BLENNERHASSETT .^ROM/INCE BY CHARLES FELTON PIDGIN Bllilllllll^^ PZ 3.P61 Cornell University Library Blennerhassett; 3 1924 024 839 155 QJornpll ICam i>rI|onl IGibrary The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924024839155 'rULL, BOYS . !" CRIED THE OFFUEK, ''THERE WAS WITH HIJI. " PACE f^y^. BLENNERHASSETT OR THE DECREES OF FATE A ROMANCE Founded Upon Events of American History BY CHARLES FELTON PIDGIN Author of "~~ ' Quincy Adams Sawyer and Mason's Corner Folks.' With Illustrations by CHARLES H. STEPHENS BOSTON C M. Clark Publishing Company NEW YORK GROSSET AND DUNLAP SOLE AGENTS FOR T«E POPULAR EDITIONS Mwie m ibe United Suiei of Aiiiciie» 'B'?y^7/ Copyright, igoi, m Chas. Felton Pidgin, Boston, Mas8., U. S, A. Bktered at Stationers Hall, London Foreign Copyrights Secured tuGHTS OP Translation, Pubuc Reading, and Dramatization Reserveo CONTENTS FAOC. List of Illxtsisations ix Authok's Fsefacb... ^ zi> Xlbe prologue . . * . ^our pictures CHAPTER I ADbn of Treason r CHAPTER n A Shbimeof Liberty la- CHAPTER HI A Southern Home 19 CHAPTER rv A Westebn Fasabise 26' Ube asooti . . . <5rcat /Den an5 Ubefr 2>ee&s CHAPTER V A Knavish Pi«t 34 CHAPTER VI " Fifty Years After My Death " 44 CHAPTER Vn ; Thk Challenge SS V vi CONTENTS CHAPTER VIII 1SAC3 HtTMAN Tigers ^ CHAPTER IX LiOVERs AND Enemies « Z^ CHAPTER X The Field of Honor •••• 99 CHAPTER XI After the Duel •> no CHAPTER XII •"I Have no Country" 125 CHAPTER XIII A Presidential Stbatageu _ 133 CHAPTER XIV The Fly and the Web 138 CHAPTER XV A Palace in the Woods 147 CHAPTER XVI The Island Beautiful 161 CHAPTER XVII "The Song of the Drum" igj CHAPTER XVIII A Dream of Empire jq. CHAPTER XIX '"All the Men and Women Merely Players" 223 CONTENTS vii CHAPTER XX nua An Eavesdropper .,^.«.».«.,.>^««.„ ^7 CHAPTER XXI "A Divided Duty" ,, ..•...». i...;... 348 CHAPTER XXn Guarded by the Great Spirit ., 263 CHAPTER XXni Between the MnxsTONES .^ . . . . . 272 CHAPTER XXrV The Meanest Man in America 285 CHAPTER XXV The City of Lutetia 298 CHAPTER XXVI By Command of the Emperor 304 CHAPTER XXVII "HomeAgainI From a Foreign Shore " 312 CHAPTER XXVIII As IN Days of Yose 319 CHAPTER XXIX A Father's Love 33' CHAPTER XXX An Old Slave's Devotion 3Si CHAPTER XXXI FtioM Icy Blasts to Summer Skies 359: viii CONTENTS CHAPTER XXXII PACK Captain Thabbeus. ••••• 3^8 CHAPTER XXXIII "Teach MaTOSEA Good Man"..... .i. 375 CHAPTER XXXIV Last Days .-.■.. 387 CHAPTER XXXV "The Paths of Gujey" 40I XCbe EpflOQue . . . , fl^gstcrfes mnt>eile5 CHAPTER XXXVI *' In the Name of Aaron Bites ! " 413 CHAPTER XXXVII Justus Dane's Remarkable Manuscripts 418 CHAPTER XXXVIII How the Sealed Packet Became Mine- 425 CHAPTER XXXIX The Champagne Bottle 427 CHAPTER XL The, Wbe.cs of the Rainbow 433 CHAPTER XLI The Death of Theodosia 435 CHAPTER XLII The Irony of Fate. , ^^ AUTHOR'S PREFACE FOR a hundred years, one of the most remarkable ef Amer- icans has borne a weight of obloquy and calumny such as has been heaped upon no other man, and, unlike any other man, during his lifetime he never by voice or pen made answer to charges made against him, or presented either to friends or foes any argument or evidence to refute them. The American public makes idols of its great men; but when from any cause those great men fall from their high estates, the American public has no mercy for its fallen heroes. I will not speak longer in general terms, of uncertain applica- tion, but declare at once that the remarkable man I have in mind is Aaron Burr: a man who fought bravely to secure the inde- pendence of the Colonies ; a man who rose to the highest posi- tion at the bar, and who was offered a seat upon the bench; a man who was elected to the highest position in the gift of the American people, and who filled the seccrnd place with a dignity and grace that have never been equalled; a man who revenged the wrongs inflicted upon him during a period of thirty years, on the fatal field at Weehawken; a man who contemplated a conquest, and who was tried for high treason by the members of the party which afterwards carried out exactly the programme of conquest that he had outlined ; a man who bore his downfall with patience and dignity; a man whom neither political perse- cution, nor poverty, nor the perfidy of his friends could force to speak one word of recrimination or complaint; a man who bore the loss o^ daughter and grandson, the dearest ties that bound him to the human race, with resignation ; a man who for twenty-five years thereafter toiled en without complaint to sup- ply the means for an humble living; a man who, although he killed his foe according to the rules of th6 code of honor then in force, has been called either assassin or murderer by the makers of school-books, thus instilling into infant minds a preju- dice which only research and study in after years could eflEectu- ally remove. a «i AUTHOR'S PREFACE For twenty years I have read about this man. There is nO American about whom so much has been written, and within the pages of a book like this I can only hope to incorporate its spirit, for the substance would fill volumes. Where the statement was one of fact, fact has been adhered to. Where the language is imaginative such words have been chosen to express fiction as seemed to conform to those used to convey fact ; in other words, if the characters in this romance did not do the things or say the words attributed to them, from what they did do or say, it seems fair and proper to infer that they would have done or said them had occasion offered, or circumstances been propitious. The men of America to-day are more tolerant, broader-minded, and less bigoted in their politics than they were a century ago. My aim has been to present Aaron Burr as he was a hundred years ago, and to ask that he be judged by the rules of order and society then existing; but, by minds free from the intolerant political and religious prejudices which blinded the eyes and warped the judgments of his contemporaneous critics. The diamond gives no indication of its worth until it has been ground and polished and set in a manner worthy of its value. It may have happened in the past that some of our public men have been placed in settings worthy of a richer jewel, but this surely has not been the case with Aaron Burr. If my labors of twenty years should place him before his fellow men in a better light, if, while regretting and condemning his faults, they obtain a fuller and more truthful idea of his virtues, accomplishments, and powers, I shall feel amply rewarded. As regards the statement made in Chapter XXXVII (page 421), concerning the illegal conjugal relationship of Harman Blennerhassett and Margaret Agnew, I desire to say that the fact was in my possession long before the completion of this volume. As stated, however, the person supplying the informa- tion exacted a promise from me that I would not make it public unless the disclosure was first made by some member of the family. Such a disclosure having appeared in a recent number of a periodical, I have felt that the ban of secrecy was thereby, removed. CF. P. Nantucket, Mass.^ July, 1901= BLENNERHASSETT OR THE DECREES OF FATE XCbe prologue , . . . jfour pictures CHAPTER I A DEN OF TREASON a ^^RDERLY, present my compliments to Cap- 1 I tain Claiborne, and say to him that I wish ^*-^ to see him immediately." The messenger saluted and withdrew. The speaker was a man, apparently about forty-five years of age, who sat at a large table. He was attired in the undress uniform of a general in the army of the United States, and had evidently been engaged for a long time in writing letters, for many closely-written sheets lay upon the table before him. The time was one of the earlier years in the last cen- tury. The place was a rude fort which stood upon the eastern bank of the Father of Waters, in what was then called the Mississippi Territory. The fortification was in reality nothing more than a stockade roughly built of logs. It might have served trell aa a means of defense in case of an attack by lo* t 2 BLENNERHASSETTT aians, but could have made only a short resistance if sub- Ijected to the fire of modern ordnance, considering as modem what was in use a century ago. in the centre of the area enclosed by the stockade* stood a log-house one story in height, containing two rooms. Each of these rooms had two windows with the small panes of glass in use at that time. The door opened and Captain Claiborne entered. He saluted his superior officer, and, as the latter motioned to him to take a chair beside him he said, " Good morn- ing. General. I am at your service." The term "General" was not misapplied, for the person so addressed was General James Wilkinson, the commander-in-chief of the army of the United States. " I am going to ask you," began the General, " a; question of a somewhat delicate nature. I trust you will not be offended, but if the proposed inquiry touches your private affairs too closely, I shall not be offended if you decline to answer." The Captain looked up with an inquiring expression upon his face. As the General did not proceed, he finally said, " You pique my curiosity. General." " As you do not forbid the inquiry," remarked the General, "I shall consider your somewhat vague re- mark' as permission to proceed." The Captain gave a slight nod, but said nothing. " My dear Captain, how are you situated financially? In other words, does your pay enable you to live as you would like to liv6 ? " " Far from it," ariswered the Captain. " To make you understand my position fully, I must explain. I am an only son, and my father, who was a cotton planter, supposed that I would succeed him in the man- agement of the estate, but I took no interest in tilling the soil and tlirashing negroes, and spent most of my jtime until I was of age in horse-back riding and in pay- A DEN OF TREASON 3 mg attentions to the young ladies in the vicinity. My father, finding that I was to be of no practical beneft to him, engaged an overseer, and I determined to enter the army. Within the past few years, the estate has become unproductive and I have been obliged to send home the greater part of my pay to support my father and mother, for, despite my other faults, I am not lack- ing in filial devotion." " I am much interested in your recital," remarked Ithe General. The Captain continued, "To add to my burden my only sister, whom we all supposed was most advanta- geously married, lost her husband, and about a year ago returned home with her child, and, of course, her sup- port has devolved upon me." " How little the world knows," said the General, " about its inodest heroes who bear such burdens un- complainingly and show no envy towards those who are more fortunately situated from a worldly point of view." The Captain bowed to show his appreciation of the unplied compliment " The story that you have told me," said the General, " renders it easy for me to make a proposition to you. I should not have felt warranted in doing so if your financial situation was of a more satisfactory nature. The fact is. Captain," and his voice sank almost to a whisper, " I am not above making a little money my- self outside of the meagre compensation which I receive (from our respected and honored Government. I am interested in some tobacco plantations in Kentucky, bat, as you know, the fact that the Spanish control the mouth of the Mississippi has prevented our planters from securing a ready market for their products with- out paying an exorbitant customs duty to the Spanish authorities. But on account of the position that I hold," Bad at this 2oint he assumed a still more confidential 4 BLENNERHASSETT manner, " I have been able to make arrangements wittt the Spanish Governor of Louisiana by which the boats loaded with my produce are allowed to go down to New Orleans on payment of a merely nominal duty." Captain Claiborne was much interested in this dis- closure, but he did not think it best to manifest his interest openly. The part that he was to play in this transaction had not been disclosed to him and he thought that his best course was to await further devel- opments. They soon came. " Of course," continued the Gen- eral, " it is impossible for me to go to New Orleans with these boats, which will reach here within the next twenty-four hours, and transact the necessary business with the Spanish authorities. I must have some one to act in my stead; that person must be one whom I can trust implicitly. He must have both assurance and tact and must transact the business in such a way as to divert all suspicion from me. To such a person, if he can be found, I am willing to pay three per cent of the pirice received for the produce and bear all his travel- ing expenses." " I will not ask you to speak more plainly, General," said Captain Claiborne. "If performing this service for you will not compromise my position in the army, as I said when I came in, I am at your service." The General smiled. " I thought I was a good judge of human nature. Captain, and I find that I have not been mistaken in you. I am going to write a letter of introduction to Governor Miro, which you can take with you, and, by the way, Claiborne, if you can induce the Governor to reduce the duty from fifteen to ten per cent I will give you one-half of the abatement.** " I will do my best," responded the Captain. He thought for a moment, and, looking up suddenly, exclaimed, " What would the President say if he knew. about this business of ours? " A DEN OF TREASON 5 That he was disposed to be a willing tool of his superior ofificer in his commercial ventures will be readily inferred from the promptness with which he spoke of the proposed venture as " ours." " Oh, I am all right with the President," said the General. " I understand Jefferson and he understands me. I think he is the right man in the right place, and I have reason to believe that he has the same opinion of your humble servant." " I never took any interest in politics," remarked Captain Claiborne. " I voted for Jefferson, because, naturally, following the teachings of my father, I never had much sympathy with the political sentiments which are uppermost in the New England States." " Jefferson is all right," remarked the General. "His great political principle is to secure all possible rights to the common people. Hamilton and his sympathizers worship a lord or anything that looks like one, while Jefferson and his followers adore the Man — ^the ordin- ary, common man. Jefferson has engraven on his watch seal the same inscription that Oliver Cromwell had on his — ' Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God,' but I think," continued the General with a laugh, " his- tory shows that obedience to tyrants is usually more profitable than resistance." " You will excuse my ignorance," remarked the Captain, " but did the President take a prominent part in the Revolution ? " " In some ways, yes," replied the General. " He (formed the committee of correspondence — that is, the leading men in the thirteen colonies wrote letters to each other, advising resistance to British rule. Then Jeffer- son printed a pamphlet defending the inalienable rights of British subjects, which so incensed the royal gov- ernor, Lord Dunmore, that he tried to arrest him, swearing that if he got hold of him he would hang him to the nearest tree, but the to-be rebellious colonists did 6 BLENNERHASSETT not pay much attention to British threads in tiioscs days. " Of course you know," continued the General, " that Jefferson was chairman of the committee which drew UR the Declaration of Independence. From that time to this the United States has showered its favors thidc upon him. He was first a member of Congress, then Secretary of State under Washington. Of course they did not agree, for Federalists and Democratic-Repul> licans won't mingle any more than oil and water. " While minister to France, he was supposed to have imbibed ultra-French Jacobin principles. The northern people, especially those of New England, anticipated that all the horrors of the French Revolution would be revived in this country if Jefferson were dected President, but so far, I think, he has gone on in a very conservative way and has shown particularly good judg- ment in the selection of his subordinates." As he said this. Captain Qaiborne averted his face to hide a smile. The General ruminated for a moment, then he con- tinued, " Jefferson was never a fighter. I had almost forgotten to tell you that when he was Governor of Virginia the notorious Colonel Tarleton gave him little official ease. He was driven from pillar to post and narrowly escaped capture on several occasions. He was Vice-President with that irascible old Federalist, John Adams, and from all I hear, the two had a cat and dog life until the choleric old Massachusetts poli- tician was defeated in 1800." " I am much obliged to you," said Captain Claiborne, " for so much interesting information concerning the gentleman whose favorable opinion of our services is of so much importance to us." As he said this, he arose and walked towards the iioor. " I ex^a the boats to-morrow," remarked the Gen- A DEN OF TREASON 7 «ral. " In the meantime, I will prepare your letter of introduction and full instructions." Both officers saluted, and a moment later the General was alone. He took up his quill and wrote steadily for a long time, throwing the sheets to one side as he rapidly finished them. Upon the last of these the ink was not dry, so he took the sand-box and carefully sprinkled those that were still wet. His task completed, he sat tack in his chair, dropped his head upon his hand, and remained for a long time in deep thought. Then he took up the letters one at a time and ran them over hastily. The first was to a Mr. John Graham, who, it ap- peared from the language used in the letter, was a confidential agent of the United States government, engaged upon secret service, and who made his reports directly to the President. 'Mr. Graham was requested to inform the President that the writer was confident matters were progressing in a way that would be entirely satisfactory to the chief •executive. He was using his influence to prevent the intriguing agents of Spain from making any headway in their efforts to induce the citizens of Kentucky and Tennessee to refuse to join the American Union, and, instead, to cast their fortunes with New Spain. On the other hand, he was presenting a strong intimation of military prqparations to the Spanish Governor of Louisiana and was assuring him that the present situa- tion could not long continue; and that Spain would eventually be obliged to open the Mississippi River to ■free navigation. To two persons in Kentucky, evidently friends from the familiar manner in which they were addressed, he wrote in a somewhat different strain. In these letters the gentlemen were informed that everjrthing was pro- cessings as th^ wished; that the ^aaish govemou 8 BLENNERHASSETT would grant concessions to a few representative men \a Kentudiy and Tennessee, which would allow them to send their produce to New Orleans on payment of a moderate duty. As soon as it was generally known throughout these States that such privileges could be obtained, it would undoubtedly lead these parties to see that their commercial interests and future prosperity depended upon an alliance with Spain rather than with the States on the eastern side of the mountains. "Everything goes well," said he, "Governor Miro and myself understand each other perfectly. The fourth letter was to the Spanish Governor of Louisiana, whose name was Miro. It informed that gentleman that affairs were coming to a climax in Kentucky and Tennessee; that every day was raising up new advocates for a union with Spain, for his friends could see that their future prosperity depended upon such an alliance. The writer took occasion in the course of his letter to state that His Catholic Majesty, King of Spain, had no more devoted adherent than himself, but he incidentally remarked that at the present time he was somewhat embarrassed financially and that he trusted the quarterly compensation of five hundred dollars allowed him by His Majesty for ser- vices rendered would soon be forthcoming, as it was now long overdue. He added that this letter would be delivered by one of his staff, who would be in charge of some boats containing tobacco that he had purchased on credit. It would be evident, of course, he continued, to the Governor, that a low rate of duty on the same would help him financially, and he trusted that the Governor would give his representative every possible opportunity to dispose of the cargo and return with the proceeds at the earliest possible moment. It is evident from a perusal of the letters referred to, that General Wilkinson was serving two masters, was |)aid by both and was faithless to each. The contents A DEN OF TREASON g indicated a strange condition of military and political affairs in the United States in the early part of the nineteenth century, for the general in command of its army is found to be engaged in a treasonable corre- spondence and at the same time sends one of his officers as an emissary to carry out a part of his treasonable filot CHAPTER H A SHRINE OF LIBERTV THE light from the great canddabram fell upen the wine in the glass and cast a blood-red shadow upon the damask tablecloth beneath. The wineglass was lifted high above his head and the holder uttered in French the sentiment, " To tiie memory of those brave Frenchmen who died in de- fence of liberty, and to secure the preservation of hu- man rights." As Siose words, spoken in an impassioned manner, fell from the lips of the speaker, his hearers arose to their feet with one accord and the toast was drunk standing. The guests resumed their seats. The gentle- man who responded to the toast also spoke in French,, and gave a dramatic recital of those terrible events,, which, some years before, had taken place in the fair land of France and had been followed by that Reign of Terror, at the contemplation of which the whole civilized world had stood aghast. The sentiments of the after-dinner orator were loudly applauded and it was evident that the minds of his auditors were in full accord with the sentiments which he expressed. But to this apparent unanimity there was one notable excep- tion. A gentleman who sat at the right hand of the host had not arisen when the toast was proposed, and the wine remained untasted in his glass. The occasion was a merry dinner party g^ven by the owner of the old colonial mansion, known as Richmond Hill, to some of his New York friends and to some A SHRINE OF LIBERTT ii visitors from France who were his guests while in this country. At file head of the table sat a man small in stature and slight in figure, but with a face finely cut and almost classic in its mold. From beneath his eyebrows gleamed a pair of remarkable eyes : one moment bright and piercing; the next, influenced by sympathy, full of a deep and tender light. No matter how they might look at the beholder, the latter could not but acknowl- edge their beauty, and ineffectually try to withstand the fire or charm of them. His hair, brushed back- ward, disclosing a very wide forehead, was shaped at the back into a peruke. His coat, cut in the fashion of a century ago, was of black velvet, as was also his long waistcoat above which was seen a ruffled shirt- front, while similar ruffles adorned the wrists. The knee-breeches were also of black velvet, the stockings of black silk, while- upon the tops of his low shoes he wore the silver buckles which were considered so ap- propriate and fashionable by our ancestors. At the other end of the table, placed in an armchair, could be seen a portrait of a young and beautiful woman, the daughter of the house. One could easily infer from this that the one of whom it was a counter- feit presentment was unable to be present, and that the father had placed it there so that he could look upon the picture if not upon the face he loved so well. The host was Aaron Burr, Vice-President of the United States. The oil painting was that of his daughter Theodosia, wife of Joseph Alston of South Carolina, destined at a future day to become governor of that State. Toast after toast was proposed and each was followed by an appropriate speech. The conversation during the enjoyment of the somptuotis repast which had preceded the time devoted 12 BLENNERHASSETT to toasts and speechmaking was largely in Frenchj spirited, bright, witty one moment, scientific the next,, touching upon literary matters, then upon music or art, and then suddenly descending, or rising, into badinage. It was midnight before the convivial party dispersed to their homes, carrying with them pleasant memories of a most enjoyable evening. Colonel Burr, after their departure, invited his guests from France, Colonel DeVigny and M. Ro- maine, to accompany him to his library. There cor- dials, eau-de-vie, and cigars were served, and con- versation was prolonged far into the morning hours. " You have a fine estate here. Colonel Burr," said Colonel DeVigny. "I notice that your grounds are splendidly laid out, and the river view is magnificent." " Yes," assented Burr; "yes, before I had sufficient money to buy it I used to come and look at it, and wonder whether I should ever become wealthy enough to own it." " Such a house must have an interesting history con- nected with it," remarked M. Romaine. " I should be delighted to hear them, if you can give us the par- ticulars." " In order that you may fully understand," replied Burr, " I must go back quite a period of time. " In the days of old New York, in what was then the centre of the city, near which Canal Street is now focated, was a large fresh-water pond. At certain sea- sons of the year this pond became stagnant and the effluvia which arose therefrom caused much annoyance to those living near the pond and much sickness in their families. " Finally, Peter Rutgers offered to fill in the pond if the city would give him the land covered with water, amounting to about seventy acres. This was agreed to. Rutgers never derived any pecuniary benefit from A SHRINE OF LIBERTY 13 this transaction, but from it a great fortune fell to Leonard Lispenard, who, later, married his daughter." "M. Rutgers was fortunate in having a daughter so as to keep the money in the family," remarked Col- onel DeVigny. Colonel Burr smiled, and continued : " The land that had been filled in was known as the Lispenard Meadows. On the western side, near the Hudson River, were two small elevations or hills on one of which this house was erected." Burr lighted a fresh cigar, then continued his story. " During the siege of New York by the British, in 1776, General Washington made this house his head- quarters. Near the river, on what is now a part of this estate, stood a public house kept by an Englishman, who was allowed to continue his business under strict surveillance by the military guard. Despite their vigi- lance a plot was hatched there, having for its object the abduction of General Washington, it being the opinion of the British military authorities that with his capture the Rebellion would fall to pieces." " And how was the plot frustrated ? " cried M. Ro- maine, evidently greatly interested. " By a peculiar chain of circumstances," Burr re- sponded. " I was aide-de-camp on the staff of General Israel Putnam, whose headquarters were located at No. I Broadway in this city. A young English girl, not more than fourteen years of age, named Margaret Moncrieffe, the daughter of a British colonel, was held by us as hostage and was ordered by General Wash- ington to reside in General Putnam's family. I became convinced that she was conveying intelligence to the enemy and I wrote a letter to General Washington informing him of my suspicions. By his orders, she was at once sent out of the city. The chain of circum- stances was followed up and it was discovered that the mayor of the city, who was a Tory, and Governor 14 BLENNERHASSETT TrycMi, the British commander, who made his head- quarters on board the Duchess of Gordon, a British man-of-war lying below here in the river, were impli- cated in the plot." " And were you publicly thanked by the commander- in-chief ? " asked DeVigny. " Not by name," said Burr, somewhat abruptly, and he thought of the manner in which his name had beea coupled with that of the yotmg lady .in question. Without waiting for further inquiries upon that point, he resumed his story. " It was in this house that John Adams resided while he was Vice-President of the United States. From that time until I purchased it I am not acquainted with the names or social position of its occupants." " We are much indebted to you for this interestit^f knowledge," said M. Romaine, and Colonel Burr as- sured his guests that it had been a pleasure to supply the information. " But who was that gentleman," asked Colonel De- Vigny, " who left his wine untasted and who evidently found our sentiments of sjmipathy with the Frendi Republic incompatible with thbse maintained by him- self?" " That was General Alexander Hamilton, one of our great political leaders, and a prominent member of the New York bar," Burr responded. " What kind of man is he ? " inquired M. Romaine. " I mean, is he American born or is he an Englishman who has made this his adopted country?" " You have hit very near the truth," Burr replied. " I make it a rule not to speak to my own coimtrymen about my political opponents or legal antagonists, but, as you are strangers here, I will make an exception in your case, only premising that the gentleman concern- ing whom you- have inquired is my most determined ^ponent both in politics and at the bar." A SHRINE OF LIBERTT 15 "Pray excuse us," said DeVigny, "for toudiiag t^n so personal a matter. M. Romaine will join me, I know, in absolving you from the necessity of a reply." " I shall only tell you the good that I know of him," replied Burr. " What I know to his detriment I shall not tell you, for I have no right to make you parties in my personal quarrels." " I shall be greatly pleased," said M. Romaine, " if you will tell us about this man. We have heard of him in France. We saw how he acted last evening •when that toast was proposed. Our previous opinion of him, and his action, are of the same nature." " I will answer your question," began Colonel Burr, " in relation to General Hamilton's birthplace by saying that he was born in the British West Indies. It is said that his mother, who was of French extraction, married a Danish gentleman to please her family; but the union was not a happy one and they separated. She afterwards became the wife of a native of Scot- land named David Hamilton." " She was divorced from her first husband?" asked M. RcMnaine. " I do not know," replied Colonel Burr, " but if she were not, I do not think that the fact should be tised to the detriment of General Hamilton." This politely worded but decided rebuff was evidently felt by both of his guests. Burr continued : " When very young, Hamilton was sent by some of his friends in the Island of St. Christo-i pher to the United States to obtain an education, they defraying his expenses. His sympathies were quickly aroused in favor of the struggling colonists and at the age of seventeen, as the story goes, he delivered a patriotic speech in this city which attracted great at- tention and was afterwards printed and dratlated tiiroughout the colonies." i6 BLENNERHASSETT "Mr. Hamilton is much older than you are, is he not? " inquired DeVigny. " Oh, no," Burr replied. " He is about a year younger than I am. We were about the same age when we entered the Continental army, but I went with General Benedict Arnold to attempt the capture of Quebec, while Hamilton, who had attracted the atten- tion of General Washington, was made aide-de-camp on his staff." " I presume you are not military rivals," said Col' onel DeVigny. " He had the ear of the commander-in-chief, an ad^ vantage which I did not possess," said Burr simply. Then he went on. " I presume General Hamilton would allow that he rendered greater service to his adopted country by his pen and his voice than by his sword, but I know it should be said in justice to him that he would gladly have exchanged his duties as a military clerk for active service in the field." " How did he obtain his title of General? " queried M. Romaine. "He had a slight personal misunderstanding with General Washington," said Burr, " and resigned his position. He returned to New York and married a Miss Schuyler, thus becoming connected with one of the oldest, wealthiest, and most influential families in the State. Just before the final campaign in Virgfinia, Washington gave him an independent command and he took part in the battle of Yorktown, where by the aid of our French brothers-in-arms we broke the English power and secured the independence of the colonies." " But his public service did not end with the army? " asked Colonel DeVigny. "By no means," replied Burr. "He took a very prominent part in the formation of the Constitution under the provisions of which our present government A SHRINE OF LIBERTT 17 is conducted. The Constitution as adopted, however, as he has said many times in pubhc and in his writings, was not what he desired. He wished to make our government a strong one hke that of England, only a better one." " Does he beUeve in the people ? " asked M. Ro- maine. " I must confess I do not think he does, in the same sense as we do," replied Colonel Burr. " He wanted a strong central government, with a Senate composed of the wealthy land owners, approaching in its char-! acter the English House of Lords." " Yes ! " cried M. Romaine, " and with such a gov- ernment how easy it would be in time to over-ride the people and make the President a King and the Senate a House of Lords in true reality. Ah! I believe your M. Hamilton does not love the common people and that is the