Evening star., 1924-03-03
CHAPTER XIX.
Down to the Sea.

Many days later the French serv.
ant, Peria, rode up to the gate, to
the door, of Locust Hall, the Lewis
homestead in old Virginia. The news
he bore had preceded him. He met a
stern faced. dark-browed woman,
who regarded him coldly when he an
nounced his name. regarded him IN
silence. The servant found himself
able to make but small speech.
"Your son was a brave mamie
lived long" said Peria. haltingly, at
the close Of his story.
"Yes," said the mother. of Meri-
wether Lewis. HE was brave man.
He was strong.
"He was unhappy: but why he
"stop!" The dark eyes blazed upon
him. what are you saying? My
son kill himself? 1t is an outrage to
his memory to suggest II. he was
the victim of some enemy. AS for
So Peria passed from sight and
view, and almost from memory. not
accused, not acquitted. Long after
ward a brother of Meriwether Lewis
met him. and found that he was car
rying the old rife and the little watch
which every member of the family
knew so we'll. These things had been
missing from the effects OF Meri-
wether Lewis in the inventory-in :
deed, little remained in the travelling
cases save a few scattered papers
and the old spyglass. There was no
gold. There were no letters OF any
kind.
,icelIo to Locust Hall the coach OF
Thomas Jefferson.
Madam" said he: when finally ne ne
stood at the side Of the mistress ne,.s OF
thought to bring-I see that you
have heard it. What shall | say
what can we say to each other.
mourn him as if he were my own
SON." .. ,ast" said the
mother Of Meriwether Lewis. THE
wildnerness has him. as l knew II
would! I told him. here at TINS IS !, piafe; the =
,sns %asn woalS he Ses wess Sos m 1hst sn AS'
"rhe rumor is that he died by his
own hand. I find it difficult to be-
Iieye. 1t is far more likely that some
enemy or robber was guilty OF 'he
"Whom had he ever harmed?" she
demanded of jefferson.
None in the world; with intent;
but he had enemiesf ,hnt sf another he died
a gallant gentleman. He would not
think Of himself alone. Eut listen. -,
hear with me IL tell you that couia
YOUR son send out the news h.iIsSii
perhaps he might say twas oy MS
own hand he perished, ana not py
that of another" ,,, ,
Never, Mr. jefferson. never VIII
believe that! 1t was not IN ms ma
ture" ,,., 90, Rut when we
+aLe the last wishes OF the dead, we
take what is the law for US. And the
law OF your SON was a the ,,sSam aaM n,
there were woman cohcerheo Al
He never wronged a woman in his
Precisely, nor in his death would
he wrong one! DO you oegih 10
.nid he ever speak to yvu Of her.:
1T was impossible that e should
hut ! knew them both. I knew their
secret. Were it in his power to 90
40. am sure that he carried his Sc
cret with him, so that 1t might never
rusrded in death as in life."
"But shall I let that stain rest on
his name?" The dark eye of the OLD
woman CLEANED upon her son
"Do not I love him also? am
speaking now only OF his own WISH
not ours. know that he would shield
her at any cost--nay, know he ofo
shield her at any cost. May not we
the cost to us? II he laid that wish
on ue, ought we not to respect It?
Madam, I shall frame q letter which
will scrve TO appease the criticism of
the public in regard to your son. Ii