Evening star., 1924-02-08
The Magnificent Adventure
i u.s. A Stirring Story of the Northwest.
BY EMERSON HOUGH.
Copyright D. L
BY EMERSON HOUGH.
Continued from Yesterdays Star)
Copyright. 1898. by D. Appleton L Coz

THE families of foreign ministers,
arriving at the seat of government
of tho national ministers. as from
all other residents. Members Of the
legislature and of the judiciary, in
dependent of their offices. have
first visit. No title being admitted
here, those of foreigners give no
precedence. Difference of grade,
among the diplomatic members gives
no precedence.
AT public ceremonies the govern
ment invites the presence of foreign
ministers and their families. A con-
venient seat or station will be pro-
vided for them, with any other
strangers invited. and the families
of the national minister's, each TAX
ing place as they arrive, and with
out any precedence.
ITO maintain the principle of equal
ity, or of pell-mell, and prevent the
growth Of precedence out of courtesy,
the members of, the executive will
practice at their own houses, and
recommend an. adherence to the
ancient usages of the country OF
gentlemen in mass giving precedence
TO the ladies in mass, in passing from
one apartment where they are as
sembled into another"
And so on, through reams anu
reanfs of a strange mans life records.
Why should we care to note his
curious concern over details? The
answer to that question is this
obviously, Thomas Jefferson's esti-
mate of a man must also in all like
lihood have been curiouSly exact. Ht
did not make public to the world
his judgment of Col. Aaron Burr, at
that time Vice President of the
United States; but in his diary. writ
ten in frankneSs by himself for him
self he put down the following:
II have never seen Col. Burr till
he became a member Of the Senate.
His conduct very soon inspired me
with distruSt. 1 habitually cautioned
Mr.. Madison against trusting him
TOO much. ] saw that under Gen. w.
and Mr.. Adams. where great
military appointment or a diplomatic
one was to be made, he came post
TO Philadelphia to show himself. and
in fact he was always in the market
if they wanted him. He was indeed
told by Dayton III 1900 that he might
was too late. His election as Vice
President was then foreseen. With
these impre: sions of Col. Burr. there
never has been any intimacy between
us and but little association.
A certain plan of this same Col.
Burr'S now went forward in such
fashion as involved the loyalty of
Meriwether Lewis. the man to whom,
of all others of his acquaintance,
Thomas Jefferson gave first place i'll
trust anu confidence and friendship
the young man who but now was
making his unoStentatiouS departure
on the great adventure that they two
had, planned
His garb ill cared for. his hair I'M
kcmpt his face trifle haGgard.
working on into the day whose down
he had seen arise, the tall, saunt
old man set aside first one minor
matter, then another. leaving them
all exactly finished. at last he wrote
down, for later forwarding. the last
item of his own knowledge regard
ing the new country into which be
had sent his young fSienu.
II have received ,%ord from Paris
that Mr.. Broughton. one Of the conf
ra.nions of Capt. Vancouver, went up
the Columbia river 100 miles in De-
Gambler. 1872. He stopped at a point
he named Vancouver. Here the river
Columbia is still a quarter 81 mile
wide. From this point Mount Hood
which is probably a dependency of
the Stony mountains. Accept my
affectionate salutations."
This was the last word ,Meriwether
Lewis received from his chief. AS
the latter finished it he sat looking
out of the window toward that west
which meant much to him.
He did not at first note the Interrupt
tion of his reverie. Long ago he
had made public his announcement
belonged to the public, and that he
might be seen at any time by any
man. He hesitated now but mo-
ment- therefore. when old Henry.
his faithful black. threw open the
door and stated simply that there
was "a lady wantin' to see Mistah
Jeffahson.''
who is she. IIenryg' inquired the
President of the United States mildly.
Il am somewhat busy today
in che
she sho'ly want see Mistah- Jeffahson."
The tired old man smiled and
shrugged his shoulders. j., A moment
later the persistent caller was
ushered into the office of the ma
courteously to meet her.
1t was Theodosia Aston. whom he
had known from her childhood. Mr..
Jefferson greeted her with his hand
outstretched. and, her arm still in
his, led her to a seat.
MY dear" said he. you will par
Ion our confusion here. l am sure.
There are many matters-'
Il know it is an intrusion, Mr..
Jefferson began Theodosia Alston
again, her face flushing swiftly. But
in your patience that we all take
advantage of you. And yet you are
so tired" she added impulsively. as
she caught sight of his haggard face.
was not 50 lOFGuUdte DIS 10 ulu
time for sleep last night" He smiled
again with humorous, half twisted
mouth.
Nor was L.
Tut, tut: No, no. my dear. that
sort of thing will not de- He looked
at her in silence for some time. Per
haps. my dear" said he at last, you
come regarding Capt. Lewis?"
How did you know she eX-
claimed, startled.
pushed his chair so close that he
might lay a hand upon her arm,
Listen, Theo, my child. l am an
old nan. and / am your friend, and
his also. I had need to be very
blind had 1 not known long ago what
] did know. / am. perhaps. the only
confidant of Capts Lewis, and 1 re-
pose in him condolences that 1 would
venture to no other man; but he is
not the sort to speak of such mat
ters. 1t is only by virtue of excep-
tional circumstances. my dear. that
] know the story of you two"
She was looking straight into his
face, her eyes mournfuL
Il was glad to send him away.
sorely as / miss him. But then. you
said you come to me about him?''
Yes, after he is gone-knowing
all that you say-because trust your
great kindness and your chivalry.
] came to ask you to call him back
other man in the world but yourself
I had not dared come here; but you
know my story and his. 1t is your
right to believe that he and 1 were
that is to, say, we might have
been-ah. sir, how can / speak,"
You need not speak, my dear. ]
know"
II shall be faithful to my husband,
Mr.. Jefferson"
The old man nodded.
Capt Lewis knows that also. He