reason he would not drink the toast. But do the common people love him ? " " I think General Hamilton would agree with m€i when I say," remarked Burr, " that they do not. He has held important positions in the government by ap- pointment, but the people have never signified any de- sire on their part to make him President or Vice-Presi- dent, or to elect him to a seat in either branch of our national legislature." " That is where your people are wise," cried M. Ro- maine He filled a small glass with brandy and drank it. " I would not trust that M. Hamilton," he said, rais-i ing his voice. " I have no doubt that his innermost wish was for a king and an order of nobility. He may have wished to become your King Alexander, or per- haps he would have been satisfied to be the Duke of — what you call it — New York. Your M. Hamilton be- lieves in the divine right of kings. So will I, if yotf will allow that the people also have a divine right to i8 [BLENNERHASSETT "depose those kings who do not rule their people well. That is what we do in France. We have done it before. We may have to do it again." Burr looked towards DeVigny. The glance was understood. " Come, M. Romaine," cried the Colonel, " we have imposed upon the kindness of our host too long already, it is nearly morning. We will not kill any more kings until after we have had some sleep." At this sally all laughed, and Richmond Hill, which for the nonce ha.d been made a shrine of liberty from the French Republican point of view, relapsed into quiet about an hour before the sun sent its rays above th« eastern horizon to herald the approach of another day, 'CHAPTER III A SOUTHERN HOME ne from you. That is the reason why I am going to improve the present opportunity and tell you somediii^ that has been on my mind ever since your father de- cided to enter this contest." " I hope it is nothing serious," said the young wife, a slight look of alarm manifesting itself upon her ex- pressive face. " It may or may not be serious," her husband re- pEed. " You say your father seldom, if ever, refers to his opponents in his letters. I wish he would giv« them vaix^ attention. I mean, I wish he would paj A SOUTHERN HOME 23 more attention to the plots and counterplots of his enemies." "What do you mean, Joseph?" cried his wife. " Am I to understand from what you say that anyone is plotting against my father ? " " I am afraid so. I think, from the day ycMir father and Thomas Jefferson received the same number of votes for the office of president, that two mighty forces have been working against him, not in active and understood co-operation, but each force working in its own way to secure a common end, and that end the defeat of your father's political aspirar tions." "And from whom Hoes this opposition come?" she asked, now thoroughly aroused by her husband's words. " As I said, from two sources. One springs from. President Jefferson, who knows that your father, if he succeeds in his effort to be elected governor of New York, will be a rival to be greatly feared in the next presidential campaigri. I may be deceived in the man, but I think Jefferson will carry on his warfare man- fully and above-board as they say; but I have a different opinion of his other antagonist." " Whom do you mean ? " " I mean the man who has been his rival in the field,, in politics, and at the bar, for nearly thirty years." "General Hamilton?" she cried; "why father and he are the best of friends." " Apparently so, I agree. I think your father con- siders that General Hamilton is honest in his opposition, and would do nothing underhand to injure him, but I have not the same confidence in General Hamilton. When I was last in New York I met many of your father's political friends. They told me many things which they said they dared not mention to him, be- cause he would never converse with them about Ms 24 BLENNERHASSETT enemies. He only cared for the opinions of his friends. They entreated me to either write to him or have a talk with him, and call his attention to certain matters that were going on, so as to put your father on his guard." " And have you done so ? " " Not yet, Theodosia. I have been thinking what would be the best way in which to present the matter most forcibly to your father's attention." _ "And have you come to any conclusion?" " Yes, I have decided that it would be better for you to write to him than for me." . " I do not agree with you, Joseph. If I should write to him anything against General Hamilton, I know his reply would contain the most terrible scolding that I have ever had in my life. He would tell me to attend to my home affairs and not interfere in politics. I never could understand why I should not engage in politics, when my father has so kindly opened every other avenue of advancement to me." " It may be as you say, Theodosia. But if you are sure to get a scolding for writing to him, what treat- ment may I expect?" " But you are a man," she cried, " and you have a right to talk politics to father. But what do you wish to tell him?" "If I tell him what I know," said her husband, "he will either scout the matter entirely, or he wil\ ask the sources of my information. To give them wotdd oblige me to disclose the names of his friends who conveyed the information to me. That I cannot do, for they botmd me to secrecy. So 3rau see, Theodosia, that although I am disposed to do what they ask, I see no way in which it can be done effectually." "Must it be done to-day?" his wife inquired. " Oh, no," said her husband, with a laugh. " The« will be plenty of time if w« take a week to Hdak it A SOUTHERN HOME 25 over. I feel easier in my mind now that I have told you, and I know that your active little brain and great love for your father, in which you know that I join, will find some way out of my difficulty. But it is time now for our morning walk. We must go before the sun gets too high. He offered his arm, which his wife took. They walked down the path beneath the spreading trees, stopping now and then to inhale the fragrance of the flowers which grew in little artificial parterres which had been made for them. He was a superb specimen of southern manhood, she a beautiful transplanted northern flower. Little Dickie, the goat, was brows- ing by the roadside. At the sight, in their minds, at the same instant, came the same thought of their little son, who was their hope and joy, and that thought was that one day he would be the grandson of a Presi- dent of the United States. T CHAPTER IV A WESTERN PARADISE I HE rays of a descending sun fell slantingly through the forest trees upon the rapidly moving Ohio River. They touched the white caps of the wavelets, kissed by a briskly blowing wind, and made them look like molten gold. The little waves moved on and dashed against a diminutive pier that projected from the shore of Blemjerhassett Island. The waters, only temporarily impeded in their course, at last found their way around the end of the pier and then rushed on joyfully towards the sea, which, no doubt, they thought was near, but which was in reality thousands of miles away. The sun sank behind the western hills and a full moon showed itself above the eastern horizon. A small boat containing a white man and two sable4iued at- tendants, who deftly plied the oars, hove in sight and took that branch of the river which brought it close to the little pier or wharf. The owner of the boat evidently had no intention of making a landing, but signified to his oarsmen to hold up so that he could view the enchanting picture which met his gaze. A large lawn neatly kept and containing at least a hundred acres sloped gradually downward from the house to the river bank. This beautiful tract of verdure was in the shape of a fan with the broad s^ment to-^ wards the river, narrowing to a point as it approached the house. This, which was painted white, was odd m construction, being in the form of a «<'^'T»''^ rlf, The 86 A WESTERN PARADISE 27 eentral portion was three stories in height. The cir- cular wings were built in such a way that they ended in contact with the surrounding forest trees and effectu- ally shut out all view of the barns and other out-build- ings which were behind them. Seated upon the veranda of the house were a lady and gentleman. They had espied the passing boat and immediately sent a servant to invite tlie stranger to land and accept their hospitality. This he finally de- cided to do, and, in response to urgent requests, he promised to become their guest for the night and post- pone his journey until the next morning. The stranger's two attendants were turned over to the care of the colored servants of the owner of the estate. These latter were slaves, but no word or action made that fact evident. The two boatmen extem- porized a shelter-tent and made preparations upon the river bank for their evening meal. A fishing-pole was loaned them and they were soon provided with ma- terials for their repast, many additions thereto being sent down to them from the house. Supper being over, the host and his wife, accom- panied by their guest, walked about the grounds to view the scene which was almost as brightly lighted by the moon as it had been hours before by the midday sun. The effect at night was even more beautiful than by day; the contrasts of light and shade were more marked under the gentle rays of the moon than beneath the more widely diffused brightness of the sun. The traveler was an English gentleman, Ashelyn by name. He was of high social position and great wealth, and had made a visit to America for the twin purposes of recreation and possible investment. As th^ entered the house, after thdr walk, the visitor took a final view of the sylvan retreat and the beautiful river which encircled it like the setting of a 28 BLENNERHASSETT costly gem, their natural beauties enhanced by the moonbeams which fell upon them. His entertainer was Harman Blennerhassett, a mem- ber of a wealthy Irish family, who had sought a home in this wilderness, in the closing years of the eighteenth century, accompanied by his wife Margaret. She was of English birth, being the granddaughter of the Brit^' ish General Agnew, who fell at the battle of German- town. But the host and hostess deserve more particular idescription. Harman Blennerhassett was six feet tall. He was slender in figure and had that slight stoop which seems inseparable from persons of uncommon stature. His natural expression was serious, often falling into a look of cold reserve. Both forehead and nose were promi- nent. It was evident that he lacked that affability and suavity of manner that was so noticeable in his life companion. He was a connoisseur of music arid played well upon the violin and 'cello, but the music of the spheres, commonly called thunder, threw him into a state of nervous trepidation and affright. He dressed usually in the old English style. He wore scarlet or buff small clothes, silk stockings, shoes with silver buckles, and a coat of blue broadcloth- When at home his dress was rather careless; he often went about in his shirt-sleeves without coat or waist- coat. In winter a long woolen roundabout or jack^ protected him from the inclemency of the weather. Margaret Blennerhassett, his wife, was above the ordinary stature and finely proportioned. Her eyes were dark blue, shaded by long, dark-brovra lashes which matched her hair. Her face possessed that remarkable combination, features Grecian in mold, with cheeks rosy with the flush of health. Although it did not add to, but rather detracted from her charms, 6he wore, in accordance with the fashion ol the time, a ui WESTERN PARADISE 29 silk head-dress arranged somewhat in the form of a Turkish turban. She was bright and captivating in both speech and movement, but was also graceful and dignified. She had received a fine education and spoke and read French and Italian in addition to her mother tongue. She had a taste for poetical and dramatic composition, was a great admirer of Shakespeare, and had introduced a form of intellectual amusement which had given much pleasure both to herself and guests. It was the read- ing of Shakespeare's plays, the various parts or char- acters being assigned to the different members of the company assembled. Possessed of remarkable physical endurance, she was a great lover of walking, and often made trips on foot over rough roads and through paths, or rather trails, from ten to twenty miles in length. She formed a pic- ture worthy the brush of a Gainsborough, when, in her scarlet riding habit with its gilded buttons and gold lace trimming, and a wide-brimmed hat covered with ostrich plumes, she mounted her horse and dashed away, jump- ing fences, fallen trees, ditches, and brooks, with the skill of a cavalryman. Within her palace walls she was no less forceful. 'A good housekeeper, every detail in the conduct of so large a house was at her fingers' ends. Although the product of the highest form of English education, she conformed easily to frontier customs and put her less educated and unfashionable guests fully at their ease by her affability and entire absence of any assumption of superiority. As one who knew her well has written of her, " She was indeed a rich-souled creature, in whom the first germs of womanhood had blossomed forth without a weed to check or a chill to blight their growth." The stranger told his entertainers of what was going OB ia the East, while his two boatmen were conveying; 30 BLENNERHASSETT the same information to the wondering ears of the ser- vants of this island paradise. Over a decanter of 'wine the traveler, who was a finely educated man, entered more fully into a recital of the political, commercial, literary, and scientific events which had lately transpired in the great world from which he had come. It was evident to him that the host and his wife were persons of distinction and of fine education, although the cause that had led them to leave the busy haunts of men and hide them- selves in this island solitude was unknown to him, and no loophole was given him to introduce a question which might have supplied him with an answer, even had he been disposed, to take advantage of such an op- portunity. Only one incident occurred during the evening to disturb, in the slightest degree, Mr. Ashel)m's calm and polished demeanor. He had been giving his opinion of American statesmen and had referred to Jefferson and Hamilton, when Mr. Blennerhassett broke in somewhat unceremoniously. " Jefferson is a great man," said he. " He did a great service for the United States when he promul- gated the American political doctrine of friendship for all nations, but entangling alliances with none." " Hamilton is considered one of the foremost men of the time," remarked Mr. Ashel}^, excusing his host's conduct on account of his great interest in the conversation. " No doubt he is," replied Blennerhassett. " He erected the edifice consecrated to liberty, but Jefferson laid the foundations in the quidcsands of jq)prehension and uncertainty." All would have been well if the conversation had rested here, but Mrs. Blennerhassett, who had been an interested listeaer, now toc^ part in the emvosa^ tkm. A WESTERN PARADISE 31 "Did you meet the Vice-President, Mr. Ashelyn?" " No, Madam," he replied. " I should so like to see him," the lady remarked. " I have heard so much and read so much about him that I have become greatly interested in him. I think he is the most remarkable man that this country has produced, and they say in the presence of ladies he is as bright, witty, and fascinating as a court gallant of the olden time." " I do not admire that kind of man," said Mr. Ashe- lyn somewhat coldly. " Neither do I," cried Blennerhassett. The lady, though not unduly sensitive, appreciated the fact that the subject which she had introduced was not congenial, and she said no more. A short time afterward she excused herself in order to attend to some necessary household duties, and the two gentlemen were left alone. " Come into the library, Mr. Ashelyn," said Blenner- hassett. " I have some old brandy there and some good cigars which we can enjoy while we are finishing our conversation." When they were seated, Mr. Ashelyn said, " Mr. Blennerhassett, I trust you will pardon what may have appeared a somewhat brusque reply to your good lady's inquiry regarding Mr. Burr, the Vice-President. After she had expressed her interest so strongly I did not feel like repeating something that I learned about him and which I heard just before I left New York to make my way westward. I do not like to attempt to' remove the good opinion that one person may have of another unless my evidence is conclusive. What I might have said of Mr. Burr rests only upon rumor. It is only one side of the case. If all the facts were known my present impression might be ^own to be erroneous. I have no objection, howevw, to telling you what 'I heard, and you, of course, wffl nse yonr 32 BLENNERHASSETT discretion as to whether it is best to communicate the intelligence to your wife." Blennerhassett, who was about to fall into a state of abstraction seemed suddenly to recover his interest in his visitor's conversation, and remarked, "Oh, cer- tainly, I will tell Margaret to-morrow." Mr. Ashelyn continued, "Of one fact, however, there is ample proof. On the eleventh of July a dud took place between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamil- ton and the latter fell mortally wounded." " Great Heavens ! you do not say so," cried Blen- nerhassett, starting to his feet. " I am glad you did not tell Margaret, and I won't tell her either. But what was the cause of the meeting?" " A score of causes are given in the newspapers, but no one seems to know what particular circumstance led to the fatal encounter. The funeral took place Fri- day, the thirteenth of July, and I left New York Satur- day noon. There are some ugly rumors afloat, for the truth of which I cannot vouch, in relation to the Vice- President's conduct before and after the duel." " Men who make a business," said Blennerhassett, " of enslaving the attentions of the fair sex are not apt to be paragons of either virtue or honor." "The statements to which I refer," rejoined Mr. Ashel)m[, " appeared in a newspaper called the Amer- ican Citizen, of whicH I obtained a copy, but which I unfortunately have lost. There were three of a most prejudicial nature, if rightly applied to Mr. Burr's conduct. The first said that for three weeks previous to the duel he practised daily in the grounds back of his house, in order to secure proficiency in marksman- ship. Of course, from one point of view he had a perfect right to do this, but his action is looked upon as evincing his intention to make sure of his ability to kill his antagonist. . "The second statement was to the effect that hs A WESTERN PARADISE 33 wore a suit of silk underclothing in order to protect him from injury in case he was struck by his opponent's bullet. If he did this, he violated the code of honor, so-called, and was guilty of conduct unbecoming a gentleman. " The third statement was to the effect that on the evening of the day when the duel occurred, a party of his boon companions had a carousal at his residence, iwhen it is said that Burr inflamed with liquor made a speech in which he declared that he was sorry he had not shot his antagonist through the heart No gentleman would say such a thing, and I trust for his sake and for the honor of your country that this last statement at least is untrue. Excuse me, Mr. Blenner- Iiassett, for introducing what must be a very disagree- able subject to contemplate." " It is," cried Blennerhassett as he arose from his chair. " I shall not sleep to-night if I do not tell Margaret, and I am sure she won't sleep if I da If iwhat you say is true, the brand of Cain will fall upon that man, Aaron Burr. I am not a hard-hearted man, Mr. Ashelyn, but if Aaron Burr stood outside my door, naked and hungry, with a pitiless storm beating down upon him, Harman Blennerhassett would close and bar it against his entrance." JBooft. . . . (Breat Oben an^ Ubeit Beefts CHAPTER V A KNAVISH PLOT THE winter of 1803-4 was of unusual severity in the North Atlantic and Middle Atlantic States. The storm giant had been exhausted by his terrible struggles during the first three months of the year, and had succumbed quickly to the rapid advance of genial spring. The breeze was balmy; the sap had shot upward in the trees and the tiny leaves and tender shoots indicated a new awakening of the earth; the birds chattered and sang in the tree-tops and made preparations for their annual housekeeping; the turf assumed again its coating of bright emerald, and the man behind the plow was seen busily at work in the fertile fields of Manhattan Island. It was upon such a picture as this that a man, seated before a desk in an office which was evidently that of a lawyer, looked out. But he only looked out. He saw, but he did not observe. His mind was not upon the beauties of spring, but upon his own thoughts. It was nothing to him that there was a smile upon the face of Nature as beautiful to the interested observer as that upon the face of a lovely child after its infantile sor- rows have been mitigated or assuaged by kind words or wished-for gifts. The man was a little below medium stature and in tbe prime of life. His form was well-knit and muscu- 34 A KNAVISH PLOT 35 lar, indicating that in early life he had been inured to privations and hardships. But it is this man's face that merits the most careful attention. As he sat there with his features in repose, if not a handsome man he was surely a good looking one. There was a look in the eyes and in the general expression of the face cal- culated to beget confidence in the mind of the average beholder. But what change is this ? He took from the desk the letter which he had written and began to read it. Then a look of sly cunning, changing into an expression of deep malignity, overspread his features, 'My dear Sir, the letter read : I hope you will par- don my apparent presumption in addressing this letter to you. You are well known to me by reputation, and I regret that I have never had the pleasure of being formally introduced to you. But when matters of great public moment are at stake I think that these re- fined points of courtesy may be dispensed with, and sincerely trust that you will join with me in this opinion. I would not write you if I did not know that our common country was in peril, and that the united ser- vices of all good citizens will be required to avert im- pending danger. A man well known to both of us, whose political actions have been condemned by all good men in both of our great political parties, is now endeavoring to (rally all the malcontents in this State to his standard with the avowed purpose of becoming the Governor of New York. You know as well as I do, my dear sir, that Aaron Burr's ambition will not terminate if he is elected to that office. He is, as I often called him in my letters, the Catiline of America. His aim is to use the position of governor simply as a stepping-stone to the presidency of the United States. If he should gain that high position, which God forbid, the horrors 36 BLENNERHASSETT of the French Revolution will undoubtedly be repeated in this unhappy country. I know it is not considered honorable to disclose what is seen or heard at a private gathering; but, as you will notice, this letter is marked " Confidential; " I shall take that as my warranty for conveying to you certain facts of which you could possibly learn in no other way. I was the guest of Mr. Burr at a private dinner party. The majority of the other guests were French Republicans of the reddest hue. I will not mention their names, but they can be found written in letters of blood in the history of that unhappy country. Toasts and sentiments were offered at that dinner which, received with acclamation and drunk with en- thusiasm, would have chilled the blood even of that great friend of French Jacobins, Mr. Jefferson, our worthy President. You will infer from my letter that I wish you to aid me in every way in your power to secure the defeat of Aaron Burr. Upon receipt of an intimation to the effect that you will do this, I will write you more fully and indicate more precisely certain lines of action which,, in my opinion, give promise of success. I have the honor to remain. Your obedient servant, Alexander Hamilton". To a citizen living in the early part of the nineteenth century, the two facial expressions previously referred to might have required lingual explanation. To those who live in the present day, however, that remarkable story of double identity. Dr. Jdcyll and Mr. Hyde, comes as an illustration of apparently great goodness and evidently greater baseness. For some unknown reason, there always existed in' itiie mind of Alexander Hamilton a great antipathy to A KNAVISH PLOT 37 tfie military and political advancement of his competi- tors. It probably sprang from an envious nature, but he did not display this envy in a way to provoke open criticism. His methods were always stealthy, like the step of the tiger ready to spring upon his prey. Among his competitors there was one who stood so far above the others that Hamilton's envious feeling came to be concentrated upon this one person who was none other than Aaron Burr. They had been rivals in love, rivals in war, rivals in the practice of the law, and finally rivals for political advancement. That memorable contest, the result of which was the election, as President of the United States, of Thomas Jefferson, and Aaron Burr as Vice-President, had taken place four years previous. By a combination of cir- cumstances, Aaron Burr had lost caste with his party, and he was aware that his political advancement de- pended upon showing his political power in New York, the State of his adoption. For that purpose, he had announced himself as a candidate for governor of that State, and the election was to take place in the latter part of the same month in which we see Alexander Hamilton seated in his law office. It is evident from the contents of the letter which has been given, that Hamilton's purpose in writing it was to induce its recipient to use all possible influence against the election of Aaron Burr. In it were certain hints and suggestions as to certain things to be done to further this object; the word " Confidential," which was heavily underscored, indicated that Hamilton had not forgotten his anonymous and secret way of under- mining or working against a political rival. He had just fmished perusing his letter when the idoor was opened and a man of most unprepossessing appearance entered. Hamilton looked up and an ex- pression of disapprobation passed over his face. " Why are you liere? " he asked. " Have I not told 38 BLENNERBASSETT you that when you wished to see me, it must be in the evening, at my house, and not at my ofifice ? " " All right, General," responded the man. " I did not come here on purpose to see you. I had business upstairs with another party and I thought I would drop in for a moment. When I get through I can go out by the back way and no one will see me. Shall I turn the key in the lock?" Hamilton nodded, then he said: " You know I do not wish anyone to see us together, especially at this time." " Yes," replied the man, " I know that you are very guarded in making appointments to meet people at your office. You manage to keep up an air of great respectability, which I envy you; but if your opponents could read the letters that you write I don't think they would have such a high opinion of you." Hamilton's face grew red with vexation and dis- pleasure. " How dare you, Cheetham," said he, " speak to me in such a manner." " Now, General," replied Cheetham, " I advise you not to speak my name so loud. Somebody might hear you and then they would know I was here even if they did not actually see me. Call me Simon or Peter, or any other name, but don't say Cheetham," and, as he spoke his own name, his voice fell to a whisper. " You ask why I speak to you in this way. Are we not engaged in the same business, and am I not doing as much of the hard work as you, and although when we meet upon the street you do not know me, can't you give me the satisfaction of talking to you as an equal when we are together? If you are not willing to talk on these terms, I have nothing more to say. I came here to tell you a big idea that I propose to work on election day, but it is my idea al- tiiough it will work to your benefit. I do not e&ie A KNAVISH PLOT 39 to say an}rthing about it unless you are wilKng to hear it." " Go on," said the General. " Pardon my exhibi- tion of feeling, but the condition of political affaiis in this State troubles me night and day." " You mean," replied Cheetham, " that the possibil- ity of your friend Burr becoming Governor is what troubles you night and day." " Well, put it that way," answered Hamilton, " if it pleases you." " I choose to put it just as it is," retorted Cheetham. " I know what you are up to, and I know that I am doing all I can to help you. I am prepared to do more on the same terms as I have done the rest It takes money to run my paper. As long as I get the money, whether it comes in at the back door or the front door, or I find it down in the cellar, or up in the attic, it makes no difference to me. I don't want checks or bank-bills, but good solid gold which shows no imprint of the hand that held it last before it came into mine." " You have always been paid, haven't you ? " asked Hamilton. " Yes, and I always propose to be," replied the other. " When the pay stops, the work stops." "And I suppose," remarked Hamilton, and there was a bitter tone in his voice, " if someone paid you more, you would serve him as well as others who offer you less." " Well," answered Cheetham, " I carry on my paper on tiie same plan that other mechanical business is car- ried on. I get the highest price possible for my goods. Do you find any fault with that, General? Let us diange the subject; if we don't, we shall quarrrel. I have an idea, and I want to see if you approve it. I£ you do, you can depend upon me to put it through. You know," and bis voice again became a whisper, as he 40 BLENNERHASSETT drew his chair close to Hamilton's, " that we none ol us are any better than we ought to be, you included." The General bit his lip but said nothing. "Now by hook or crook, but I think perhaps from articles that have appeared in the American Citizen, the law-abiding and God-fearing countrymen of this State have got the impression that Aaron Burr is a very bad man; by bad, I mean morally bad. The home and the family are great points of pride with our country citizens, and to their minds a man who invades the sanctity of home is the worst criminal in the world. Now, you know as well as I do that Aaron Burr is no worse than the rest of us, but it would not do for us to acknowledge that. We should lose a great political advantage by doing so. Now, the little scheme that I have in mind is intended to prove to the aforesaid — I know you like legal terms — ^law-abiding and God-fearing' citizens, that Aaron Burr is a great deal worse than he has ever t)een pictured. I propose in every issue from now until election day to make a bitter attack upon the moral character of Aaron Burr, and, for election day, I pro- jwse to print a handbill and have it circulated and posted, that will declare in unmistakable language that Aaron Burr is the vilest profligate in the United States. I have the exact words written down in my office, hut I do not propose to show them to you or to any other man until they are in print. It is my private opinion that that handbill will do the business, coupled "with the persistent attacks that I shall make in my paper. Shall I go ahead?" The General looked at him and an inquiring ex- pression came into his face. " You are afraid," said Cheetham, " that my price is going to be too high. Well, I am going to surprise you by being reasonable. All I want is my regular payment and a certain part of the official advertising iwhich I will pick out in case Mr. Burr is defeated. A KNAVISH PLOT 41 Do not let us spend our time on details, just say go aheadj and leave it to me. Your name will never be connected with the affair, and whatever responsibility; there is, I am willing to accept." Hamilton nodded his head. " That is enough," remarked Cheetham. " Now I have outlined the heavy artillery work whick used to be your province in the army, but you must do a little pistol practice yourself. I want you to start the same idea from an eminently respectable source." As Cheetham uttered the word " respectable," he smiled grimly. " You have many correspondents. General, to whom if a word were dropped, confidentially, you know, some- thing would appear in the papers in the same line as; what I am going to say, but from a different point of view. For instance, I am working down in the valley while your shot comes from the top of the mountain. Do you catch my idea ? " Hamilton inclined his head again. 