The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-08-31

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Burr lowered his voice and stepped
closer as he said, 81 have been en-
gagged in some correspondence with
our commander-in-chief, Col. Wilkin-
son. Communication with him, how
ever, is difficult, and since what l have
written is upon private-I may say,
ticklish business, am anxious that
the letters fall into no hands but his.
Now the favor l would ask of you is
the safe delivery of these" He took
from the pocket of his waistcoat two
bulky envelopes.
CHANGING at the address, Winslow
said, Il am to deliver these at given
time"
Il hope you will not have to deliver
them at ALL" was the surprising ans
wer. Then Burr explained: i expect
i hope to meet Col. Wilkinson at
Natchez, or near there. l shall do so
if our plans have not miscarried. But
he may not have received my instruc-
tions; he may yet be in st. Louis, or
he may stop at Fort Massac while you
are there. In the event do not meet
him, l wish him to have this packet.
expressly desire, too, that nobody
else see it; in the hands OF the enemy
these letters might do me harm"
This speech, delivered rapidly, dra-
matically, was not without its rousing
effect. Winslow carefully transferred
the letters to an inside pocket of his
waistcoat, and said, cordially, These
are safe with me. And now one ques-
tion-if it so chance that Col. Wilkin-
son is not in st. Louis, or from any
cause, find it impossible to deliver
them in person, am l to intrust them
to anybody else?'
Under no circumstances, sir" Burr
instantly replied, and looked with
strange meaning straight into the eyes
of his messenger
Winslow returned the gaze for mo-
ment in silence; then, with flattering
assurances of esteem and gratitude,
Col. Burr dismissed him, and the inter-
view as over.
Alone, Winslow felt a strange sink
ing of the heart; it was as though the
door were shut upon all his hopes,
leaving the future blank. Then
swept over him a feeling, half pity,
half affection, for the lonely women
thrown thus upon his care. The girlish
beauty of the one, and the restful, spir-
itual charm of the other pleaded brave
ly against present hopes. Besides,
there came the soothing thought that
Whatever befell, whatever he missed,
this was none of his choice; no alter
native had been given him; in decency
he could not have refused the trust.
80, after all, am to be a chevalier!
A Don Quixote reincarnate in nine
teenth century domino! My shield, a
windmill above schoolhouse on a
field argent"
He strolled on deck, his spirits al
most buoyant. In his philosophy re-
greet had no place-nor, indeed, had
enthusiasm. To whichever side the
doubtful scale turned he bent purpose
and energy. AFTER ALL" he thought
'the thing we do is seldom our affair
it is the doing that rests with u.s."
Before the departure of the boats
next day, Aaron Burr lined his fol-
lowers up on the bank and addressed
them in his most eloquent fashion. He
admitted that his policy had not been
fully outlined to them, but he enjoined
patience and hope. The uncertainty
of affairs in the south. he declared,
final arrangements impossible. Allud-
ing to his arrest on Blennerhasset is
land he said:
Events have transpired which make
caution doubly needful. Above all, |
urge you to trust me-to have faith in
the ultimate success of the expedition
Ours is a high emprise, worthy the
souls that follow it. Forward, and
may the fortune that favors the brave
be ours"
Magnetized by the force of Burr's !
presence, and alive to the futility of
objection at this late day, no opposi-
ton was raised, no demand made for
more explicit information. Three
cheers were given for their leader
less, however, from enthusiasm than
in the effort to fan their waning ardor.
For the scene was cold and bleak and
dreary enough, and as Lavender laugh
ingly said, everybody whistled to
keep up his courage"
When the flotilla reached Fort Mas
sac there was no trouble from the mil
tia stationed there. No message had |
been received of their expected arrival,
no orders to detain them. On the con-
trary, Aaron Burr was greeted with |
marked attention, which was extended |
to all of his party. Before leaving the
fort, he had. an interview with the
from whom he won prom
ises of hospitality for those left under
his protection.
81 shall esteem it a personal favor, |
Col. Mitchell, if you will treat the la
dies and their escort as your guests
for few weeks-or until such time as
they see fit to continue the way"
Under the spell of the speakers voice
and eyes, the commander did not in
quire-even of himself-the reasons
for oor,D1vipU NOR tho yunccihla advan-