Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-03-14
CHAPTER xxx.

49,
1t was evening of a few days later
when the Creighton family, Gerald ex-
cepted, sat about the hearth where a
few fagots burned. 1t was still mid
summer, but for the invalid the night
wind blew cool. Their talk was chiefly
of the letter just received from Mrs.
Blennerhasset, who, an exile in the
south, awaited the issue of Burr's trial,
and her husbands fate.
"I will hear i'll of neither" she
wrote, "and faith in the loyalty of
both shall ever abide with me-"
Mrs. Creighton closed the letter with
a sad smile and doubling shake of the
head.
"Why, mother, dearest" cried Law
ender. "You do not doubt? You are
not of the idle majority-the masses,
ever ready to cruelty the fallen?"
Mrs. Creighton replied with the
calm judicial manner that seemed to
fit the brow, massive beyond her sex:
eve have no means of knowing the
truth, daughter. I doubt If even his
tory will solve this riddle which lies
hidden in the hearts of a few. There
are great and good in power who are,
as you say, ready to cruelty him. 1t
seems, therefore, as though we, be-
tween two fires, had better keep as
cool as possible"
But this view met with no sympathy
from the young partisan. She APP
pealed to her father: dad, do you
think Aaron Burr a martyr, as | do?"
The elder Creighton smiled. Hard
ly that; he may come out of this
trial with flying colors; in that case,
be sure he will find no lack of friends
of ~reparation. II he does not-well,
l am too much of a patriot to think
he will be convicted unless he deserves
1t. Let us abide the ISSUE"
But Lavender was unconvinced. "It
is audacious, | know, to hold opinions
where two such wise heads dare to
form none. All the same, | believe
that Aaron Burr is a much prosecuted
mani"
Encore, encore, l quite agree with
you" and at the door stood Winslow,
smiling and clapping his hands.
Lavender glided to meet him; then
on a stool at her mothers feet she
sat, with eyes on the fire, quiet and
happy.
They talked of the trial, although as
yet only meager news had reached
them.
$50 Aaron Burr has but one cham
pion in this assembly" and Winslow,
laughing, turned to Lavender.
at seems so" Mr.. Creighton as
scented. Women are, as a rule, on
his side. That is why l marvel at my
wife's impartiality."
Winslow took a letter from his pock-
ct. II have here word from a friend
who is summoned as a witness in the
trial. He is now in st. Louis. He
urges me to accompany him back to
Richmond, and | may CO." He fin
ished with an involuntary glance at
Lavender.
She sat within the radius of the fire,
her face suffused, less by its glow
than by the %throbbing of her heart at
the news.
Mrs. Creighton was the first to
speak. But this is not a sudden deter
mination? You had planned to go
soon?" and she glanced at Lavender,
and back at him.
Winslow was perplexed by her man
ner, full of a fond meaning. Here was
another loose end of the tangled thread
which had begun its aimless spinning
with the mothers words: You, whom
she loves" Z
But, puzzled, he replied, without hes
itation: mo, | had not intended go
ing at all this year. had decided
upon remaining for the school work,
but now there will be business mat
ters in connection with the claim l
have taken, and-and my plans are
incomplete" He finished, vaguely.
A mystifed silence fell, bat in q
flash the situation was clear to Law
ender, when her mother said, coldly:
when I was i'll, n day, you said
you were going back east, ~and--and-
well, you held out other hopes. You
have, then, changed your mind?"
81 am afraid there Is some mistake,
Mrs. Creighton; until very lately I
had no means, no hope Of going. I
am quite sure I have mentioned none"