Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-19

No leisure was left them to pay visits
happened that Hamilton had not here
tofore met Major Burr at the house
where Miss Clifton was sojourning;
nor was he previously aware that there
was any acquaintance between them
He now learned for the first time that
she had travelled from Canada under
his protection. Jealousy is a deep
, sharpener Of the vision. Shakespeare
tells us that
"Trif1es light as air.
Are to the jealous combinations strong
AS proofs Of holy writ"
And that great master Of the human
heart might have added, that these
trifes are not always wrong indices to
the truth. Sometimes they must
very often they may-lead US widely
into error; but there are other times
when they invest the judgment with the
auickness and the certainty Of intui-
ton. His thoughts once directed into
the right channel, Hamilton perceived
what Burr himself had never suspect
ed. The cause of Miss Clifton's extra
ordinary distress on hearing a decla-
ration of love from his lips was now
easily understood. Giving to his rival
no higher credit for virtuous self-de-
nial than he was conscious Of possess
ing himself, and believing that the
same reasons that prevented him from
offering his hand to Adelaide Clifton In
lawful marriage would have the same
influence over Major Burr, Hamilton
persuaded himself that the lovely girl
had become a victim to the arts Of a
that her ruin could not long be delay
ed The wound inflicted by the per-
suasion of his rivals bad triumph car
ried along with 1t balm. 1t furnished
an excuse for relentless hostility. II
anything should occur to expose the
vindictiveness Of his hatred, he had
only to point to the murdered inno-
cence Of Adelaide Clifton for his JUS
tification 1t was not pleasant to have
the keen eye Of Burr resting upon him
while such thoughts filled his mind;
and, pleading indispensable business as
an excuse he rose to take his depart
ure Burr also took his leave; and
Hamilton noticed with a pang that
while his own adieus were politely re-
turned, she extended her hand to Burr,
saying
You are so infrequent a visitor that
/ must bid you more earnest good
by"
For nearly the length Of square
they walked on together, conversing
about the probable movements Of the
enemy, and agreeing in the opinion
that General Washington would soon
be compelled to evacuate the city.
They separated on terms Of apparent
cordiality-Burr to return to head
quarters, Hamilton to mature the dark
scheme that was just beginning to as
sumo distinct form in his busy brain.
A perfect master Of the arts Of dissim-
ulation, he generally contrived to con-
ceal from the public the terrible pas
sions by which he was often shaken.
Few were aware Of the malignity ha-
bitually cherished by the polished gen.
tleman and the dashing soldier, and
none suspected the low intrigues and
the vile expedients to which he was
capable Of resorting to injure an enc
my or supplant a rival.
1t was not many days after the last
meeting between Burr and Miss Cliff
ton, before he perceived that the man
ners Of the commander-in-chief were
growing cold and distant He felt this
the more keeniy because the position
he now held had been in a manner
forced upon him. He had been called
into the generals military family In
opposition to his desires. and had only
accepted the appointment on account
of the opportunities Of his friends.
The clerkly labors to which so much
Of his time was devoted were not to
his taste. He felt that he had the ca
pacity to perform other and higher
services. He painted for a commission
In the line, which would give him
wider field for exertion. Still, however
dstasteful might be his present duties,
he was conscious Of having discharged
them we'll and faithfully. He could
imagine no cause for General WASH
ingtons displeasure, and was far too
high spirited to make inquiries, or
volunteer explanations unasked. BY
degrees a report gained currency at
headquarters that General Washington
was seriously offended by the scandal
of an amour in which, 1t was said one
Of his staff had borne disreputable
part.
No one was pointed out as the guilty
individual, and Burr took no notice OF
the report. Others did not exhibit a
like independence of character. Each
one was anxious to exculpate himself,
and very soon II was settled that Aaron
Burr was the member Of the staff to
whom allusion was made. His school
boy reputation for gallantry was re-
membered, and recited with the usual
embellishments and exaggerations, and
a hundred other circumstances, un-
important in themselves, were so ar
ranged as to give probability to the
charge. 1t was not an offense pun
ishable by military law, and 1t was
probably on that account that the gen.
eral made no public inquiries. 1t may
be, also, he expected that the accused
party from a desire to retain the good
opinion Of his commander, would seek
an opportunity to exculpate himself II
possible, and not wait to be questioned
or formally accused. Judging from
what would have been the conduct OF
ninety-nine men in a hundred, this eX-
pectation was reasonable. In Burrs
case it was unreasonable; first, be-
cause he had never heard the accusa-
tion until after he had been deeply
wounded by the extreme, and to him
unaccountable coldness Of the general.
In the second place, If he had heard IT,
he would have scorned to enter the
lists against an anonymous slanderer
or engage in the task Of repelling
oh ho could he frana1 m no res