Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-05-24
CHAPTER XXXI.
The Payment.

When l reached Washington it was
| indeed spring, warm, sweet spring. In
tine wide avenues the struggling trees
were doing their best to dignity the
city, and flowers were blooming every
where. Wonderful enough did all this
seem to me after thousands of miles
of rude scenery of bare valleys and
rocky hills, wild landscapes, seen often
through cold and binding storms amid
peaks and gnrges, or on the drear, for
bidding plains.
Used more. of late. to these wilder
scenes | felt awkward and still half
savage. l did not at once seek out my
own friends. My first wish was to get
in touch with Mr.. Calhoun, for knew
that so | would most quickly arrive at
the heart of events.
He was away wnen l called at his
residence on Georgetown Heights, but
at last | heard the wheels of his old
omnibus, and presently he entered with
his usual companion, Doctor Samuel
Ward. When they saw me there, then
indeed l received greeting which re-
paid me for many things! This over,
we all three broke out in laughter at
my uncouth appearance. l was clad
still in such clothing as | could pick up
in western towns as | hurried on from
the Missouri eastward: and | had as
yet found no time for BARRIERS.
We have had no word from you,
Nicholas" said Mr. Calhoun presently,
"since that from Laramie, in the fall
spring OF eighteen fortysiX! Mean
time, we might all have been dead and
buried and none of us the wiser What
country. 'Tis more enormous than
the mind of any of us can grasp"
you should travel across it to learn
that" grinned.
Many things have happened since
you left. You know that am back in
the senate once more?"
nodded. and about Texas" l
began.
Texas is ours" said he, smiling
grimly. You have heard how? 1t was
a hard fight enough-a bitter, selfish,
sectional fight among politicians. But
there is going to be war. Our troops
crossed the Sabine more than year
ago. They will cross the Rio Grande
before this year is done. The Mexican
minister has asked for his passports.
The administration has ordered Cen
eral Taylor to advance. Mr.. Polk is
carrying out annexation with a venSc-
ance. Seeing a chance for more terri
tory, now that Texas is safe from Eng
land. he plans war on helpless and de-
serted MEXICO! We may hear of q
battle now at any time But this war
with Mexico may yet mean war with
England. That, of course, endangers
our chance to gain all or any of that
great Oregon country. Tell me, what
have you learned?"
| hurried on now with my own news,
briefly as l might. l told them Of the
ships of England's navy waiting in
Oregon waters; of the growing suspi-
cion of the Hudson Bay people: of the
changes in the management at Fort
Vancouver: of the change also from a
conciiatory policy to one of half hos
tility. | told them of our wagon trains
going west. and Of the strength of our
frontiersmcn: but offset this, justly as
might. by giving facts also regarding
.... isrht
PRECISELY" said Calhoun, walking
up and down. his mead bent. England
is prepared for war! How much are
we prepared? 1t would cost us the
revenues of a quarter of n century to
60 to war with her today. 1t would
cost us fifty thousand lives. We would
need an army of two hundred and fifty
thousand men. Where Is all that to
come from? Can we transport our army
there i'm time? But had all this blustcr
ceased, then we could have deferred
this war with Mexico; could have
bought with coin what now will cost
us blood: and we could also have
bought Oregon without the cost of
either coin or blood. Delay was what
we needed! All of Oregon should have
been ours"
But, surely, this is not all news to
you?" | began. Have you not seen
the Baroness Won Ritz? Has she not
made her repOrt?"
THE baroness" quericd Calhoun.
THAT stormy petrel-that advance
agent of events. Did she indeed sail
with the British ships from Montreal?
Did you find her therein Oregon?'
Yes. and lost her there! She started
east last summer and beat me fairly
i'm the race Has she not made known
her presence here? She told me she
was going to Washington"
He shook his head in surprise.
Trouble now, | fear! Pakenham has
back his best ally. our worst antag"-
MIST"
THAT certainly is strange" said !.
"Sne had five months the start of me,
and in that time there is no telling
what she has don" or undone. Surely
she is somewhere here. in Washington!
She held Texas i'm her shoes. | tell
YOU she holds Oregon in her gloves to-
day!
| started up, my story half untold.
"Where are you going" asked Mr.
Calhoun of me. Doctor Ward looked at
me- smiling. He does not inquire or
certain young lady"
81 am going to find the Baroness Won
Ritz" said |. | flushed red under my
tan, | doubt not: but | would not ask
a word regarding Elisabeth.
Doctor Ward came and laid hand
ON my shoulder. "Rcpublics forget,
said he. but men from South Carolina
do not. Neither do girls from Mary
land. Do you think So