-
tionsw
"Ha-ha, Louise, you have gone too far
nowv Lobois uttered confidently. IF
you imagined your marriage was but
Jest, you were mistaken. You'll find the
knot too strongly tied to be cast off at
will"
Poor fool! Cannot you open your
eyes2 Simon Lobois, did you think Louise
st. Denis would have married you while
life remained? Did you think she would
have stopped to mate with you when the
grave was open to herY
"A-and-are you not married to me?
Are you not my wifeT'
II thluk you'd find me a hard one to
manager for at this very moment, were
you not beneath my notice, would cha
lenge you to mortal combat, and I'd serve
you worse than Goupart did. Look, ST.
mon! Don't you see that Indian youth
resting in Goupart's arms? How l have
lOnged for this moment! Up-up, my
father! Thy children are safe, and il
they have returned to thee in exchanged
guises, be assured they left thee in the
same way!'
"How2" gasped Simon, starting back
and turning pale. "You-you--"
why, am your wife, Simon, II you
say so; but II you keep me, you shall fight
a duel with me every morning, and well
alternate till one Of US falls; first morn
ing, pistols-next morning, swords. You
have seen me shoot some."
At this juncture the truth had forced
itself to the old marquis mind.
ut must bev' he whispered, seizing his
noble son by the hand. 'It must be my
own noble Louis! Assure me do not
dream"
"You do not, father, for am your own
Louis. But see-here comes Louise.
Don't cast her off because her skin Is
duskyw
rs 1t possible!' gasped Lobois, as be
saw Louise sink on her fathers bosom.
There's been some foul witchery here
some deep, internal machnation! Louis!
--Louisel The son is the daughter, and
the daughter is the son! There's a foul
plot here"
ayr cried Louis, tearing the rich
gown he wore from his body, and re-
vealing the light undress of French Of
hcer. there has been foul plot, and
you can well explain ltp'
'Me-explaln stammered the villain,
gazing first at the youth and then at the
maiden, who yet wore her Indian dress.
"Who are your he gasped, starting to-
wards the seeming Indian, and seizing
the dusky arm. Speak! Who are yep
II am one whom you once sought for
wifep'
Louise st. Julien?"
"Yes."
"Ahl Duped-befoOled! But-there's
a plotF'
A few moments more he gazed upon
the two metamorphosed ones, and then,
utterly powerless from mad delfrium, he
sank down.
But Simon Lobois was not the only
one in the dark. The old man and st.
Denis were lost In amazement. The lat
ter had clasped his own loved one to his
bosom, and she had whispered into his
ear the sweet promise Of love once more,
yet he could not understand It.
II see you are all astonishSd," said
Louis, "and viii tell you what | know
Of this funny affair. So sit down and
listen; sit down-all of you"
And down they sat, Coqualla keeping
close by her companions side, and seem.
Ing as happy as the rest OF the happy
ones.
Now listen" commenced Louis. you
remember on that night when We played
hide and find me- in the yard. Louise
and went Of into the house before we
hid. We had planned to have some sport
with Goupart. Louise and never real
lied how much we resembled each other
until we exchanged garbs. When saw
her in my clothes, she looked just like
my own self in a mirror; AMI VIII
had put on her dress, which had to be let
out but very little, she assured me | was
her counterpart, and when looked in tie
mirror, could have sworn she stood be-
fore me. W. had reached the corner OF
the barn. arr | was showing T.olise