1 Cheetham continued : " I think our business is over. You will see nothing more of me until after the election unless you communicate with me in the usual way and desire my company. I shall keep my eye out for that highly respectable pistol-shot at our friend A. B.," and with another grim smile he left the room. Hamilton sat musing for some ten minutes, most of the time with his hand covering his eyes. Then he folded and addressed the letter which he had been pe- rusing before Cheetham came in. Next he took a fresh' sheet of paper, dated it, marked it " Confidential " as before, and opened it with the words " My dear Cooper." The entire contents of that letter never ber came public. It is sufficient at present to know, that it was addressed to Dr. C. D. Cooper, Albany, New York. General Hamilton then arose from his chair, feeling ^at he had well and satisfactorily performed the legal 42 BLENNERH^SSETT and political duties of the day, and wended bis way k»Beward to pass the evening with his wife and ti»e children who bore his name. As he was walking up Broadway, a thin, wiry-baflt man, with his head bent slightly forward, crossed the street with rapid strides and approached him. "Good afternoon. General," he said in a courfly manner. "Upon examining the court records I find that owing to the sickness of our friend Livingston, you have taken his place in the suit of Busteed versus Dalrymple. You are probably acquainted with the fact that I have been retained by Mr. Dalr3miple. The case will be called early to-morrow morning. Will it be convenient for yoti. General, to have the case come to trial then, or shall you ask for a postponement? Of course, under the circumstances, I am willing to extend to you every possible legal courtesy." " Thank you. Colonel Burr," replied Hamilton. " I was only informed of my retention in the case this after- noon, and if you will consent to a postponement of several days I shall appreciate it very much." " With pleasure, General," replied Colonel Burr, " but there is one matter upon which I am not disposed to allow any further postponemoit" "What is that?" queried Hamilton, a slight look of astonishment showing itself upon his face. " Don't you remember," said Burr, " that when you dined with me more than six weeks ago, you gawe me your promise that before a month passed you wotald again accq)t my hospitality? " " I had forgotten " " But I have not," broke in Colonel Burr. " I can easily forget the animadversions of my enemies, but it is not easy so to do with the promises of my friends. There is to be a little gathering to-morrow evening at Richmond Hill. This time, ladies and gentlemen. Poli- tics are to be barred, and I have no doubt we shall A KNAVISH PLOT 43 p^s a very enjoyaWe evening. Will you come. Gen- eral? " That benignant and confidence-inspirit^ expression that had won the General so many friends and admirers came to his face at that moment. " I shall be delighted, my dear Colonel," he replied. The great rivals shook hands warmly and parted,, each going his chosen way. If this world were in reality a Palace of Truth in which thoughts and mo- tives could be as easily divined as faces are seen, such hypocrisy were impossible. Talleyrand, the great French diplomat, said that language was given to man so that he could conceal his thoughts. It might be added truthfully that facial expression was conferred upon us so that we mi^ the more completely conceal our thoughts, and intensify the effect of unfelt and xxmaeaait words. CHAPTER VI " FIFTY YEARS AFTER MY DEATH '* TWENTY-NINE years had passed since the ever-memorable battle of Bunker Hill, a battle which, though indecisive from a military point of view, was fully decisive in one respect, in that it elevated the patriotic feelings of the American colonists to the point of exaltation. Twenty-nine years had passed since Aaron Burr, a stripling of nineteen, had joined the American army, as it was by courtesy called, at Cambridge. During that comparatively short period of time what a career had been his! He had won high renown for his conduct during the war; he had been admitted to the New York bar ; be had married, had become the father of a beauti- ful daughter who was now also married and the mother of a handsome boy bearing her father's name ; he had been a member of the New York legislature; he had been appointed attorney-general of the State by one who was a political enemy, but who recognized his many talents for the position, and who afterwards offered him a seat upon the bench; he had been a senator of the United States, and now in the month of June, 1804, he was just completing a term of four years as Vice- President of the nation for which he had fought so bravely, and which he had served almost continuously in positions of trust and honor. The twenty-ninth anniversary of the battle of Bun- ker Hill had been a very warm but very pleasant day. It was such a day as that which one of our illtistrious AFTER Mr DEATH 4^ poets must have had in mind when he sang that superb song, two Hnes of which will be found in the mouths of American children and in those of its oldest inhabitants : " What is so rare as a day in June ; Then, if ever, come perfect days." But about eight o'clock in the evening a change cam* over the face of nature. Black portentous clouds were blown up swiftly and soon shrouded from sight the star-lit heavens. Then came from a distance mut- terings of the impending storm. Jagged forks of light shot from the seamy clouds, followed almost im- mediately by volumes of sound that resembled the broadsides from a dozen frigates. Then the rain came down in torrents and only those pedestrians could be seen in the streets of New York who were hurrying homeward, or seeking to secure some other haven of shelter. In the great house called Richmond Hill but few lights could be seen, and those were in the lower story where the housekeeping duties were performed. There was no light in the great library, and this seemed to at- test the fact which would have been found to be true — - that the master of the house was absent. He had gone to New Jersey early that morning on legal business, and had left .word that he should not return until the next morning, so the care of the establishment de- volved upon Peggy, the colored housekeeper, who was competent from every point of view to maintain order and decorum in the great mansion. A candelabrum was burning in the great hall, for it was not an uncommon thing to have many evening callers at Richmond Hill, and the master of the house had given strict orders that the hall lights were never to be extinguished until it was known that he had retired for the night. The colored servants of the house, including Peggy, 46 BLENNERHASSETT numbered eight. Acting either from the adage that "misery loves company," or that "there is str^gA in numbers," the whole household had gathered in Peggy's brightly-lighted kitchen where she was en- gaged in some household duties. This invasion was evidently not to her liking, for turning to her uninvited visitors she cried: " What's all yo' niggers crowded in hyah fo ' ? Yo'so no business loafin' roun' hyah an' interruptin' me. Now all o' yo' git out o' hyah or I'll tell Massa Burr when he comes home." Peggy returned to her duties, evidently disposed to wait for a short time to see the effect of her words, but no one moved. Then she turned upon them again : " I know what yo'se all in hyah fo' — 'cause yo'se all 'fraid. When yo' hear the Lord a-talkin' ter yo' it makes all yo' sinners think of yo' guilty actions, and yo' come down hyah thinkin' that if yo' keep close to a good Christian woman like me there'll be some mercy shown yo'." " I don't think that's very Christian talk," said Col- onel Burr's valet who was named John, but who had been nicknamed John the Baptist by his fellow servants. " Oh yes 'tis," rejoined Peggy, " don' yo' know the Good Book says "who the Lord lovef he chastenef. Now yo' niggers don' know what chastenef means. It means ter give yo' a lickin,' and yo' know yo'selves that yo' all o' yo' deserves a good lickin'." " We are not slaves," said John, " and our master does not treat us as though we were." " Well, that's 'cause the massa is good, and not 'cause yo' is," retorted Peggy. Further argument was cut short by the sound of a series of loud knocks at the front door. " I reckon Massa Burr's got home," said Peggy, and as if by magic the other servants disappeared from the Icitchen and sought their respective pc^s of duty, with AFTER Mr DEATH 47 the exception of young Sam, a colored boy about thir- teen years of age who had been deputed to act as chore boy or assistant to Peggy. " Come hyah," said Peggy to Sam, " yo'se too young to be very wicked, Sam, but yo' ain't too young to be awful lazy. See those 'ere knives ? Now yo' take that brick-dust and yo' jus' polish those knives till they are as bright as " — ^As Peggy spoke the last words, there came a gigantic flash of lightning that filled the room with a silvery flame and made the candles look dim — " that flash o' lightnin'," continued Aunt Peggy, evi- dently unmoved. " Be careful yo' don' cut yo'se'f for them knives is as sharp as " — Close upon her last word followed peal after peal of thunder. The sounds seemed to be right above the house, and a nervous per- son quaking with inward fear would, no doubt, have declared that the house itself shook from chimney-top to foundation-stone, but the unmoved Peggy completed her speech by laying — " that bust o' thunder." When John opened the front door a very old man clad in coarse garments, which were apparently wet through by the rain, asked if Colonel Burr was in. When informed that he was absent and would not re- turn until the next morning, he seemed much distressed. " I am very sorry," said he, " it is not for myself, but for a dear friend who is dying. He wishes to make a deposition, and the matter must be attended to by a lawyer." " Oh," said John, " if a lawyer is what you want, iwiiy don't you go to Judge Van Ness ? He is a great friend of Colonel Burr's, and I will tell you how to find his house," and John proceeded to give the neces- sary directions. The stranger thanked him over and over again. John closed the door, leaving him once more to the blackness of the night and the fury of the storm which was in no nAoA abated. 48 BLENNERHASSETT Half an hour had hardly passed before the sound of wheels was heard, and John at his post of duty and oa the alert, opened the front door and admitted Colonel Burr. His master was drenched to the skin even as the poor stranger had been. " I will go at once to my room, John, and change my clothing," said Colonel Burr. " Has Peggy retired? " " No, sir," replied John. " Then tell her to send up a light repast to the li- brary. I was so anxious to reach home, and the storm was so severe that I did not get any supper." " What will you have, sir ? " inquired John, politely, " Tell Peggy to send me anything that can be easily prepared," Burr replied as he ascended the front stairs. When the master of the house reached his library half an hour later, a bright fire was burning in the open fireplace, and a slice of cold meat, some toasted bread, a dish of stewed prunes, of which he was very fond, and a, cup of smoking coffee were upon a tray on his library table. There were also several letters upon the table that had arrived during the day, and as he ate his simple meal he took them up and glanced at the superscriptions. One addressed to him in a dainty feminine hand he held to his lips a moment, then he said to himself: " Poor Leonora ; what a sad fate for a woman pos- sessed of such a rich fund of intellectual sympathy and spiritual feeling, to be bound to such an unappreciative bore of a husband. What a curse are these marriages brought about to maintain family pride and combine family riches. Were she to-day the mistress of Rich- mond Hill " — as he said this, he looked about the hand- some apartment — " she would be a queen. As it is, she is only a slave." Half a dozen other letters were glanced at and then thrown upon the library table, evidently not being con- sidered of much consequence by their reader, but thp AFTER MT DEATH 49 last one that he perased was" apparently of the greatest importance. When he finished it, Burr arose from his chair and held the letter in his hand, walking excitedly several times up and down the long apartment. " Can it be possible ? " he asked himself aloud. " I do not mind the attacks of my enemies, but this perfidy of one I thought my friend cuts me to the quick. I knew we differed honestly in our political opinions, but I saw no reason why we should not be true and loyal friends in our social relations. Why, it is not a year since I went to him and repeated what some busy-body had told me he had said about me. He apologized, and assured me that there should never be cause for any such feeling on my part in the future. I believed him, for I have always considered him a man of honor in matters of honor.!' Then he crumpled the letter in his hand and stood looking into the blazing fire. " This must be stopped," he said finally, " and it shall be, once and for all." He walked deliberately to his seat at the table, drew a sheet of paper towards him, dipped his quill in the ink and wrote, " New York, June " At that moment the old clock in the hallway struck the hour of twelve. It was midnight. Burr counted the strokes and then finished the line which he had com- menced — " 18, 1804." Then he dropped his quill, and taking up the crumpled letter opened it and read it through once more. It was as follows : New York, Jime 17, 1804. My deab Bukr : During our late noble but unsuc- cessful campaign, you and I were so busy in speaking and writiuig to those who believed as we did, that no doubt we were somewhat unmindful of what was being said and dfxat by those who did not believe as we did. 5© BLENNERHASSETT Last evening I was looking over an acctimulation gS old papers and found the enclosed article. I think you will be somewhat interested in the lines that I have un- derscored. Perhaps you will agree with me now in an opinion that I have often expressed in regard to a cer- tain individual in whose favor you have often taken up the cudgel against my attacks. I will call at your house to-morrow morning and as we walk down town together we can talk the matter over. Sincerely your friend, W. P. Van Ness. Then Burr took the newspaper slip which had been enclosed in his friend Van Ness's letter and read again the lines which had been underscored : " General Hamilton and Judge Kent have declared, in substance, that they look upon Mr. Burr to be a dangerous man and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of government." " I could detail to you a still more despicable opinion which General Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr." Burr then took up his quill once more and finished his letter. Sir : I send for your perusal a letter signed Charles D. Cooper, which, though apparently published some time ago, has but recently come to my knowledge. Mr. Van Ness, who does me the favor to deliver this, will i)oint out to you that clause of the letter to which I par- ticularly request your attention. You must perceive, sir, the necessity of a prompt and unqualified acknowledgment or denial of the use of any expression which would warrant the assertions of Dr. Cooper. I have the honor to be. Your obedient servant, A. Burr. Gen. Hamilton. AFTER MT DEATH 51 Burr Aen made a copy of the letter and folded and addressed the original. Next he summoned his valet and went up stairs to his bedchamber. In ten minutes the great mansion was wrapped in darkness. There iwas no light even in the room occupied by the master of the house; in fact he was in bed and soon asleep, unmindful of the facts that he had been successful that day and had won an important suit for a wealthy client ; that he had been exposed for hours to a drenching storm and had suffered no harm therefrom ; that he had re- ceived a letter which had aroused in his mind a com- bination of sad and bitter feelings; and that he had written a letter, the possible consequences of which even he could not at that time have foreseen. On the morning of the eighteenth of June Colonel Burr was up early and partook of his simple breakfast of an tgg, a slice of bread, and a cup of coffee. He then sought his library and wrote a reply to the letter, the sight of which had led him to say " Poor Leonora." He finished and addressed it, then placed it in the inside pocket of his coat. At that moment a visitor was an- nounced, and Judge Van Ness enteredn " Good morning. Colonel." " Good morning, Judge," were the salutations spoken almost conjointly. The two gentlemen seated them- selves. " You have read my letter ? " interrogated Van Ness. " Yes," replied Burr, " I got home late last night, although I had not expected to arrive until this morn- ing. I read your letter and have written one to Ham- ilton, but I have thought it all over and I have decided not to send it." He took the letter in his hands and made a motion as though to tear it in two. " Wait a moment," cried Van Ness, grasping his hands. "Don't tear it up yet. I have something t» leH you. Did you see your visitor last eveoiog ? " 52 BLENNERHASSETT " What visitor? " queried Burr. " Perhaps he came before you got home. He readied toy house at nine o'clock." Burr rang a bell that stood upon the library table and John entered. ^^ " Did any one call to see me last evening, John ? ' I " Oh, yes, sir," stammered John, " I meant to tell /you, but you went right up stairs, and then when you came down I went up to get your clothes to dry them, and I forgot." " Forgot ! " said Burr, somewhat sternly. " That may be a good reason why you did not tell me, but it is no excuse for your not telling me. What did the vis- itor say, John?" " He asked for you," said John, " and I told him you was out and wouldn't get back until this morning. Then he said that a dying man wished to make a disposition " — at this word Van Ness smiled — " and he must have a lawyer, because the man couldn't wait until you got home " — this last remark caused Burr himself to smile — " so I sent him to Mr. Van Ness for I knew he was a friend of yours." " You did perfectly right, John," said Colonel Burr, "many people who have had superior advantages to those which you possess, forget much oftener than you do; only remember what I have so often told you, tiiat iorgetfulness in a valet may cause his master much in- convenience. You are excused, John." ' John left the room and Van Ness continued : * " Well, I answered the summons and had the most remarkable adventure of my life ; one with which you, however, are the most closely connected." "You render me somewhat curious," said Burr gravely. " I think this document will satisfy your curiosity," remarked Van Ness as he unfolded a legal-looking paper containing some half dozen sheets of foolscap^ AFTER Mr DEATH 53 "If you will pardon me, Colonel," said Van Ness, " while you are reading it, I will enjoy a cigar." " Certainly," said Burr, " you will find a box in the cabinet." Van Ness smoked and Burr read. Van Ness eyed attentively the unimpassioned and unmoved face. In the presence of others, that face never expressed any indication of the thoughts, the motives, or the feelings that actuated the heart or influenced the brain of their possessor. He read the document carefully from the beginning to the close. Then he laid it on the library table and looked at Van Ness. "I know," said Van Ness, "where the very best quality of cowhides can be purchased." " No doubt," replied Burr, " but cowhides are not used by gentlemen in affairs of honor." " No," rejoined Van Ness, " but a cowhide may be used by a gentleman who is a gentleman, in dealing with one who is supposed to be a gentleman, but who is not." " I understand you," said Burr. " I cannot follow your suggestion, but the reading of that document forces me to send to General Hamilton the letter that I was CHI the point of destroying." " I am glad of that," said Van Ness. " I may, or may not be in the future," remarked Col- onel Burr as he arose from his seat. " Here is a copy of my letter to the General," he said, passing it to Van Ness. " Please keep the correspondence which may or may not be volum- inous." While Van Ness was reading the letter Burr lighted a cigar, walked to the library table and took up the (document which Van Ness had given him to read. " That will do for a beginning," said Van Ness as he ■folded up the copy of the letter and put it in his pocket, " but .what are you going to do about that dying con- 54 BLENNERHASSETT fession?" he asked, pointing to the paper which Burr held in his hand. " I am thinking," replied Burr. " If I were in your position," said Van Ness, " if the, General did not send me a complete explanation and ample apology for those lines in Cocker's letter, I would publish that deposition and send it broadcast through, the country. That double-faced friend has had two strings to his' bow too long. One of them should be snapped, and I am the man who would do Jt." " I have decided," said Burr. He took a sheet of paper, and placing the deposition inside, he folded it up securely. Then he sealed it in the middle and on both ends with his private seal. Taking up his quill he wrote in a bold hand — " The Property of Aaron Burr. Not to be opened and the contents made public until fifty years have elapsed after my death." " That is final," said Burr as he passed the document to Van Ness who quickly read what was written upon it. " As you will," said Van Ness, " it is your right to decide." " Keep the document," said Burr, " until this affair is over at least," and Van Ness placed it in his pocket. Then, smoking their cigars, the two gentlemen left the mansion and passed slowly through its beautiful grounds until they reached the road. Then they locked arms and walked down town to their respective offices. CHAPTER VII THE CHALLENGE IT was not until the twentieth of June that a reply- was received by Colonel Burr from General Ham- ilton. It had been delivered at Colonel Burr's law office, but he had been too busy with his clients to 'do more than open it and ascertain that it was an answer to his communication of the eighteenth. He sent a messenger to Judge Van Ness's office re- questing him to call on him that evening at Richmond Hill. Eight o'clock found the two gentlemen seated once more in Burr's library. The General's reply was long. Burr read it over to himself, and then read it aloud to" Van Ness. He was an eager and attentive listener. " Special pleading," said Van Ness, with a low chuckle. " He apparently is not willing to file a direct answer, or enter a demurrer, but rather insinuates that he is disposed to deny the jurisdiction of the court. But the point of his letter, like the sting of a scorpion, is in the end of it. Did you notice. Colonel Burr, that he virtually says that if you are not satisfied with this ram- bling, and, to me, very unsatisfactory cotnmunication, that he is prq)ared to abide the consequences. I never imagined he was capable of rising to quite so high a level as that, and even now I think it is more bragga- docio on paper than anything else. Do you thiak he (Will f^t, Colonel?" " If I challenge him, he will have to," r^Ked Burr. " Well," said Van Ness, savagely, " if you challrage .55 56 BLENNERHASSETT him and he finds some sneaking way of avoiding a meeting, I wil'l cowhide him, if you don't." " Calm yourself, Van Ness," said Burr, courteously, " I shall count upon your good offices as my second, but I do not think you will be called upon to take the place of the principal, although I know of no one to whom I would sooner confide the care of my honor were I unable to defend it myself." The two men clasped hands; then Burr continued: " I will think the General's letter over this evening, and will answer it to-morrow. Will you kindly see that it is delivered. Van Ness? " " Certainly," replied the latter, " there is no service that you can ask of me, Colonel, that I will_ not gladly render, even to taking your place as principal in this afifair." As he said this both men smiled, but there was a great difference in those smiles. One was savage in its nature, while the other had a grave tinge of sadness. When Burr was alone, he sat down and read Hamilton's letter through again. His reply was short but to the point. On the twenty-second of June, General Hamilton called upon his friend, Nathaniel Pendleton, who, like Van Ness, was a judge. The interview took place in Judge Pendleton's private office. General Hamilton was evidently much excited and disturbed by something that had taken place, and his friend looked inquiringly at him as he noticed these marks of unusual ex- citement. " What has happened. General ? " he inquired, after Hamilton had sat for five minutes without opening the expected conversation. The General took several papers from his pocket, neatly folded, and marked " i," " 2," " 3-" " Read those, if you please. Judge," said he, " in the order in wliich they are numbered." THE CHALLENGE S7 While Pendleton was reading, Hamilton arose from his chair and, walking to a window at the farther end of the office, looked out upon the busy scene, for the Judge's office was upon a much frequented thorough- fare. " Well, General," said Pendleton, as he finished read- ing Burr's second letter, " what is to be the up-shot of this?" Hamilton walked slowly towards the speaker and re- sumed his chair. " When Mr. Van Ness brought Colonel Burr's last letter, I told him that I thought Burr's first letter was rude and offensive, and that it was not possible for me to give it any answer other than that Mr. Burr must take such steps as he might think proper." "What did Van Ness say to that?" inquired Pen- dleton. " Well," replied the General, " he didn't seem quite satisfied to take my answer back to Colonel Burr. He requested me to take time to deliberate and then return an answer when I might possibly entertain a different opinion, and said that he would call on me to receive it." General Hamilton continued, " I told Mr. Van Ness that I did not perceive it possible for me to give any other answer than that I mentioned, unless Mr. Burr would take back his letter and write me one which would admit of a different reply. Keep those letters. Judge, and here is another which I have written and which I authorize you to deliver to Mr. Van Ness in case he calls upon you. I am going to my country house this afternoon, and may not be back to the city for several days. I know I can count upon your best and most friendly services in this matter." " Certainly," replied Judge Pendleton, " I regret the occurrence, but the situation must be faced with dignity and with a due regard for your well-established reputat- tion." 58 BLENNERHASSETT General Hamilton left the office, apparently of the ■-opinion that an affair of honor could be settled by a brace of lawyers as though it were a mere legal squab- ble. , . Van Ness was anxious to have the matter culmmate at the earliest possible moment. He knew General Hamilton's peculiarities as a lawyer, and felt sure that he would resort to every possible scheme to defer mak- ing a definite reply, trusting that the lapse of time and the excess of verbiage bestowed by him upon the ques- tion would eventually so cover up and befog the main points at issue, that it would consume much time to -arrive at the real heart of the discussion ; so, in a fever of impatience, he despatched a letter to General Ham- -ilton. Van Ness having learned accidentally that General -Hamilton had visited Judge Pendleton, presumably in "elation to the dispute between himself and Colonel Jurr, took occasion to call upon Pendleton and re- •*ceived from him a letter, it being the one that General Hamilton had left with Judge Pendleton at his inter- ■view with the latter. On the twenty-sixth of June, Judge Van Ness re- •ceived a communication from Judge Pendleton. A con- ference took place that day between Judge Van Ness ■and Colonel Burr, as a result of which the former sent -what was considered to be the closing letter of the cor- respondence to Judge Pendleton. After mature re- flection, however, Colonel Burr decided to accompanyj the challenge with a further communication relating to certain points which, in his opinion, had not been fully covered in Judge Van Ness's last letter ; so, when the challenge was presented to Judge Pendleton by Judge Van Ness, the latter handed him a communica- tion written by him after a long interview witli Calond "Burr in the library at Richmond Hill. M. the time that Judge Van Ness caBcd apoo Judgf THE CHALLENGE 59 PeiMMeton wi^ the challenge, the latter, in behalf of General Hamilton, requested time for a reply, urging as a reason that General Hamilton was anxious to close up certain legal cases with which he was connected ; that the session of the court would soon close, and that he trusted Colonel Burr would be willing to consent to the postponement under the circumstances. Van Ness com- municated with Burr, and the latter willingly consented to allowing the time requested. On Friday, the sixth of July, the circuit being closed, Mr. Pendleton informed Mr. Van Ness that. General Hamilton would be ready at any time after the Sunday following. On Monday, the ninth, preliminaries were arranged- by the seconds, and the time of the meeting fixed for seven o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, July- eleventh, the place selected being Wieehawken Heights, about three miles above Hoboken on the Jersey side of the Hudson River, a famous resort for duel- lists. On Monday evening. Judge Van Ness called upon- Colonel Burr and gave him a full account of his inter- view with Judge Pendleton. Burr listened attentively and during the recital made notes covering the details, of the arrangements which had been concluded between the seconds. " I hope, Colonel Burr," said Van Ness, " that you- are satisfied with the way I have conducted the some- what lengthy and, to a marked degree, vexatious nego- tiations. It was always hard for me to deal with a man !who is not willing to come to the point. I dislike verbi- s^e and delay, but I knew from the first that in dealing with Hamilton we should have to contend •with both." " My good friend," replied Burr, " your services have been of inestimable value to me, and I cannot find' iwords to assure you how much I appreciate them. There €o BLENNERHASSETT is no doubt in your mind, I hope, Van Ness, as to the propriety and justice of the step I am taking." "Not at all," replied his friend. "You are wdl enough acquainted with me, Burr, to know that if I thought you were in the wrong, I should have said so Jong ago. I might have had some difficulty in putting .'SO obstinate and determined a man as yourself on what I considered the right track, but I should have tried, just 1:he same." Burr smiled and said, " It is the honesty and faith- fulness of such a friendship that constitutes its great •value. The opinion of those friends who continually pat me on the back and cry good fellow is of little weight ■with me, but the friend who challenges my views and ■opposes my opinions with arguments and authorities is entitled to my respect, and I hope I shall always pay "due deference to such honest opinions." At this juncture, a loud knock was heard at the front door. A moment later, John entered the library and announced a visitor in the person of Mr. John .Swartwout. Burr told the servant to admit him. Dur- ing the short interval which preceded Mr. Swartwout's •entrance. Van Ness said to Burr, in a low voice, " I have an idea. Have you any objections to tell- ing Swartwout ? He is as true as steel. Let's ask him for his judgment on this correspondence, but do not tell him the whole truth until we get his opinion." "Agreed," said Burr. Then they both arose to greet the visitor. After a rambling conversation relating to general matters of more or less interest and importance to the three friends, Van Ness remarked, " Swartwout, we have a puzzle for you. Our friend, Burr, here, you know, is always getting into trouble! We know it is not his fault but the other fellow's fault. Now, do not be surprised at what I am going to sayi feut our friend, the Colonel, may have to send a chal- THE CHALLENGE tt lenge to a certain party who has been abusing hiai secretly. Do not try to guess who it is." As he spoke, he raised a warning finger and shook it at Swartwout. Van Ness continued, " A long correspondence has taken place within the past ten or twelve days, between the Colonel and his probable antagonist. I have acted as Colonel Burr's friend in communication with the other principal and his friend. I have the correspondence here." He took from his pocket a bundle of letters. " Now, I have proposed to the Colonel, and he agrees to my sugges- tion, to read these letters to you, omitting names, and ask your opinion on certain points." " But I am no judge," replied Swartwout. " Would it not be a better plan for you to act as judge, Van Ness, and let me read some of the letters ? " " The reason, my dear Swartwout, that you are selected to pass judgment upon this correspondence is because you are not a judge, so far as a seat upon the bench is concerned, and for that reason you will be more likely to decide the matters in dispute on the basis of justice and equity than if you were simply an adept in points of law and legal procedure, as I am, if I may be allowed to compliment myself." " I am ready to do anything to aid Colonel Burr and you," said Mr. Swartwout. Van Ness assorted the letters, giving to Colonel Burr those written by himself, while he retained those written by General Hamilton and Judge Pendleton. I " Now," said Van Ness, " Swartwout, take a sheet of paper and a pen and write down these points upon which we shall ask your decision on the letters, after they have been read. You will also KSCd paper to make your judicial notes upon during the reading of each communication." " I am ready," replied Swartwout. " The points are these," said Van Ness. " First, lo 62 BLENNERHASSETT the language assumed to have been ased by Colonel Burr's antagonist, did the latter exceed the latitude al- lowed in political discussion. Second. Was Colond Burr warranted, as a gentleman, in demanding an ex- T)lanation, an apology, or both? Third. Has Colond Burr's antagonist, or his second in this correspondency given Colonel Burr an explanation, apology, or both? Fourth. Considering the alleged language used by Col- onel Burr's antagonist and the answers received from iim, or his second, will Colonel Burr be justified, by the code of honor now existing or recognized by gentlonen as governing such disputes, in sending his antagonist a jdiallenge?" Judge Van Ness had spoken Slowly in order that Mr. Swartwout might write down the questions to which he was expected to give answers after the reading of the correspondence. The reading then began. Colonel Burr presenting the short letter, dated June eighteenth, which 'openfed the correspondence. He and Judge Van Ness alternated, reading slowly in order that Mr. Swartwout could make notes as they proceeded. Several times he called upon Van Ness to read over again certain por- tions of his letters, Swartwout stating that it was hard to discern the exact meaning as the writer had evi- -dently tried to cover it up by an excess of words and ■tortuous phrases. When the reading was concluded, Swartwout asked, " May I take this matter under consideration and report to you my decisions, say to-morrow evening? " " Oh, no," cried Van Ness, " we must know to-night This is an exigency which will not allow of any postponement such as you mention. We will give you half an hour in which to think the matter over care- fully. Burr and I will take a stroll through the grounds, for the night is a beautiful one." John Swartwout was an honest man ; he was a great friend of Colonel Burr. In the heat of p^tical strife. THE CHALLENGE 6^ he could become a partisan but in the case now before him he decided to be governed by a strict sense of jus- tice and in no way allow himself to be biased in favor of his friend and political leader. Colonel Burr. It is a pity that there are not more men made of this sort of material. He read the inquiries propounded by Judge Van Ness carefully; then he went through the copious notes ■which he had made even more carefully. Then he arose and walked up and down the long apartment, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He walked to the win- dow, which was open, and looked out upon the grounds flooded with moonlight, and upon the river which spread like a white sheet of silver before him. Seeing his friends at no great distance, he called out, " The judge is ready to give his decision." A few moments later the three friends were once more seated at the great table in the library. " In coming to a decision on the case submitted to me," began Swartwout, "as you well know, I am ig- norant of the name and social position of Colonel Burr's antagonist. If these points were known to me, they might or might not have a bearing upon the questions at issue. Certain language may be used by an inferior in reference to one who is his superior, which the latter is not justified in taking too seriously ; the superior may not excuse but he can lament the ignorance or lack of civility in the person who assails him. There are times, too, when language used by a superior to an inferior should not be too strongly resented by the latter, for there may be circumstances unknown to him which warrant his superior in taking the course that he does, and which would preclude him from explaining. Where the parties are of equal rank and social position, these qualifications do not apply. In making my decision in this matter, I hav« considered that I am dealing with eqtials." 