Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-28
Lavender Creighton's
 Lovers
By OLIVIA B. sTRoHM

IL IS personal 1aVOr.
 A slight pause followed, which, had Winslow been younger or more en- thusiastic, he would have filled with protestations of devotion and pleasure at the prospect of serving his chief. But he only said. You do me honor, sir" with grave smile, and waited further instructions.
 Burr lowered his voice and stepped closer as he said, T 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 have written is upon private-I may say, ticklish business, I am anxious that the letters tall into no hands but his. Now the favor I would ask of you is the safe delivery of these" He took from the pocket of his waistcoat two bulky envelopes.
 Glancing at the address, Winslow said, q am to deliver these at given time?"
 q hope you will not have to deliver them at all" was the surprising ans wer Then Burr explained: T expect II hope to meet Col. Wilkinson at Natchez, or near there. I 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. wish him to have this packet. I 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 gre safe with me. And now one ques- tion-if it so chance that Col. WTiikin- son is not in St. Louis, or from any cause, I find it impossible to deliver them in person, am I 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 a mo- ment in silence: then, with fiattering 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.
 So, after all, am to be chevalier! A Don Quixote reincarnate in a nine. teenth century domine. My shield, a windmill above a schoolhouse on a field argent,"
 He strolied on deck. his spirits al- most buoyant. In his philosophy re. gret 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 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. I 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 1t. Forward. and may the fortune that fayors 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 vhistled to keep up his courage"
 When the Ho.iIla reached Fort Mas sac there was no trouble from the mill itia stationed there. No message had been received of their expected arrival. no orders to de,ain them On the con- trary. Aaron Burr vas greeted with marked attention. which was extended to all of his party. Before leaving the fort. he had an interview with the commander. from whom he won prom ises of hospitality for those left under his protection
 T shall esteem it personal favor. Col Mitchell if you rill treat the la dies and their escort as your guests for a fev peeks-or until such time as they see fl 10 eontinus the way I-ras~ fha su@ri S7f fre suesker1s rnfes