Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-05-24
BY Frank A. Murssy Co.

Slilc - luc uot SuLiHlcI Stts oli. Gt'v
his hands We're gioved. He seemed
soldier. leader, officer and gentleman.
No retinue. however. attended him;
no servant was at his side. lie went
afoot and carried with him his most
precious luggage-the long rifle which
he never intrusted to any hands save
his own. Close wrapped around the
stock, on the crook of his arm and not
yet slung over his shoulder. was a
soiled buckskin pouch. which went al
ways with the rifle. the possible sack"
Of the wilderness hunter Of that time.
1t contained his bullets. bullet molds.
tlints, a bar or two Of lead, some tin
der for printing, a set of avis.
Such was the leader Of one Of the
great expeditions of the world.
Meriwether Lewis had few goodbys
to say. He had written but one letter.
to his mother. late the previous even
ing. 1t was worded thus:
The day after tomorrow 1 shall set out
for the western country. 1 had c%alculat-
ed on the pleasure of visiting you before
l started, but circumstances a render
VI ~ " oooSllS VA DCo
be equal to fifteen or eighteen months.
The nature of this expedition is by no
means dangerous. My route will be alto
gether through tribes of Indians friendly
to the United States; therefore I consider
the chances Of life just as much in my
favor as 1 should conceive them were I to
remain at home. The charge of this eXpe-
dition is honorable-to myself. as it is i'm
portant to my country.
Eo- ~ o+;r,o 7 cooJ -.,-1e .a-foa4I,
prepared, nor do 1 doubt my health and
strength of constitution to bear me
through it. I go with the most perfect
preconviction in my own mind Of return
ing safe and hope, therefore. that you
will not suffer yourself to indulge in any
anxiety for my safety.
will write again on my arrival at Pitts
burgh. Adieu, and believe me YOU affec-
tomato son.
No regrets. no weak reflections. for
this man with a warriors weapon on
his arm, where no other burden might
lie in all his years. His were TO be
the comforts of the trail, the rude as
sociations with common men. the ter
rors of the desert and the mountain.
his freside only that Of the camp.
Yet he advanced to his future steadily.
bis head high. his eye on ahead-a
splendid figure Of a
He did not at first hear the gallop
Of hoofs on the street behind him
as at last. a mile or more from the
White House gate, he turned toward
The river front. He was looking at the
dull flood Of the Potomac, now visible
below him, but he paused, something
appealing to the strange sixth sense Of
the hunter, and turned.
A rider, a mounted servant, was
reckoning to him. Behind the horse
man, driven at a stiff gait. came a car
riage which seemed to have but a
single occupant. Captain Lewis halt
ed, gazed, then FASTENED forward, hat
in his hand.
Mrs. Alston!" he exclaimed as the
carriage came up. why are you
here? Is there any news?"
Yes, else 1 could not have come"
But why have you come? Tell me!'
He motioned the outrider aside,
sprang into the vehicle and told the
driver to draw a little apart from the
more public street. Here he caught up
the reins himself and. ordering the
driver to join the footman at the edge
of the roadway they had left. turned
to the woman at his side.
Pardon me-" said he. and his voice
was cold. II thought l had cut all
ties"
Knit them again for my sake. then
Meriwether Lewis. | have brought you
a summons to return"
"A summons? From whom?"
MY father. Mr.. Merry, Senior Yrujo
They were at our home all night. We
could not, they could not, ! could not
bear to see you sacrifice yourself. This
expedition can only fail. l implore you
not to go upon it. Do not let your
mans pride drive you!"
She was excited, half sobbing.
'It does not drive me, indeed" said
he simply. II am under orders. l an
the leader Of this expedition Of my gov
eminent. l do not understand
AT this hour. OF this errand, only
-Asa III