Part 11 (2/2)
”Aed in affairs that I cannot see the obvious, my dear?”
went on the vibrant voice ”Had I no eyes for ent on at , at Mr Jefferson's dinner-table? Could I fail to observe his look to you--and, yes, am I not sensible to what your eyes said to him in reply?”
”Do you believe that ofdishonorable of you,dishonorable But I knohat young blood will do Your eyes said no more than that for me I know you wish him well--know you ell for his ambition, his success--am sure you do not wish to see hihted when it should be but begun?”
”There would be prospects for him?”
”All the prospects in the world! I would place hihly do I value his talents in an enterprise such as this Alston's e! They both love you--do I not know?”
Troubled, again she turned her gaze aside
”Listen,man is wise--he has no such vast belief in yonder expedition He is going in desperation, to escape a memory! Is it not true? Tell oing into the Missouri country in order to forget a certain wohter, who that woave hies is a failure Meriwether Leith ent of the lower Louisiana country Texas, Florida, ht with the great nations of the world, not against theainst them
”Now, you have two pictures, my dear--one of Meriwether Lewis, the wanderer, a broken and hopelesshut his home, a camp fire the only hearth he knows Picture that hopeless and broken man--condemned to that by yourself, ure whom you can see rescued, restored to the world, placed by your own hand in a station of dignity and power
Then, indeed, he ive Yonder he will forsake his o down, step by step, until he shall not think of you again
”There are two pictures, hter Which do you prefer--what do you decide to do? Shall you condeive your father for having spoken thus plainly I know your heart--I know your generosity as well as I know your loyalty and ambition There is no reason, my dear, why, for the sake of your father, for the sake of yourself, _and for the sake of that young o to hie”
”Could it be possible,” she began at length, half , ”that I, who made Captain Lewis so unhappy, could aid a her and better place in life? Could I save him frohter! If that generous wish bore fruit, I think that in the later years of life, for both of you, the reflection would prove not unwelco, that no other woman will ever hold a place in the heart of Meriwether Lewis
There is a s on earth
We deal now in delicate matters, it is true; but I have been frank with you, because, knowing your loyalty and fairness, knowing your ambition, even-paced with enerosity as well You see, I have chosen the best er in all the world to advance my own ambition Indeed, I have chosen the only one in all the world who htest prospect of success”
”What can I do, father?”
”In theman will start It is noo by the clock
We are late He will start with the rising sun It is doubtful if he will see his bed at all tonight”
”You have called e errand, father,” said Theodosia Alston, at length ”So far as o with you in your plans I could plan no treachery against this country, nor could you--you are its sworn servant, its high official”
”Treachery? No, it is statesmanshi+p, it is service toCaptain Lewis, there is, as you know, but one way I go not as Theodosia Burr, but as Mrs Alston of Carolina I auht be based upon honor and loyalty Nor would any argument, even if offered by my father, avail otherith aze of her dark eyes, serious, lu so clearly that he caht her to his bosom, and kissed her tenderly
”Theodosia,” said he, ”aid me! If the fire of my ambition has consumed me, I have come to you, because I know your love, because I know your loyalty! I have not slept tonight,” he added, passing a hand across his forehead
”There will be no ht,” was her reply
”You will see hi?”
”Yes”