64 BLENNERHASSETT Both Colonel Burr and Judge Van Ness appreciated the distinctions mentioned by Swartwout, but neither by word nor look did they intimate to him whether his decision was correct or otherwise. "To the first inquiry propounded by Judge Van Ness," said Swartwout, " I decide that the language used was outside of the latitude which is considered allowable in political contests. I mean by this, it was not allowable to use it in the way in which it was used. If it had been printed in a newspaper, with the author's name attached, or if it had been spoken from the hus- tings by the orator himself, it would not have been so reprehensible, but used in the manner in which it was, it savors of and reminds one of those days in the history of Venice when bravos, with masks upon their faces, stole up behind their victims and stabbed them in the back. In deciding the second inquiry, I am necessarily much influenced by my answer to the first. The ktn- (wuage being a covert attack ; made from under cover, as it is, requires both an explanation and an apolc^y. If, — ^but the testimony submitted does not settle ±at point, — ^the party who wrote the letter containing the language complained of, did it at the suggestion of the one who now becomes the principal in the affair, the necessity of a full explanation and ample apology is more than ever apparent. " My answer to the third inquiry must be in the nega- tive. I do not find in the letters written by Colonel Burr's antagonist, or by the latter's second, any in- timation of a willingness to explain or apologize for the language complained of in Colonel Burr's first com- munication. I notice a marked determination to avoid that question and to make it appear, as shown by his first reply to Colonel Burr, that Colonel Burr has asked for a great deal more than he really did ask for in his first letter. Then, having set up this statement o£ affairs as though it had emanated from Colonel Burr, THE CHALLENGE 6$ he proceeds to refuse to accede to it; in other words, instead of answering Colonel Burr's express inquiry, he greatly enlarges the inquiry, and then refuses to reply to the inquiry which he has himself enlarged. Again, having apparently justified himself in his own mind for not answering fully a wide inquiry, when the request had been that he would answer a simple one, he inti- mates that if Colonel Burr is not satisfied with the answer he has made to an inquiry which Colonel Burr had not made of him, that he is prepared to bear the consequences. This latter language I can interpret in no other way than to mean that if Colonel Burr chal- lenges, he will accept the challenge. " Under these circumstances, it becomes easy for me to answer the fourth question, although I must say I make the decision with great reluctance. Of my own free will, I would be the last man to advise my friend, Colonel Burr, to imperil his life when the future has, I hope, so much of greatness and happiness in store for him, but I fancy that Colonel Burr has already made up his mind. If he is determined to challenge his antago- nist, and my opinion agrees with his, I cannot blame myself if my decision results in a duel. If, on the other hand, my opinion should run counter to his, there will be some hope left that further discussion and considera- tion of the matter may result in an amicable adjustment. I will not ask Colonel Burr if he has reached a decision, but will simply declare that, in my own mind, he is fully warranted in sending a challenge to the person who is known only to me by the offensive language which he has used to my friend, and for which, in my opinion, he has refused that reparation which a gentleman of honor should have willingly offered." Van Ness sprang to his feet and grasped Swartwout by the hand. "John," he cried, "you have mistaken your voca- tion. I never listened to a better summing up of a 66 BLENNERHASSETT case and a more lucid and just decision from the bench in my life. You should have been a judge. You are better fitted to sit on the bench than I am." "Thank you, judge," was the reply, " I have tried to do my duty to my great friend, Colonel Burr." " And you have succeeded, Swartwout," cried Burr, as he in turn grasped his friend's hand and shook it warmly. " But you have not told me," said Swartwout, " does my decision agree with the conclusion to which you two gentlemen have come ? " " Exactly! " answered Van Ness. " I delivered the challenge this morning, and the meeting was arranged for Wednesday morning, at seven o'clock, at Wee- hawken Heights. You must come with us, John." " And Colonel Burr is to meet " " General Alexander Hamilton," said Van Ness. Swartwout remained speechless for a moment, then 'he said in a slow, deliberate manner, "Colonel Burr, if you should be so unfortunate as to kill General Hamilton, it would not aveng^e one- tenth of the injuries that you have suffered at his hands since you first knew him." CHAPTER VIII HUMAN TIGERS THE pistol-shot had been fired from the top of the mountain as Cheethara had suggested. That pistol-shot was Doctor Cooper's letter which duly appeared and was widely copied by all the newspapers antagonistic to Colonel Burr. That Burr had not seen it sooner was due to his peculiar nature. He cared nothing for the attacks made upon him by his political enemies, and even after reading the extracts from Doctor Cooper's letter, enclosed by Judge Van Ness, he would have dropped the matter had it not been for the statements contained in the deposition taken by Van Ness from the lips of the dying man, arid officially attested by the judge himself. The dreadful conse- quences of that pistol-shot from the mountain top are yet to be realized. Cheetham, as he had agreed, did his work in the depths of the valley. He carried out his promise to the letter. Bitter invectives against Colonel Burr ap- peared in each issue of the American Citizen. On election day, at every polling place throughout the State, the promised handbill was displayed, and the ^coarseness and brutality of the language have never been surpassed in any American election contest. Many would-be, but faint-hearted, supporters of Colonel Burr were terrified by this onslaught. Burr's friends could only deny and denounce it verbally; there was no time in which to counteract its effect by printers' ink, that most potent agent in political affairs. 67 68 BLENNERHASSETT The result is well known. Burr polled twenty-eight thousand votes while his competitor had thirty-five thousand, or a majority of seven thousand. A change of thirty-six hundred ballots would have made Aaron Burr governor of New York and the next president of the United States ! More than that number of voters who had intended to vote for Colonel Burr were un- doubtedly influenced at the last moment by this false and libelous handbill to cast their ballots for his op- ponent. As Cheetham had truly told Hamilton, the God-fearing farmers rallied to the support of the home when so direct an assertion was made that its purity was menaced. When the result of the election was definitely an- nounced to Burr, he accepted it with his usual equanim- ity. He thanked his friends for their earnest efiforts in his behalf, but neither by voice nor pen did he ex- press any opinion of, or resentment for the disgraceful tactics of his opponents. To his daughter Theodosia, who was in South Carolina, he wrote simply : " The election was lost by a large majority. So much tlvs better" When he penned those last words he had, undoubtedly, in his own mind, renounced all hope of future political preferment in the United States. But for that pistol-shot from the mountain top, and the dep- osition of the dying man, Colonel Burr would prob- ably have renounced politics, have given all his time and attention to his profession, and have lived and died an honored and respected citizen. Oh! the irony of fate, when such base tools as Cheetham can so easily change the course of human events and so greatly affect the history of a mighty nation. General Hamilton's country house, " The Grange," was in those days considered to be far out of town. At the present time, it would still be up town, having been located on what is now called Convent Avenue, between 142nd and 143rd Streets. On the morning HUMAN TIGERS 69 of the tenth of July, the day before the duel, General Hamilton might have been discovered, attired in a suit of homespun, at work in his garden. With the help of his gardener, he was engaged in setting out a row of thirteen gum trees to commemorate the thir- teen original States in the Union. ' Those little saplings flourished and waxed strong and became mighty trees. For nearly a century they stood, giving shade and shelter to weary man and tired beast. In the summer of 1899, it was decided that they stood in the way of contemplated real estate improvements and they were obliged to succumb to the axe and the cross-cut saw. But although the trees have fallen, the Union, of which they were the symbol, still lives; al- though the man who planted the trees was never satis- fied with the form of government which he had done so much, in spite of himself, to provide; and although he never imagined nor wished that the original American Constitution would outlast his own lifetime, the Union still survives. While engaged in the pleasing and honorable work of arboriculture, his ear caught the sound of an ap- proaching vehicle, and looking up, he saw that his visitor was the man, whom, least of all, he desired to see. It was Cheetham. Turning to the gardener, Hamilton gave him some directions in a low voice, and the man trudged off toward the barn. " Glad we are alone, General," said Cheetham, alighting from his chaise, and approaching his politi- cal master. " I haven't had a good chance to con- gratulate you since election day. That handbill did the work, didn't it? I suppose that letter of Cooper's was your little pistol-shot. Well, I think we both ought to be proud of the fact that we have driven Burr out of the field and need fear no further harm irom him." A^^oaching Cheetham still closer, Hamilton asked 7© BLENNERHASSETT in a low voice, "Can you keep a secret for twenty-four hours, Cheetham?" "I can if I'm paid for it," said the mercenary scoundrel with a cunning leer in his face. " The fact that you are the only one who possesses the secret will be worth a great deal to you in twenty- four hours." "Agreed," said Cheetham. Hamilton continued : " You are wrong, Cheetham, in thinking that Colonel Burr has lost all power to harm you and me." "What's he up to now?" queried Cheetham, some- what apprehensively. Hamilton replied solemnly: " That pistol-shot from the mountain top means more pistol-shots upon the field of honor." "Great God!" cried Cheetham, "has Burr chal- lenged you?" "We meet to-morrow morning," replied Hamilton, " that is the secret you must swear to keep, Cheetham," — ^he looked at his watch — "until ten o'clodc to- morrow." "I swear," said Cheetham, "but, General, I envy you 3rour possibilities^ If I could but take your place, I would do it willingly. If I could rid the earth of Aaron Burr, I should be satisfied." " If you got well paid for it," said Hamilton, with a laugh ; but seeing an ugly look creeping over his visitor's face, he added, " Pardon me, Cheetham, it was but a pleasantry, but an untimely one. If I die at Colonel Burr's hands, I shall expect you to avenge my death." " You may depend upon me, General," said Cheet- ham, somewhat gloomily, as he shook hands with him. Then he jumped into his chaise, turned quickly about, and drove at a violent pace from the grounds. As he neared the gate, he was obliged to pull up quickly in HUMAN TIGERS 71 border to allow the ingress of a chaise containing an- ■©ther visitor. Cheetham recognized Van Ness and Van Ness knew Cheetham. Neither of the men bowed nor spoke. At a safe distance from the house, Cheetham solilo- ■quized : " If Burr kills Hamilton and I kill Burr, then Van Ness will kill me. No ; I think I'd better stick to my printing office and my paper and let these fools of politicians do their own fighting. What an ass Hamilton was to drag Cooper into this business. He might have written it himself, as he has done so many times before, and never, been found out." Hamilton awaited the approach of Van Ness, whom he had recognized. As Van Ness pulled up his horse, the General asked with an evident attempt to adopt a familiar tone, " You met Cheetham as you came in ? " "I was obliged to pass him," replied Van Ness coldly. Hamilton, seeming to think some explanation neces- sary, continued : " Cheetham saw me at work in the ^garden and drove in to see what I was about." " These inopportune meetings are often as advan- tageous to all parties concerned as prearranged ones," rejoined Van Ness, while a sarcastic smile played over liis features. Hamilton instantly assumed an air of severe dignity as he said, " Our present meeting is not opportune and certainly not prearranged. Under the circumstances, I liad a right to pass this day undisturbed. I presume you have come from Colonel Burr." Van Ness, who had alighted and approached Hamil- ton, replied, " General, I come here of my own free ■will, without the knowledge of Colonel Burr." Hamilton again drew himself up and with great ■dignity said : " I am not aware that there is any reason why I should listen to any personal communication irom Mr. Van Ness. My controversy is with Colonel 72 BLENNERHASSETT Burr, and I have no desire to add to it an altercatipa with his second." Van Ness was a man of marked force of character. There was in him a certain savagery bom of his great physical strength and active temperament, and it was with difficulty that he restrained his temper when Hamilton concluded his speech, but with great exertion he did so. "I think, General," he continued, "that I can give you a satisfactory reason why you should listen to my communication on my own account, irrespective of my connection with Colonel Burr. Did you ever know a person by the name of ? " He did not speak the name aloud, but whispered it in a low tone. The name was distinctly audible to Hamilton who started back as though he had been shot. " No," answered Hamilton, recovering himself, " I never knew any such man." " Your actions belie your words," remarked Van Ness, while a cynical smile played upon his face. " Per- haps I can state the matter more truthfully if I say that you once knew him when he was of service to you, but that lately, when you do not need him, you have for- gotten him." " Let him remain forgotten then," replied Hamilton. " I have no desire to talk to you about him. If he wishes to see me, let him do so. I see no reason why you should become his spokesman." "Well I do," remarked Van Ness, "for the very •reason that he has no one else to speak for him; in fact, he cannot speak for himself for he has been dead nearly a week. I see that I have g^ven you some pleas- ant news, General Hamilton. You are glad to learn that he is dead. Perhaps you remember those well- known lines, 'the evil that men do lives after them.* I am afraid it is so in the case of our friend. His past deeds, or misdeeds, to call them by their true name, no HUMAN TIGERS y^ doubt preyed upon his mind as his end approached, and he sent for Colonel Burr. He was a shrewd man, was he not, to send for Colonel Burr ? " As he said this, a savage expression spread over his face. " He knew that you would not listen to him. General, and so he sent for our friend Burr. Unfortunately, the Colonel was out of town on an important law case, but ( the messenger said that a dying man wished to make a deposition and so he was advised to call upon me. Fortunate, wasn't it, General .' I was in town, it so happened, and I went to take the deposition. It was most interesting. You ought to have been there. Things that you have forgotten long ago would have been called back to your memory, I have no doubt, but I remember them and it will give me great pleasure to refresh your recollection on any points that you may have forgotten." Hamilton was speechless. What could he say ? He knew the man ; he knew him when he was in the army ; be knew that he had been his tool, and that whatever he wished done in a secret way had been skilfully per- formed, and without price, for the man himself was well-tondo. He had not cared for money, but for politi- cal or rather official advancement ; he was a man with a past, he desired to bury it, to outlive it, and by the closing acts of his life to secure a character and reputa- tion by which he would be judged after his death. Hamilton had used him until he was of no further ser- vice to him. The financial troubles of the country had reduced the man almost to poverty, but Hamilton would not lift his hand to aid him in any way, in fact, he did not recognize him when they met. These thoughts flashed through his mind as he stood and looked vacantly at Van Ness. The latter spoke again. "It is unnecessary. General Hamilton, for me to repeat to you the contents of that deposition, or the contents of many letters and private papers, or rather 74 BLENNERHASSETT copies of them, all of which the dying man placed in my hands. I have had the pleasure of looking them over with Colonel Burr, and I called to tell you, on my own account, that the duel which is to take place between you and my friend. Colonel Burr, could have been avoided if the reason for it had been simply the con- tents of Doctor Cooper's letter; but with the knowledge obtained from the lips of the dying man, you can see that Colonel Burr has abundant reason for meeting not one General Hamilton, but a dozen of them, if that number of such gentlemen could be found in the world." There was a sting of sarcasm in the words and in the manner in which they were spoken. They cut Hamilton, and, turning to Van Ness, he said, his face livid with rage, " Why do you say this ? What do you mean to do with those papers? Are they to be published? But we cannot continue this conversation so publicly. We shall attract the attention of my family, and, as yet, they know nothing. Come with me to that summer- house and we will finish this matter." The summer-house referred to opened upon a large lawn and was so situated that its occupants could not be seen from the windows of The Grange nor from the road. Van Ness tethered his horse and followed the General. Within the summer-house were a long bench anil two rustic chairs, one of which Hamilton took while Van Ness threw himself carelessly into the other. A soft breeze, perfumed with the odor of roses and other flowers, blew in the heated faces of the disputants. The same breeze agitated the mass of vines and creepers that covered and, in fact, made this retreat, and they danced merrily in the sunlight. Above and around them could be heard the songs of birds. Outwardly, all iwas peaceful, but within the hearts of the two men who HUMAN, TIGERS 75 sat facing each other were passions worthy only of beasts of prey. Finally Hamilton spoke and repeated his former question. " What are you going to do with those papers ? Do you mean to publish tliem ? " Van Ness leaned back in his chair and said, " Calm yourself, General, that depends on this meeting that is to take place between you and my friend, the Colonel. There are many possible results. For instance, you might fire at each other a number of times and neither of you be injured. In such a case, I think it would be expedient to publish the papers. Your friends, you know. General, will claim that Colonel Burr desired to meet you because you are his rival; that he has a dislike for you based upon no good foundation. I think the publication of the papers will convince the public that Colonel Burr is justified in seeking a meeting with you. Now it may occur," con- tinued Van Ness, " that as a result of the encounter. Colonel Burr may be wounded, not mortally ; it may be only slightly, or perhaps, seriously. In either case, I think the publication of these papers is demanded for reasons already given. It may be, which God forbid, that my friend may fall at your hand ; in such a case, left to my own view of the situation I should publish the papers. The vindication of the character and reputa- tion of my friend would require it. Now let us look at the other end of the field. It may be that you may be slightly or seriously injured at the hands of Colonel Burr ; in such a case, publication of the papers would seem to be demanded as a justification for the action taken by Burr in forcing a meeting with you. Now let us suppose that you fall." " In such a case Colonel Burr would, no doubt, con- sider that the publication of the papers was needed for his justification," cried Hamilton. 76 BLENNERHASSETT " There you are wrong, General," continued Van Ness, " as you usually are when you attempt to divine the probable course of conduct of a true gentleman. In such a case. Colonel Burr has assured me, that the deposition and papers will be sealed up, deposited with some responsible and reliable person, and that the eyes of no one of the present generation shall look upon them. In case of your death at his hands, he will ask for no justification in the eyes of the public." Hamilton sank back into his chair. This was not what he had anticipated. As Van Ness had stated, it was impossible for a nature like his to truly estimate the probable action of a gentleman actuated by a fine sense of honor in a position like this. He felt his situ- ation keenly. Van Ness arose. " Can I bear any communication from you to my friend, Colonel Burr ? " " No," replied Hamilton, decisively. Van Ness reached the door of the summer-house. " I will not detain you longer. General, because I think you should have the remaining time in which to attend to your personal affairs; for, let me say it, I do not believe a just Heaven will allow you any longer to continue the anonymous, secret, scurrilous, and mean attacks that for twenty years you have made upon the character of my friend. Colonel Burr. I am now going to call upon your friend, Mr. Pendleton," and with these words he bowed and quitted the place. In a few moments the sound of his retreating vehicle was heard, Hamilton arose and paced up and down, his hands denched, and with a look upon his face which no living man had ever seen there before. _ " My God ! " he cried, " it will be best that I should die at his hands." Then a smile came over his face. " But if I meet a physical death, I will leave behind that which will prove his political ruin. I am a doomed man, but so is Aaron Burr." HUMAN TIGERS 77 That he kept his word will be seen from the contents of the letter to the American public which he wrote that night, and which was found in his desk after his death. CHAPTER IX LOVERS AND ENEMIES THE morning of July ii, 1804, dawned bright and beautiful. The rising sun bathed both banks of the Hudson River with its refulgent light. On the East its rays lay upon the city of New York, once proud of its Dutch settlers, later on prouder still of its British victors, and now prouder than ever of its American conquerors. The lower part of the city was thickly settled, indicating that the mercantile and shipping business was concentrated in that quarter. Farther up the island were thousands of acres of well- tilled land dotted here and there with humble cottages, more pretentious houses, and commanding looking mansions. It was in reality a city in the country. On the western side of the river, a different picture met the eye. There were not those indications of a populous community. The hand of man had not trans- formed the face of Nature to such a marked extent as it had done on the eastern side. To be sure there were indications of future municipalities, but they were in the shape of small and irregularly laid out towns not worthy, as yet, of the name of cities. About three miles above one of these sparsely-settled communities known by its old Dutch name of Hoboken, i-ose a tall line of cliffs mounting at least one hundred and fifty feet into the air, rejoicing also in a Dutch cognomen — ^that of Weehawken Heights. The same rays from the morning sun that lighted the face of Nature and the handiwork of man, fell also _78 LOVERS AND ENEMIES 79 upon that embodiment of God's highest form of work- manship — a beautiful young girl. She was standing upon a projecting crag that hung over the rapidly flowing river, with her face turned towards the East. She had been called beautiful, and she was so in a certain sense. It was a physical beauty more than a combina- tion of the physical with the mental and spiritual. She had a lithe and well-developed figure. Her cheeks were ruddy with the glow of health; her hair was dark brown, so dark, that the portions thrown into shadow seemed almost black. There could be no doubt about the color of her eyes. They were assuredly black and full of a fire that in moments of excitement showed that she could be the truest of friends, or the most determined of foes. In complexion she was a brunette. Her lips were full and red, the lower one showing a slight scar which extended into the flesh below, contracting the lip somewhat and giving it a peculiar expression when, from any cause, the lips were firmly set together. She was plainly dressed in what in those days was called a calico gown. She wore no hat. Behind her, standing on a rock, was a pail full of milk. Her position in life may, perhaps, be divined from this circumstance. Yesy she was but a milkmaid; a servant in the family of Captain Horatio Clarke who lived in the farm-house situated nearest to the point where she was standing. In fact, this point of land and hundreds of acres in every direction therefrom formed part of the estate of that old Revolutionary veteran. He was a widower with one son, Frederic Clarke. The old captain was a man of the most irascible tem- per. It had brought him into many serious broils and entanglements during his long career. He had been a participant in several duels which, fortunately, had not ended seriously to either party. In his old age, how- ever, the captain showed a most marked antipathy to the custom of duelling and to those who engaged in it. He 8o BLENNERHASSETT had instilled his newly-formed principles into his son who took his advice and admonition as though they had tformed part of the Book of Books. The did captain was also noted for his extreme po- litical likes and dislikes. In his eyes, George Washing- ton and Alexander Hamilton were incarnations of all that was great and good in man, and he placed them side by side on the same pedestal. On the other hand, he looked upon Aaron Burr and his political friends as the arch enemies of the country whose ambition was to ruin it for their own selfish ends. These political ideas had also formed part of Frederic Clarke's educa- tion, and hardly a week elapsed that the young man was not obliged to submit to a political catechism to see if he was still strong in the faith. While the young girl, whose portrait has been drawn in some detail, and whose name was Kate Embleton, iwas still gazing out upon the river, somewhat ab- stractedly, and unmindful of the errand upon which she had started, a young man emerged from a small groye of trees about a hundred feet from where she stood, and looked earnestly in every direction. Standing where she did, Kate Embleton was shrouded from his gaze. Satisfied that the object of his search was not in sight, the young man, who was Frederic Clarice, said aloud, for he was not afraid to have the birds whose songs were heard about him hear his declaration of love, "Where can she be? Can I have missed her? I have grown to love that girl in spite of myself, and I pass the day in thinking of the joy of seeing her alone in the morning. Perhaps I am too early. I will look up the road." This yotmg man who had gone in search of some young lady with whom he was, by his own declaration, in love, was tall and finely proportioned. He, like Kate, was dark, even swarthy. His hair was unmis» LOVERS AND ENEMIES 8i takably black, and he, too, had a peculiarity in his per- sonal appearance somewhat akin to the slight scar on Miss Embleton's lip. In his case, however, the peculiarity took a different form and consisted in the complete union across the bridge of the nose, of his black and bushy eyebrows. This showed him to be a young man of strong character; one full of determina- tion, and one likely to be a fierce antagonist in either argument or action. A moment after Frederic had gone to continue his search up the road, Kate, who was either satisfied with her view of the beauties of the morning or had remem- bered her almost forgotten duty, entered upon the little clearing where Frederic had so lately stood. There must be a strong predilection on the part of lovers to commune with themselves when they are deprived of the society of the object of their affections. Kate, too, evidently, had no objection to the birds hearing the outpourings of her heart, for she soliloquized as Frederic had done : " I have seen no signs of him this morning. Only a passing fancy of his I suppose. Rich farmers' sons don't usually make love to their fathers' servants — but this may be an exception. Frederic — I mean Mr. Clarke — seems to enjoy my company, and I don't sup- pose it would be ladylike to tell him that I don't enjoy his — it would be untrue anyway, for the weight of my day of toil is lightened by our cheerful morning conver- sations. He isn't coming, so I will keep on to Fanner Wilkins's." As she said this, she again took up the pail of milk and started to finish her errand, but she was not des- tined to proceed on her way uninterrupted. She had taken but a few steps when Frederic dashed into the little clearing and cried, "Kate! Kate!!" The young girl turned impulsively as she heard the 82 BLENNERHASSETT tones of the well-known voice. Her lover con- tinued : " Good morning, Kate— and it is a lovely morning, isn't it? I was afraid I had missed you, Kate." The young girl's face assumed an expression of either real or pretended dignity as she rejoined : " Missed me? It would have been more polite if you had." The young man laughed. " Oh! you prefer to be called Miss Kate. I will try and be more polite. I will call you Miss Embleton if you will let me take your milk-pail ?ind walk with you as far as the stile." Kate drew back, holding the milk-pail beyond the reach of her lover's extended hand. " I don't know as I shall allow any such thing. What would your father say if he saw you with the milk-pail on one arm " With a quick determined motion the young man stepped forward, and grasping the handle of the pail, took it from the young girl's grasp. She was evidently used to, and unable to resist his forceful ways. The young man completed her speech : " And you on the other." As he said this, he offered his arm which Kate