The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1906-09-11

resumed, speaking with less en-
phasis, for the opportunity you hay,
give me TO explain these matters
Ars without going into them any far
thef, wish to assure you once more
that my former offer was made from
legitimate and patriotic motives"
Jackson bowed, as if in acquies
cence.
But demanded LATTE, a sudden
rush of indignation sounding in his
voice, how was it received? My mo-
tiyes were impugned-my statements
branded as false; my messengers were
imprisoned. And, as fitting sequence
to this, an armed expedition was sent
tC 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 fosterbrother, after being NOR
tally wounded. was brought to New
Orleans thrown into the common gao,
and left there, 10 die
LATTE had been standing all this
time. But now, as he finished speak
ing, he seated himself and folded his
arms, while his face took an express
sion of stoical Indifference contrasting
sharply with the impassioned words
that had just poured from his lips.
Jackson and Claiborne looked at one
another as if each were waiting for
the other to speak, until the former,
while he 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 |, an officer OF
the army, cannot criticise in your
presence anything that took place
prior to my assuming command here.
But, speaking as a man, and as one
who has had his own share OF hard
ship and sorrow, | may venture to eX'
tend to you my regret and sympathy
for the trouble and bereavement that
seem to have been yours.
LATTE bent his head silently.
Claiborne, who had, been tidgeting
impatiently, now fastened to say,
You will do me the justice, Capt, La
ftte, to believe that wished to ac'
cept your offer. But my personal
views were overruled by those upon
whose judgment l relied; and the ex-
petition to Barataria was sent at their
instigation-not. mine"
and yet said Lafitte, with dry
sarcasm that brought faint smile to
J@ckson's firm lips, you are the gov
ernor of Louisiana.
Claiborne WINGED; but before he
could answer the thrust LATTE add
ed, with a shrug of his shoulders
But it matters not at whose instiga
ton the outrage was committed. The
facts are as have stated, and what
is past must stand. Now, Gen. Jack
son, may | ask that you open thai
package, and read the papers it con
tains?"
AS Jackson perused the first pa
per, the impressions he gathered were
plainly observable in his look, and
kalf-audible comments.
Fine bombast," he growled, before
going very far. Then, little way on
"Sophomorical rubbish! Savors OF
Elton, 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 a
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 it, when, CHANGING
to glance at Laftte, he was puzzled by
the expression of the latters face.
He was leaning back in his chair
his lips half-parted, and his face soft
ened 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 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
upon Barataria-feel uncomfortable
for, should LATTE recognize the pic
ture as his own property, its present
Eossessor would be placed in an unen.
vable 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
was forced to acknowledge to himself