The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-18
Theodosia Burr

from his. NO one knows me now. Every one avoids me. You must not be seen with mea pariah, an out cast. I am my fathers only friend. Already they condemn him, yet he is as innocent as any man ever was.'
 q shall say no word to change that behef," said Meriwether Lewis. 'But your husband is not here? It is he whom must see at once''
 'Why must you see him?"
 "You must know. It is my duty to him and to tell him that I am the man who-who made you weep, He must have his satisfaction. Nothing that he can do will punish me as my own conscience has already punished me. It is- no use-I shall not ask you to forgive me. I will not be so cheap"
 "But-suppese he does not know?"
 He could only stand silent, regarding her fxedly.
 He must never know," she went on. 'Tt is no time for quixotism to make yet another suffer. We two must be strong enough to carry our own secret. It is better and kinder than 1t should be between two than among three. I thought you dead. Let the past remain past; let it bury its own dead"
 "It is our time of reckoning" said he at length. Guilty as have been, sin ming as I have sinned-ten me, was alone in the wrong? Listen. Those who joined your fathers cause were asked to join in treason to their coun- try. What he purpOSed was treason. Tell me, did you know this when you came to mel"
 He saw the quick pain upon her face, the flush that rose to her pale cheek. She drew herself up proudly.
 'rI shall not answer that" said she.
 "No!" he exclaimed, swiftly contrite. 'sNor shall ask it. Forgive me. You never knew. You were innocent. You do right not to answer such question" ''I only wanted you to be happy-that was my one desire"
 She looked aside, and a moment pass ed before she heard his deep voice re- ply. Happy! I am the most unhappy man in all the world. Happiness? No. Rags, shreds, patches of happiness that is all that is left of happiness for us, as men and women usually count it. But, tell me, what would make you most happy now of these things remaining? I have come back to pay my debts. Is there anything can do? What would make you happiest?" My fathers freedom"
 q cannot promise that, but all that can do will"
 Were my father guilty that would be the act of noble mind. But how? You are MT. Jefferson's friend, not the friend of Aaron Burr. All the world knows that"
 Precisely All the world knows that, or thinks it does. It thinks it knows that MT. Jefferson is implacable. But suppose all the world were set to won dering? I am just wondering myself if 1t would be right to suborn juryman, like John Randolph of Roanoke!"
 'That is impossible. What do you mean?"
 'I mean this. This afternoon you and I will go into the trial room to- gether. have not yet attended a ses- sion of the court Today I will hand l you to your seat in full sight of the 1 jury box"
 fYou-give your presence to one who is now a social pariah? The ladies of Richmond no longer speak to me But to what purpose?"
 | Perhaps to small purpose. I cannot tell. But let us suppose that go with you and that we sit there in sight of all. I am known to be the intimate friend of MT. Jefferson. Ergo 1 Ergo! MT. Jefferson is not hostile co US. And you would do that-you would take that chance?''
 "For you"
 l And he did-for her. That afternoon all the crowded courtroom saw the bea, de make way for two persons of i'm. portance. One was tall, grave, dis ! tinguished looking man, impassive 1 calm, a man whose face was known to all-the new governor of Louisiana v1ceroy of the country that Burr had lost. Upon his arm, pale, clad all in black, walked the daughter of the pris- oner at the bar.
 There, in full view of all the attend ants, in full view of the jury and of John Randolph of Roanoke, it's fore man, sat the two persons who had had most to do with this scene of which they now made part. There sat the man who had explored the great west and the woman who had done her best to prevent that exploration-Nr. Jef- ferson's friend and the daughter of the great conspirator, Aaron Burr. Ergo ergo, said many tongues swiftly, and leaned head to head to whisper it. Mind sometimes speaks to mind, even across the rail of jury box.
 The issue of that great trial was not .o come for weeks as yet, but when it Gro be contInued.)