The National tribune., 1901-01-17
MORE MYSTERY.

-NONL WI CLINT
The very air seemed full of evil. 1t re-
Quired no wizard soothsayer or prophet
TO foretell that some great calamity was
about TO befall the Nation. The Fremont
tions were ominouS. and over all there was
a veil of mystery, strange, awe-1nspiring
and full of dread Up and down the banks
of the Ohio, even TO the Eastern States,
wandered a weird, witch-like figure, de
nouncing the man she snadOwed, and, like
an evil genius seeming to study his wishes
only 10 thwart them. No noble or patriotic
motive prompted this woman, who was
poor, old and ugly. 1t was revenge that
stirred up her soul, making her still more
hateful and repulsive than she naturally
was. Yet as God makes the wrath of man
to praise him, so the hatred of this old
woman was partially instrumental in saw
ing Il Nation from ruin.
BY the end of July Burr's preparations
at the East being complete, his first move
mcnt was to send forward Samuel Swart-
out who had been summoned from Ma
rietta, with Il packet of letters and commu-
nicatiOns, in cipher, TO Gen. Wilkinson, for
the purpose, as he said, of securing a con-
cert of action. between them. On the 18th
of July Swartout, accompanied by another
young adventurer, named Ogden, of New
Jersey, set out on his long journey to the
lower Mississippi.
y week ldIeT Duff anu MS daughter,
with two or three friends, and servant
or two, followed, taking what they sup
posed to be their last farewell of the East
ern world. As they hoated down the
Ohio, Burr occasionally had his boat land
and wait for him, while he made detours
into the adjacent country for the purpose
of procuring recruits and feeling the West
ern pulse.
The first visit of this kind had conse-
quences Of the utmost Importance, and led
to the subsequent ENHANCEMENT of the mo-
tive of the conspirators. 1t was at the
house of Col. Morgan, name Of renOwn
in the West, a valiant old campaigner
who lived with two stalwart sons, near
CannOnsburg, o., that this fatal visit was
made. Ciyilities had passed between Nor
gan and Burr in former years, and the old
patriot had conceived for Burr a very
warm friendship. According TO his Gus
tom, Burr had his visit heralded, as if he
was already an Emperor whom the world
should turn out and pay homage to, and
the old man sent forth his two sons to
meet the expected guests
Burr rode with one of the sons and Col
DE Peyster with the other. Burr's con-
versation surprised the young gentlemen
Among other things be said the Union
could not last long; a separation of the
States must cnsue as n natural conse-
quence, in four or five years. He made
minute inquiries respecting the militia and
arms OF the country and the character of
the officers.
When Burr reached the house he was
warmly welcomed by Col Morgan, who lit
tie dreamed that he was entertaining a
traitor. Burr was now grown holder, and
his ominous insinuatiOns and threats began
TO take form and meaning. On seeing one
OF MorGan's workmen, fine, stout fellow,
passing, he said:
Y,.E L.
armed with mnskets, bayonetS and suf-
hcient ammunition
Why, what would you want with them,
ColOnelF young Morgan asked.
Il will tell you, by and by" Burr an
swered with a laugh.
After dinner, in the presence Of con-
siderable company, Burr talked in 4 strain
that shocked and puzzled these good peo-
pie still more.
we have fine country" said Col.
Morgan. 'The wonders of our country
are hardly yet known. When first came
West there was not a single family be-
tween the Allegheny Mountains and the
Ohio, and now we have Counties thickly
populated, towns of considerable size, and,
by and by, we shall have Congress sitting
in this neighborhoOd, or Pittsburg.''
No, never" said Col. Burr; 'for in
less than five years you will be totally
divided from the Atlantic States
God forbid" exclaimed the old pa
triot. Il hope no such thing will ever
happen; at least not in my time"
The conversation then turned to Burr's
favorite topic-the imbecility of the Fed
eral Government.
1T is but rope Of sand, headed by an
arrant coward" Burr declared with
200 armed men / could drive Congress
with the President at its head, into the
Potomac River, and with 800 men / could
capture New York; couldn't /, Col. De
PeysterT'
De Peyster nodded assent, and one of
Morgan's sons, whose Indignation was
reused at these imputations against his
country, declared:
I'm be - if you could take our little
town of Cannonsburg with that force"
Aaron Burr was not disheartened by the
evidences of loyalty on the part of the old
man and his sons. With that consum-
mate art and subtle power which he pos
sessed TO such wonderful degree, he pro-
ceeded with his work OF PROSECUTING the
loyal Americans against their country
Burr little dreamed that he would end
among these rustics wits fully as keen as
his own and hearts that We're far more
loyal than his had ever been.
The Catiline of America shortly after
left the dining-room, and Col. Morgan felt
a little uneasy when he found him in CON
yersation with his son. Thomas. They
strolled away toward the young mans
mill, and an hour or two later Morgan's
other son followed them. He came back to
his father iii an. hour or so and said:
Father, You may depend upon it, Col
Burr will this night open himself to you
BE wants Tom TO go with him."
''Where?"
II God knows. DON'T"