Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-05-23


convoy of honor so far as st. Charles.
We are quite fattered. So now we
start. They are waiting for me ut the
wharf now, and | must 60. All
bridges are burned behind me!''
"All bridges burned?"
The deep voice of Aaron Burr almost
trembled. His keen eye searched the
face Of the young man before him.
Every one" replied the young Vir-
ginian. II do not know how or when
l may return. Perhaps Mr.. Clark or
myself may come back by sea should
we ever reach the sea. We can only
trust to Providence"
He was bowling and extending his
own hand In farewell, with polite ex-
cuses as to his haste. relieved that his
last ordeal had been spared him. He
turned as he felt rather than heard the
approach Of another, whose coming
caused his heart almost to stop beat
ing, the woman dreaded and demanded
by every fiber of his being.
ooh, not SO fast, not so FAST" laugh
ed Theodosia Aston as she came into
the room, Offering her hand. II heard
you talking and have been hurrying to
pretty myself up for Captain Lewis.
What? Were you trying to run away
without ever saying goodby to me?
And how you are prettied up!'
II was just going. yes" stammered
Meriwether Lewis. II had hoped
But what he had hoped he did not say.
"Why might we not walk down with
you to the wharf If you are so soon to
go?" she demanded. her own self con.
troll concealing any disappointment she
may have felt at her cavalier reception.
IAN excellent idea !" said Aaron Burr,
backing his daughters hand and trust
ing to her to have some plan. "A war.
rior must spend his last word with
some woman, captain. Coz you on ahead.
| surrender my daughter to you, and
I shall follow presently to bid you
last godspeed. You said those other
gentlemen were to join you there?"
Meriwether Lewis found himself
walking down the narrow street Of the
frontier settlement, between the lines
of hollyhocks and budding roses which
fronted many of the little residences
1t was spring. The air was soft. He
was young. The woman at his side
was very beautiful. So far as he could
see, they were alone.
They passed along the street, turned,
made their way down the rock faced
bluff to the water front, but still they
were alone. All st. Louis was at the
farther end of the wharf waiting for
last look at the idol of the town.
Theodosia sighed.
"And so Captain Lewis is going to
have his way, as usual? And he was
going-in spite Of all-even without
saying goodby to me-"
Eyes, would have preferred that"
Captain Lewis is mad. Look at that
river! They say that when the boat
started last week it took them an hour
to make quarter of mile when they
struck into the Missouri. How many
thousands of hours will it take to as
cend to the mountains? How will you
get your boats across the mountains?
What cascades and rapids lie on ahead?
Your men will mutiny and destroy
you. You cannot succeed. You will
fail"
II thank you, madam"
"Oh, you must start now, presume.
In fact, you have started, but want
you to come back before your obstinacy
has driven you too far"
"Just what do you mean?'
listen. You have given me no time,
unkind as you are-nOt moment-at
an hour like this! In these unsettled
times who knows what may happen?
In that very unsettlement lies the prob
able success Of the plan which my IA
ther and have put before you SO Of
ten. We need you to help US. When
are you going to come back to US.
Merne"
He did not make any immediate
sign that he had heard her speech.
II told Shannon, my aid, to meet me
here" he said at last. HE was to
fetch my long spyglass. There are
certain little articles Of my equipment
over yonder in the wharf shed. Would
you excuse me for just moment?"
But the words she had spoken had
caught him, after all. He had been
pondering- been trying to set them
aside as if unheard.
Coming back!" he began and stop
ped short once more. They were now
both within the shelter of the old
building.
"Yes, Merne," she broke out sudden
ly. when are you coming back to
me, Merne?"
He stood icy silent. motionless. for
just moment. 1t seemed to her as
II he was made Of stone. Then he
spoke very slowly. deliberately.
Coming back to you? And you call
me by that name? Only my mother,
Mr.. Jefferson and viii Clark ever
did So"
"Oh, stiff necxed man! 1t is so hard
to be kind with you! And all have
ever done-every time have followed
you in this way. each time have hu-
inflated myself thus. It always was
only in kindness for your
He made no reply.
Fate ran against us. Merne," she
went on tremblngly. I'VE have both
accepted fate. But In woman's
heart are many mansions. Is there
none in a mans, in yours, for me?