Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-10-25

are there. In the event l do not meet
him, I wish him to have this packet.
I expressly desire, ton, 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. ked now one ques-
tion-if 1t so chance that Col. Wilkin-
son is not in st. Louis, or from any
cause, I find 1t 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 q 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 q strange sink
ing of the heart; 1t was as though the
door were shut upon all his hopes,
leaving the future a 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 nom Of his choice; no alter
native had been given him; in decency
he could not have refused the trust.
$50, after all, / am to be a chevalier!
A Don Quixote reincarnate in a nine.
teenth century domino! My shield, a
windmill above a 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 us"
Before the departure Of the boats
next day, Aaron Burr lined his fol-
lowers up o. 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 TRANSFERRED which make
caution doubly needful. Above all, l
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 fotilla reached Fort Mas
sac there was no trouble from the mil
itia 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
commander, Nom whom he won prom
ises of hospitality for those left under
his protection.
II shall esteem it a personal favor,
Col. Mitchell, If you will treat the la
dies and their escort as your guests
for a 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 complying, nor the possible advan-
tage there might be in comforting the
personal favor" He promised, and
the two men took snuff together, the
one amiable, condescending-the other
admiring, reverent.
Late in the day the boats, with Burr
and the Blennerhassets in the lead,
proceeded down the river, leaving a
forlorn little group to wav farewells
from the wharf.
Winslow stood apart; his wi dis
appointment was swallowed up In SYM
pathy for the helpless loneliness of the
women at his side. He looked at Law
ender as she stood-one arm about her
mothers waist, the white face peering
from its scarlet hood, and his heart
was c~uriously l%ightened. After all, he
could join the expedition later, and
and, he was not alone.
Soon the boats were lost to view-not
q ribbon of foam on the tickle water
marked their course-the river Swas
shrouded in a mist that seemed to rise
from the underworld.
They turned to seek shelter within
doors, when suddenly Lavender asked:
who is that sitting over there?" and
she pointed to where, 0 a fallen tree,
by the rivers brink, sat a woman-her
back toward them. Angular shoulders
enveloped In a blanket shawl and q
head swathed in a red bandana kerr
chief, like q bloody bandage, were out
lined against the gray walls Of the fort.