Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-03-21

this morning."
some two miles back. DO you suppose
Ibid not know whose they were?"
"And you followed me? Abr
II suppose did and yet did not.
If l did I knew I was riding to my
fate"
She would have spoken-her lips half
parted-but what she might have said
none heard. He went on.
II have ridden here since first saw
you turn here one morning. / guessed
this might be your haunt at dawn. l
have ridden here often-and feared
each time that might meet you. Per-
haps l came this morning in the same
way, not knowing that you were near,
but hoping that you might be. You
see, madam, speak the absolute truth
with YOU"
"You have never spoken aught else
to any human soul. That l know"
Sand yet you try to evade the truth?
Why deceive your heart about it, since
have not deceived. my own? have
faced it out in my own heart. and
have, trust, come of the victor-at
some cost T.
Her face was troubled. She looked
aside as she replied in voice low, but
firm:
ANY woman would be glad to hear
such words from Captain Lewis, and
am glad. ,But-the honest wife never
lived who could listen to them often"
II know that" said he simply.
mo" Her voice was very low now
her eyes soft and cast down as they
fell upon ring under her glove. I'VE
must not meet. Captain Meriwether
Lewis. At least, we must not meet
thus alone in the woods. It might
cause talk. The administration has
enemies enough, as you know, and never
was woman who did not have enc.
mics, no matter how clean her life"
"Clean as the snow. yours! have
never asked you to be aught else and
never will. sought you once when
rode from Virginia to New York when
l first had my captains pay. before
Mr.. Jefferson asked me to join his fam
lily. Before that time | had too little
to offer. but then, with my hopes and
my ambitions. ventured. l made that
journey to offer you my hand. was
two weeks late-you were already wed.
ded to Mr.. Aston. Then learned that
happiness never could be mine. Yes.
we must part. You are the only thing
In life fear. and fear as well for
you. One wagging tongue in this hot
bed Of gossip-and there is harm for
you. whom all good men should wish
to shield"
AS he rode. speaking thus, his were
the features of man of tremendous
emotions. q resolute man. man of
strength. of passions not easily put
down.
She turned aside her own face for an
instant. At last her little hand went
to him In simple gesture Of farewell.
Meriwether Lewis leaned and kissed it
reverently as he rode.
"Goodby." said he. Nov we may 60
on for the brief space that remains for
u.s." he added moment later. mo
one is likely to ride this way this morn
ing. Let us go on to the old mill. May
give you cup Of coffee there?"
II trust Captain Meriwether Lewis"
she replied. ......
They advanced silently and presently
came in sight Of little cascade above
rocky Swallowing Of the stream. Be-
low this. after they had splashed
through the ford. they saw the gray
stone walls Of Rock Creek mill.
The miller was a plain man and ST.
lent Other folk. younger or older.
married or single. had come hither Of
= morning. and he spoke the name Of
none. He welcomed these two after
his fashion. Under the shade of
great tree which flung an arm out to
the rivulet he pulled out little table
spread in white and departed to tell
ais wife Of the company. She, busy
and smiling, came out presently with
her best In old china and linen and
wherewith to 20 with both.
Two. sal nnw fa'c t"af,ro arross tn"