took while a smile played over her face. The young man continued : " My father is apt to take his choice expression* from Scripture." The young girl looked up and asked, " What could he find to say to suit this occasion ? " Frederic replied : " Why. he could say scripturally, that his son was in a land with milk on one side" — as he said this, he held up the pail — " and honey on the other." The young girl, either really or fanciedly, resented this familiar speech, and taking the pail from his hand said, somewhat petulantly: LOFERS AND ENEMIES 83 "Give me my pail, Mr. Clarke. Keep such sweet compliments for your future wife." The young man again grasped the handle of the pail in the same masterful way that he had before done, and placing it upon the ground he turned to the young girl and said: " Kate, I want to talk to you, and no nonsense either. Real, true, hard facts, and I want your opinion. Come, Miss Kate, let us sit down." He led her to a little grass-covered bank beneath the tfide-spreading branches of a tree whose knotty trunk and gnarled limbs showed that it had long been a resident of this world, and from its great age was fitted to become the confidant of the lovers who sat beneath it. Kate spoke first. " I don't know as a young girl like myself, your father's servant, should be the confidante of a rich man's son. Frederic replied with a voice full of deep feeling: " You are the only woman who can answer my ques- tion, Kate. I had a long talk with father last night." Kate said with a tinge of irony in her voice : " I hope you both enjoyed it. I rarely derive any pleasure from his conversations." " It was pleasant," Frederic rejoined, " for a won- der. I told him I had decided upon my future course, either to marry" — at this remark Kate started invol- untarily — " or go out and begin life for myself." Kate looked up and asked inquiringly, " He thinks you had better go West, doesn't he? " Frederic answered, " I think he might on general principles, but when I told him whom I wished to marry " — this remark indicating that his selection was already made caused the young girl to start again and to look up inquiringly into his face — " he said he would give me the Cushman Farm and a thousand dollars. What do you think of that? " 84 BLENNERHASSETT Kate replied somewhat sardonically, "Remarkably generous for him. But will she — ^the woman — ^you— what will she say ? " Frederic replied with a meaning smile, " I am going to ask her." The young girl turned her face away and said : " A very sensible idea. Take my advice and do it at once. Your father may change his mind. I," — turning and feeing him, having regained her composure, " I'm glad, Mr. Clarice, you have found a woman — whom you love, and," rising she took up the milk-pail, " I hope she ;will love you and make you a good wife." As she said this, she turned her face away again. la her eyes were tears either of vexation or disappoint- ment, but the young man did not see them. Then she added in a composed manner, " I must go now, Mr. Clarke." Frederic jumped to his feet, and grasped her dis» engaged hand. As he did this, he said with a voice fidl of pleasure, " Then you consent ? " Kate, evidently astonished, looked up. " I ? What have I to do with it? You said you wouldn't talk nonsense." Frederic cried impulsively, "And I won't, Kate. Father says you are a nice, honest, hard-working girl, just the one for his money — and he would give us his blessing — and Kate, what do you say ? " Kate took his arm and dropped her head upon his ^shoulder, a look of supreme satisfaction and content- 'ment in her face, " Come, Kate, I will take the milk-pail, for Farmer Wilkins may be waiting for his breakfast; but, remem- ber, before we reach the stile you must say yes," he added, in that energetic way which was so natural to him. Kate said gravely, "We will walk very slowly, Frederic, for it is a very important question to me." LOVERS AND ENEMIES 85 Frederic leaned over and looked into her face. " And your answer will be very important to me, Kate." He placed her arm in his, and pressing it close to him, they left the little glade, both apparently very anxious that Farmer Wilkins should not be deprived of milk at his morning meal. When the two lovers had left the scene of their mu- tual confidence, the little glade seemed deprived of much of its brightness, but, if an3rthing, the birds sang more sweetly than before, for they seemed to have been ob- servant and interested listeners to what had trans- pired. But a change was to take place. This sylvan scene which had been the abode of lovers was to become the resort of enemies. Their dreams were not of future love and happiness, but of immediate vengeance and death. Two gentlemen came in sight and advanced rapidly towards the centre of the clearing. One, by his meas- ured and determined movement, showed plainly that he had had military experience. Their names and their errand may be easily divined. It was Colonel Aaron Burr, accompanied by his second. Judge Van Ness. Van Ness broke the silence. " We are here first. Colonel." Burr replied : " I have always tried to be the first upon the field of honor, and the last to leave it." " It falls to us to select the ground, Colonel. Shall we choose this, or look for a better place ? " Burr glanced at the little opening encircled by rocks and trees. Then he said: " If I were sure I am to fall, I would choose this place to say my farewell to earth. My opponent may be more particular. We will look farther. If we fare no better we shall yet be sure of this." Burr had taken a few steps when Van Ness grasped bim by the ann : 86 BLENNERHASSETT "One word, Colonel, and pardon it from a man »vhom you know to be a good friend." Burr grasped the hand that Van Ness extended: "Van Ness, you have stuck closer to me than a brother. You may wring my heart and trample on my feelings and yet I shall be your debtor. Speak out. Van Ness, what troubles you? " Van Ness continued in a somewhat deprecatory- manner, " You know it is the usual custom for seconds to try and arrange matters without a recourse to arms." Burr replied, while a look of determination played upon his face, " In this instance it will be a mere fonit.. I " Without waiting for Burr to speak further, Van Ness asked: "Why so? Suppose General Hamilton shows any disposition " Burr said in a decided tone: " He will not. His attitude is the result of false pride and not of sober reflection. Even if his reason, as it must, condemned his treatment of me, his pride would force him to face me, and to refuse any repara- tion. That is not true bravery. A man should never be willing to die or cause the death of another from false pride." Van Ness persisted, " Your words lead to what I was going to say, and that is, if General Hamilton should show a disposition to " Burr replied, courteously, " Pardon me, my dear Van Ness, but you will have no occasion to arrange a compromise, but if you should" — and he smiled ia- credulously — " you may proceed on this ground. . Yoa can say that Colonel Burr disavows verbally, as he has already done in writing, all motives of predetermined hostility, and will accept any reparation that will suc- cessfully refute the slanders from which he has suf- fered. I can do no more, nor less, Come, Van Ness» "can I BEAR ANY COMMUNICATION FROM YOU TO MY FRIEND, COLONEL BURR?" LOFERS AND ENEMIES 87 Irt us not forget our duties as the committee of arrange- ments." As Colonel Burr said this, the two gentlemen took a path leading to the left from the little glade, and were soon lost to view. The sound of the words last spoken had hardly died away when the two lovers who had jointly performed the young girl's errand, and had left the pail of milk at Farmer Wilkins's, once more entered the little sunlit glade. The little birds saw them and their songs which had been temporarily hushed, burst forth again as if in gladsome welcome. Frederic looked out upon the river and said, " As we turned the bend in the road, I saw a boat at the little landing." " Who can it be ? " asked Kate with a smile. " There is no game here to shoot." " Men who shoot here bring their own game— ^they make game of each other." " Are you making game of me? " asked Kate, as her smile broke into a peal of laughter, "No, far from it, Kate," replied Frederic gravely. " Within a hundred feet from where we stand, three years ago the son of General Hamilton was killed in a duel. A youth of twenty, brave but inexperienced, he fell the victim of the crafty skill of an adept duel- list. I have heard within the last fortnight that a mis- understanding exists between his father, General Ham- ilton, and Colonel Aaron Burr. It is not improbable that they have come here to fight." " It is horrible," said Kate with a shudder, " to think that the father may die upon the same field where his son fell a victim." "That will never be," cried Frederic impetuously. " A righteous Heaven will never allow such a patriot as Hamilton to fall by the hand of Aaron Burr, a man who ruins a friend with as little feeling as he would an enemy." 88 BLENNERHASSETT Kate rejoined, " I always thought he had most de. voted friends." " Yes," said Frederic, " among the women of so- ciety; but the men all hate him." Kate asked with a smile, " That isn't the reason why the men all hate him, is it ? " " What reason? "asked Frederic somewhat angrily. " Why, because the women are such good friends of his?" " Don't be silly, Kate. I revere General Hamilton, I hate Colonel Burr, and I could never be friendly with anyone who took his part." "You are unreascmable," replied Kate, the look in her eye showing her disagreement with the speaker's last remark. " Suppose I should say that I thought Colonel Burr was a handsome man and a brave soldier?" The young man replied With great anger: " I should allow his good looks, but deny his bravery. Why," and his voice rose as his feelings overcame him, "he was the silent enemy and detractor of Washing- ton who would not advance him because he had no confidence in his integrity, and General Hamiltc«i says to-day that Colonel Burr is a man not fit to be trusted." Kate, evidently disposed to continue the argument^ exclaimed with animation, her bright eyes flashing, " Somebody must trust him or he could not be Vice- President of the United States, and he must be a brave man for I have read that when General Richard Mont- gomery was shot on the Plains of Abraham before Quebec, ' Little Burr,' as they called him, took the body and carried it from the battle-field amid a shower of bullets. It took a brave man to do that," she added satirically. " He should engage you to plead his cause," rejoined Frederic angrily, as he knitted his heavy eyebrows* LOVERS AND ENEMIES 89 *Your eloquence is almost overpowering, but it doesn't change my mind. I think Aaron Burr is a villain and no honest woman should think otherwise." " But women like villains sometimes, when they are handsome and brave," Kate replied, noticing his ex- citement but seeming disposed to provoke him still further. Frederic was silent for a moment and then said with a marked air of determination both in his face and voice: " Before I marry you, I shall expect you to agree with me on this point or we shall certainly quarrel." Kate's womanly nature rebelled at this statement of an alternative and with a determination equal to his own, she responded : " And before I marry you, I shall insist upon your respecting my feelings, and I, for one, think Colonel Burr is as good in his way as General Hamilton is in his way." A look of astonishment passed over Frederic's face. He looked at the girl who stood facing him in a defiant manner : " Kate, I am surprised. I won't be cross with you, !)ut I should hesitate before marrying a woman who saw anything in Aaron Burr's life or character to admire." The young man had taken the course, as inexperi- anced young men often do, that was destined to lead S3 further trouble instead of to a reconciliation. These two impetuous natures were like steel and flint, and this argument was the tinder that had caused the flame. The girl said impulsively, but decidedly: " Then you had better hesitate, for I will never marry you until you cljange your mind about Colonel Burr." Thus she flung down the gauntlet. The whilom lovers now stood upon the brink of a quarrel which, 90 BLENNERHASSETT if only a little rift, may be followed by a make-up in a minute, or an hour, or a day, — ^but which may cause a chasm that it will take years of suffering and repent- ance to bridge. The young man said : "That will never be. I love you, Kate, but you must leave politics to me and be satisfied to take my judgment of our public men. I know about them; you are only governed by a false sentiment. Come, Kate, let us stop arguing and go home." " I prefer to stay here," said Kate, obstinately. Frederic, repenting somewhat, continued entreat- ingly : " Kate, I ask you, if you love me, to come with me to father's and I will tell him you have consented — the farm and the money will be ours. Come, Kate." " I want to sit down and think it over. I can't agree to give up my honest convictions without a little fight vvith myself." Frederic replied, his anger mounting again: " I ask you once more, and for the last time, to come with me. If you do not, I shall tell father I am going to Ohio — that you have refused me." " Then he will drive me out of doors for daring to refuse you — ^the rich farmer's son," Kate cried, passionately. Frederic put the question once more, grimly, his sup- pressed passion showing itself, however, in his face. " What shall I say to father? " Kate, averting her face, said quickly, " Tell him you are going to Ohio." Then the young man, as is often the case, lost con- trol of his feelings, and forgetting the courtesy due to woman cried: "I will take you at your word. Farewell, Kate, farewell. I leave 5rou to the kind attentions of youf friend, Colonel Burr." LOVERS AND ENEMIES gi " After delivering this discourteous and ungentle- manly speech, he stood for an instant and looked at the woman for whom he had professed an undying love less than an hour before. She knew that he was standing there; she knew that she had but to look up and speak some reassuring word and the clouds would leave his face; but she could not speak the word at that moment. He had stated the case too strongly. If he meant what he said, if she became his wife, in all matters of judgment she must bow to his presumed superior knowledge. She was but a poor American girl and a servant; but from her savings she had pur- chased candles and books and, in the solitude of her little room at night, when the rest of the household were wrapped in slumber, she had read, pondered, and formed her judgments; and she was, in fact, much better fitted to express a dispassionate view of men and things than her lifetime critic and mentor, as her lover would be, if she became his wife. She knew this, and the American spirit within her would not allow her to give up her honest convictions in the future for the sake of her present love. So she did not speak the word which the young man evidently expected. He turned upon his heel and left the glade. There was no song of birds now; instead, a passionate, im- pulsive, grave young woman who, as she heard her lover's departing footsteps, threw herself upon the mossy bank where so short a time ago he had spoken the words which filled her heart with joy, and burst into a flood of tears, that last and most effective re- source of women in sorrow. While Kate was thus relieving her overwrought feel- ings, Colonel Burr and Judge Van Ness returned from the survey that they had been making of the adjoining territory. As they entered the glade at a point the farthest removed from the weeping woman, Burr ob- served: 92 BLENNERHASSETT " Well, Van Ness, I think that after all this is the best location. We shall both be free from the intrusion pf the sunlight." While speaking he had continued walking, which action disclosed Kate to view. "What!" cried Burr, "a Niobe in tears? No, a nymph." When Kate heard the words she looked up, and at sight of her beautiful, tear-stained face, Burr walked rapidly to her side. " My dear young lady, can I be of service to you? " Kate sat erect. " No, sir." Burr bowed, courteously, and said in his most polite manner : " Allow me to tender my S3rmpathy and my aid — ^if you refuse both I shall feel aggrieved." Kate looked up into the stranger's face and saw a most marvellous pair of piercing black eyes which, it seemed to her, had already read her face, but she said : " It is nothing to interest a stranger. It was a foolish affair an)rway — ^but it was all his fault." " Ah ! " cried Burr. " I divine — a lover's quarrel. Is the other lady as pretty as yourself ? " Kate pouted and replied, " It wasn't about a lady — it was about a man." Burr seemed momentarily, at least, to have forgotten the serious errand which had brought him to the place. In fact, at any time a lovely woman in distress would have banished all other thoughts from his mind. En- tering fully into the spirit of the occasion he continued: " Two strings to your bow! Why should you cry? Have you lost them both ? " Kate had dried her eyes by this time, but a look of sullen determination had settled upon her face. She sat with her hands tightly elapsed and spoke in a slow, emphatic manner. " The man we quarreled about, neither of us have LOVERS AND ENEMIES 93 ever seen. He called him a villain and said he would marry no woman who spoke well of him." Van Ness, who had held aloof tjp to this time, now approached. He had overheard the entire conversa- tion, but for the first timfe now took part in it. "Who was the villain of whom you had such a good opinion? He must be a favored rascal when a lady prefers to worship him in secret to having a lover in her own right." " Yes," cried Burr, "who is this precious fellow who thus invisibly charms the fairest of her sex ? " As Burr said this, with all the grace and delicacy of a courtier he bowed, and taking Kate's hand in his he pressed his lips to it. As he raised his head he fixed those wonderful eyes upon her face. Kate at first dropped hers before his gaze. After a moment's pause, she looked boldly up and met the inquiring glance. She answered the inquiry by saying in a firm voice: " 'Twas Colonel Aaron Burr." As the name fell from her lips Van Ness cried : " What? Burr? Well, why Miss " Burr glanced quickly at Van Ness, and the latter said no more. " Van Ness, let me njanage this. 'Tis too sacred to be made a joke of." This was spoken in an undertotre. Turning to Kate again, Burr inquired ; and his voice possessed a sweetness that Kate thought she had never heard in any man's voice before: " And you have never seen this Colonel Burr — ^this villain, as your lover called him? " " No, sir. Have you? Is he so bad? " Burr did not answer her direct question but a^e^ one himself. " Why did you defend him, if you were so ignorant of his character ? " " Because," said Kate, springing to her feet and speaking with an animation that she had not before 94 BLENNERHASSETT shown, " because it seems to be the fashion to abuse Colonel Burr and praise General Hamilton, and my heart always goes out to one who is under a ban." Burr continued his questioning: " Who are you — Miss — ? " " My name is Kate Embleton. I am an orphan and a servant for Captain Horatio Clarke, Frederic's father, but I shall have to leave the house now, as the father will never forgive my rejection of his son." Burr raised his hands deprecatingly. "You have not rejected him? The quarrel is not so bad as that, I hope? " There was a flash of indignation in Kate's beautiful eyes as she answered this question, and the little scar beneath her lip grew blood red. " I said I would never marry him until he changed his mind about Colonel Burr. But he said he would never change his mind. So it's all settled, I sup- pose." Burr looked into Kate's face and upon his there was a new expression. It made her think of her own father who, years ago, when no doubt she was a naughty little girl, would call her to his side and reprove her gently but firmly for her wrong actions. As the words fell from Colonel Burr's lip, they reached her ears, but before her eyes was that picture of her father. " My dear young lady, let me advise you. I know this Colonel Burr — in fact I am an intimate acquaint' ance. He is not such a bad man as they say he is— • •in my opinion — ^but he would be the last person to wish any lady to defend him, if, by so doing, she lost the love of an honest man. He would say, as I do, make up your quarrel — whether Colonel Burr is a vil- lain or a saint should not trouble a happy home in Jersey." Burr took a well-filled purse from his pocket and held it in his hand. Then he continued: LOVERS AND ENEMIES 95 " I shall tell Colonel Burr the name of his fair de- fender, and in case you should ever need a friend, go to his residence at Richmond Hill in New York City, and send in your name. He will remember you and will " Burr hesitated. The words, " if he is living," passed through his mind but he did not utter them. Then he said : " And he will befriend you. And allow me to testify his gratitude in a more substantial fashion with this purse in which you will find enough to give you a fine wedding." As Burr extended the purse towards her, Kate drew back. " But, sir, I ought not to take this money from you — an entire stranger." Burr again bowed low, and said with a grace worthy of a cavklier: " No, not an entire stranger. You have defended my friend Colonel Burr, and that makes you my friend." As he said this, Burr placed the purse in Kate's hand. She looked up, inquiringly,: " And your name, sir ? " Burr again took Kate's hand in his and, bowing his head, kissed it for the second time. Then he said : " Think of me only as your friend — for we shall probably never meet again." Van Ness, who had been an interested but some- what impatient listener to the conversation between his friend and the young woman, now stepped to her side. " My dear young lady, go, at once. Pardon my words, but a matter of urgent business " Kate looked at him for the first time. " I can imagine — ^there is to be a duel." " Your woman's wit," replied Van Ness, "* iu^ hit the truth." 96 BLENNERHASSETT During this conversation, Colonel Burr had walked some distance away from them and stood with his bade towards them. Pointing to him, Kate asked earnestly: "And will he—?" " Yes," said Van Ness, " and as he told you, he man never see you again." Kate persisted in her questioning: "And he il Colonel Burr's friend?" " The closest and dearest one of them all." As Van Ness said this, he turned and walked towards Colonel Burr. Kate sprang past him and touched Burr timidly on the arm. Burr turned quickly about The young girl's face was full of animation and in- terest. " Sir," she cried, " I am a woman and think duelling is but murder; but, if you are in the right, and I fed you must be, I hope we shall meet again." As soon as she said this, she turned and walked swiftly away and was soon lost to sight. " You see, Van Ness, a woman who has never known me defends me, and refuses to marry the man who ^poke ill of me. Many a man has died without so pleasant a thought to take with him. But where can they be?" "Let us take a little stroll along the river bank," said Van Ness, " we can see them before they land." Burr assented, and the two gentlemen soon disap- peared in the direction that Van Ness had indicated. They had no sooner left the little glade than two other gentlemen appeared upon the scene, advancing from an opposite direction. It was the other principal in the coming aflfair of honor, General Hamilton, accom- panied by his second, Judge Pendleton. "Is he here?" asked Hamilton. " I saw him and his second but a few rods away oa tiie river bank, as we reached the top of the hill," re- plied Pendleton. " It lacks but five minutes of the LOVERS AND ENEMIES 97 hour— they will soon return. General, have you any- Ithing further to say to me? " The General replied: " No, my dear Pendleton, only to thank you for your zealous service, your unvarying kindness, your true friendship." General Hamilton extended his hand I which Judge Pendleton warmly grasped. " I have left in my desk a paper v/hich, if I fall, I iwish you to give to the public. Last night, in my study, alone with my Maker, I wrote the explanation of my being on this field of death to-day." " Rest assured, my dear General, that your slightest !wish is law to me." " I know it, my good friend. Would that I could more fully requite such a friendship. This is my first and last duel, Pendleton. My relative situation as well in public as in private, enforcing all the considera- tions which constitute what men of the world denomi- nate honor, impose on me, as I think, a peculiar neces- sity not to decline this meeting. The ability to be in future useful, whether in resisting mischief or affecting good, in these crises of our public affairs which seem likely to happen, would probably be inseparable from a conformity with public prejudices in this particular; but, should it please God to carry me safely through this emergency, I will never be engaged in a similar transaction." He raised his right hand. " It is my deliberate intention to employ all my influence in society to discountenance this barbarous custom of duelling." As the General concluded, Pendleton asked anx- iously, "but if it were possible to arrange a settle- ment ? " " It will not be," said Hamilton, with decision. " Burr's ruling passion is his ambition, and he means to step over my dead body into the President's chair. His prejudice against Washington arose from my ad- vancement and the feeling that Washington trusted me 98 BLENNERHASSETT and distrusted him. He is implacable in his hatred of me." Pendleton turned, for he heard the sound of ap- proaching footsteps. " They are here," he said in a low tone to the Gen- eral; and taking the latter's arm they walked slowly to ^e farther end of the field. CHAPTER X THE FIELD OF HONOR WHEN Colonel Burr and Judge Van Ness en- tered the little clearing which was to be- come the field of honor, they saw and rec- ognized General Hamilton and his second, and rais- ing their hats saluted them politely. This civility was acknowledged with equal courtesy. Then General Hamilton turned about, and, leaning his arm upon a large rock, looked out upon the beautiful river. Was this to be his last view of it ? Then he turned his eyes towards the North where, although it was not visible, he knew his happy home was situated. Hie seemed to see his loving wife en- gaged in her household duties, and his happy children either at their studies or at play. Was he ever to see again that happy home and those he loved and who loved him so well? A few short moments were to answer both these questions. Colonel Burr sank upon the grassy mound where Kate was seated during his interview with her. A bit of cherry-colored ribbon which had formed some part of her attire, in some way had become detached and lay upon the grass at his feet. He reached forward, picked it up, pressed it involuntarily to his lips, then, passing it through a buttonhole of his coat, made it into a lover's knot. His attention was next attracted by the loud chattering of some birds in the trees above him. He looked up and saw that two of them were engaged in what appeared to be a mortal combat 99 loo BLENNERHASSETT With all the deftness of two practised swordsmen they struck at each other and advanced and retreated as they assumed the offensive or defensive. Burr smiled as he looked at them. The birds of the air and the beasts of the field thirsted for each other's blood, even as man did. Meanwhile the two seconds advanced simultaneously towards each other and met near the centre of the field. Van Ness spoke first. " As the challenging party, it is my duty to sug- gest what is doubtless impossible, an amicable arrange- ment of the difficulties between the principals in this sad affair. Mr. Cooper stated in his letter — " as he said this he took a paper from his pocket, opened it and read. " ' General Hamilton and Judge Kent have de- clared in substance that they looked upon Mr. Burr as a dangerous man, and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of government.' To this he added — ' I could detail to you a still more despicable opinion which General Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr.' " To this succinct statement of the case Judge Pendle- ton rejoined: "General Hamilton has declared that he could not deny charges so generally made, nor affirm them. He has expressed his willingness, if Colonel Burr would state in detail any charges, to acknowledge or deny them like a gentleman." Both of the seconds had evidently read and re-read the correspondence between their principals, for its most expressive lines seemed to be engraven upon their memories. Van Ness recognized the General's own words as they fell from the mouth of his second and he on his part resolved to stick just as closely to the letter. So he replied: " The remarks made by General Hamilton, Colonel Burr understands to have been of a general nature, and THE FIELD OF HONOR loi/. no denial or declaration will be satisfactory unless ii be general, so as to wholly exclude the idea that re^ ports derogatory to Colonel Burr's honor have origi- nated with General Hamilton, or have been fairly in- ferred from anything he has said." Mr. Pendleton then asked the following question: " Can Colonel Burr point to one public utterance of General Hamilton's in which he has over-stepped the limits allowed in political discussion ? " " Colonel Burr," replied Van Ness, " would, I am sure, authorize me to say that secret whispers traducing his fame and impeaching his honor, are, at least, equally injurious with slanders publicly uttered." To this Mr. Pendleton responded with spirit, " And I am equally positive that General Hamilton would never consent to become a sacrifice, and atone in his own person for the idle gossip of the members of a great political party naturally embittered by a partisan warfare." Both gentlemen evidently recognized that further attempts to secure an amicable sfettlement were useless, for each walked to his principal and spoke a few words in a low tone. As Mr. Pendleton's words, whatever they were, fell upon his ear, Hamilton turned his head, gave a slight nod, and then once more fixed his gaze upon the rapidly flowing river, although his eyes were turned many timfes towards the North. When Van Ness reached Colonel Burr he found that the latter had lighted a cigar and was leaning against the trunk of a tree, just back of the little mound upon which he was seated. As Van Ness began speaking. Burr took his cigar from his mouth, and carelessly flicked ofif the ashes. When his second concluded, he nodded his head several times and resumed smoking. He watched the tiny blue clouds as they rose slowly above his head and were wafted away by a gentle breeze that blew from the river. loa BLENNERBASSETT Again the seconds met in the centre of the field of honor ; this time not with peaceable intent, but to make careful preparations for the death or wounding of a fellow-being. Pendleton took a Spanish-milled dollar from his purse and flipped it high in the air. As it was fall- ing, Van Ness called out " Heads," but heads were not uppermost, and General Hamilton had won the choice of positions. Once more the silver disk was thrown into the air, and again Van Ness cried " Heads," but once more fate had decreed against him, lor Pendleton had won the right to give the word. Mr. Pendleton approached the General and an- nounced the result. " I will stand here," replied Ham- ilton, indicating the space between the great rock upon which he leaned and a giant tree just opposite, the opening between being not more than four feet wide. Van Ness sauntered up to Colonel Burr and re- marked : " They won both tosses, the fates are against us. Colonel." . " So far," replied Burr, laconically. Pendleton then placed a small rock at the point des- ignated by General Hamilton. Next he proceeded to measure off ten full paces which brought him close to where Burr was sitting. Then he placed another rock, which he had in his hand, to indicate where Colonel Burr was to stand. Van Ness then paced the distance marked out to make sure that it had been correctly measured. General Hamilton, being the challenged party, had the choice of weapons. Pendleton opened the case that he had brought with him, and disclosed a pair of pis- tols of beautiful workmanship. Van Ness looked at them admiringly. Then he took up each one and ex« amined it carefully, cocking and snapping it. " Are you satisfied? " asked Pendleton. " Perfectly," replied Van Ness. THE FIELD OF HONOR 103 Then the pistols were loaded and primed. Van Ness taking one and Pendleton the other. As Van Ness started towards Colonel Burr he glanced hurriedly about. Not a person was in sight except the four so closely connected with this ever-to-be memorable affair of honor. ( Mr. Pendleton then asked in clear and distinct tones, "Gentlemen, are you ready?" As he heard the question. Colonel Burr threw away his cigar, sprang to his feet, took his position at the place which had been marked for him, reached out his hand for the pistol which Van Ness passed to him and examined the trigger and priming with a critical eye. General Hamilton also turned when he heard the inquiry, but he had been gazing so long in one direction that he was somewhat dazed by the change in the light, and he did not appear to see the weapon which his second extended to him. Finally he perceived it and said in a slow, deliberate manner, " I beg pardon for delaying you, but the direction of the light sometimes renders glasses necessary." He then drew forth a pair of spectacles and adjusted them. Pendleton handed him the pistol for the second time and