Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-04-19
to offer, but then. with my hopes and
my ambitions. I ventured. / made that

q
two weeks late-you were already wed.
ded to Mr.. Aston. Then l learned that
happiness could be mine. Yes.
we must part. You are the only thing
l n life ! fear. and fear as we'll for
you. One waggtng tongue in this hot
bed of g~ossip-and there is harm for
you,. whom all good men should wish
to shield"
As he rode. speaking thus. his were
the features of a man Of tremendous
emotions. a resolute man. a 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 a simple gesture Of farewell.
Meriwether Lewis leaned and kissed it
reverently as he rode.
"Goodby." said he. Nov we may 20
on for the brief space that remains for
U.S." he added a moment later. mo
one is likely to ride this way this morn.
ing. Let us go on to the old mill. May
| give you a cup of coffee there?"
II trust Captain Meriwether Lewis"
she replied.
they advanced silently and presently
came in sight Of a little cascade above
a rocky Swallowing, Of the stream. Be-
low this. after they had splashea
through the ford. they saw the gray
stone walls Of Rock Creek mill. y
The miller was a plain man and ST.
lent. Other folk. younger or older.
married or single. had come hither Of
a morning. and be spoke the name of
none He welcomed these two after
his fashion. Under the shade of a
great tree which flung an arm out to
the rivulet he pulled out a little table
spread in white and departed to tell
his wife of the company. She. busy
and smiling. came out presently with
her best in old china and linen and
wherewith to so with both.
They sat now face to face across the
little table, their horses cropping the
dewy grass neal by. The sun drew
gently up in the heavens. screened by
the waving trees. The, ripple of the
stream was very sweet.
"Tlleodosia, look!r' said the young
man. suddenly swinging a gesture
about him. Did 1 not say right? 1t is
Eden! All. what a pity it is that Eden
must ever be the samoa serpent, re-
pentance II FAREWELL. Yet it was so
beautiful"
"A sinless Eden, sir"
NO! | will not lie-I will not saw
that | do not love you more than ever.
That is my sin. So 1 must go away.
This must be our last meeting. l am
fortunate that it came by chance to-
day."
Going away! Where. then. my
friend?"
Into the west. 1t always has called
me. All. if only L had remained in
the Indian country yonder. where l
belonged, and never made my ride to
New York-to learn that had come
too late! But the west still is there;
the wildness still exists to welcome
such as me!''
But you will--you will come back
again?"
1T is in the lap Of the gods. 1 dc
not know or care. But my plans are
all arranged. Mr.. Jefferson and I have
agreed that it is almost time to start
You see Theodosia, 1 am now back
from my schooling. You behold in me
madam. a scientist! At least 1 am
competent to read by the sun and
stars, can reckon longitude and lati.
tude, as n must to journey into the
desert yonder. If only l dared orient
my soul as well!"
You would never doubt nv faith
in my husband"
No! OF course you love your h,ls.
band. l could not look at you a sec.
ond time if you did not"
You are a good man. Meriwethe1
Lewis!"
Y DO not say it! 1 am a man &C.
cursed Of evil p~assions-the most un.
happy of all men. There is nothing
: else. ! say. iii all the world that 1 fear
but my love for you. Tell me it will
not last; tell me it will change: tell
: me that l shall forget! I should not
' believe you, but tell me that. Does
a man never forget? Success for 9th.
. ers. happiness for some one else-my
J mother said that was to be my fate.
What did she mean?"
' "She meant, Meriwether Lewis, that
! you We're a great man, a great soul
| Only a man of noble soul could speak
! as you have spoken to me. We won.
: en-, i'll our souls. love something noble
2 and good and strong. Then we i'm.
-
vi
- YzzEKl i
j. I1as5NL IA IE6AEEss yG