Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-07-12

as such.
"My son" she said at length, half
as much in terror as in Joy. "Merne!"
He stopped down and took her 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 nov 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 were dead. l
thought the wilderness had claimed
you at last, Merne!"
81 told you l should come back to
you safe, mother. There was no dan
ger at any time. From st. Louis 1
have come as fast as any messenger
could have come. Next l must go to
see MI. Jefferson at Washington, then
back home again to talk with you for
long, long hours"
"And what have you found?"
More than I car tell you In a year!
We found the mysterious river, the
Columbia-found where it runs into the
ocean, where it starts in the noun
tains. We found the head of the Mis-
souri,. The Ohio is but a creek beside
it. We crossed plains and mountains
wonderful than any we have ever
dreamed Of. We saw the most wonder
full land in all the world, mother-and
we made it ours"
"And you did that? Merne, was that
why the wilderness called to you? My
boy has done all that? Your country
will reward you. 1 should not COM
plain Of all these years of absence.
You are happy now, are you not"
Il should be the happiest of men. I
can take to Mr.. Jefferson, our best
friend, the proof that he was right in
his plans. His great dream has come
true, and 1 in some part helped to
make it true. Should not now be
happy?"
You should be, Merne, but are you?"
81 am well, and l find you still we'll
and strong. My friend, Will Clark, has
come back with me hearty as a boy.
Everything has been fortunate with us.
Look at me!' he demanded, turning
and stretching out his mighty arms.
eyes, but are you happy? Turn your
face to me-"
But he did not turn his face.
81 told my friend, William Clark"
he said lightly as he rose, "to join me
here after an hour or so. I think l see
his party coming now. York rides
ahead, do you see? He is a free negro
now. He will have stories enough to
set all our blacks idle for a month. 1
must go down to meet Will and our
other guests"
William Clark, bubbling over with
his own JOY Of life, set all the house
hold in a whirl. There was nothing
but cooking, festivity, dancing, hilarity,
so long as he remained at Locust Hill.
But the mother of Meriwether Lewis
looked with jealous eye on William
Clark. Success, glory, honor, fame, re-
~ward-these now belonged to Meri-
wether Lewis, to them both, his moth
er knew. But why did not his laugh
sound high like that of his friend?
Spic and span, cap-a-pie, pictures of
| splendid young manhood, the two cap
tains rode one afternoon up to the
great gate before the mansion house
| Of the nation. Lewis looked about him
at scenes once familiar. And when,
running on ahead Of his companion, he
knocked at Mr.. Jefferson's Office door,
finging it open as he did so with the
| freedom Of his old habit, he looked in
upon a familiar sight.
Thomas jefferson was sitting bent
over his desk, as usual Uttered with a
thousand papers, and on the top of
the desk, spread out long and over all,
lay a great map whose identity these
| two young men easily could tell-the
Lewis and Clark map sent back from
| the Mandan country. Thomas Jefferson
had kept it at his desk every. day since
| it had come to him, more than two
| years before.
He turned TO- toward the door
casually, for he was used to the inter
ruptions of his servants. What he saw
brought him to his feet. He spread
out his arms impulsively, he shook the
hand Of each in turn, drew them to
him before he motioned them to seats.
| Never had Meriwether Lewis seen such
emotion displayed by his chief.
II could hardly wait for you!" said
Mr.. Jefferson. He began to pace up
and down. II knew it, l knew it," he
exclaimed. Now they will call us
constitutional, perhaps, since we have
added a new world to u country!
My son, that was our vision. You
have proved it. You have been both
| dreamer and doer!"
He came up and placed a half play.
| full hand on Meriwether Lewis shoul.
der. .
did I know men, them" he de.
manded.
"And did I, Mr.. jefferson? Captain
Clark
"You do NOT saw the titlo correct1vl