asked, " shall I set the hair trigger for you. General ? " " No," replied Hamilton in a decided tone. Mean- while Colonel Burr, having finished the examination of his weapon, stood in an easy, graceful, and expectant attitude. "Are you. ready, gentlemen?" Mr. Pendleton again asked. General Hamilton drew himself up and for the first time looked directly at his antagonist. In an in- stant, a great change had come over the latter. Up to that moment he had been the gentleman, the courtier, the man of silk and velvet and scented powder. Now he was the warrior. The man of iron with nerves of steel. He fixed those wondrous eyes upon his lifelongf 104 BLENNERHASSETT loe and Hamilton felt their force and fire. He coidd not return that glance, so he closed his eyes to shut it out. Doctor Hosack, the attending surgeon, who had beea concealed from sight behind the huge rock beside iwhich Hamilton stood, suddenly entered the little clearr 'vag and said in a low voice to Pendleton, " I haye left some of my instruments in the barge ; it will take me l>ut a few moments to get them." Pendleton nodded. As Doctor Hosack turned to depart he cast a keen glance at each of the contestants. A moment later he disappeared from sight For a couple of minutes, it seemed an eternity to Hamilton, the four men stood in Guspense. Judge Pendleton's clear ringing voice then an- nounced the rules which were to govern tiie firing. At the word " Present " the parties were to fire simultaneously; if either failed to fire, his opponent's second was to count one ! two ! three ! and if he failed to fire on the last number, he was to lose his shot. Then for an instant there was a deathly silence. Even the little birds ceased their chattering and looked with wondering eyes at the unaccustomed scene. From the master's lips fell tlie terrible word, " Pre- sent ! " Hamilton raised his pistol and it was instantly discharged. No human witness can ever prove whether he aimed at his antagonist or fired wildly into the air. One point is certain, he fired before Colonel Burr did. The flash and the report startled the feathered deni- zens of the forest, and spreading their wings they fkw swiftly away. Gathered upon a distant tree, they chattered vehemently at this disturbance of their peace. Burr did not wait for the numbered count. At the sound of Hamilton's pistol, he raised his own and fired. His shot took eflfect. The instant General Hamilton nvas struck he raised himself involuntarily on his toes, THE FIELD OF HONOR 105 turned a little to the left, and fell heavily upon his face. As the second report died away, two men appeared above the brow of the declivity which led down to the water's edge. One was Doctor William Hosack, the surgeon, who ran hurriedly to the field to learn whether his services were needed. The other was Duke, a gigantic negro boatman, who on more than one occa- sion had borne the dead and dying from this same feloody field. When he saw General Hamilton fall, a look expressive of regret passed over Colonel Burr's face, and he took a step forward as though he intended to approach and speak to the fallen man; but Van Ness grasped him roughly by the arm, pulled him back, and said in a stern voice : " The surgeon and the boatmen are com- ing. You must not stay here. You will be recognized." As he said this, he threw a long cloak over Burr's shoulders, opened an urribrella with which he had pro- vided himself, and with it drawn down over their heads so as to completely screen their faces from view, they quickly left the field, Mr. Pendleton raised the General from the ground and held him in his arras. By this time Doctor Hosack had arrived. He knelt beside the wounded man and looked into his face which was lined with evidence of suffering, and was as pale as death. Opening his eyes Hamilton recognized Doctor Hosack and said in a weak voice: ' " This is a mortal wound. Doctor." He then relapsed into a state of unconsciousness. The doctor felt for his pulse but it was not perceptible. He then placed his ear to the wounded man's mouth, but there was no sound of breathing. Opening his clothing, he placed his hand upon his heart, but its beating could not be felt. To all outward appearances the unfortunate duellist was already a dead man. io6 BLENNERHASSETT The doctor sprang to his feet, " Our only hope,* i»e cried, " is to get him on board the barge at once." He called to Duke who had signalled his three com- panions, and the four bargemen lifted the body tenderly and conveyed it to the boat. Doctor Hosack leading the way, whilfr Mr. Pendleton brought up the rear carry- li^ the case of pistols and the General's spectacles (which he had found upon the ground, and which had Jbeen broken by the fall. Just as Pendleton prepared to take his first step idown the steep declivity which led to the water, his arm was grasped by Van Ness. " What does the doctor say? " the latter asked in a husky voice. " That there is no hope," replied Pendleton. " I do not believft he will be alive when we reach the other side of tlie river." Van Ness returned with the sad news to Colonel Burr who was waiting impatiently for tidings. After Colonel Burr had reached his boat he had expressed his intention of going back to the field himself so as to learn the exact condition of his late antagonist But Van Ness had declared that such a course would be improper, and that it would be extremely foolish to allow himself to be seen by the boatmen. Van Ness, as a compromise, offered to go himself, and with this understanding, Burr consented to remain in the boat, shielded from gaze by the umbrella. As soon as Van Ness returned. Burr's boat pushed off and he and his friends in a short time were once more in the great library at Richmond Hill, When the barge containing General Hamilton had been a short time upon the water, he began to show signs of returning animation. Some attempts to breathe were noticeable. JMext he gave a deep, heavy sigh. Doctor Hosack sprang to his side and bathed his forehead, neck, and wrists with spirits of hartshorn. THE FIELD OF HONOR 107 Some was inhaled, but he was unable to swallow. His eyes opened slightly and he glanced about. Then he said : " My vision is indistinct." His natural vigor now began to assert itself. He breathed more regularly and there was a look of intelli- gence in his eye. He glanced at the case of pistols, and then looking up to Doctor Hosack, exclaimed : " Pen- dleton knows that I did not intend to Are at him." Pendleton assured him that he had informed the doctor of this fact. He seemed much refreshed by the cool breeze from the river, and as the barge approached the shore he motioned to Pendleton who bent over him. "Let Mrs. Hamilton be immediately sent for," said he; " let the event be gradually broken to her, but give her hopes." Mr. Bayard had seen the approaching barge and had divined the condition of affairs. When a landing was effected, a cot was in readiness, and on it the wounded man was borne by the four lusty bargemen through crowds of wondering and sympathetic spectators to the house of his friend. Fate had decreed that he was never again to see that happy home in the North, towards which his eyes had turned so wistfully but a short hour ago. Satisfied that their enemies had left, the feathered songsters returned to their accustomed haunts in the trees which surrounded the fatal field. On the grassy mound at the foot of the great tree, where Kate had had her interview with the supposed friend of Colonel Burr, she was again seated. She had opened the purse and was counting the money which it contained. There were gold pieces and silver pieces, and she was astonished to find that they were worth nearly two hundred dollars. What a fortune — and for what? While thus engaged, jingling the coins and looking at them with evident manifestations of delight, Frederic approached her. She did not hear him and did not lo8 BLENNERHASSETT look up. It had happened that the full particulars oi the duel, including the names of the combatants, had lieen learned by him. He knew that the man he had 60 revered had fallen a victim at the hands of the man 'he so despised and hated. He could restrain himself no longer, so he cried in a loud, stern voice : " Woman, where did you get that money? " Kate clutched at her treasure with both hands. She looked up, and seeing Frederic's dark, angry gaze fixed upon her, said defiantly : " He gave it to me." " He? " cried Frederic. " Whom do you mean by he?" " I do not think I am called upon to explain, but if you must know, it was one of the gentlemen who has just fought a duel. I am so glad he is safe. I saw him going down to the boat." "Do you know who that man was?" asked Frederic. " I don't know his name," replied Kate, " but I am sure he is a gentleman. He said he was a friend of Colonel Burr's." " He was ever a liar and deceiver of women. That man was Colonel Burr himself ! " Kate started back in astonishment. " Give me the money," cried Frederic, " and I will take it back to him at once." Kate clutched the purse in her hand and put it behind her. " Ah ! I see," said Frederic sarcastically, " you have sold yourself body and soul. Come here ! " He grasped her disengaged hand rudely, and then dragged her to the spot where Hamilton had fallen. " See that blood, Kate? It is the price paid by a man of honor to defend his good name, but that money in your hand is the price of your dishonor and the badge of your shame. Farewell, Kate, forever. You are not fit to be the wife of an honest man." The girl threw her hands wildly in the air and then THE FIELD OF HONOR 109 fell senseless upon the ground, the pieces of gold, and the pieces of silver strewn about her. The birds above once more burst into a flood of melody, but she heard them not CHAFTER XI AFTER THE DUET IT was the evening of the day of the tragedy. Myriads of stars scintillated, and a full moon shone in the heavens. Its bright rays fell upon the rushing river and formed a wondrous maze above it, while its surface beneath resembled the glare of silver or the glint of highly-burnished steel. It seemed as though fair Luna had with one grasp taken a thou- sand arrows from her crystal quiver and cast them upon the earth. The little moonbeams romped and played like elfin sprites upon the trees and shrubs and flowers that grew upon, or about, the field where the conflict of the morning had taken place. They lighted up the bright green of its carpet and showed some dark red stains upon the spot where the wounded man had fallen. From this scene of radiant light which fell upon sea and river, road and field, come to the lordly mansion, dark as Erebus, upon the summit of Richmond Hill. In this great house but a single light was burning — a solitary candle which stood upon a large table in the great library. Although the master of the house 'had not retired to rest, the great candelabrum in the hall was not lighted. The servants, who had heard exaggerated rumors of the occurrence in the morning, had gathered together at the rear of the house and talked in low whispers with bated breath. Even the voice of the loquacious Peggy was stilled, and she had no word of condemnation, as was her wont, for her fdbw-scrvants. no AFTER THE DUEL iii In his great armchair in the library sat the master of the house. The same picture that greeted his eyes early that morning, and which had been before them all day, was before them now. He saw again and again the form of the prostrate man, and heard his words : " This is a mortal wound." Of course the wound was mortal, for Hamilton had said so himself. Who could know so well as he. The master of the house had been alone for several hours. His friends, Van Ness, Swartwout, and Davis, had passed the greater part of the day with him, but all of them had gone down town to learn the latest intelligence. Would they never come back ? Yes ! there was a loud knock at the door. The servants had been informed that the master would open the door himself, if anyone called. He did so, and admitted Van Ness. " What do they say ? " asked Burr, as soon as they had entered the library. " Your enemies say — " Van Ness began. " Stop ! " cried Burr, " I do not care to hear what my enemies say. What do my friends say ? " They seated themselves in the dimly-lighted room. " Some of them say," remarked Van Ness, " that it is a righteous judgment, but that it has been deferred too long. Some say they are sorry that he is mortally wounded ; it would have answered your purpose just as well if the injury had been slight." "No doubt," said Burr, "but it was the decree of Fate. If I had actually tried to kill him, as I did not, I should probably have given him a flesh wound only. But go on. Van Ness." " Some say," the latter continued, " that they wish tiie duel had taken place as soon as Cooper's letter ap- peared; that is," before election. They say that in such a case, if you had wounded Hamilton slightly, your honor would have been vindicated; his scandalous tongue and those of his myrmidons would have been 1 1 2 BLENNERHASSETT silenced, and then you would undoubtedly have been elected Governor of New York, and your way to the presidential chair assured." " No doubt," said Burr again, " but Fate did not so d-Gcrcc." " Then again," continued Van Ness, " if that tool, of Hamilton's had only died a couple of months sooner and you had given me liberty to publish that deposi- tion " " Hold, Van Ness," cried Burr. " The matter of the deposition has been settled finally. I never could have used it against a living antagonist, and I have pro- vided that it cannot be used against a dead one. But is he dead? You have not told me." " Not yet," Van Ness answered, " but the doctors give no hope. A couple of surgeons from the French frigates in the harbor came up this afternoon, but their decision was the same as that arrived at by Doc- tor Hosack. He will probably linger until to-morrow, but the end is certain." " Is he in great pain? " asked Burf. "They say he was," replied Van Ness, ''until he was placed in bed in Mr. Bayard's house. Then Doc- tor Hosack was able to relieve him." In a short time. Van Ness took his leave Burr ex- tinguished the candle, and, throwing himself upon a couch in the library, slept soundly until morning. It did not prove that he was a revengeful or hard-hearted man. He had been in battles when hundreds of men instead of one had fallen, and yet he had thrown himself upon the ground beside them, and, exhausted then as he was now, had slept throughout the night. The master of Richmond Hill passed the day follow- ing the duel in writing letters to his daughter, his son- in-law, and to many friends in different parts of the country. The second evening came, and again the great mansion was dark except for the single light is AFTER THE DUEL 113 the library. That evening he had two visitors, Judge Van Ness and Doctor Hosack. The latter, who was a friend to both the participants in the fatal affray, had come at Van Ness's request to give Colonel Burr a correct account of the last hours of his antagonist. " It was a most affecting sight," said Doctor Hosack, " when the General's wife and his seven children stood by his bedside. He could not speak, but he gave them a look which said as plainly as words could have done, 'I love you all; farewell.' Two clergymen visited him in his last hours. I left the room, for I knew he would wish to be alone with them. He died about half-past two this afternoon." " What was the nature of the wound? " asked Burr calmly. "A most peculiar one," the doctor replied. "The bullet struck him in the right side. It fractured one of the ribs and, in doing so, was deflected so that it continued its course through his body and finally lodged in the lumbar region. Had it not been for the fractured rib, the wound would have been a comparatively slight one." Burr nodded his head. " The funeral," said Van Ness, " is fixed for Fri- day." The two gentlemen soon withdrew, and the victor of that terrible morning passed another night in the soli- tude of his library. In the early part of the following week, the can- 'delabrum in the hall was again lighted. A dozen can- dles were burning in the great library. A little company had gathered to talk over the events of the preceding week. Among them were the ever- ready Van Ness, the always-faithful John Swartwout, M. L. Davis, and Colonel Troup. The ante-duellum statement to which Hamilton had called Mr. Pendleton's attention on the morning \ 114 BLENNERHASSETT of the duel and which had been found in his desk, had been given to the press and was being discussed by the public. Van Ness had brought a copy with him, and, at Burr's request, read it aloud to the assembled com- pany. It was addressed to the American people and read as follows: " On my expected interview with Colonel Burr, I think it proper to make some remarks explanatory of my conduct, motives, and views. I was certainly desirous of avoiding this interview for the most cogent reasons. " I. My religious and moral principles are strongly opposed to the pi-actice of duelling, and it would ever give me pain to be obliged to shed the blood of a fellow creature in a private combat forbidden by the laws." Here Van Ness stopped, and interpolated a remark : " If the General was so opposed to duelling, why didn't he bring his parental influence to bear upon his son three years ago? Events have shown that the Hamiltons are not favorites on the field of honor." Burr waved his hand, and Van Ness taking the implied hint continued his reading : " 2. My wife and children are extremely dear to m^ and my life is of the utmost importance to them in various views. " 3. I feel a sense of obligation toward my creditors; who, in case of accident to me, by the forced sale of my property, may be in some degree sufferers. I did not think myself at liberty, as a man of probity, likely to expose them to this hazard. " 4. I am conscious of no ill-will to Colonel Burr dis- tinct from political opposition, which, as I trust, has proceeded from pure and upright motives." Here Van Ness stopped again. Burr rose from his chair, and walking to the window, looked out into the night. The discussion of the paper was evidently not to his liking, but he was equally averse to making jlFTER THE DUEL 115 continued objections to such remarks as his friends might deem proper and pertinent. " That's all nonsense," said Van Ness, " about his bearing no ill-will to our friend, the Colonel, except for political reasons. All his political ill-will he was at perfect liberty to express at public meetings, or in the public press; but when a man carries his political ill-will so far as to write letters to both friends and foes, secretly attacking the honor and abusing the character of his opponent, I think he goes too far to be allowed to shield himself behind the excuse of political opposition." This sentiment evidently coincided with the views of those present, for they manifested their approval by affirmative nods. Then Van Ness took up the paper again and resumed his reading. " Lastly, I shall hazard much, and can possibly gain nothing by the issue of the interview. " But it was, as I conceive, impossible for me to avoid it. There were intrinsic difficulties in the thing, and artificial embarrassments from the manner of pro- ceeding on the part of Colonel Burr. "Intrinsic, because it is not to be denied that my animadversions on the political principles, character, and views of Colonel Burr have been extremely severe ; and, on different occasions, I, in common with many others, have made very unfavorable criticisms on par- ticular instances of the private conduct of this gen- tleman." " Not only upon the private character and conduct of our friend here," broke in John Swartwout, "but upon the private character and conduct of many of the Colonel's friends. If his regard for morality and virtue was so marked, why did he not write a few letters in relation to the morals of some of the members of his own party ? " " That's 80," added Van Ness. " A man who stands 1 1 6 BLENNERHASSETT as a tutor of morals should not confine his admirable lectures to his political opponents. Like an Irishman at a fair, whenever he sees a head he should hit it." After this remark, the reading continued : "In proportion as these impressions were enter- tained with sincerity, and uttered with motives and for purposes which might appear to me commendable, would be the difficulty (until they could be remfr-«d by evidence of their being erroneous) of explanation or apology. The disavowal required of me by Colonel Burr, in general and definite form, was out of my power if it had really been proper for me to submit to be so questioned; but I was sincerely of the opinion that this could not be; and in this opinion I was con- firmed by that of a very moderate and judicious friend whom I consulted." Burr turned his face from the window towards the company and asked : " Have any of you an idea who it was he con- sulted?" " I can't say positively," replied Colonel Troup, " it was either General Rufus King, or his son Doctor King." " Both conscientious advisers," remarked Burr, as he turned his back again towards the company and gazed at the starlit sky. Again Van Ness continued.; " Besides that, Colonel Burr appeared to me to as- sume, in the first instance, a tone unnecessarily peremp- tory and menacing; and in the second, positively offen- sive. Yet I wished, as far as might be practicable, to leave a door open for accommodation. This, I think, will be inferred from the written communications made by me and by my direction, and would be confirmed by the conversations between Mr. Van Ness and myself, which arose out of the subject." " Here I respectfully present an opinion," said Van Ness, " that General Hamilton had no right to issue a AFTER THE DUEL 117 'post-mortem subpoena requiring me to appear as a witness in his defence. I am a friend of Colonel Burr, but if, after reading the correspondence between the Colonel and General Hamilton, and listening to the case as presented to me by Judge Pendleton, I had been of the opinion that General Hamilton was in the right, and Colonel Burr in the wrong, I should have come to Colonel Burr and have told him so, and should have declined to act as his second." Again Burr turned from the window. "And in doing so," he said to Van Ness, "you would have proved your true friendship. If you had come to me and told me that you thought General Hamilton was in the right, and that I was in the wrong, ^although my pride is great, I should have humbled it. I have no great reputation," Burr added with a smile, " as an apologizer, for the good reason that I have made it the rule of a lifetime never to speak or write ill of any man, whatever my private opinion might be." Once more he turned to the window, and Van Ness again resumed the reading of the document. " I am not sure whether, under all the circumstances, I did not go further in the attempt to accommodate than a punctilious delicacy will justify. If so, I hope the motives I have stated will excuse me. " It is not my design, by what I have said, to affix any odium on the character of Aaron Burr in this case. He doubtless has heard of animadversions of mine which bore very hard upon him, and it is probable that, as usual, they were accompanied with some false- hoods." " I am astonished," remarked Mr. Davis, " that he should have brought himself to acknowledge so much as that." " Wait," said Van Ness, " you will find later on that it was fte oth«: fellow who told the lies. Listen " 1 1 8 BLENNERHASSE TT " He may have supposed himself under a necessi^ pf acting as he has done. I hope the groundis of his proceeding have been such as ought to satisfy his own conscience. " I trust at the same time, that the world will do me the justice to believe that I have not censured him on light grounds nor from unworthy inducements., I certainly have had strong reasons for what I have said, though it is possible that in some particulars I have been influenced by misconstruction or misinforma- tion." " I told you so," said Van Ness. " You see he says it was the other fellow who misinformed and misled him. Consequently he ought not to be blamed for re- peating stories that were false, but concerning which he took no steps to ascertain their truth or falsity." " It is also my ardent wish that I may have been more mistaken than I think I have been ; and that he, by his future conduct, may show himself worthy of all confidence and esteem, and prove an ornament and blessing to the country. " As well, because it is possible that I may have in- jured Colonel Burr, however convinced mysdf that my opinions and declarations have been well founded,- 1 as from my general principles and temper in relation to similar affairs, I have resolved, if our interview is con- ducted in the usual manner, and it pleases God to give me that opportunity, to reserve and throw away my first fire and I have thought even of reserving my second, and thus giving a double opportunity to Colonel Burr to pause and repent. " It is not my intention, however, to enter into any explanation on the ground. Apology, from principle I hope rather than pride, is out of the question. " To those who, with me, abhorring the practice of duelling, may think that I ought on no account to have added to the number of bad examples, I answer, that "VOU Ml ST NOT STAY HERE. YOU WILL BE RECOGNIZED. AFTER THE DUEL 119 my relative situation, as well in public as in private, enforcing all the considerations which constitute what men of the world denominate honor, imposed on me, as I thought, a peculiar necessity not to decline this call. The ability to be in future useful, whether in resisting mischief or effecting good in those crises of our public affairs which seem likely to happen, would probably be inseparable from a conformity with public prejudice in this particular." " Well," asked Van Ness, as he concluded reading, " do you think that my comments have been unfair ? " A general expression of negation came from his hear- ers. " I forbear," continued Van Ness, " to comment upon the latter portion Of this remarkable document. Like his speeches before the jury, it contains such a muddle of truth and falsity, mixed metaphor and verbiage, that I am really at a loss to understand just exactly what he means." " I can put it in few words," said John Swartwout ; "he knew in his heart that he had injured Colonel Burr ; he knew if he made a general apology that it would damn him with his party. He knew that if he made a partial one that it would not be satisfactory to Colonel Burr, so he decided not to make any, but by his post-mortem statement to make it appear tiiat the Col- onel had forced him into this duel; that he had refused to receive what General Hamilton considered was a sufficient explanation. Then, to further prejudice the people against our friend, the Colonel, he poses as an opponent of duelling, at the same time confessing that if he doesn't fight, he knows that his friends will look upon him as a coward, and that his future career as a lawyer and politician will be injured." " That is the whole thing in a nutshell, Swartwout," cried Van Ness. " Now there is but one point left, and that is the one where he expresses such a hear^ I20 BLENNERHASSETT wish for Colonel Burr's political success. THaf is ^ one redeeming feature in the whole document" As he said this, he folded it up and placed it in his pocket. When he had done so, Van Ness arose from his seat and joined Burr at the window. " Colonel," said he, in a voice so low that the friends could not hear, "those present are your friends. I have a deposition in my pocket. Let me break the seals and allow your tried and trusted friends to know the whole truth of this matter." " My dear Van Ness," said Burr, " this is the third time that I have told you that my disposition of that sealed packet is final." He turned and advanced towards the company. Re- freshments were ordered and the subject that had en- grossed the early part of the evening was not again referred to. By ten o'clock the gfreat mansion was once more shrouded in darkness. The master of Richmond Hill remained in quiet se- clusion for several days. He had no callers but his most intimate friends. Not a word of what was said by his enemies reached him, for his friends did not repeat them, and he read no newspapers; but on the ninth day after the duel he had a morning call from Van Ness. " I have something disagreeable to communicate," said Van Ness, " yet I must tell you." " If you must, you can," said Burr with a smile. " The grand juries, both in New Yorik and New Jersey, have brought in indictments against you for murder." Burr did not turn pale, nor did a muscle of his face relax. " I had expected it," he remaiked, " but they will never bring me to trial." " Of course not," added Van Ness, " but for a while, at least, I would suggest — " AFTER THE DUEL ill " A temporary absence ? " asked Burr. " That is what I intended to say," assented Van Ness. " I will think it over," remarked Burr, and let you know my decision this evening. " By the way," added Van Ness, " I received a letter yesterday from Mr. Charles Biddle of Philadelphia. You remember him ? " said he, interrogatively. " Certainly," replied Burr, " he was Vice-President of Pennsylvania at the time Franklin was President. He has always been a good friend of mine, not so much^ as I have fancied, on account of any personal liking, but because he was in accord with certain principles which he considered I represented. What did he say ? " " There are rumors in Philadelphia," continued Van Ness, " that your duel with Hamilton was not carried on exactly according to the rules which usually govern affairs of this kind, and Biddle wrote me to inquire if there was any truth in them. In reply, I gave him a complete account of the affair from the time when we arrived upon the field until it was all over. I am going to see Pendleton to-morrow and draw up an ac- count to be signed by both of us and made public." " That is a good idea," said Burr, " it will not have a great effect at the present time, but such events are part of history, and the historian of the future should have the truth of the matter." " But, by your own act," said Van Ness, " you have given to your enemies an open field for fifty years after your death, during which they may afifix a stigma upon your name which it may take another fifty years to remove." " I cannot help it," replied Burr, " the packet is sealed and that matter is settled ; but some day it will be opened and the truth will be known, and some his- torian will present the facts it contains to his genera- tion, and then the attacks of my enemies will he silenced 124 BLENNERHASSETT iorever. I can afford to bear misrepresentation and calumny for a century if those who live in the many -centuries to follow know the truth. Did Biddle say an3rthing else?" " Yes," replied Van Ness, " he wrote that in talking to a Philadelphian several days ago, the latter remarked that he had had a conversation with General Hamilton when he was last in that city. During the interview, Hamilton spoke of the bitter partisan feeling that ex- isted in Philadelphia between the two great political parties, and added that in New York party rancor was not carried to such an extreme extent. He instanced Tiis relations with you as an example, remarking that although Colonel Burr and himself differed politically, socially they were the best of friends." Burr said nothing. Not a muscle moved, nor did he ■show any inclination to malte any comment concerning what Van Ness had just said. The latter continued : " Biddle closed his letter to me in a way which can- not fail to please you, Colonel. It was this." He took a letter from his pocket and, after scanning several closely written pages, read the following : "I never knew Colonel Burr to speak ill of any jnan." It was decided that, on the day but one following, 3« 134 BLENNERHASSETT Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States, sat in the White House at Washington. He was reading a communication signed by General James Willtinson. While thus engaged, a visitor was an- nounced. The President looked at the card and gave directions for his admittance. Mr. John. Graham en- tered. He was an officer connected with the secret service of the government. For a long time he had been watching the movements of Burr and reporting thereon directly to the President. " I cannot find," said Graham, " that our man has any plans perfected. No one, of course, can divine what is going on in that busy brain of his. We can only judge by his actions. At present, he sees many people and talks with many people, but they are his friends and it will be dangerous to make inquiries that would elicit positive information." " I am sure," said the President, " that he has some deep-laid scheme in mind. It will not do to wait until Ihe has completed his plans for then we shall have no opportunity to gather our forces to frustrate them." "What is Your Excellency's plan?" inquired Graham. " I have a little stratagem in my mind," rq>lied the President, " that I have decided to confide to you, and to intrust the carrying out of it to your wiedom and discretion." " Pardon me," said Graham, " but I do not exactly like this kind Of service, Your Excellency. Mr. Burr, with all his faults, is a member of our party." "You mean he was," said the President, "we have no further use for him." "If Your Excellency will pardon my speaking plainly," said Graham, " it seems rather hard that the man who had the tact to unite the Democratic party in the State of New York, to bring the Qintons and Liv- ingstons to act in concert with him and tbas sarty tht A PRESIDENTIAL STRATAGEM 135 State for our party, deserves something better at our hands than to be spied upon and led into further trouble." " If you continue your remarks in the same vein," answered the President, drily, " I