Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-06-09

shNlF ! NInu 10 ahauIt you once more
that my former offer Was made from
legitimate and patriotic motives"
Jackson bowed, as IL in acquies-
esLee.
But" demanded Lafitte. a sudden
rush OF indignation sounding in his
Voice. how was i received. Ny mo-
lives were impugned-my statements
branded as false: my messengers were
Imprisoned. And. as a hitting sequence
10 this. an armed expedition was sent
&c barataria; my men were butchered.
or taken prisoners: my vessels seized.
and my property destroyed. In addI'
ton to this. and harder than all else.
my fOstcr.brotheF. after being NOR
tally wounded. was brought TO New
Orleans. thrown into the common saol.
and left there. To die"
Latitte had been standing all this
time. hut now. ms he finished speak
inI. he seated himself aud folded his
arcs. while his face took an express
sion OF s,oicai Indifference contrasting
sharply with the impaSsioned words
that had just poured from his lips.
Jackson ard Claiborne looked at one
another. ms II each were waiting for
the other TO speak. until the former.
while hs fingered the package he had
taken from the table. said In tone
whose gravity held something akin TO
tenderness. Capt. Latte. you under.
stand. OF course. that !. nm Officer Of
the army. cannot CRITICS. In your
presence anything that took place
prior to my assuming command here.
But. speaking nE u man. and as ono
who has had his own share OF hard
ship and sorrow. I may venture tn cS-
tend TO you my regret and sympathy
for the trouble and bereavement that
seem TO have been yours"
Iafittc bent his head silently.
Claiborne. who had been hdgctinE
ImpatlCntiy. now hnHtcncd to say.
"Nou will do me the Justice. Capt. Ia
rtIc. to believe that I wished to nc.
ccpt your offer. but my personal
views were oycrrulcd by those upon
whose Judgment l relied: and the ex.
rcditIon to Barataria was sent nj their
| iuEtIgntIun-not mine"
"And yet said Latte. with diy
fnrcaSm that brought u faint smile TO
J.ckson's firm lips. you arc the gov
crnor Of Louisiana
Claiborne WINGED: but before ho
could answer the thrust Lahtte add
cd. with n shruE of his shoulders.
But II matters not at whose inst!ga.
ton the outrage was committed. The
facts are ns | have stated. and what
is past must stand. Now. Gen. Jack
Eon. may I ask that you open that
package. and read the papers II con-
,ains?"
As Jackson pcruscd the first pa.
per. the Impressions he gathered were
plainly observable In his look. and
talf.audible commcnts.
Fine bombast," he growled, before
going very far. Then. n little way on.
"Sophomo-ical rubbish! Savors Of
Eton. with some OF George the Thirds
silly maunderings." And SO on. until
the end was reached.
Claiborne had seated himself closer
to Jackson: and presently. the latter.
with an exclamation of the strongest
disgust. handed him the paper.
Here. Claiborne, you have seen
copy of this; but you had better re-
fresh your memory by reading the
original"
The governor TOOK the paper, and
lad begun to read IL. when, CHANGING
to glance at Lahttc. he was puzzled by
the expression of the latter's face.
He was leaning back in his chair.
his lips haif.parted. and his face soft
eEed by glow seeming to come from
an inward light, as his eyes rested
upon something hanging against the
wall. back OF the governor.
1t was an old engraving Of Napol-
con, one that, as the governor knew,
vas brought from Barataria by a SOL
der from whom he-an ardent admir-
CT OF the emperor-had rescued 1t.
The thought of this made HMM
the new light thrown by Lafitte's ac-
ousations with reference to the attack
iron Barataria-feel uncomfortable;
for. should LATTE recognize the pic
ture as his own property. its present
Iossessor would be placed In an unen-
viable position.
He had forced his eyes back to the
paper. whose contents he recalled
quite accurately But now, with the
impression already made upon him by
Lafttte. and the latter's face-as he
had Just seen it-intruding itself be.
tween his eyes and the writing, he
vas forced to acknowledge to himself
that, pirate and outlaw as he had been
named, the Barbarian leader had
shown the greatest generosity and
patriotism, together with a personal
courage which appealed strongly to
his-the governor's-sense of loyalty.
Possessed by this feeling, he glanced
again at the younger man. to see him
still looking In the same direction, ap-
parently oblivious of all surroundings,
while his rapt expression made the
governor wonder.
Jean Lafittes heart was in COM