Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-26
THE RIVA AIS.
A Story of the Times of Aaron Burr and
Alexander Hamilton.
BY JERE CLEMENS.

You will meet me here tomorrow
she said, in tone of gentle inquiry.
A warm clasp of the hand, and a
murmured Yes, sweet one, yes!" was
followed by another of those long, lin
gering kisses that send the blood leap
ing in fiery, currents through the veins
and shed around the soul an incense
so sweet that We cannot believe that
it was born to die.
Another day was added to the cycle
of time. During that day the mind OF
Aaron Burr had been like the wintry
moon, over whose broad disk the clouds
are chased in broken columns by the
hoarse and angry wind. Troubled
thoughts and fitful resolves, and now
and then a clear, bright ray of hope,
were all confused and jumbled togeth-
er. AS the chaos of his feelings sub
sided, the barriers to his love, forgotten
yesterday, became painfully apparent
He had not thought of them hereto
fore, because he had indulged no pur-
pose to avow his attachment; and
vainly trusted that the tongue could
be ruled into silence when the heart
was bursting to be heard. little
more experience of his own heart
might have taught him that 1t would
be easier to dam up a torrent with
sand, than to maintain the cold ST.
lence he had imposed upon himself
while lingering near the object Of his
passion. 1t is pity that our knowl-
edge so often comes when 1t is too late
to profit by it. If we could only begin
life with the same amount Of expert
ence that is beat into us before its
close what a world of mistakes and
troubles would be avoided! If we
could only know ourselves little ear
lier, and a little better, earth might
become a very attractive dwelling
place. But We walk on, believing our
selves stronger and wiser than we are,
until some unexpected pitfall opens
before us, and away goes the man and
his hopes forever. Aaron Burr had
been like a blind man wandering in a
wilderness Of sweets, who forgets, un-
til he feels it's sting, that a viper may
nestle among the roses. He did not re-
member that, no matter how beautiful,
and gifted, and virtuous, Margaret
Moncrieffe might be, 1t was impos-
sible for his love to end in happiness;
and it was not until that love was
spoken, and its return avowed, that
all the objections to 1t that had been
floating vaguely and dimly before him,
tial realities, and chilled his sanguine
nature into despair. One day had suf-
feed to reveal to him the hard and
naked truth; and when the hour for
the meeting Of the lovers arrived, Mar
garet Moncrieffe stood alone in the
gallery. Her heart bounded when at
last she heard his well-known step,
and a glad smile illumined her coun-
tenance. Upon his visage no such joy
full expression rested. He approached
her slowly, and, taking her hand,
pressed it to lips bloodless from agony,
then dropped it and said,-
I'VE have been like unthinking chill
dren, Margaret, and must pay the pen
atty for our folly. A lovely flower was
growing on the outmost verge of a
precipice, and in our eagerness to
gather it we have fallen into the abyss
below"
What is the NATTER" she exclaim-
ed wildly. "Oh, what terrible thing
has happened?"
Terrible indeed!" he mournfully
replied. Yet it was lovely and sweet
in its coming. You and l have been
guilty of the deep sin of loving one an
other. You and l, between whom
there is a gulf as wide as hell, have
permitted our heart-strings to inter-
twine, and when they are torn asun-
der, as they must be peace and hap
piness will bleed themselves to death. y
But why should they be torn asun-
der? Why may they not remain inter
twined forever"
Look there!" he said, pointing tC
Staten Island. with your naked eye
you may discern the tents of Eng
lands soldiery; with the telescope you
may mark the very spot where
floats the regimental banner ol
your father. Think you thai
naughty officer VIII give his daughter
to one who is fighting with halter
about his neck? Who. if he wins, may
be termed patriot; but if he loses, viii
certainly be branded as a traitor anc
conducted to a traitor s DOOM"
"Oh, yes! He is too just not to make
allowances for this unhappy quarrel
and when he comes to know you well
he will cheerfully sacrifice any remain
ing prejudices to his daughters hap
piness."
Never, Margaret-never! Besides
that is the least obstacle in our way
Tomorrow. or the next day or an!
day, may witness an assault on thi'
city. When that time comes, l shall
| be i'm the front rank of its defenders
If meet your father then, my swort
will be directed at his heart, as GER
tainly as at that of the vilest merce
nary under his command. Could l ap
proach you and ask this hand while
my own was still red with the blood o
your parent? No, Margaret: we mus
part. 1t was madness-nay, worse,
was dishonor-to go on as | nave done
shutting my eyes to consequences al
idiot might have foreseen. To haV
crushed my own peace was ba'
enough; to have aimed a deadly blow
at yours, is a sin no repentance cal
atone"
The young girl listened in speeches
woe. The rose fed from her cheek, ant
a dull film gathered over the soft blu
eye that had just been eloquent VIII
the happiness of requited love. Bu
hope has it's natural home i'm the bos
ON of woman, and soon a cheering
light flashed upon the rayless gloom
her despair
There are trials before us, my owl
love-" she replied, in a voice sweete
than the Tyre of Orpheus. Trials an
troubles and bitter hours; but they ar
not so dreadful as you think. Thi