shall be forced to consider you in the same category with Colonel Burr; in other words, come to the conclusion that your use- fulness to our party is over. I do not care to confide the details of my little stratagem to any half-hearted adherent. I design it as a final test of Colonel Burr's loyalty and fidelity. If he passes through it safely, I give you my word, Graham, that I will appoint him to some mission abroad or to some high position under the government. If he fails, and falls a victim to our little plot, you will agree with me that he is a man so unstable in his character and so little to be depended upon in any emergency, that our party will be well rid of him." " Under those conditions, Your Excellency, I do not see that I can interpose any further objections." Then the President proceeded to unfold to Graham the details of his plan, which was to have some friend of Colond Burr induce him to go West to Kentucky or Tennessee, when it became a State, with the idea of being elected a representative to Congress. " My object," said the President, " is to keep him away from Washington for the present, and to have him meet new people. You know as well as I do the peculiar relations that General James Wilkinson used to hold to our government." " Yes," remarked Graham, " and to another govern-! ment." "That should not be mentioned," remarked the Presi- dent, " even in my presence. When Burr reaches the West, I wish him to see Wilkinson. Wilkinson will have his directions from me personally, for I shall (under his immediate attendance here in WashingtoOc 136 BLENNERHASSETT I shall depend in this matter upon you and General Wil- kinson, and if my estimate of Colonel Burr is correct, you will find that he, as Shakespeare says, is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. Then our compact is made. If Colonel Burr passes through this ordeal suc- cessfully, he is to be taken back into our party and re- warded. If he falls, to quote Shakespeare once more, he will fall like Lucifer, never to hope again. " You may call upon me again in a few days," con- tinued the President, " and I will give you more spe- cific instructions. In the meantime, I would suggest that you keep a close watch on the comings and goings of that great friend of our party. Colonel Burr." Graham noticed the intended sarcasm but he said nothing and with a low bow, took his departure. If Burr's political future was so surely blasted, why was the President still so keen in his pursuit ? What had he to fear from a rival suffering from such a load of political and social odium? Why should he still fol- low up with enmity a man who was virtually ostra- cised by the so-called good men of all parties ? He had been elected for a second term and there was every indication that his successor, in 1809, would be some other member of the Virginian junta — either Mr. Mad- ison or Mr. Monroe. How could a man who had borne so grand a part in the struggle for American freedom, and who had filled with so much honor and credit the high posi- tions to which the confidence and suffrages of his coun- trymen had elevated him; how could a man of such good birth, culture, and refinement, and the presumable possessor of high moral principles, sink so low as to devise so pitiful and despicable a stratagem to ruin a political rival ; and, above all, use a paid agent of the government as the instrument of his personal spite? By it, he inaugurated that relentless strife, based upon his envy and fear of Aaron Burr as his great political A PRESIDENTIAL STRATAGEM 137 rival, which culminated in the historic trial at Rich- mond three years later, where Jefferson used in vain the great power of the National government to crush an indomitable foe. About a week after his interview with the Presidentt Mr. Graham received a communication informing hinj that his salary had been materially increased. He smiled as he read the communication apprising him of the fact. " If, when the President asked me to undertake the task of ferreting out Burr's schemes, I had signified a great willingness to do so, I do not think I should have received this increase. It makes little difference lo me whether I follow up Burr or some other man, but it does make a great deal of difference to me whether I am well paid for it or not." He finished his soliloquy by saying, " I have found out, as the result of many years' experience, that it is much better to have your employer raise your salary voluntarily, than it is to make a specific demand for an advance." CHAPTER XIV THE FLY AND THE WEB THE spider spins its web slowly and laboriously, and often, when just completed, it is swept away and destroyed by the dust-cloth or broom of the tidy housewife; but the little worker, nothing daunted, begins its task once more as though nothing had happened. So it is with the plots of con- spirators which are often wrecked by the intentional or accidental doings of their proposed victims. Burr listened attentively to the proposition, made to him by an assumed friend, that he should go to Ken- tucky and endeavor to secure an election to Congress from that State; but he did not indicate a positive acquiescence in the plan, nor commit himself in any way to the project. Graham followed Burr as a huntsman would a stag, never losing sight of his intended prey ; but he learned little of importance to communicate to his presidential confederate. The chief executive, however, had not been idle. In compliance with his orders, General Wilkinson had reported at Washington, and the part that he was to play in the presidential stratagem was carefully ex- plained to him. Wilkinson was not at all averse to becoming a party to the plot, for he felt that this new confidence reposed in him was, in fact, a condonation of his past offences. Wilkinson, like most men who serve two masters, had been successful; not so much by his own abili^, THE FLT AND THE WEB 139 as by the force of circumstances that could not be resisted. Spain, in a moment of weakness, had ceded Louisiana to France, or rather to Napoleon, for, at that time he was France, coupled with the understand- ing, however, that it was to be forever retained by , France and never to be ceded or sold to any other country; but in 1803, Napoleon had urgent need of funds, for a war with England was imminent, and Ihough, when an offer was made by the United States to purchase Louisiana, he, at first, refused point blank, the transfer was finally made, the price fixed being fifteen millions of dollars for land and people. Strange, then, that in the last century, so many people objected to the purchase of the Philippines because the inhabitants were included in the bargain, but the acquisition of Louisiana was surely a notable precedent. As a reward for his double-dealing. President Jefferson had ap- pointed General Wilkinson Governor of the Territory of Louisiana. The President knew his man. He told Wilkinson to inflame Burr's ambition with stories of the wealth and power to be gained in Texas and Mex- ico. By using Wilkinson as a tool, he had virtually captured Louisiana without firing a gun. He now proposed to use both Wilkinson and Burr so as to win by:strategy Texas, Mexico, and the Great West which stretched from the Mississippi to the Pacific. He was undoubtedly sincere in professing his belief in popular rights. His dream of empire was a country which was to become a haven of refuge for the weak and oppressed from all lands. But in the President's plan, while Burr was to be led on to his ruin, the President counted on Wilkinson's capacity for double-dealing saving him at the proper time. Burr and Wilkinson met at a private dinner- party, and the origin of what afterwards became known as the Great Conspiracy was at this festive board. Gra- ham kq>t in the background. His role was 1l»l of I40 BLENNERHASSETT executioner, and the time had not yet come for hiM to build the scafifold and adjust the rope. Wilkinson was in his element. He felt now that he was on a better footing with the President. A man of talent and genius was to be led to his ruin, but what did that matter to Wilkinson, if he rose higher when his victim fell ? Wilkinson's speech was fervid in praise of the pos- sibilities of the future. " You can't understand it. Burr," he said one day, ■when their intimate social relations had lasted about a fortnight, " unless you come to New Orleans and exr amine the situation from a close point of view. I am going back in a few days and you must go with me. We will stop at Frankfort and Nashville and I will introduce you to some friends upon whom we both can count." But Burr declined this proposition. " It is too early for us to be seen so much together," he remarked. Wilkinson had shown him the equipage in which he proposed to return to New Orleans. It consisted of a gorgeous carriage, drawn by four beautiful horses, with drivers, outriders, and escort in full military uni- form. It looked more like the triumphal progress of an Imperial Viceroy than the quiet return to his duties of an American territorial governor. So it happened that " General " and " Grovemor " Wilkinson proceeded on his way in state, while Burr journeyed on horseback to Pittsburgh, where he pur- chased a flatboat, which was in reality a raft with a small cabin built thereon, to take him down the Ohio River. The boat was carried along by the current of the stream, and required as crew but two men, who, provided with long poles, prevented its running aground or coming into collision with other rafts or boats. Just as Burr was preparing to start upon this mo- mentous voyage, what appeared to be a prematurely THE FLT AND THE WEB 141 old man approached him and inquired whether he could secure a passage to Marietta. The great want of our countrymen a hundred years ago was the means of speedy and comfortable trans- portation. Long voyages could only be made on horse- back, in vehicles, or by boat, and they were slow and tedious. Among gentlemen, it was the usual custom to help a stranger on his way without the hope of re- ward. In fact, to be tendered money for such a ser^ vice would have been considered an affront. " Ccane right aboard, sir," said Burr, " we are just going to cast off. I am alone and should be glad of your company." The stranger thanked him politely, and stepped upon the raft. His only baggage consisted of a small portmanteau. The first day and night passed pleasantly. The stranger was taciturn, but he was a good listener and his host was ever a most delightful talker. The next morning, seeing a large flock, of birds hovering over the river, Burr went to the little cabin and got his pistol case. He loaded and primed the weapons and brought down several brightly-plumaged victims by his good marksmanship, the birds being secured by means of the long poles'. The old gentleman watched the sport attentivdy. Finally Burr turned towards him and, handing him a pistol, said, "wouldn't you like to try your hand?" The stranger accepted the weapon and walked slowly towards the other end of the raft until he was screened from view by the intervening cabin. Burr continued shooting, and the two polemen were kept busily en- gaged in securing the trophies as the raft swept by them. Suddenly a loud report rang out upon the air, fol- lowed by a sound like that of a heavy body falling. Burr dropped the pistol which he had just finished loading and ran to the other end of the raft. There 142 BLENNERHASSETT a horrible sight met his astonished gaze. Prone upon his face lay the stranger, with the still smoking pistol in his hand. Burr lifted him up, and, as he did so, a stream of blood came from his mouth. A slight exami- nation showed that he was shot through the lungs. With the help of one of the polemen the wounded man was laid upon one of the beds in the little cabin. The flow of blood was stanched and a strong stimulant administered. The man soon opened his eyes and looked up at Burr who sat beside him holding his hand. " A sad accident," said Burr. " How did it hap- pen?" The man shook his head and said feebly, " It was done intentionally; I aimed at my heart, but my hand was unsteady." " But why ? " asked Burr, in his direct manner. " I will tell you," said the man, " if my strength will allow me." Burr gave him a drink of brandy which put new life into his veins. " Do you know me? " asked the man. Burr shook his head. "I know you," 'the stranger continued; "you are Colonel Aaron Burr ; you killed General Hamilton. Would that I had died as he did." Burr, inwardly, was somewhat astonished, but be- trayed no feeling. The stranger continued : " My name is Janes, Timothy Janes. I used to be the Honorable Timothy Janes, for I was a member of Congress, from Pennsylvania, during your last two years in the Senate." " You have a right to the title now, having once used it," remarked Burr quietly. " No ! " said the man sadly, " there is nothing honor- able about me now. I will tell you why. One day in debate I said something which I thought to be true and THE FLT AND THE WEB 143 which I have since learned was true. It reflected upon the honor of a southern member who, without asking for an explanation or an apology, sent me a peremp- tory challenge to fight a duel. I was a member of the Orthodox diurch and told the gentleman who called upon me that it was against my principles to shed blood in such a way, and that I could not fight him. He did not return and I supposed the whole aflfair had blown over. Not so ! After Congress closed, I went home and found, to my surprise, that my would-be adversary had had an account of the affair printed in a paper published in his district, in which I was called a liar, a blackguard, a poltroon, and a coward, for I had refused an honorable reparation for what was called both an insult and an injury." Here the speaker's strength gave way and he lay motionless for some minutes. Burr gave him more brandy and he was soon able to continue his story. " Marked copies of the paper were sent to all the editors and influential men in my district. A political opponent, who wished my seat in Congress, fanned the flame, and, although I had spoken the truth, I found myself a discredited and dishonored man among my own people. I went South to see my adversary to ar- range a settlement of our difficulties. He refused to let me enter the house; he sent word that if I had a written apology, I could send it to him by one of his slaves. This I would not do, and I returned home. In a short time, other marked copies of a paper, con- taining what purported to be an account of my visit, were sent to those who were once my friends and sup- porters. In this account, it was stated that instead of apologizing I had repeated the calumny and was kicked out of the house by a slave." The stranger stopped. He pressed his hand to his heart and Burr thought the end had come. But he qioke again. 144 BLENNERHASSETT " My brethren in the church told me that I had done right, but," he cried — ^and as he uttered the word he raised himself in bed and lifted up his right hand— " if I were to live it over again, I would fight him a dozen times rather than endure the life I have led." His strengfth was gone. He fell back heavily upon the bed and another stream of blood welled from his lips. He was dead. The flatboat stopped when the next town on the river was reached. In the little cemetery, a modest headstone announces the fact that the Honorable Timothy Janes, M. C, lies buried there. The flatboat passed Blennerhassett Island during the night when Burr was asleep, so he did not see the place that his name was to make famous for all time. In due season, the Falls of the Ohio were reached where, nearby, now stands the great city of Louisville. Here Burr sold his raft and continued on horseback to Frankfort. He was received, as the saying is, with open arms. Social civilities were showered upon him on every hand. Next, he continued his journey souths ward to Nashville. There the same soci'al adulation awaited him. He visited General Jackson at The Hermitage. The General was the avowed enemy of the Spaniard and was inwardly chafing because the President did not find some pretext which would oblige Congress to declare war and allow him to lead his Tennessee riflemen against the hated foe. " I have a good mind," said he, one day, to Burr, " to take a thousand of my trusty men and whip Spain on my own hook." " But the United States authorities would call that treason," remarked Burr. "Would they?" cried the old war-horse. "Then 1 would answer them as Patrick Henry did : ' If that be treason, make the most of it.' Treason? Non- sense!" the old general exclaimed. "Why! Before THE FLT AND THE WEB 145 the Mississippi was opened to our trade, George Wash- ington himself said, that with three hundred of my West Augusta riflemen I could carve my way to the Gulf. Was it treason when Washington said that ? " Jackson .asked, ironically. Burr did not reply. But the question sent hosts of new ideas surging through his fertile, active brain, and chimeras of future fame and fortune were mirrored before his heated imagination. New Orleans ! The city of La Belle Creole. With what delight Burr looked upon this European city, at the end of his long voyage through almost trackless wildernesses! It was like the mirage which the lost -traveler sees when hope has almost vanished; and when that disappears, the last hope goes too. Wilkinson was ubiquitous. He was at Burr's right hand from morn till night. He introduced him to the wealth, culture, and beauty of this western imitation of beautiful Paris. At private dinner, public banquet, social levee, and official ball, the late Vice-President shone conspicuously by his personal beauty, courtly ^race, and sparkling wit. He charmed all with whom' he came in contact. Then Wilkinson drew him from these scenes of fes- tivity. Burr, mounted upon a superb charger, reviewed the tJnited States army and was greeted with acclama- tion. Then Wilkinson took him to the dividing line between American and Spanish territory and pointed to the Promised Land. "When you come down," said Wilkinson, "witK your twenty thousand trusty riflemen behind you, I shall, of course, be obliged to make a show of resistance. But what can I do? The popular heart will be fired by your audacity. The President will find some pre- text, Congress will declare war, and then we will move forward together as brothers in arms until we plant 146 BLENNERHASSETT our victorious flag above the Halls of the MonteM- mas." Thus duped and deceived, Burr fell an easy victiai, and, like the fly in the old story, walked boldly into the ■web that had been prepared for him. It must be ac- knowledged, however, that he was led to take this step as much by his personal ambition as by the assis- tance which he counted upon receiving, when needed, from the army of the United States. Burr again turned his eyes eastward. He was tired of parlor and banquet-hall and ball-room. He longed for the saddle and the field of glory. Money and men he must have. Money first; from friends, from relatives, and interested supporters. Men of gigantic frame and iron nerve from the clearings made in the mighty wildernesses of the West. He would yet sit upon a throne, a crown upon his head. By his side, his daughter Theodosia, the first lady in the land. At his feet, his little grandson, the heir presumptive to the throne which he had raised. Wilkinson should be the general of his army and Tn'xton the admiral of his fleet. His domains should reach from Canada to the Isthmus, and from the Mississippi to the Pacific Napoleon might bring Continental Europe to his feet, but Aaron Burr would rule a mightier kingdom. CHAPTER XV A PALACE IN THE WOODS WHEN Kate recovered consciousness, sh6 found herself lying face downward on the greensward. Lifting her head, she looked about her. She saw something bright gleaming among the green shoots of the turf. Yes, they were the pieces of silver and the pieces of gold that she had dropped when she fainted and fell to the ground. Then there came a mighty rttsh of memory, and she saw once more the revengeful face of Frederic and heard once more his cruel words. It was very warm. The sun rode high in the heavens, and its burning rays penetrated every nook and corner of the little clearing. The birds had hushed their songs and were resting quietly in the shade afforded by the leaves and trunks of the trees. On every side could be heard the lazy droning of the insects, that musical ac- companiment that Nature supplies as part of a hot sum- mer day. Kate rose to her feet with difficulty. She felt wealc and there was a blinding pain through her eyes and head. She walked slowly to the little grassy mound beside the tree and rested for a while. Then she re- turned to where th6 money had fallen, and, dropping upon her knees, picked it up slowly and latjoriously, piece by piece ; then she attempted to count it, to make sure that she had lost none, but could not. Returning to Ae farm-house, she went up to her room and threw* herself upon her bed. She felt hot and feveri^ Oae -14? 148 BLENNERIIASSETT of the other servants, Mary Williams by name, ha3 seen her come in and had noticed her slow step and tired look. In a short time, Mary went to her room and found Kate in a burning fever, tossing to and fro. Captain Clarke was informed of the fact and a doctor was summoned. It was three weeks before Kate was able to leave her bed and sit for an hour or two in the old-fashioned rocker that stood beside it. Mary spent every moment that she could spare from her duties with her. Captain Clarke had not visited her, but Mary said he had asked for her every day and he had sent her some Ifruit and flowers. From Mary, Kate learned that Frederic had a long talk with his father on the evening of the duel, and the next day he had left home. Mary did not know just where he had gone but she supposed it was out West. A month more passed by before Kate had sufficiently recovered to leave Captain Clarke's house. Upon this course she was resolved. Her relations with her em- ployer's son had been known to the other servants and she could not bring herself to remain there when they all knew that he had left home without even saying " Good-bye " to her. Her interview with her employer, just before her departure, lasted about ten minutes. He insisted upon paying her wages in full ; she refused to receive them and insisted upon paying the doctor's bill and, at least, a portion of Mary's wages. The captain was equally firm in his refusal to accept a cent I for either purpose ; so Kate thanked him for his kind- ness and, not wishing to continue the painful scene any longer, accepted the money which he claimed was due her but which, before leaving, she gave to Mary. Where should she go? What could she do? Then there came flashing into her mind the memor)' of that day when the courteous stranger, who had said he was a friend of Colonel Burr, but who her lover had de- A PALACE IN THE WOODS 149 dared was Colonel Burr himself, had given her the money for a wedding dowry, and had also told her that in case she needed a friend to call upon Colonel Burr at Richmond Hill, in New York City. Thither she went, to find him absent as may be anticipated. The servant told her the master of the house was not at home. She was advised by John, Colonel Burr's valet, to see Judge Van Ness; in him, she recognized the companion of Colonel Burr on the day of the duel. He knew her and was as courteous and chival- rous in his treatment of her as if he had been Colonel Burr himself. He insisted that she should remain at his house until he wrote to Colonel Burr and received an answer, and she was forced to comply or else go out into the world and seek a situation. She men- tioned this latter alternative but Mr. Van Ness would not listen to it. " Colonel Burr would never forgive me," he said, " if I allowed you to take such a course." With all possible speed. Burr traversed the long stretch of country between New Orleans and Phila- delphia. During the journey, his busy brain had been active. Hundreds of plots, plans, and schemes had rushed through his mind, to be cast one side as useless, or adopted wholly, or in part, as of value. He could not declare his actual aims and ulterior purposes in plain language to everybody. No, he must talk differ- ently to different people, as suited their comprehension and availability. To some, he hinted the possibility of . his becoming a resident of Kentucky or Tennessee and endeavoring to become elected a member of Congress from one of those States. He never meant to accept any such position, but the telling of this story was an entering wedge to the confidence of those to whom it was told. To others, he spoke of a great land scheme that he had in mind. Some four hundred thousand acres of land on the Washita River, owned by Baron Bastrog, 150 BLENNERHASSETT •were to be purchaseu by Burr. The land would cost forty thousand dollars and he was endeavoring to raise this sum. His scheme was to colonize it with settlers from the then western states, and, as he told the story, visions of fabulous profits loomed before the eyes of his attentive listeners. Bearing in mind what Wilkinson had told him about the secret knowledge that he possessed of the Presi- dent's wishes and intentions, but which, of course, if attributed to the President would necessarily have to be promptly denied by him, Burr endeavored both by speech and action to convince other listeners that his plans were known only to himself and his intimate friends, and that he was acting in direct opposition to the President for whom, and his followers, he even expressed contempt. To those most closely connected with him by ties of relationship or long-continued friendship, he divulged his ulterior purpose, which was the capture of Texas and Mexico and the formation of an independent kingdom, with himself at the head. Burr was now ready to make another journey west- ward, but this time he did not intend to go alone. He felt it would divert suspicion if upon this trip he formed one of a little family party, evidently bent upon view- ing the beauties of the great West. So he wrote to his son-in-law explaining his proposed schemes at length, and asked him to meet him in Washington, bringing his wife and little boy with him. When they reach^ the capital, he answered Van Ness's letter and re- quested him to arrange to have Miss Embleton join their party. This was done, and from the moment that Theodosia Burr and Kate Embleton met, they became firm and devoted friends. Theodosia was the result of what might be termed a hot-house system of education. She was far more advanced in. the languages, literature, the sciences, and A PALACE IN THE WOODS 151 art than the women of her time. Kate was a New Jersey country girl whose book learning had been meagre; but, as has been said, she was a great reader and had a most retentive memory. She was a capital foil for Theodosia, and, although their natures and accomplishments were so dissimilar, the two women never showed to better advantage than when in each other's company. Kate's eager questions and sharp rejoinders stimulated Theodosia to unusual brightness and vivacity in speech and action, and Colonel Burr, who was intensely proud of his daughter, became proud also of her bright and attractive companion, who was now his protege. The little party now set off on its overland journey to Pittsburgh where a boat was to be taken. Mr. Alston was unable to accompany them owing to some official business that required a longer stay in Wash- ington, but he promised to join them at the Falls of the Ohio where they were to await his arrival. The trip to Pittsburgh was made by carriage, although, over some parts of the route, Colonel Burr and Miss Embleton rode on horseback. At Pittsburgh, a large boat was purchased. The cabin contained two com- paratively large-sized rooms, one being devoted to Theodosia, her child, and Kate, and the other to Colonel Burr. The crew, as on the former occasion, consisted of two polemen; but Burr decided that the work would be too arduous for so small a crew and, before sailing, two more were engaged, one being a stout young negro boy about eighteen years of age, and the other an old, weather-beaten, grizzly-bearded, river boatman who gave the name of James Gray. Two of the men took charge of the boat by day and two by night. The huge raft, for it was really nothing more, moved slowly along keeping pace with the current of the stream. One morning the whole party stood upon the for« X52 BLENNERHASSETT ward part of the raft enjoying the beautiful scenery and the glories of the rising sun. Little Aaron Burr Alston was more inquisitive than usual that morning. "Where does the river go to, Gamp?" he asked, turning to his grandfather. " It goes on, on, on," replied Colonel Burr, " until it falls into the sea." i " Where does the sea go to ? " persisted little Aaron. " Into the ocean," answered Burr, with a laugh. "And where does the ocean go?" asked the little fellow, evidently not satisfied with the answers. "The ocean rolls on, and on, everywhere," said Burr, "encircling the world." "What's the world?" queried the little boy, cling- ing to his grandfather's hand. " I am afraid you will not understand me, Gam- pillo," was the answer, " when I tell you that the world is the great theatre of human action in which I hope, some day, you will become a greater and a better man than Gamp has ever been. I think, Theodosia," he said, turning to his daughter, " that it would be well to have Gampillo begin the study of geography. How old were you when I first showed you a map of the world?" "A little more than four years of age," replied Theodosia, " and, strange as it may seem, what I learned then I have never forgotten." Burr excused himself to the ladies, sa3dng that he had some writing to do, and retired to his room in the cabin. Some particularly bright scenery attracted the attention of the ladies to the left bank of the river, and for a moment they became unmindful of the ac- tions of little Aaron. James Gray and the negro boy were on the side of the raft where the ladies stood. The current set in towards the shore and it required constant poling to keep the unwieldy craft from rutt« ning aground. A PALACE IN THE WOODS 153 Suddenly, prompted by an impulse which she could not explain, the mother turned her head and looked towards the right-hand side of the raft. Little Aaron was not in sight. Her first thought was that he had joined his grandfather in the cabin; but a mother's heart is never satisfied with uncertainty; she must know positively. She ran and looked into the cabin. The boy was not there. At that moment, there came a loud cry from Kate. Theodosia rushed to the forward end of the raft and Burr dropped his pen and followed her. Kate stood with white face and shaking hand pointing to some floating object in the river, some thirty or forty feet ahead of the raft. All her education, strength of mind, and fortitude could not prevent the young mother from giving a wild shriek of alarm and despair. There could be no doubt of the truth. The white dress floating upon the surface of the water must be that of her darling boy. Burr took in the situation in an instant. He divested himself of his coat, took off his shoes, and threw his hat upon the deck. Turning to the boatmen he cried, " To the centre of the stream ! Pole with all your «iight ! Call the other two men ! " They were asleep under an awning at the other end of the raft. Then Burr made a leap into the water and struck out vigorously towards the floating body. Of course the current helped him, but it took along the light form of the child faster than it did his more weighty one, and it required the lusty strokes of the practised swimmer to make any gain. It seemed an age to Theodosia and Kate before he reached the child, but it was in reality not more than a couple of minutes ; but even then he was none too soon. The little boy had fallen into the water in such a way that his dress had buoyed him up and instead of sinking he had floated, but his garments were nov/ 154 BLENNERHASSETT nearly saturated with water and in a very short time he would have gone down. Burr held the child aloft, so that all might know of his safety, and calmly awaited the on-coming of the raft. The delighted mother grasped the little boy in her arms and Burr climbed upon the raft none the worse for the adventure. The two ladies took the child, so providentially rescued, to the cabin. Burr walked across the raft and fixed his scintillating black eyes upon the face of James Gray. " Why didn't you try to save the child? " he asked, in sharp tones. I " I can't swim," answered the man, doggedly. Burr gave him a look of utter contempt, turned upon his heel, and entered his cabin. During the afternoon of that day, they passed the mouth of the Little Kanawha and came in sight of a wooded island. The company had gathered at the front of the raft to enjoy the unusual spectacle. Burr knew who lived upon the island, and he also knew that he intended to stop there and make the acquaintance of the owner. While in Philadelphia, he had heard of Harman Blennerhassett, and his inquiries had elicited such information that he had determined to become acquainted with him. He had no letters of introduc- tion. He had not informed his companions that he intended to stop at the island. He wished the visit to appear to be entirely informal and not prearranged. Who was Blennerhassett? He was an Irish gen- tleman, of good family, one branch of it being repre- sented by a member of the nobility. Harman Blenner* hassett had been educated for the law, for it was the only profession which was open to him ; his aspirations did not lean to the army, the navy, or to the church, and for this reason the law was his only refuge. He had visited Paris during the Reign of Terror, and had beai A PALACE IN THE WOODS 155 present at the storming