Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-07-04

worthy. By all means leaVe I'LL
country and 60 back to the east. G.
by way of New Orleans and the sea
The voyage will do you much good"
"Peria," said Meriwether Lewis t.
bis French servant and attendant
make ready my papers for my jour
ney. Have small case, such as cal
be carried on horseback. 1 must taxi
with me all my journals, my map'
and certain of the records Of my Office
here. Get my old spyglass. I ma!
need it, and I always fancy to have i
with me when travel, as was my Gus
tom in the west. Secure for our cost!
in travel some gold-three or four hun
dred dollars, imagine. I will take
some in my belt and give the rest tt
you for the saddle trunk"
"Your excellency plans to 60 by land
then, and not by sea?"
II do not know. l must save all the
time possible. And Peria"- .
Eyes, excellency."
"Have my pistols we'll cared for and
your own as we'll See that my small
powder canister, with bullets, Is with
them in the holsters. The trails are
none too safe. Be careful whom you
advise of our plans. My business Is of
private nature, and I do, not wish to
be disturbed. And here, take my
watch" he concluded. ut was given
to me by a friend-a good friend, Mr..
Writ, and I prize it very much, SO
much that fear to have it on my per-
son. Care for it in the saddle trunk"
eyes, excellency."
"Do not call me 'excellency.' I de-
test the title. I am Governor Lewis
and may so be distinguished. Go now,
and do as have told you. We shall
need about ten men to man the barge.
Arrange it. Have our goods ready for
an early start tomorrow morning.
All that night, sleepless, fevered, al
most distracted, Meriwether Lewis sat
at his desk writing, or endeavoring to
write, with what matters upon his soul
we may not ask. But the long night
wore away at last, and morning came,
morning of the early fall, beautiful
as it may be only in that latitude
Without having closed his eyes in sleep
the governor made ready for his Jour-
ney to the east.
Whether or not Peria was faithful to
all his instructions one cannot say, but
certainly all st. Louis knew of the in
tended departure Of the governor.
They loved him, these folk, trusted
him, would miss him now, and they
gathered almost en- masse to bid him
speed upon his journey.
He was ready to depart, but stood
still, looking about for the tall figure
which presently he saw advancing
through the throng, tall man with
wide mouth and sunny hair, with blue
eye and stalwart frame-William Clark,
the friend whom he loved 50 much and
whom he was now to see for the last
time in his life. 2
General Clark carried upon his arm
the baby which had been named after
the governor of the new territory.
Lewis took him from his fathers arms
and pressed the child's cool face to his
own, suddenly trembling little about
his own lips as he felt the tender nesh
Of the infant. No child Of his own
might he ever hold thus. He gave him
back with a last look into the face Of
his friend. F;"as ar.--. ~ 5~
"Goodby, WIFI said he. .,.. .-..
The governors barge swept down the
rolling food Of the Mississippi, i'm
PEELED by the blades Of ten sturdy
oarsmen. Little by little the blue
smoke of st. Louis town faded beyond
the level Of the forest, The stone tow
oler Of the old Spanish stockade, where
aoated the American dag. disappeared
at length from view. 5s[stf T
Meriwether Lewis sat staring back.
but seeming not to note what passed.
He did not even notice a long bateau
which left the wharf just before bis
own and preceded him down the river,
now loafing along aimlessly, sometimes
ahead. sometimes behind that OF the
governor and his party. In time he
turned to his lap desk and began his
endless task of writing. examining, re-
vising. Now and again he muttered to
himself. The fever was indeed in his
blood. ~
They proceeded thus, after the usual
fashion Of boat travel in those days.
down the great river until they had
passed the mouth Of the Ohio and
reached what was known as the Chick
asaw bluffs. below the confluence OF
the two streams. Here was little
post of the army arranged for the COM
mander. Major Nicely. Indian agent at
that point. ."
As was the custom, all barges tied
up here, and the governors craft moor
ed at the foot of the bluff. Its chief
passenger was so weak that he hardly
could walk up the steep steps cut in
the muddy front Of the bank
governor Lewis" exclaimed Major
Nicely as he met him. "You are Ill!
You are in an ague!'
perhaps, perhaps. Give me rest
here for a day or two. If you please.
Then fancy I shall be strong enough
to travel east. See If you can get
horses for myself and my party. l am
resolved not to go by sea. l have not
time"
The governor Of Louisiana, haggard,
flushed with fever. sta ggered as he FOL-