Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-14

addressed to himself, placed 1t In his
pocket. A light, almost smile OF sat
isfaction, played for an instant over
the features Of James Billings; then
came a long drawn sigh, a gasp, a
shudder and his spirit winged It's
flight to the judgment bar Of God.
Thus, with no one near him but the
man he had so deeply wronged, that
bold, gifted, and hardened villain
passed away. True to the bloody In
stincts Of his nature, his last thought
was vengeance-his last feeling that
of satisfaction at the prospect Of Its
accomplishment.
Calling some of the inmates Of the
house into the dead mans chamber,
Colonel Burr took his departure and
walked rapidly to his own residence.
There he opened, with eager hand, the
packet which had been placed In his
possession, and read over, one by one,
the papers 1t contained. Morning found
him still engaged in his absorbing oc-
cupation. At breakfast, he contented
himself with a single cup Of conee;
and, directing the servant to deny ad-
mittance to any visitor who might call,
again sought his library. With hur-
ried steps he paced the floor, his hand
sometimes pressed upon his forehead
and sometimes thrust into his bosom,
as IL he sought to still the throbbings
Of his beating heart. Great God!" ne
muttered, has this -blooded devil
been for so many years blasting my
prospects, blackening my character,
and numbering my hopes, while /, fool,
dolt, idiot. that have been. have gone
on in blind ignorance Of his machina-
tions? You, too, Margaret-young,
gifted, beautiful, and pure then-you,
too, he dared to approach, and cover
all over with the slime Of calumny. And
poor Adelaide, his first victim, whom
he consigned to a mad-house, In the
freshness Of her youth, and beauty, and
who now fills lunatic's grave. Oh,
God! Il Is an account Of crime and
horrors for which one life will be poor
payment indeed!"
Again he paced the room In silence.
Then he paused in the middle Of the
floor, with his eyes fixed upon the car
pet The burrows of agony had disap-
peared from his countenance, and he
wore the air of a man who was in
tensely studying some difficult prob
lem. Soon his thoughts took the
form Of words.
yet how, how am to reach him?
How hold him to account, without re-
vealing things it would madden me for
the world to know?"
He raised his head as he spoke, and
his eyes rested upon paper which
was lying on the table. Eagerly he ad-
vanced, and picked it up. He had ac-
cidentally seen the name Of Hamilton,
and now he read: General Hamilton
and Judge Kent have decided, In sub
stance, that they looked upon Mr.. Burr
to be a dangerous man, and one who
ought not to be trusted with the reins
of government. I could detail to you
still more despicable opinion which
General Hamilton has expressed OF Mr.
Burr"
With a sigh of satisfaction and relief
he folded the paper carefully, locked
1t In a drawer with the packet he had
received from Billings; and, repeating:
THAT will do, that will do!" retired
to his own chamber to sleep. To sleep!
Yes he did sleep soundly for hours.
When he awoke, he partook Of hearty
meal, for one of his abstemious habits
and, Immediately afterwards, sent for
his friend, Mr.. Van Ness, to call the
next morning and bear to the general
a hostile message. According, the
next day, Mr. Van Ness placed In the
hands Of General Hamilton note from
Col. Burr, reciting the offensive pas
sages, and concluding with demand
for "a prompt and unqualified acknowl~
edgment or denial" of that which was
imputed to him. Hamilton was taken
NS~-'
on many occasions, harsher phrases,
and they had been permitted to pass
unnoticed. He hesitated, pleaded i'm
portant business, and 1t was not until
two days afterwards that he addressed
a long communication to Colonel Burr
whose obvious purport was to eVade
the responsibility of either denial or
acknowledgment of the language i'm
puted to him.
Colonel Burr promptly responder
that the letter was unsatisfactory; that
he could find in 1t nothing of that
sincerity and delicacy" which Hamilton
professed to value, and concluded:
Your letter has furnished me with
new reasons for requiring a definite
reply"
To this General Hamilton returned
no written reply, but submitted to MI
Van Ness certain propositions as ba-
sis of adjustment. Colonel Burr pre-
pared a letter Of instructions to gov
ern Mr.. Van Ness in the negotiations; T;
but, wearied by the delays which had
already occurred, and fearful that other
delays might be interposed, he resolved
upon a step that he knew must make
a meeting inevitable. About O'CLOCK
at night, after muffling his face so as
to prevent recognition, he walked 10
General Hamilton's house.
To a question as to whether General
Hamilton was in, the servant VINO
opened the door answered in the al
firmative.
Tell him." said Burr that a gentle
man wishes to see him for one moment
upon urgent business, and as l nave
no time to spare, he will greatly oo-
lige me by walking to the door.
General Hamilton Immediately came
out, and Colonel Burr, pulling the door
after him so as to exclude the lght'
and prevent any one within from over
hearing their conversation. said In MS
natural voice.
General Hamilton, do you know
me?"
Colonel Burr!" replied Hamilton, In
surprise.
Yes, sir; and 1 have called to tell
you that did not seek satisfaction
from Won on account of the petty SIAN