Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-06-20
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Gl,ae$e IS =. NATHAN

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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 beer
reaped. His hair. grown quite long
and done now in formal cue, hung low
upon his shoulders-in every line q
gentleman. an officer and a thorough
bred. ....|H -E
"Men," said he. you are to be mus
tered out today. There will be giver
to each of you certificate Of service
in this expedition. 1t will entitle yor
to 800 acres of land, to be selected
where you like west of the Mississippi
river. You will have double pay II
gold as well. But it is not only thus
that we seek to show appreciation Of
your services. In our reports to oul
own superior officers we shall have NJ
words save those Of praise for any of
you Our expedition has succeeded.
To that success you have all contrib
uted. Your officers thank you.
Captain Clark will give you your
last command, men. As l say fare
well to you trust l may not be taken
TO mean that 1 separate myself from
you in my thoughts or memories. If l
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, VIII
liam Clark, likewise soldier, an Off
Ger, properly attired and all the figure
of a proper man. 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 q
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
countrymen were 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 80, 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 cava!cade, 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 flocked about them could Mert-
wether Lewis be more than smiling
gallant, though rumors ran that either
he or William Clark might well nigh
to1- l., ~ 1- Z nj 70 al of
them.
One thought Of eager and unalloyed
joy rested with him II" 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 one day certain figure would APP
pear Sometimes. old as she was. she
doZed and dreamed Just now she had
done so. She awoke and saw standing
beco@a her, us if pi~turcd in her dream.
the form Of her sou in bodily presence.
although at first she did not accept him
as such.
"My son. she said at length. half
as much in terror as in joy. "Merne.'
He stopped down and took hnr gray,
ed head in his hands as she looked up
at him. She recalled other times when
he had come from the forest. from the
wilderness. bearing trophies in his
hands. He bore now trophies greater
perhaps than any man of his age ever
had brought home with him.
"My SON." was all she could say.
''They told me that you never would
come back. that you we're dead /
thought the wilderness had claimed
you at last. Merne!
81 told you should come back to
you safe, mother There was no dan
ger at any, time. From st. Louis
have come as fast as any messenger
could have come. Next | must go to
see Mr.. Jefferson at Washington then
back home again to talk with you for
long, long hours"