Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-07-12

the stone fortress of old st. Louis. A
motley crew they looked in their half
savage garb. They were veterans, fit
for any difficult undertaking in the
wilderness.
Their leaders had laid aside the cos
tune OF the frontier and assumed the
uniforms Of officers in the army of the
United States. Fresh from his barber
and his tailor, Captain Lewis stood,
tall, clean limbed, immaculate, facing
his men. His beard was gone. His
Face showed paler where it had been
reaped. His hair, grown quite long
and done now in formal cue. hung low
upon his s~houlders-in every line a
gentleman. an officer and a thorough
bred.
men," said he, you are to be mus
tered out today. There will be given
to each Of you a certificate of service
in this expedition. 1t will entitle you
to 800 acres Of land, to be selected
where you like west Of the Mississippi
river. You will have double pay in
gold as we'll. But it is not only thus
that we seek to show appreciation of
your services. In our reports to our
own superior officers we shall have no
words save those OF praise Tor any of
you. Our expedition has succeeded.
10 that success you lave all contrib
uted. Your officers thank you.
captain Clark will give you your
last command, AS 1 say fare
well to you | trust l may not be taken
to mean that | separate myself from
you in my thoughts or memories. If 1
can ever be of service to any of you
you will call upon me freely"
He turned and stepped aside. His
place was taken by his associate, Will
liam Clark, likewise a soldier, an Off
Ger, properly attired and all the figure
Of a proper Clark's voice rang
sharp and clear.
"Attention! Aim! Fire! Break
ranks! March,.
The last volley Of the gallant little
company was fired. The last order
had been given and received. With a
sweep of his drawn sword Captain
| Clark dismissed them. The expedition
was done.
So now they went their way, most
of them into oblivion, great though
their services had been. For their Off
GERS much more remained to do.
The progress to Washington was a
triumph. Everywhere their admiring
c%ountrymen We're excited over their
marvellous journey. They were feted
and honored at every turn.
When at last they finished their
adieus to the kindly folk of st. Louis,
who scarce would let them &C, they
took boat across the river to the old
Kaskasia trail and crossed the Illinois
country by horse to the Falls Of the
Ohio, where the family Of William
Clark awaited him. Here was much
holiday, be sure, but not even here did
they pause long, for they must be on
| their way to meet their chief at Wash
ington.
Their little cavalcade, growing larger
now, passed on across Kentucky, over
the gap in the Cumberlands, down into
the country Of the Virginia gentry.
Here again they were feted and dined
and wined so long as they would tarry.
Toward none of the fair maids who
now focked about them could Meri.
wether Lewis be more than smiling
gallant, though rumors ran that either
he or William Clark might well nigh
take his pick. He was alike to all of
them.
One thought of eager and unalloyed
joy rested with him. He was soon to
see his mother. In time he rode down
from the hilltops Of old Albemarle to
the point beyond the Ivy depot where
rose the gentle eminence Of Locust
Hill, the plantation of the Lewis fam
lily.
Always in the afternoon, in all wealth
ers, his mother sat looking down the
long lane to the gate, as If she expected
that n day a certain figure would ap-
pear. Sometimes, old as she was, she
dozed and dreamed. Just now she had
done SO. She awoke and saw standing