Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-04-19

itS ~ Nm ~ oAS
l could not endure"
CHAPTER. Ill.
Mr.. Burr and Mr.. Merry.
frNtUEODOSIA rose and stood look
ing at Meriwether Lewis, her
w eyes wet with a sudden
- moisture.
"Women worth loving are so few p
she said slowly. "Clean men are so
few! How a woman could have loved
you, Meriwether Lewis! How some
woman ought to love you! Yes, go
uow,' she concluded. Yes, go!"
Mrs. Aston will wait with you here
for a few moments" said Meriwether
Lewis to the miller's wife quietly. lie
stood with his bride rein across his
arm. See that she is very comforta-
bic. She might have a second cup Of
your good coffee"
He swung into his saddle, refined his
horse about, turned and bowed formal
ly to his late vis-a-vis, who still re-
manned seated at the table. Then he
was off at such speed as left Arcturus
no more cause to fret impatiently at
his bride rein. >
The young Virginian had we'll nigh
made his way out over the two miles or
so Of sheltered roadway when he heard
hoofbeats on ahead and s%lackened lis
own speed. He saw two horsemen ap-
preaching. both we'll mounted. coming
on at q handsome gait.
or these one was a stout and elderly
man of no special shape at all, who sat
his horse with small grace, his forid
face redder for his exercise, his cheeks
mottled with good living and hard rid
ins. He was clad in scrupulous riding
costume and seemed, indeed, a person
of some Importance. The badge of
some order or society showed on his
breast, and his entire air-intent as be
was upon his present business Of keep.
ing company with a skilled horseman
marked him as one accustomed to at
tention from others. A servant in the
costume Of an English groom rode at a
short distance behind him.
The second man was lighter, straight
and trim of figure, with an erectness
and exactness Of carriage which mark
ed him as d soldier at some part Of his
life.
lie was clad with extreme neat.
ness, we'll booted also, and sat his
mount with the nonchalance of the
trained horseman.s His own garb and
face showed not the slightest proof that
he had been riding hard.
In fact, he seemed one whom no con-
dltlon OF circumstance could deprive of
a cool lmmaculateness. He was a mar
to be marked in any company, especial
ly so by the peculiar brilliance of his
full dark eye, which had a piercing,
searching CLINT of its own, an eye such
as few men have owned and under
Whose spell man or woman might east.
ly melt to acquiescence with the own
er's mind.
He sat his horse with a certain
haughtiness as well as carelessness.
His chin seemed long and firm, and
his lofty forehead-ipdeed, his whole
air and carriage-discovered him the
man OF ambition that he really was.
Fol this was no other than Aaron Burr,
vice president of the United States,
whose name was soon to be on the lips
Of all. He had lately come to Wash
ington with the Jefferson administra-
ton.
This gentleman now refined up his
horse as he caught sight of the young
man approaching. His older compan-
ion also halted. Burr raised his hat
in salute.
"Ah, Captain Lewis!' he said in a
voice Of extraordinary sweetness, yet
of power. "You also have caught the
secret of this climate, eh? You ride
in the early morning. 1 do not won
der. You are Virginian and so know
the heats of Washington. l fancy YOU
recognize Mr.. Merry" he added, his
glance turning from one rider to the
other.
The young virginia. bowed to both
gentlemen.
u have persuaded his excellency the
minister from Great Britain to ride
with us on one OF our Washington
mornings. He has been good enouGl:
g,it