The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-12-06

The servant hurried with the card to his
mistress, and she on glancing at it ex-
claimed: IB
Aaron Bart. the ex-Yice- President of
the United States. Fl Can it be possible we
have so distinguished q visitor? He must
not depart without sharing our hospitali-
ty.
Mrs. Blennerhassett had the unfortun-
ate weakness common to her sex. a fond
ness for great men, weakness that has
ruined many. TheGbrilliant oratory of IL
politician, the stately dignity of n Judge
or the brilliant uniform of an officer are
not evidences that the man is a gentleman.
The lady of the house donned her bon
net, and assuming her most winning smiles
went herself to invite the distinguished
visitor to the house. Col. Burr knew this
would be the result of his sending his
the lady would not be fatigued by going
after him.
Harry was sure he had never seen a
more winning and attractive face than
Mrs. Blennerhassett's, though he could not
call her really beautiful. She was all
smiles and her voice and manner so charm
ing as she insisted on the ex-Vice- President
remaining until her husband came that it
would have taken much more perverse
nature than Aaron Burrs not to have
yielded to her persuasions.
She was enchanted with Col. Burr, and
the Colonel was charmed with her. He
consented to remain with her until after
tea. Harry Granger had never seen Col.
Burr at his best before. He was in the
society of an accomplished lady whom he
determined to win, and all his arts were
brought into play this evening. The whole
demeanor of the man was changed. He
was never gloomy or Respondent, though
at times sarcastic, vicious and terrible; but
on this night he was gentle, soothing, en-
chantingly winning, until Harry Granger
could hardly believe him the same.
IF L possessed such powers L should
have little fears of winning Maude Liy-
ingston," he thought.
They remained at the Blennerhassett
mansion until IL in the evening, and re-
sumed their voyage. Burr's friend in his
biography says of Mrs. Blennerhassett:
''She was an energetic, accomplished, ami
able woman but not remarkable for her
beauty or her style. She was exceedingly
pleased with her visitor, and remained his
steadfast friend through all the long series
of events that follower this first inter-
view"
Little did the unfortunate woman dream
that the serpent had entered her home
to turn this Eden into a hellp' Better
would it have been for Mrs. Blennerhas-
sett had a murderous savage landed on her
island home. There grows a plant in the
West, fair to look upon, with a beautiful
flower and not unpleasant aroma, but so
foul to the touch that it stains and dis
gusts. Aaron Burr was such plant. He
was fair to look upon, his voice and man
ners were irresistible, but his touch was
pollution.
Three hundred miles below Blennerhas-
sets Island they came to Cincinnati, then
but a village of 800 inhabitants. The
floating house was tied up here, and Aaron
Burr spent a day at the house of eX-Sen-
ator John Smith, and met friend named
Dayton, whose fortunes were bound up
with his own. III
The result of these interviews Harry
never knew. Often he became uneasy and
restless, and had 1T at his tongues end to
again question ;Burr2a as to the ultimate OBJ
ject of this expedition, but was restrained
by the assurance that the chief never
made his plans known. Once when alone
Burr asked:
How would you like to be the founder
of an EmpireT"
"Oh, it would be glorious" declared the
enthusiastic youthsJS
Would it not be more glorious to con-
Quer one. To overthrow tyrannical king
dom, and set up a new government"
1T might"
What would you think of a title like
Harry turned his eyes upon him in
amazement, and with laugh Burr walked
away. What did he mean? The youth
long pondered over his strange remark.
At Louisville, then called the Falls of
the Ohio, Burr again overlook Mathew
Lyon. That gentleman repeated that the
delay he had made had ruined his pros
poets of election, as that prospect depend
ed solely on domciliatiOn.
At this point Burr changed his fiatboat
for small boat, which he ordered to Ed
dyville. Harry Granger and some others
were left at the Falls of the Ohio, with
instructions to beat up recruits for some
expedition of which they knew nothing,
while Burr continued his triumphal jour
ney through the South.
lTn no continued