The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-03-31
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Merituether Le.uis

Continued.
eff not, twas not for the last time,' -
rejoined the older man. "Yonder
young man was made to fill a wom-
ans eye. Your daughter, Mr.. Burr,
while\the soul of married discreetness
and charming as any of her sex have
ever seen, must look out for her heart.
She might find it divided into three
equal parts"
"How then, Mr.. MinisterY
zone for her father
Aaron Burr bowed.
Eyes, her father first, as I verify be-
lieve. What then?'
1.-THE second for her husband
Certainly. Mr.. Aston is a rising
man. He has a thousand slaves on
his plantations. He is one of the rich
est of the rich South Carolinian plant
ers. And in politics he has a chance
more than chance. But after that?'
The third portion of SO charming a
woman's heart might perhaps be as
signed to Captain Meriwether Lewis. F"
"Say you soY' laughed Burr careless
~. "Well, we'll; this must be looked
into. Come; must tell my son-in-law
that his home is in danger Of being in
vaded. Far off in his southern rice lands
I fear he misses his young wife some
times. 1 brought her here for the sake
of her own health. She cannot live in
such swamps. Besides, cannot bear
to have her live away from me. She
is happier with me than anywhere else.
Yes, you are right; my daughter wor-
ships me-"
''Why should she not? And why
should she not ride with a gallant at
sunrise for an early cup of coffee,
egad?" said the older man.
Burr did not answer, and they rode on.
In the opposite direction there rode
also the young man Of whom they
spoke. And at about the time that the
two came to the old mill and saw Theo-
dosia Aston sitting there-her face
still cast down, her eyes gazing alb
stractedly into her untasted cup on the
little table-Meriwether Lewis was
pulling up at the iron gate which then
closed the opening in the stone wall en-
circling the modest official residence Of
his chief and patron, President Jeffer-
son.
There stood waiting near the gate one
Of Mr.. Jefferson's private servants,
Samson, who took the young mans
rein, grinning with his usual familiar
words of welcome as the secretary dis
mounted from his horse.
"You all suttinly did warm old Arc
tlrum li'P bit dis mawnin', Mistah
Mehywether."
Samson patted the neck of the spirit
ed animal, which tossed it's head and
turned an eye to it's late rider.
Eyes, and see that you rub him well.
Mind you, if Mr.. Jefferson finds that
his whitest handkerchief shows sweat
mark from the horses hide he will cut
off both your black ears for you, Sam
son-and very likely your head along
with them. You know your master y
The secretary smiled kindly at the old
black man.
"Yassah, yassah," grinned Samson,
who no more feared Dir. Jefferson than
he did the young gentleman with whom
be now spoke. II just lookin' at you
comm down that path right now, and
say to myself, Oar come ridah! /
sho' did, Mistah Mehywether
The young man answered the negro's
compliment with one Of his rare smiles,
then turned, with just a flick Of his
gloves on his breeches legs, and march
cd up the walk to the door Of the man.
sion.
At the step he turned and paused, RS
he usually did. TO take one look out
over the unfinished wing of stone still
in process of erection. On beyond, In
the ragged village. he saw few good
mansion houses, many structures de-
voted to business, many lumbled huts
of negroes and here and there pubic
building in its early stages
The great system of boGlevards ana
parks and circles of the new American
capital was not yet apparent from the
place where Thomas Jefferson's young
secretary now stood. But the young
man peShaps saw city and nation ahKe
advanced in his vision. for he gazed
long and lingcringly before he turned
back at last and entered the door
which the old house servant swung
open for him.
His hat and crop and gloves he hand
ed to this bowed old darby, Ben, an
other Of Mr. Jefferson's plantation
servants whom he had brought to
WASHINGTON with him. Then-for such
was the simple fashion OF the menaGe'
where Meriwether~ Lewis himself was
enc &c the presidents family-he step
ped to the door beyond and knocked
lightly, entering as he did so.
The hour was carlyle himself had
not breakfasted beyond his coffee at
the mill-but early as it was he knew
he would find at his desk the gentle
man who now turned to him.