Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-08-02
CHAPTER XIII.
Down to the Sea.

Down to the Sea.
II SiAN1 days later the French serv-
live ant, Peria, rode up to the gate,
to the door, of Locust Hall, the
C-J Lewis homestead in old Vir-
GINA. The news he bore had preceded
him. He met a stern faced, dark brow
ed woman, who regarded him .coldly
when he announced his name and re-
garded him in silence. The servant
found himself able to make but small
speech.
"Your son was a brave man. He
lived long" said Peria haltingly at the
close of his story.
eyes," said the mother Of Meriweth-
err Lewis. "He was a brave man. He
was strongw
HE was unhappy, but why he should
have killed himself
"Stop!" The dark eyes blazed upon
him. "What are you saying? My son
kill himself? 1t is an outrage to his
memory to suggest it. He was the vic
tim of some enemy. AS for you, be-
gone! !"
So Peria passed from sight and view
and almost from memory, not accused,
lot acquitted. Long afterward a
brother of Meriwether Lewis met him
and found that he was carrying the
old rifle and the little watch which
every member of the family knew so
well. These things had been missing
from the effects Of Meriwether Lewis
in the inventory. Indeed, little re-
NAMED in the travelling cases save a
few scattered papers and the old D Y
glass. There was no gold.
Soon there came down from Mont.
cello to Locust Hall the coach Of Thorn.
as Jefferson.
Madam" said he when finally he
stood at the side of the mistress of Lo-
Gust Hall, "it is heavy news l thought
to bring. I see that YOU have heard it
What shall say? What can we say
to each other? l mourn him as if he
were my own son."
ut has come at last" said the moth
er of Meriwether Lewis. The wilder
ness has him. as | knew it would. I
told him here at this place when he
was a bog that at last the load would
weigh him down."
THE rumo is that he died by his
own hand. l find it difficult to believe.
1t is far more likely that some enemy
or robber was guilty of the deed
Whom had he yer harmed?' she
demanded Of Jefferson.
None in the world with intent. But
he had enemies. Whether by his own
hand or that Of another, he died a gal
liant gentleman. He would not think
Of himself alone. But listen. Bear
with me if l tell you that could your
son send out the news himself perhaps
he might say twas by Ills own hand
he persisted and not by that of an
other"
"Never, MI. Jefferson, never will l
believe that. 1t was not in his nature
81 agree with you. But when we
take the last wishes Of the dead we
take what is the law for us. And the
law of your son was the law Of honor.
Suppose, my dear madam, there were a
woman concerned in tles matter?"
"He never wronged a woman in his
life
Precisely, nor in his death would he
wrong one Do you begin to seer
"Did he ever speak to You of herr"
eft was impossible that he should.
But I knew them both. 1 knew their
secret. We're it i'll his power to do SO
I I'm sure that he Carried his secret
with him. so that it might lever be
shared by any,"
But shall l let that stain rest On his
namey" The dark eye of the old wo
man cleaned upon her sons friend.
"Do not I love him also? I am speak.
ing now only of his own wish-not
ours. / know that he would shield
her at any c%ost-nay, l know he did
shield her at any cost. May not we
shield him and her, no matter what
the cost to us? If he laid that wish
on us, ought we not to respect it!
Madam, / shall frame a letter which
will serve to appease the criticism of
the public in regard to your son. II
it be not the exact truth-and who
shall tell the exact truth?-it will at
least be accepted as truth, and it will
forever silence any talk. What should
the public know of a life such as his:
There are some lives which are trag
No.