The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-16
(Continued.)

"Mr. Jefersonv' The young man be- ghastly pale. .''Do not" said he. Do not, beg of you!"
 'eWhat is it, MerneY' exclaimed the old man. "What have I done?"
 'You speak of my honor. Do not! Indeed, you touch me deep." re
 Thomas Jefferson, wise old man, .rais- ed hand .
 '1 shall never listen, my son." said he. q will accord to you the right of hot blood to run hot. You would not be a man worth knowing were it not so. ALI know or will know is that whatever the price you have paid it. or will pay it. But tell me, Merne, can you not tear her from your soul? It will ruin you, this hopeless attachment which you cherish. Is it always to re- main with you? I bid you find some other woman. The best in the land are waiting for you"
 "Mr. Jefferson, shall never marry"
 The two sat looking into each oth- CTS eyes for just moment. Said Thomas Jefferson at length, slowly:
 ''So! You have come back with all happiness, all success, for me and for others, but not for yourself. Such proving as you have. had has fallen to the lot of but few men. know now how great has been the cost. I see it in your. face The fifteen millions I paid for wonder lands was nothing. We have bought them with the happi- ness of a human soul. The transient gratitude of this republic, the honor of that little paper-ah, they are nothing! But perhaps it may be something for you to know that at least one friend understands"
 Lewis did not speak.
 "What is lost is lost,'' the president began again after a time. What is broken is broken. But see how clearly look into your soul. You are not thinking now of what you can do for yourself. You are not thinking Of your new rank, your honors. You are asking now, at this moment, what you can do for her. Is it not sop The smile that came upon the young mans face was a beautiful, wonder full thing to see. It made the wise old xAA1&A 6o0 tO SOC IL, bOL uA IOOs ''She is at Richmond, Merne" said MT. Jefferson moment later. The young man nodded. "And the greatest boon sSshe could ask would be her fathers freedom, the freedom of the man who sought to ruin this country, the man whom scarce ly dare release ss The thin lips compressed for mo- ment. It was not in implacable, yengeful zeal; it was but in thought.
 "Now, .then,'' said Thomas Jefferson sharply, "there comes veil, curtain, [ between you and me and all the world. No record must show that either Of us raised hand against the full action l. of the law or planned that Colonel 1 Burr should not suffer the full penalty of the code. Yes, that is true, but not | his daughter!'
 "Mr. Jefersonr' The face of Meri- wether Lewis was strangely moved. T see the actual greatness of yonr soul, but ask nothing.'' < s. :
 "Why, in my heart I feel like fling ing open every prison door in the ] world. If you have gained an em- pire for your country and paid for it as you have, could not a great and rich country afford to pay to the ex, tent of woman's happiness? When king is crowned he sets free the criminals. And this day I feel as 1 proud and happy as if were a king, | and king of the greatest empire of all the world. know well who assured that kingdom Let me be, then''-he raised his long hand-"say nothing, dc nothing. And let this end all talk be tween US of these matters. I know you can keep your own counsel" | Lewis bowed silently.
 "Go to Richmond, Merne. You will find there a broken conspirator and his unhappy daughter. Both are ostra- c1zed. None is so poor as to do either of them reverence. She has no door opened to her now, though but lately she was daughter of the vice presi dent, the rich Mrs. Aston, wife of the governor of her state. Go to them now. Tell Colonel Burr that the pres ident will not ask mercy for him John Marshall is on the bench there but before him is a jury. John Ran dolph is foreman of that jury. It is there that case will be tried, in the jury room, and politics will try. it! Go to Theodosia, Merne, in her desperate need"
 "But what can do, MT. Jefferson? ?
 broke out his listener.
 "Do precisely what I tell you. Go
 to that social outcast. Take her or
 your arm before all the world and be fore that jury. Sit there before all
 Richmond and that jury. An~hour ol
 so will do. Do that and then, as
 did when I trusted you, ask no ques
 tions, but leave it on the knees of the
 gods. If you can call me chief 1T
 other matters" the president conclud
 ed, "and can call me chief in that fash
 ion of thought which men call religion
 as well, let me give you unction anf
 abselut1on, my son. It is all that