Part 14 (2/2)
Why should we care to note his curious concern over details? The answer to that question is this--obviously, Thomas Jefferson's estimate of a man must also in all likelihood have been curiously exact He did not ment of Colonel Aaron Burr, at that time Vice-President of the United States; but in his diary, written in frankness by hi:
I have never seen Colonel Burr till he became a member of the Senate His conduct very soon inspired ainst trusting him too reat 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 hiht be Secretary at War, but this bid was too late His election as Vice-President was then foreseen With these impressions of Colonel Burr, there never has been any intimacy between us, and but little association
A certain plan of this same Colonel Burr's noent forward in such fashi+on as involved the loyalty of Meriwether Lewis, the man to whoave first place in trust and confidence and friendshi+p--the younghis unostentatious departure on the great adventure that they two had planned
His garb ill cared-for, his hair unke on into the day whose dawn he had seen arise, the tall, gaunt oldthem all exactly finished At last he wrote down, for later forwarding, the last ite the new country into which he had sent his young friend
I have received word frohton, one of the companions of Captain Vancouver, went up the Columbia River one hundred miles in December, 1792 He stopped at a point he named Vancouver Here the river Columbia is still a quarter of a mile wide Froues distant, which is probably a dependency of the Stony Mountains Accept my affectionate salutations
This was the last word Meriwether Lewis received fro out of the ard that West which meant so much to him
He did not at first note the interruption of his reverie Long ago he had made public his announceed to the public, and that he ht be seen at any time by any man He hesitated now but a moment, 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, Henry?” inquired the President of the United States mildly ”I am somewhat busy today”
”'Tain't no diff'rence, she say--she sho'ly want see Mistah Jeffahson”
The tired old ed his shoulders A moment later the persistent caller was ushered into the office of the nation's chief executive He rose courteously to meet her
It was Theodosia Alston, whoreeted her with his hand outstretched, and, her arm still in his, led her to a seat
”My dear,” said he, ”you will pardon our confusion here, I am sure
There are many matters----”
”I know it is an intrusion, Mr Jefferson,” began Theodosia Alston again, her face flushi+ng swiftly ”But you are so good, so kind, so great in your patience that we all take advantage of you And yet you are so tired,” she added iard face
”I was not so fortunate as to find tiain with humorous, half twisted mouth
”Nor was I”
”Tut, tut! No, no,will not do” He looked at her in silence for soarding Captain Lewis?”
”How did you know?” she exclaimed, startled
”Why should I not know?” He pushed his chair so close that he ht lay a hand upon her arm ”Listen, Theo, my child I am an old man, and I am your friend, and his also I had need to be very blind had I not known long ago what I did know I am, perhaps, the only confidant of Captain Lewis, and I repose in him confidences that I would venture to no other man; but he is not the sort to speak of such matters It is only by virtue of exceptional circumstances, my dear, that I know the story of you two”
She was looking straight into his face, her eyes lad to send him away, sorely as I miss him But then, you said, you co all that you say--because I trust your great kindness and your chivalry I come to ask you to call him back!
Oh, Mr Jefferson, were it any other man in the world but yourself I had not dared coht to believe that he and I were--that is to say, we ht have been--ah, sir, how can I speak?”