Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1906-08-10

resumed, speaking with less en-
phasis, for the opportunity you have
give me to explain these matters
ar without going into them any far
the,, wish 10 assure you once mort
that my former offer was made from
legitimate ard 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 Ny mo
tiyes were impugned-my statements
branded as false; my messengers were
imprisoned. And. as a fitting sequence
10 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 foster-brother. after being NOR
tally wounded. was brought to New
Orleans, thrown into the common gaol,
and left there, TO 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 ard 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 Laftte, you under
stand, OF course, that l. an officer o.
the army, cannot criticise in your
presence anything that took place
prior 10 my assuming command here
But. speaking as man, and as one
who has had his own share OF hard
ship and sorrow, may venture 10 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 fidgeting
impatiently, now fastened TO say
You will do me the justice, Capt La.
ftte, to believe that | wished TO &C
cept your offer. But my personal
views were overruled by those upon
whose Judgment l relied; and the ex-
redition 10 Barataria was sent at theiT
instigation-not mine"
And yet" said LATTE. with dry
sarcasm that brought faint smile to
J5ckson's firm lips. you are the gov
arnor of T Ouisfana -
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 l have stated. and what 4
is past must stand Now. Gen. Jack 4
son, may 1 ask that you open that
package, and read the papers it con- /
tains?"
AS Jackson perused the first pa i
per, the impressions he gathered were (
plainly observable in his look, and .
talf-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-
h. q
original"
The governor took the paper. and
.ad begun to read it, when, CHANGING
o glance at LATTE, he was puzzled by
he expression of the latter's face.
He was leaning back in his chair,
lis lips half-parted, and his face soft
med by glow seeming to come from
In inward light, as his eyes rested
lpon something hanging against the
: all, back of the governor.
1t was an old engraving of Nspol-
.on. one that, as the governor knew,
as brought from Barataria by a sol
Iier from whom he-an ardent admir-
T of the emperor-had rescued it
The thought of this made HMM
he new light thrown by Laftte's &C
usations with reference to the attack
ron Barataria-feel uncomfortable;
or, should LATTE recognize the pic
ure as his own property. its present
assessor would be placed in an unen-
liable position.
He had forced his eyes back to the
aper, whose contents he recalled
ute accurately. But now, with the
IMPRESSION already made upon him by
.aittte, and the latter's face-as he :
ad just seen it-intruding itself be- ,
xeen his eyes and the writing, he
as forced to acknowledge to himself
lat. pirate and outlaw as he had been I