Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-24
BOOK II.


DUT the person who distinguished him
ID self from everybody else by some
nameless attraction was a man perhaps
forty years old. who sat in a high-backed
settee at table near the fire. He was
erect and thin as a lath. long-faced.
square browed and pale His sandy hair
stood up like the bristles of a brush
Carefully dressed. with a sword at his
side-as many OF the other men had-he
flled my idea of soldier; and was
not surprised to hear his friends sitting
opposite call him General jackson.
An inkstand. a quill and some paper
were placed before him, but he pushed
them aside with his glass OF toddy to lift
one long forehnger and emphasize his
talk He had resonant, impressive
voice. with a manner gentle and per-
suasive, like a woman's; and he was
speaking OF Aaron Burr, the man whose
duel had made such noise In the news
papers
II disagree with you, Mr.. Campbell.
You are prejudiced against Mr.. Burr on
account OF his late unfortunate affair.
Even in that case / maintain every man
has right TO honor and satisfaction. But
he loves the Spanish on our southwest
ern border no better than ! do-and you
know how / love the SPANISH
The other man laughed, lounging
against the table.
''You can't believe anything Ill of Aaron
Burr, General"
! might have given attention to what
they were saying, since here were men
from Washington, the very fountain OF
government, II Doctor Chantry had not
made me uneasy He chose the table at
which they were sitting ana placed him
seld In the scat nearest the fire, with the
utmost nicely about his own comfort He
wiped his horn spectacles, and produced
his own ink and quill and memorandum
from breast pocket. 1 had begged the
doctor to keep strict account between us,
that l might pay back from my pension
whatever he spent on me. and with fine
spider-like characters he was proceeding
10 debit me with the stage fare. when
another quill barred his entrance to his
tnk-horn.
He took of his spectacles and glared
pInk-eyed. at the genial gentleman with
sandy unright hair.
SIR he cried. that is my inkP'
General jackson, absorbed In talk, did
not notice Doctor Chantry, who half
arose and shouted directly at his ears
"sir. that is my ink
He Knocked the interloping quill in the
direction OF its owner.
eountenance In way to astonish be-
holders.
Have disputed II, sir:'
mo, sir, but you have dipped into Il
without asking leave"
by God sir; what is a np'ny-bit's
worth Of ink7"
But it's mine. Blrr'
Il see sir; you're a Yankee, sirl"
TN not, sir. I'm EngllHh-the finest
race In the worldl"
General jackson looked him up and
down, as they rose fronting each other,
and filled the air with dazzling words.
Il should Judge so. SIR. by the specimen
! see before mel"
Doctor chantry was like a nghtinE-
cock. and II was plainly his age which
kept the other from striking him. lie
was beginning our journey well, but 1
felt bound to Intercept whatever fell upon
him. and stood between them. The other
men at the table rose with General Jack
son.
"Gentlemen." / pleaded with the best
words ! could command In the language,
do not forget your dignity and disturb
the peace OF this house for bottle OF
inki"
Ies quarrel was ridiculous. and the
Boutherners laughed.
General jackson himself again changed
countenanee. and gave me. / do not
know why, a smile that must have been
reflected from the face OF a woman he
adored. But my poor master showed the
bulldog, and. taking him W the arm
and the collar. toddled him away from
tnnt table 10 a dark entry, where 1 held
him without any admonition save a sus.
tained grip. He became like a child
weeping and trembling, and declarina
that everybody was in league against
him. Argument ls wasted on people
having such inhrmlty OF temper when
he was well cooled 1 put him In an arm
chair BY fire In the ladies' parlor and
he was soon very meek and fractable
watching The creatures he 30 admired
IoH must 80 20 bed as soon as you
hatf your supper, I said 20 him. ssrhe
Journey 10 eafaloea has been 4 hard one
Tor for huI fkenedonk ls here fOrtu-
uNIf'f. ana nt can take you home again