Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-05-23
CHAPTER XIV.
The Rent In the Armor.

vOAn - was u W Scc " Lue
IkI core Of any problem in state.
H craft. He knew what this sud.
~ den access Of interest In the
west indicated, so far as his plans
were concerned. 1t must be stopped
else it would be too late for any dream
Of Aaron Burr for an empire Of his
own. .e
His resources were dwindling. He
needed funds for the many secret
agents in his employ, needed yet more
funds for the purchase and support of
his lands in the south. And the minis
ter Of Great Britain had given plain
warning that unless this expedition up
the Missouri could be stopped no fur
Their aid need be hoped from him.
Little by little Burr saw hope slip
away from him True, Captain Lewis
was still detained by his duties among
the Usage Indians little way out
from the city. but the main expedition
had actually started.
William Clark, occupied with the
final details, did not finally get his
party under way until five days after
the formal transfer of the new terri
tory of Louisiana to our flag and three
days after Burr's arrival At last,
however, on the 18th Of May, the three
boats had left st. Louis wharf with
their, full complement of men and the
last of the supplies aboard for the
great voyage. Captain Clark. ever
light hearted and careless Of his spell
ing book, If not Of his rifle, says it was
"a jentle brease" which aided the oars
and the square sail as they started up
the river.
Assuredly the bark Of Aaron Burr
was sailing under no propitious fol-
lowing wind. Distracted, he paced up
and down his apartment in the home
where he was guest, preoccupied, alb
sorbed, almost ready to despair. He
spoke but little, but time and again he
cast an estimating eye upon the young
woman who accompanied him.
You are Ill, Theodosia" he exclaim-
ed at last. Come, come, my daugh-
ter, this will not do! Have you no
arts of the toilet that can overcome the
story Of your megrims? Shall get
you some sort Of bitter herbs? You
need your brightest face, your best
apparel, now. These folks Of St. Louis
must see us at our best, my dear, our
very best. Besides
He needed not to complete the sen
tence. Theodosia Aston knew well
enough what was in her fathers mind
knew well enough why they both
were here. 1t was because she would
not have come alone. And she knew
that the burden of the work they had
at heart must once more lie upon her
shoulders. She once more must see
Captain Meriwether Lewis-and it
must be soon If ever He was report
ed as being ready to leave town at
once upon his return from the Usage
Indians. !
But courtesy did not fail the young
Virginian, and at last, although with
dread in his own heart, within an
hour of his actual departure. he called
to pay his compliments to guests so dis
tinguished as these. to a man so high
in rank under the government which
he himself served. He found 1t neces-
sary to apologize for his garb, suited
rather to the trail than to the drawing
room. He stood in the hall Of the
Chouteau home, picture of the SOL
dier Of the frontier rather than the
courtier of the capital.
His three cornered military hat, his
blue uniform cOat-these made the sole
formality Of his attire, for his feet
were moccasined, his limbs were clad
in tight fitting buckskins, and his shirt
was of rough linsey. suitable for the
work ahead.
II ask your pardon, Colonel Burr"
said he, "for coming to you as am,
but the moment for my start is now
directly at hand. could not leave
without coming to present my duties
to you and Mrs. Aston. Indeed, have
done SO at once upon my return to
town. ! pray you carry back to Mr..
Jefferson my sincerest compliments.
Say to him, II you will, that we are
setting forth with high hopes of sue
cess"
Formal, cold, polite. 1t was the one
wish Of Captain Lewis to end this in
terview as soon as he might and to
leave all sleeping dogs lying there as
they were.
But Aaron Burr planned otherwise.
His low. deep voice was never more
persuasive. his dark eye never more
compelling. nor was his bold heart ever
more in trepidation than now as he
made excuse for delay, delay, delay.
my daughter, Mrs. Aston, will Join
US presently" he said. $50 you are
ready. Captain Lewis?"
1--WE are quite prepared, Colonel
Burr. My men are on ahead two days
a. 1)I@Ysa