Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-22
posed might prove dangerous to th'
peace of his hopeful son."

peace of his hopeful son."
Hamilton writhed like a wounded
serpent under this allusion to his ear
liest amour
Mani" he exclaimed-"man or de-
mon, you try me too far! If you mus
talk of the past, give me a history o.
lyour own exploits among the buc
Icaneers?"
There was not the slightest chang'
lin the countenance Of the hardened
man he addressed; not culver In nj!
voice, as he replied
II do not remember to have seen tht
name of Billings in the list Of bacca'
neers; although, like other curious peo'
pie, 1 read everything that was pub
Ilished about them. 1 suppose, there.
fore, that your suspicious have origi-
mated from some other circumstance
Will 1t be taxing your kindness toe
much to inquire what 1t is
mo matter" said Hamilton, who had
recovered his composure. 1T Is nc
matter. We have both been wrong
in referring to, things that had better
be forgotten. Let us now turn to the
business that brought us here"
Very we'll, if such is your wish;
though as it is Of interest to me to
know how much, and what kind OF
suspicion attaches to my name, shall
probably repeat the question at an
other time"
An hour glided off; then another, and
the two were still in deep consultation
The drizzling rain without had chang
ed to a driving tempest, and the wind
howled angrily along the street.
you will stay here tonight said
Billings, walking to the window and
"No. The British may make an at
tempt upon the city at any moment
and must be at my post. Our busi-
ness is arranged, and l can only tarry
long enough to take a glass Of wine
before l CO."
Your business Is arranged, Captain
Hamilton, and, to some extent, mine
also. In the future, as in the past,
you will find that my cooperation is
essential to your success. 1t has been
freely given, and l trust you will not
consider me unreasonable in desiring
to be informed to what circumstance
am indebted for the suspicion of
piracy with which you have honored
me-"
| You take up hasty expression too
seriously, Billings. 1t were better to
forget it."
II am indebted to hasty expressions
| for getting on the track of many a
truth; and, besides, l know you would
not hazard such an accusation, unless
you fully believed you could prove It,"
I'm public, certainly 1 would not;
but it was made to you alone, and at
time when you had pressed sorely on
very tender place"
And therefore. the more likely to be
earnest and sincere. Come, captain,
let us have the story"
Il tell you again, Billings 1t Is bet
ter to let it sleep where It is. Neither
you nor I have anything to gain by
raking up the ashes of the past"
Let us understand each other re-
piled his comrade, in tone of calm
but fixed resolution. 81 have served
you zealously, and propose to serve
you still more. Chiefly, l admit, be-
cause believe it my interest to do so.
Sometimes l think there Is one crazy
streak in this usually cloudless brain
of mine, and that Is the firm belief that
you are destined to attain the highest
place the new world has to give. Am
bition was not crushed in me by the
early vices that made its pursuit fol-
ly, and l look forward to the time
when you will have honors and titles to
bestow, as the period of my own tri-
umph and reward. You hold me, there
fore, by a strong chain-but 1t may be
broken. Aaron Burr is not my rival
in love, or in war. / have no personal
motive to lessen his just fame. l have
no wrong to complain of-no revenge
to crafty. If the fancy should strike
me that my aims might as well be ad-
vanced by transferring my services to
him, could crush you in an hour. In
what light would you be esteemed by
the stern chief who leads your armies
and from whom at present all honor
flows, if Carlota's story was Whispered
gay smile to your lips when necessary
although the devil is tugging with red
in his ears? Or suppose | should come
down to a later day, and draw a pic
ture of a gallant soldier, blackened by
calumny and a gentle maiden driven
in madness to the grave, through your
contrivances, how would that severely
just and upright man reward the con-
duct of his subordinate? With all his
great, and, to me, incomprehensible
qualities, he is human at last, and the
weight Of his displeasure would not be
lessened by the reflection that he had
been your dupe."
At this point he paused, as II tc
mark the effect of his words; and
Hamilton, striking the table with his
clenched hand, fiercely exclaimed
Go on, sir Let me hear the full
extent of your threats!"
II mean not to threaten; nor do
wish to excite your anger. only
meant to show that perfect confidence
between us is essential to the safety ol
both When l am certain that yor
hold in your hands, or believe you do
the secret means Of inflicting on me
deadly injury may we'll suspect tha
you contemplate paying my services II
that coin, if my demands should be-
come importunate. This suspicion once
fixed, would naturally lead me to strike
the first blow, and thus lessen YOU
power, by destroying your character
Remember that | have made no pre-
tensions to disinterested motives, no.
would you have believed me If l had
| serve you because | expect to Obtain
certain desirable objects through you