Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-06-20

fore him lifted a hand. His face was
CHASTITY pale. $40 not" said he. do
not. beg of you.
"What Is it. Merne?" exclaimed the
old man. what have done?"
"You speak Of my honor. Do not.
Indeed, you touch me deep"
Thomas jefferson. wise old man. rails
ed hand.
IL shall never listen. my son." said
be- II will accord to you the right OF
hot blood to ruin hot. You would not
be man worth knowing were 1t not
50. All | know or will know is that
whatever the price you have paid it
or will pay it. But tell ME. Merne. car
you not tear her from your soul? 1t
will ruin you. this hopeless attachment
which you cherish. ~ it Always 20 re-
main with you? I bid you find some
D her woman. The best il the land are
waiting for YOU"
"Ir. Jefferson, shall never marry
The two sat looking into each 9th
er's eyes for just moment. Said
Thomas jefferson at length, slowly:
80! 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. | see it
in your face. The fifteen millions /
paid for yonder laEds was nothing.
We have bought them with the happi-
ness of human soul. The transient
ratitude 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. 1t made the wise old
man sad to see it, but thoughtful too.
"She is at Richmond, Merne?" said
Mr.. Jefferson moment later.
The young man nodded.
"And the greatest boon she could
ask would be her fathers freedom, the
| freedom of the man who sought to ruin
this country. the man whom l scarce
ly dare release"
The thin lips compressed for mo-
ment. 1t was not in implacable.
vengeful zeal: it was but in thought.
Now, then" said Thomas Jefferson
sharply, there comes a veil, a curtain.
between you and me and all the world.
| No record must show that either OF
us raised hand against the full action
Of the law or planned that Colonel
Burr should not suffer the full penalty
of the code. Yes. that is true. but not
his daughter
"Mr. Jeffersonv' The face of Meri-
wether Lewis was strangely moved.
II see the actual greatness Of your
soul, but ask nothing"
"Why. in my heart l feel like fling
ing open every prison door in the
world If you have gained an en-
pire for your country and. paid for 1t
as you have. could not great and
rich country a fford to pay to the ex-
tent Of woman's happiness? When
| l., IL, no re
criminals And this day l feel as
proud and happy as if We're 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. do
nothing And let this end all talk be-
| tween us Of these matters. know
you can keep your own counsel"
Lewis bowed silently.
"GO to Richmond. Merne You will
find there broken conspirator and his
unhappy daughter. Both are ostra-
cized. 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 jury. John Ran
dolph is foreman of that jury. 1t 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. Mr. Jefferson"
broke out his listener.
do precisely what l tell you. Go
to that social outcast. Take her on
your arm before all the world and be-
fore that jury. Sit there before all
Richmond and that jury. An hour or
so will do. Do that and then, as l
did when l trusted you, ask no ques-
tons. but leave it on the knees Of the
gods. II you can call me chief in
other matters" the president conclud-
ed. land can call me chief in that fash
ion of thought which men call religion
as well. let me give You JUNCTION and
absolution, my son. 1t is all that
have to give to one whom l have al
ways loved as if he were my own son.
This is all can do for you. 1t may
fail. but would rather trust that jury
to be right than trust myself today.
because. repeat. feel like flinging
open every prison door in all the
world and telling every erring. stun
bling man to try once more to do what