"I will see you early."
Her hands clasp his warmly! She says: "Colonel, send Pere Francois
to me. I will tell him all you need to know. He will know what to
keep back."
"That's right," cries Joseph, warmly. "I know how to handle Hardin
now. You can bank on the padre. He's dead game."
"And your reward?" Natalie whispers, with bowed head.
A wild thought makes the blood surge to Joe's brain. He slowly
stammers, "My reward?" His eyes tell him he must make no mistake.
A flash of genius.
"You will square my account, madame, if you make no objection to
the immediate marriage of your daughter to Dauvray. He's a fine
fellow for a Frenchman, and she shall never know this story. She'll
have money enough. I'll see to that." Joe's voice is earnest.
Natalie's arms are stretched to him in thanks. "In God's name, be
it, my noble friend."
Joe dares not trust himself longer.
He retires, leaving Natalie standing, a splendid statue, with
shining, hopeful eyes. Her blessing follows him; sin-shadowed though
she be, it reaches the Court of Heaven.
Natalie, in silent sorrow, sees her labor of years brushed away.
Her child can never be the heiress of Lagunitas. Fate has brought
the gentle Louise Moreau to the very threshold of her old home.
Pages:
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545