Part 11 (1/2)

Burr himself accompanied them to the door

CHAPTER VII

COLONEL BURR AND HIS DAUGHTER

One instant Aaron Burr sat, his head dropped, revolving his plans The next, he pulled the bell-cord and paced the floor until he had answer

”Go at once to Mrs Alston's rooms, Charles,” said he to the servant

”Tell her to rise and come to me at once Tell her not to wait Do you hear?”

He still paced the floor until he heard a light _frou-frou_ in the hall, a light knock at the door His daughter entered, her eyes still full of sleep, her attire no ht garments

”What is it, father--are you ill?”

”Far fro with head erect ”I am alive, well, and happier than I have been for months--years I need you--coht her to hi as he did his daughter--then pushed her tenderly into the deep seat near by the la up and down the rooreat idea

The n officials he placed before his daughter He told her all--except the truth And Aaron Burr kne to gild falsehood itself until it seemed the truth

”Now you have it, my dear,” said he ”You see, my ambition to found a country of my ohere a e here is too narrow a field for talents like yours or reat jest with Mr Jefferson

There is nothing in the Constitution of the United States--I ah to know that--which will ress to ratify the purchase of Louisiana We cannot carve new States from that country--it is already settled by the subjects of another government

Hence the expedition of Mr Lewis ht It is based upon an absurdity Not even Mr Jefferson can fly in the face of the supreme laws of the land

”But as to the Mississippi Valley, ainst that country's organizing for a better government There is every natural reason for that As these States on the East confederated in the cause against oppression, so can those yonder There will be ame is on the board--men like Captain Lewis, for instance Should one ally one's self with a foredoomed failure? Not at all I prefer rather success--station, rank, power, money, for myself, if you please With us--aof our new country With hi of yonder impracticable and chimerical expedition, twenty-five hundred dollars! Which enterprise, think you, in?

”But, on the other hand, if that expedition of Mr Jefferson's should succeed by virtue of accident, or of good leadershi+p, all my plans must fail--that is plain It comes, therefore, to this, Theo, and I may tell you plainly--Captain Lewis must be seen--he must be stopped--we must hold a conference with hie all that There is only one person who can save your father's future--and that one, ht Theodosia's look of surprise, her start, the swift flush on her cheek--and laughed lightly

”Let me explain Aaron Burr and all his family--all his friends--will reach swift advanceovernht so bitterly for office I plan for reater office than second fiddle in this tawdry republic along the Atlantic I want the first place, and in a greater field! I will take my friends with me I want men who can lead other men I want men like Captain Lewis”

”It seems that you value him more now than once you did”

”Yes, that is true, Theo, that is true I did not favor his suit for your hand at that tiinia lands, he could not offer you the future assured by Mr Alston I was rejoiced--I ad Captain Lewis came just too late, for I feared you would have preferred him And yet I saw his quality then--Mr Jefferson sees it--he is a good chooser of men But Captain Lewis e task for a woman”

”What woman, father?”

A flush came to her pale cheek Her father turned to her directly, his own piercing gaze aflame

”There is but one wo man's fate was settled when he looked on that woman--when he looked on you!”

She swiftly turned her head aside, not answering