The Sauk Centre herald., 1910-06-30
rive at the neart OF events

with his usual companion Dr. Sam
uel Ward. When they saw me there.
then indeed l received a greeting
which repaid 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 I
could pick up in western towns as
hurried on from the Missouri east
ward; and l had as yet found no time
fer BARRIERS
"We have had no word from you,
Nicholas" said Mr.. Calhoun presently,
"since that from Laramie, in the fall
OF eighteen forty-four. This is in the
spring of eighteen forty-six! 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" l grinned.
Many things have happened since
| you left. You know that l am back
in the senate once more?"
l nodded. And about Texas?" I
began.
''Texas is ours" said he, smiling
grimly. You have heard how? 1t
was hard fight enough-a bitter, sell
fish, 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 Gen. Taylor to advance. Mr..
Polk is carrying out annexation with
vengeance. Seeing a chance for more
territory, now that Texas is safe from
England, he plans war on helpless
and deserted Mexico! We may hear
of battle now at any time. But the
war with Mexico may yet mean war
with England. That, of course, en-
dangers 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 might. l told them of the
ships of Englands 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
conciliatory policy to one Of half hos
tility. l told them of our wagon
trains going west, and of the strength
of our frontiersmen; but Offset this,
justly as l might, by giving facts also
regarding the opposition these might
meet
PRECISELY" said Calhoun, walking
up and down, his head bent. ENG
land is preparing for war! How
much are we prepared? 1t would cost
us the revenues of a quarter of CEN
tury to go to war with her to-day. 1t
would cost us $4,000 lives. We would
need an army of 250,000 men. Where
is all that to come from? Can we
transport our army there In time!
But had all this bluster 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
your | began. Have you not seen
the Baroness Won Ritz? Has she not
made her rerort?"
The baroness?" queried Calhoun.
~That stormy petrel-that advance
agent of events! Did she indeed sail
with the British ships from Montreal?
Did you fGd her therein Oregon?'
Yes, and los. her there! She started
east last summer, and beat me fairly
in 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 Tow, fear! Pakenham has
back his best ally, our worst antagon-
ist."
THAT certainly is strange said /.
"She had five months the start of me,
and in that time there is no telling
what she has done or undone. Surely,
she is somewhere here, in Washing
ton! She held Texas in her shoes. |
tell you she holds Oregon in her
gloves today"
| started up, my story half untold.
where are you going?" asked Mr..
Calhoun of me- DR.. Ward looked at
me, smiling "He does not inquire OF
certain young lady"
Il am going to find the Baroness Won
Ritz" said l. l flushed red under my
tan, | doubt not; but / would not ask
a word regarding Elizabeth.
Dr. Ward came and laid hand on
my shoulder Republics forget" said
he, but men from South Carolina do
net Neither do girls from Maryland.
Do you think so?"
THAT is what I am going to find
out"
How, then? Are you going to Elm
hurst as you look now?"
mo. / shall find out many things
by first finding the Baroness Won Ritz"
And before they could make further
protests was out and away.
hurried now to certain side
street, of which have made mention,
and knocked confidently at door l
knew. The .neighborhood was asleep
In the warm sun. l knocked second
time, and began to doubt, but at last
heard slow footsteps