Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-04-26

what we must do today!"
The young secretary turned his own
grave eye upon the cluttered desk. But
it was not dread Of the redoubtable
tasks awaiting him that gave his face
all the gravity it bore.
"Mr. Jefferson he began, but paus-
ed, for he could see now standing be-
fore him his friend, the man whom of
all in the world he loved and the man
who believed in him and loved him.
Eyes, my son?'
"Your burden is grievous hard, and
VET
Eyes, my SOM"
But Meriwether Lewis could moi
speak further. He stood now, his jaws
set hard, looking out of the window.
The older man came and gently laid
a hand upon his shoulder.
"Come, come, my son." said he, his
own voice low and of a kindness it
could assume at times. "You must not
you must not yield to this, I say.
Shake off this melancholy which so OBJ
sesses you. I know whence it comes
your father gave it to you, and you are
not to blame. But you have more than
your fathers strength to aid you. And
you have me your friend, who can un-
derstand."
Lewis only turned on him an eye so
full of anguish as caused the older man
to knit his brow in deep concern.
"What is it, MerneY he demanded.
Tell me. All, you cannot tell? 1
know. Ills the old melancholy and
something more, Merne, my boy. Tell
me-ah, yes. it is a woman!"
The young man did not speak.
81 have often told all my young
friends" said Mr.. jefferson slowly
after a time. that they should marry
not later than twenty-three-it is wrong
to cheat the years Of life-and you ap-
proach thirty now, my o IL Why lin
ger? Listen to me. No young man
may work at his best and have a wo.
mans face in his desk to haunt him.
That will not do. We all have handi-
cap enough without that"
DuC Sllll "CluSl u Willy lOoE
into the face of his superior.
81. know very well, my son." the
president continued. 81 know it all
Put her out of your heart, my boy
Would you shame yourself and hel
and me-!
"No! Never would 1 do that, MI
Jefferson, believe me. But now l mus
1,oo. ~f ,,1ooco CIV. lot NM oo n
let it be at once"
The older man stood looking at hin
for a time in silence as he went or
hurriedly:
81 must say goodby to you, best ant
noblest Of men. Indeed. I have sale
goodbyl to-everything."
"As you say, your case is hopeless?
Eyes, sir"
"Ah, well, we have both been plan
ming for u western expedition thes.
ten years, my son. SO why should W,
fret if matters conspire to bring i
about a trife earlier than we planned?'
81 asked you when l was a boy t.
send me, but you could not then"
ono, but instead l sent yonder maun
dering MichauX. He, Ledyard and al
the others failed me. They never saw
the great vision. There it lies, un
known. tremendous-no man know:
what-that new country. have hat
to hide from the people of this repub
lie this secret purpose which you an(
1 have had Of exploring the vast west
ern country. 1 have picked you as til,
one man fitted for that work, I d,
not make mistakes. You are a borl
woodsman and traveller. You are read,
to my hand as the instrument for this
magnificent adventure. l cannot wei
spare you now, but-yes, you must go!
They stood there, two men who mad,
u great adventure for us vision seers
vision owned, gazing each into til,
others eyes.
"Send me now, Mr.. Jefferson" re
peated Meriwether Lewis. "Send m,
now. 1 will mend to usefulness again
l will work for you all my life, i
need be, and I want my name clea,
with you"
upon his shoulder.
Il must yield you to your destiny
said he. "1t will be a great one." HI
turned aside, a hand to his lip as b.
paced uncertainty. "But I still an
wondering what our friends are doin!
yonder in France" said he. "That i
the question. Livingston, Monroe ant
the others-what are they doing witt
Napoleon Bonaparte? The news from
France-but stay" he added. "Wait
had forgotten. Come. we shall SCI
about it."
With. the sudden enthusiasm of a boy
he caught his young aid by the arm
They passed down the hall, out by thu
real entrance and across the White
House grounds to the brick stables
which then stood at the rear.
MI. Jefferson paid no attention to tn,
sleek animals there which looked il
greeting toward him. Instead, he pass
ed in front of the series of stalls, ant
without excuse or explanation hurried
ly began to climb the steep ladder which