Evening star., 1924-01-30

She predicts that he will love strongly and
deeply. but that happiness for him does not
lie at the end of that path. She says that he
has always been man and that he mas IN
herited the melancholy traits of his father.
She adds that any mother can read her son
future On a morning a day or two later
Young Lewis, who is secretary to Jefferson is
exercising ArcturuS. his chiefs favorite saddle
horse. when he comes upon TheodoSia. a young
woman whom he admires, while she is strng-
Cling with her horse after an encounter with
n snake. His despondency is Indicated by his
now. forever" He admits. however. that he
has followed the footprints of her mount.
Continued from Yesterdays Starr
Her face was troubled. She looked
aside as she replied in voice low,
but firm
ANY woman would be glad to hear
such words from Capt. Lewis and /
am glad. But-the honest wife never
lived who could listen to them often"
Il know that" he said. simply.
No" Her voice was very low now:
her eyes soft and cast down as they
fell upon ring under her glove.
We must not meet, Capt. Meriwether
Lewis. At least, we must not meet
thus alone in the woods. 1t might
cause talk. The administration has
enemies enough as you know-and
never was a woman who did not have
enemies. no matter how clean her
life has been"
never asked you to be aught else, and
never will. | sought you once. when
1 rode from Virginia to New York
when i first had my captains pay.
before Mr.. Jefferson asked me to join
his family. Before that time | had
too little to offer you; but then, with
my hopes and my ambitions, L ven
tured. l made that journey to offer
you my hand. ! was two weeks late
YOU were already welded to Mr.. Ais
ton. Then | learned that happiness
never could be mine. Yes. we must
part! You are the only thing in life
I fear. And l fear as we'll for you.
One wagging tongue in this hotbed
of gossip-and there is harm for you,
whom all good men should wish to
shield"
AS he rode, speaking thus, his We're
the features of 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 simple gesture of
farewell. Meriwether Lewis leaned
and kissed it reverently as he rode.
Good bye" said he. Now we may
go on for the brief space that remains
for u.s. he added, a moment later.
NO one is likely to ride this way this
morning. Let US go on TO the old mill.
May l give you a cup of, coffee there?
Il trust Capt. Meriwether Lewis"
she replied.
They advanced silently, and present
iy came in sight of a little cascade
above rocky Swallowing of the
stream. Below this. after they had
splaShed through the ford. they saw
the gray stone walls of Rock Creek
mill.
The miller was a plain man and
silent. Other folk, younger or older.
married or single. had come hither
OF morning. and he spoke the name
of "a cd f,rn oft
his fashion. Under the shade of
great tree, which flung an arm out to
the rivulet. he pulled out 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
wherewfth to go with both.
They sat now, face to face across
the little table, their horses c-opping
the dewy gras nearby. Lewis riding
crop and gloves lay on his knee. He
cast his hat upon the grass. Little
birds hoped about on the ground and
fitted here and there in the trees.
twittering. A mocker, trilling in sud-
den ecstacy of life, spread a larger
melody through all the wood.
The sun drew gently up in the
heavens, screened by the waving
trees. The ripple of the stream was
"Theodosia, look.' said the young
man. suddenly swinging a gesture
about him. Did I not say right? 1t is
Eden! All, what a pity it is that
Eden must ever be the samoa SER
Observation-Disclosures farewell. Yet
1t was so beautiful"
"A sinless Eden, sir
NO. l will not lie-I will not say
that do not love you more than
ever. That is my sin; so / must go
away. This must be our last meeting
i am fortunate that it came by
chance today"
Going away-where. then. my
friend?"
Into the west 1t always has
called me. All. if only 1 had re-
mained in the Indian country yonder.
where / belonged and never made
my ride to New York-to learn that
still is there--the wilderness still
exists to welcome such as me-"
: again?'
not know or care. But my plans are
all arranged. Mr.. Jefferson and 1
have agreed that it is almost time
TO start. You see, Theodosia, / am
now back from my schooling You
behold in me, madam. scientist,
At least / am competent to read by
the sun and stars. can reckon longi-
tude and latitude-as one must, to
journey into the desert yonder If
only I dared orient my soul as well"
You would never doubt my faith
in my husband"
NO! OF course, you love your hus-
band. I could not look at you a sec
ond time, If you did not
You are a good man. Meriwether
Lewis"
DO not say it. I am man ac-
cursed of evil passions-the most un-
happy of all men: There is nothing
else. I say, in all the world that I
fear but my love for you. Tell me
Il will not last-tell me it will
Ghange-tell me that I shall forget!
! should not believe you-but tell me
that. Does a man never forget?
Success-for others: happiness-for
some one else. My mother said that
vas to be my fate. What did she
"She meant, Meriwether Lewis, that
YOU were great man, a great soul!
Only man of noble soul could speak
as you have spoken to me. We
women, in our souls, love something
We imagine some one like that. We
Relieve. or try to believe, or say
that we believe; but always
i And a woman may divide not love-
only love of love itself?"
II shall love your future. and shall
watch 1T always" she replied, color
ing. You will be a great man, and
there will & be a a,s great place for you."
E"Do not ask what then. You ask
il men never change. Alas, they do,
all too frequently! Do not deny the
imperious way of nature. Only
remember me as long as you can,
Meriwether Lewis"
She spoke softly and the color of
lier cheek. still rising. told of her
self-reproof.
He turned suddenly at this, won
derfully sweet smile now upon his
face.
LAS long as I CAM"
"Yes. Let your own mind run on
the ambitions Of a proud man, a