of the Bastile. The stormy scenes in France had led to the growth of the seeds of discontent in Ireland, and, on his return home, he recognized that he must either cast his fortunes with the advance forces who demanded freedom for Ireland, or he must turn his back on the traditions of his family and ally himself with those whom the rest of his people ■would consider their oppressors. There was one other course open to him. He could leave the country, or in plain words, could take refuge in flight. Glowing accounts came across the water of the wonderful land that had been wrested from Eng- land and whose prosperous colonies were now inde- pendent members of that rising nation, the United States of America. He decided to go to that great country. He sold out his estates which brought him more than thirty thousand pounds; then he visited Eng- land. While there, he became acquainted with and married Margaret Agnew, and with her emigrated to America. After studying the resources and probable future of the different sections of the country, he fixed upon the West as his future home. Charmed with an island which he found in the Ohio River, so near to the shores of both Ohio and Virginia that a voice could be heard across the intervening stream, he had fKurchased half of it, and there he had erected the most beautiful mansion to be found west of the Allegheny mountains. Materials and men had been brought from the East; to the original cost was added a great ex- pense for transportation and the board of the work- men engaged in the construction of this palace in the ■woods. But, with money, wonders can be accom- plished; and it was so in this case. When finished, nearly half of his fortune had been spent in building and decoration. The island now showed the beauty of both nature and art. Half was in its virgin state ; tiie other half had been still further beautified by man 156 BLENNERHASSETT until it was hard to say whether the hand of God or that of man had evoked the greatest beauty, ever bearing in mind that unless the hand of God had first performed its work the hand of man would have been power- less. And what had this man, who had been rich and who lacked the bravery to stay at home and cast his lot with his struggling countrymen, done in this western wilder-? ness ? Like a knight, he had been armed cap-opie to take an honorable part in the battles of his native land, but, at the signs of on-coming strife, his heart within him had weakened, and he had fled to the woods and hidden himself in this fairy-like palace. He had convinced himself that he was not born to shine in councils of war but was to achieve a name for himself in the more peaceful realms of science. He was a student of litera- ture but he had never written a book, nor had the pro- duction of one by him ever reached the domain of probability. He was an astronomer, but he had dis- covered no star to bear his name, nor had he con- tributed any valuable data to the sum of astronomical knowledge. He was a scientist, but no new discovery or invention of value to his fellow-men had been evolved from his brain. He had a large library and a well-appointed laboratory. He had thought much, and had done nothing. He was an heir apparent to future greatness, but it was extremely doubtful if that greatness would ever be secured by his own volition. He needed a spur, an incentive from without, and it had been decreed by Fate that that incentive should be supplied by the small man with piercing black eyes, who stood at the forward end of the lumbering raft as it approached the enchanted island above the trees and shrubbery of which could be seen the at- tractive outlines of the palace in the woods. " To which side of the island shall we steer? " asked one of the polemen, approaching Burr. A PALACE IN THE WOODS 157 " We will anchor," Burr replied, " on the river bank opposite to the front of the house, but some distance below it." Burr did not wish it to appear as though he was seeking an invitation to land upon the island. It was about dusk when the huge craft was securely moored at the place designated, and while supper was being prepared the little party went ashore. It seemed so restful to stand once more upon solid ground, and sit down upon the grass beneath the trees. Little Aaron was delighted ; and the setting sun cast its rays upon no happier party than was gathered on the river bank that evening. After supper the party took a quiet stroll, and, from a secluded position on an embankment, had an unob- structed view of the mansion which was an object of wonder and admiration on all sides. There was no moon but the starlit sky shed a quiet radiance of its own upon the picture. Burr had not been contemplating its natural and architectural beauties as had his companions. Its strategic value was uppermost in his mind. What a fine base of operations it would make! Here could be concealed the munitions of war and provisions for the men ; within its shady recesses his recruits could be drilled in the art of war, without attracting the attention that such proceedings would upon the main land. Then it was so advantageously situated as a point of embarkation when his flotilla should be con- structed. Besides, Blennerhassett was reputed to be a rich man, and although Burr had some money, and the promise of more, there had never been an army too well provided with those sinews of war — silver and gold. The companions of his voyage retired early. Burr sat for some time smoking his pipe and going over and over again in his mind the needed military prepara- IS8 BLENNERHASSETT tions that formed so important a part of his scheme; Yes! he must enlist this Prince of the Woods on his side. Suddenly he arose, and calling to the two polemen who were on duty for the night, he assisted them in launching the small boat which was carried on the after part of the raft. This was easily accomplished and, taking a pair of oars, Burr rowed off silently and was soon lost to sight in the shadows of inky blackness cast upon the river by the tall trees. He was not unob- served. The old boatman, James Gray, who was off duty, raised himself upon his elbow and looked after him. " What is he up to now ? " he asked himself, but, as he had no means of following Burr, he fell back upon his blanket and was soon fast asleep. Burr rowed around the end of the island and finally came to the back of the house. The barns and other out-buildings could not be seen from the side of the river where the raft was moored. Burr was more and more impressed with the fitness of the place as a base of operations for the great scheme that he had in mind. His boat drifted idly towards the shore. What was that — some one singing? It was the voice of a negro and it possessed that wild, weird tone that seems to voice both their present subjection and their future hope. Burr listened intently. Above the soft lapping of the waves, the words could be heard distinctly. It was an old woman, singing her little pickaninny to «kq). " I see a gray coon in de com. Sleep, baby, sleep; I beah de massa blow his horn. Sleep, baby, sleep; I see a niggah at de gray coon shoot, I heah de echo of de old horn's toot, An' I heah an owl in de wild-wood hootf Sleep, baby, sleep. A PALACE IN THE WOODS 159 Alligator gruntin' in de old bayou. Sleep, baby, sleep; At a fat pig a fishin' in de flue. Sleep, baby, sleep; His teeth dey am big, an' wide, an' whiter An' he am a chucklin' at de great big bite He am gwine to have off dat pig to-night. Sleep, baby, sleep. I heah de old wild geese a flyin* by. Sleep, baby, sleep; De air am a ringin' wid dere loud cry. Sleep, baby, sleep; It's gwine to be cole, but you am snug As de little hoppin' lizard an' de big June bus; So I'll leab you now, wid a good-night bug. Sleep, baby, sleep." The next morning dawned bright and beautiful Rain had fallen during the night and the drops, sdB clinging to the leaves of the trees, shone like diamonds in the morning sunlight. The boat, in which Bun- had made his trip by starlight, was still in the water, moored to the side of the raft. At Burr's command, the young negro boy and one of the polemen, named Ackers, entered the boat and took up the oars. James Gray would have been glad to have accompanied the party, but Burr had not looked at him since he had given him that contemptuous glance. Then Theodosia, Kate, and little Aaron were helped into the boat. As Burr took his seat in the bow, Theo- dosia asked, " Where are we going, father ? " Burr replied, " We are going to make a call upon the Prince and Princess who live in yonder castle." As he said this, he pointed towards the mansion which was Kghted up by the morning sun and which seemed, in feality, to be a palace of marble. "Who lives there?" inquired Kate. i6o BLENNERHASSETT " His name is Blennerhassett," Burr answered, " and the fair domain over which he reigns is called Blenner- hassett Island." " To my mind," said Theodosia, as the boat neared the little landing-place, " it will always be the Island Beautiful." CHAPTER XVI THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL THE great hall of the Palace in the Woods! The room was of large dimensions, no doubt built in imitation of those old baronial halls in " Merrie England " which the owner of this palace had often visited. The coloring of the walls was dark and sombre rather than bright and cheerful; but its subdued tints were relieved by a beautiful cornice of white plaster bordered by a gilt molding running around the lofty ceiling. Its furniture was rich and heavy, conforming to the European fashion of the day. An old negro servant with wrinkled face and whitened hair entered the great room. He was fol- lowed closely by a young man in what might be called an undress military uniform, for although the shape of his garments indicated that he belonged to the militia, and the insignia of his rank betrayed the fact that he was a captain, he bore no weapons. His visit iwas presumably social rather than warlike in its nature. As the old servant politely ushered the guest into the great reception-room, he said, in a half-explanatory and half-apologetic way. " Take a seat, Massa. I'll speak to Missus. Massa is takin' oflf his shootin' jacket. He's been out shootin' birds." The young man said, interrogatively : " So he is going to have a game dinner, Ransome? " Ransome laughed and said with an unctuous chuckle: " Reckon not, Massa Clarke." .t6i i6« BLENNERHASSETT "Why not? " asked the young man. Ransome laughed heartily and chuckled again: " 'Cause he didn't hit 'em. He's terrible nearsighted Massa is. He puts the gun over my shoulder and then I say level, now level, Massa Blennerhassett — there, a little to the right— so — ^and then a little to the left — so — and then I say steady, fire! Off goes the gun, and off goes the birds too, and so I reckon ouf company won't have any birds fo' dinner to-day." . " Company ? " said the young man, inquiringly. " Yes, a gen'Ieman and two of the most beautifullest ladies and most cunningest little boy you ever saw. The wife is mighty pooty, but the daughter is jess as lively as a squirrel." The fact came to the young man's mind that he was getting too inquisitive, but crushing down the silent mentor he asked : " What's the lady's name? " " They call her Kate," said Ransome. The young man turned away so that his face could not be seen by the old servant, for a pained expression had come over it. That name had started up memoriesi which, try as he might, he could not forget. Kate! Kate! That name was ever to be the magic talisman that would unlock the secret chambers of his heart Quickly recovering his composure, Frederic Clarke turned to Ransome and said a little sharply : " Go, Ransome, I'm in haste to see your master. If he is not ready to see me I must see your mistress." "Yes, Massa," replied Ransome. As soon as he got outside of the door, he gave another of his oily little chuckles and soliloquized : " Reckon he don't know any pooty gal named Kate." The young man walked nervously up and down the long room. " Kate," said he, " how that name brings liack memories of my Jersey home and that fatal morn- ing;. She was determined to keep that money. I gavd THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL 163 her the choice and she remained true to that villain. I left home the next day — came to Ohio — am county sheriff and captain in the militia." At this moment, the great door was opened and Mrs. Blennerhassett entered. Frederic advanced towards her with outstretched hands and said: " My dear Mrs. Blennerhassett, I am delighted to see you, though ray business is with your husband." " My dear Captain," she replied, " I hope it isn't a very important engagement; if it is, you had better let me arrange it. My husband is a man learned in books, but, I must confess, utterly devoid of practi- cality." The yoiHig captain said, gallantly : " Mr. Blenner- hassett is fortunate in having so devoted and conap e- t«it a partner to protect him from extortion." The lady laughed merrily and said : " I can't always de that. Why only yesterday, he employed an indi- vidual t© gather some mussel shells for him — ^he is studying conchology — and the party charged him an exorbitant price. My husband asked the reason for the high charge. What do you think the fellow said?" The young man shook his head, then ^ked, inter- rogatively : " That they were scarce? " " Not only that," she replied, " but gave, as a further reason, that the diving was so deep." " Diving ? For mussel shells ? " cried Frederic, as he burst into a hearty laugh. " Yes, and when my husband inquired how deep, the man had the audacity to say, in fifteen feet of water." Then they both laughed heartily. " That convinced my husband, and he paid five times their value without further questioning." The great door was again opened and Blennerhassett appeared. As he advanced, his wife ran towards hinif 1 64 BLENNERHASSETT a look of eager interest in her face. She cried iai- pulsively : "I am so glad you are back safe, Harman. I'm always afraid you will meet with some accident^ when you go shooting. Were you fortunate this morning ? " " Very fortunate — for the birds," he replied, " they got away." "Pardon me, Captain," cried Mrs. Blennerhassett, turning towards Frederic. Then she faced her husband and said: " Here is Captain Clarke, Harman. He comes to see you on business. " Glad to see you, Captain," said the latter in a hos- pitable manner. " Stay to dinner with us and we can all talk the business over, and Margaret will tell you what is best to do. I'm sorry for your sake. Captain, that I missed those birds." " No," replied Frederic, " I really couldn't stay to dinner; besides, Ransome said you already have com- pany." Mr. Blennerhassett smiled, as he remarked : " Com- pany ! We always have company or, what is the same, we are always ready for it. Wfe set a good table every day and, if any guests come, we never have to apolo- gize. As to the company, I suppose it is Mr. Reed, wife, and daughter, from Marietta. They were com- ing over to-day. Now, Margaret, do you know what I am going to do after dinner ? " "Not going shooting again, I hope?" said his wife. " No. Let us sit down. Captain, and hear this little story; and Margaret and you can act as my advisers. Three heads are better than one in such a predicament. Now, Mr. Reed owes me five thousand dollars. Last week, his house and furniture, barn and stock were all burned, and he is to-day without a dollar. What shall I do?" THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL 165 "Loan him some money to start again," said Mrs. Slennerhassett, quickly. " Take his notes and give him a long time in which to pay," remarked Frederic. Mr. Blennerhassett sat for a moment apparently considering the advice which had been offered him; then he continued : " I am greatly obliged to my kind advisers. I had made up my mind to give him the choice of two evils; either a receipt in full to square the debt, or to let the old debt stand and give him a present of an order on the store in Marietta for five thousand dollars. Now I think my plan is best." " It certainly is — for him," remarked Frederic. " What's best for him will be best for me, won't it Margaret? " asked Blennerhassett, as he looked inquir- ingly into his wife's face. " In the future, it surely will be, Harman," she- an- swered, quietly. "Then that's settled," said Blennerhassett, cheer- tfuUy, " and he may choose his own way about it. What do you wish to see me about?" he added, turning to Frederic. " To say we've caught William, the negro who stole your box of candles, and Justice Parker is waiting for you to come over and identify the goods before he orders William to be flogged." Mrs. Blennerhassett turned towards Frederic and said in an appealing tone : " I am sorry for the foolish man ; I pity him. Can- not the punishment be made as light as possible?" "The. punishment for stealing candles ought to be light, hadn't it, Captain?" asked Blennerhassett. Without evincing any appreciation of his own joke, he continued : " Well, do you know, as soon as I missed those candles, before I could get any more here from Marietta, I went to work on a substitute. I knew that 1 66 BLENNERHASSETT animal substances when left in moist places, or under water, turned to adipocere, and I thought it might take the place of spermaceti. So, a week ago, I put some meat in an inlet in the river to undergo a change. This morning I went to learn the result." " If it was a success," said Mrs. Blennerhassett, " I insist that you shall not appear against poor William." Frederic remarked: " If the theft has led to such a valuable discovery you could afford to be easy with him." " No," said Blennerhassett, laughing, " William is doomed. The fishes have devoured all the meat, and my theory remains undemonstrated for the present. I suppose I must go with you and ease poor Parker's mind," Blennerhassett continued, as he arose, " it won't take long — only across the river. I'll be ready soon. You stay here. Captain, and entertain Mrs. Blenn®- hassett." " It will be the other way, Mr. Blennerhassett," said Frederic. " I shall be the one who will be entertained." " Just as like as not," replied Blennerhassett with a smile. " Do you know, Captain, if you had a nice little wife — like mine — I should be the happiest man in the world." " I am sure I should," said Frederic, looking at Mrs. Blennerhassett, "but why should you be so pleased?" Blennerhassett replied : " I should have my own wife, and I should insist upon being a friend to yours." With a playful glance at Frederic, and a loving smile to his wife, whose face quickly returned it, he left the room. Turning to Frederic, Mrs. Blennerhassett re- marked : " My husband is unusually jovial to-day. I don't think it is because you have caught William." " Nor I," said Frederic, quickly. " It is the jay tiiat always comes to the heart when it has decided to de a noble action, such as he will do in Mr. Reed's case. THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL 167 What a happy life you must have, Mrs. Blennerhassett This constant sunshine of the soul must make your home as near a heaven as the world can show." She rejoined playfully : " Such thoughts, when ex- pressed by a young man, lead me to think you are cast- ing an eye into the future. I wish you might have as happy a home as ours." " A hopeless wish, I am sorry to say," said he, " it might have been, but I shall never marry." "But why?" she cried. "That's woman's way, I know, to ask such a question; but. Captain Clarke, as a true friend, I ask you again, why? " " Because I have had a sad experience," he said, bitterly. " But," remarked Mrs. Blennerhassett, with a look of interest and concern showing itself in her face, " if one experience has been sad, another may be sweet." He replied somewhat brusquely : " If one woman's perfidy has broken my heart, I shall not trust in woman's love to make it whole again." " And yet, my dear Captain," she continued, looking up into his face with her eyes full of sympathy, " there is not in the wide world an5rthing that can make it whole again but the love of a true woman." " I am tempted to tell you the story," rejoined Fred- eric, noticing the sympathetic look in her face. They resumed their seats and Frederic began : " I am the only son of a rich farmer in one of the eastern states. I fell in love with one of our servants, a young and handsome girl of good family; but, being an orphan, forced to work for her support." " And your father refused ? " "No, like a dutiful son, I told him of my choice feefore I spoke to her and he consented. I proposed and she accepted me." " Thus far the course of true love runs smooth,** said Mrs. Blennerhassett. i68 BLENNERHASSETT "You could never imagine what parted us," cried Frederic, " so I will say it in one word — ^politics ! I chanced to speak in severe terms of a public character, as a man whom I believed then and I believe now to be a villain. He shall be nameless. She resented my re- toiarks and said she would never marry me until I re- tracted my words against him." " Thus far you are to blame," she continued, " you were the aggressor and should have shown you loved the woman more than you hated the man, and you ■would have conquered." "Perhaps you are right," he rejoined, "but mark the sequel. By a most miraculous coincidence, which I will not explain now, within fifteen minutes of our quarrel, she met the very man about whom we had had the controversy. She was in tears; he asked the cause, she told him, and he gave her money for having de- fended him." As he said this, that old fire, which had smouldered for more than a year, burst into a bright flame, and, unable to restrain his feelings, he rose to his feet and walked excitedly up and down the room. "And she accepted it?" asked Mrs. Blenner- hassett. " Yes," cried Frederic, as he stopped suddenly before her, " and gloried in it. I would have taken the money from her and thrown it at his feet. It seems he had given her his address. She left home after I came West and sought him. He adopted her. She dresses in silk and rides in her carriage. She says he is her friend. Can you blame me if I look upon her dresses and jewels as the badges of her shame? " " My poor boy ! " said she, rising and extending both her hands to him, " yours was indeed a bitter cup." Frederic continued : " I left home the day after our quarrel and came to Ohio. I have prospered. When my father dies I shall be a rich man. I shall never THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL 169 marry, for I still love that woman, but to marry her is impossible." Blennerhassett entered, dressed for his journey. "I am all ready. Captain, Good-bye, Margaret, I will be home to dinner," he added, as he gave her a parting kiss. " Mr. Reed and his family are out on the river. I sent Marmaduke to give them a trip to the end of the island. Come, Captain." "Good-bye, Harman," said his wife, as she raised! her face for another kiss. Then, turning to Frederic^ she said in an undertone: "Come and see us often. Now I know your story it is my duty to show my in- terest and friendship." Frederic replied, "I most assuredly will. Good- bye, my dear Mrs. Blennerhassett. Coming, Mr. Blen- nerhassett," he added, as he followed his host. "Why," said Blennerhassett, as Frederic reached his side, "you seem to be less willing to leave Mrs. Blennerhassett than her devoted husband. I must look to this." Left alone, Mrs. Blennerhassett resumed her seat and thought over the incidents of the last half hour. " What a strange story," she said to herself, " Captain Clarke told me. I wonder who the man was. Someone about whose name there was a halo of romance that awakened the poor girl's sympathetic feelings and made her think he was all that was noble and good. Only a girlish fancy, to be sure, but, with a young girl, fancy is more powerful than reason. With some of us women, fancy is always the stronger." Her soliloquy was broken in upon by the entrance of Ransome, who bowed to his mistress and said : " A gen'leman and two pooty ladies and a little boy have been walking about in the grounds. I saw them some- time ago, but he didn't see me." As Ransome finished he looked somewhat apprehen- sively towards his mistress as though fearing he would \yo BLENNERHASSETT be reproved for not reporting the intrusion sooner. His mistress asked : " Did you ever see him before ? " " No," said Ransome, " but he is a handsome gen'Ie- man, and the ladies are the most beautifullest — " "That will do, Ransome. Extend Mrs. Blenner- hassett's compliments, and say my husband is away but will soon return. Ask the gentleman and ladies to come in and my husband will show them the beauties of the island." As Ransome left the room, he said, aside, " I can say the come in, but I'm afraid I can't recomember all that," and he went out shaking his old white head. Left alone once more, she again fell to soliloquizing. " When I married, I had a fancy that Harman would become a great orator, enter Parliament — ^become — why not — a premier; but he disliked politics and dis- putation — ^preferred study and seclusion to life in Lon- don, and so we are buried in the wilderness, with ever3i:hing to make life happy but with not one thing to make it great" Ransome entered suddenly, his face indicating that he had information of the greatest importance to com- municate. " The gen'leman says," he began, excitedly, " that he was curious and so he landed — ^but he can't stc^) — but he sent his card," and he passed it to his mistress, with a low bow. 'Mrs. Blennerhassett read the card. " Aaron Burr ! " she cried, " Aaron Burr — he was Vice-President of the United States. No man ever came nearer to being President. I must see him." Turning to Ransome, she said : " Tell the gentleman that I must insist upon hi* accepting the hospitalities of my house." As Ransome left the room he shook his head affirm- atively and soliloquized : " I can recomember that. I have said that afore." THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL lyi If Frederic could have looked into the great hall at fiiat moment he would have thought that Mrs. Blenner- hassett was the victim of some great excitement. She walked up and down the room as he had done. Hav- ing MO listener, her over-charged feelings sought vent in words. " How fortunate," she cried, " the man of all others who can tell me in what way my husband can best use his knowledge to secure his advancement and for the good of his adopted country^ My fancy survives ; my ambition is still strong, and if woman's wit can accom- plish it, my husband shall yet fill the station in life for which his talents fit him." A look of triumph showed itself in her face as she concluded — "and which his wife would try to adorn." When the party had landed from the boat, Colonel Burr, with little Aaron in his arms, led the way into the virgin isle, closely followed by Theodosia and Kate who, school-girl fashion, twined their arms about each other and seemed to enjoy the walk as though they had, in fact, been children just let loose from school. Burr did not actually lead the way, for he had directed one of the boatmen to go ahead and with his boat-hook break down the underbrush wherever it was likely to interfere with the comfortable progress of the ladies. Little Aaron was delighted. He was greatly at- tached to his grandfather, and, like most children, was decidedly fond of being carried about. He laughed and sang, in his infantile way, to the great amusement and pleasure of the company. While Burr was listening to his grandson's numerous questions, and answering them to the best of his ability, he was also constantly called upon by his daughter and his protege to explain this or that object of wonder- ment. During it all, however, his sharp eye and active brain were botii busy on an entirely different probleob 172 BLENNERHASSETT Yes, among those trees in that little grove it would be easy to store away, out of sight, provisions for a thou- sand men ; that natural cave would afford a fine place of concealment for rifles and munitions of war. In that little glade, surrounded by tall trees with wide- spreading branches, his recruits could be drilled in the art of war without attracting attention from the resi- dents of either Ohio or Virginia. Yes, this was the ideal place in which to organize, and from which to start on his great expedition. His strategic eye had discovered its availability and fitness, and his military knowledge had confirmed the first impression. On their return to the boat, Burr looked eagerly in every direction to see if any member of the resident family, or any of the servants were in sight. None were visible. Burr thought that so large a party might appear formidable, so he decided to return to the boat, send his companions back to the raft and present his respects in person. As they neared the boat, he dis- covered that the young colored boy was not in it, but that James Gray was there instead. Requesting his companions to wait a moment, he went to the end of the little landing and asked Gray in a stern voice why he was there, and where the negro boy was. Gray re- plied that the boy had been taken sick, and with diffi- culty had rowed back to the raft. He added, " Under the circumstances, I thought it best for me to come back with the boat." " It was very kind of you," said Burr, dryly. " Now that you are in the boat I wish you to stay there and not to leave it without my knowledge." As he said this, he gave the man a glance from his black eyes that pierced him like the stab from a knife. When Burr returned from the landing, to meet his companions, he saw an old colored man bowing to them and expressing what they understood to be an invita- tion to visit the mansion. THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL 173 "Are you one of Mr. Blennerhassett's servants?" asked Burr, in his most courteous manner. " Yes, sail," replied Ransome, making a low bow. "We are trespassers upon your beautiful island," said Burr ; "I had intended to ask permission for our little party to examine its beauties, but met no one to whom I could address such an appeal. I was on my way to the house to offer my apologies. Will you kindly bear them for me? Our time is limited, but if you will present this card to your master, he will know who I am." Ransome took the card and returned with the greatest possible speed to the house. Turning to Theodosia, Burr said : " They either will, or will not receive us. If they do," and he smiled as he said it, " I hope I shall make a pleasant and profitable acquaint- ance." " I hope," said Kate, " that the lord of this manor will prove to be your Prince Fortunatus, and that you will win wealth and fame together." " So do I," said Theodosia, " the River of Fate can- not run always in a straight line; there must be some bend or turn which, taken at the right time, will lead to success." At this moment, Ransome reappeared from the house. Burr offered an arm to each of his companions and made a movement as though he intended to return to the boat. Ransome called after them : " Sah ! Sah ! t Please wait a moment, sah ! " The party turned and Ransome soon reached them, his face glowing with pleasurable excitement. " Sah, Massa is away, but Missus presents her compliments and insists that you accept her hospitality." This was a long speech, but Ransome had repeated it so frequently in the past that he had become quite, proficient in its delivery. Repressing an exhibition of any personal satisfaction of the invitation. Burr turned to his com- panions and asked them if they would like to accept »74 BLENNERHASSETT Mrs. Blennerhassett's invitation. They signified their ■wiUingness, and the party walked slowly towards the house, Ransome leading the way with all the pomp of a major domo. During the time occupied by Ransome in making his final trip, Mrs. Blennerhassett had an opportunity to inspect herself in a mirror and see if her head-dress was properly and becomingly arranged; then, taking a position at a respectable distance from the door, she anxiously awaited the advent of her guests. Ransome threw the door open and the party entered, Burr lead- ing the way. As he took Mrs. Blennerhassett's hand, outstretched in welcome, she said : " Welcome to Blen- nerhassett Island. We are honored By this visit." Burr bowed low over the speaker's hand and touched it lightly with his lips. As he raised his head he said, fixing his eyes upon her beautiful face, " You flatter us, it is we who are honored by being received as your guests." Mrs. Blennerhassett smiled and said in reply : " Pardon the importunity of my invitation, Mr. Burr, but we have so few visitors from the East — " Burr interrupted her with a graceful wave of his hand. " Madam, pardon for our intrusion rather than for your hospitality. As in the fairy books, we have found that those who land upon the enchanted isle must enter the bower of beauty and pay homage to the princess. Allow me, madam, to present my only child, my daugh- ter, Theodosia." The ladies shook hands. Burr turn- ing, saw Kate. " Ah ! I have been unjust, and untrue, for here is my other child — my adopted daughter, Kate." Kate advanced and the handshaking ceremony was repeated. Suddenly, Mrs. Blennerhassett cried out : " But, Col- onel Burr, you have not completed your introductions. To whom does this beautiful little boy belong?" As she said this she rushed forward, and grasping little Aaron, lifted him from the floor, press^ him to hes THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL 175 b@som, and kissed him again and again. Little Aaron, though somewhat astonished by the warmth of her em- brace, was too much of a Burr to lose his self-posses- sion, so he inquired : " Have you got a little boy? " "Yes, thank Heaven," cried Mrs. Blennerhassett, " not only one, but three of them. They are up-stairs in the nursery, but you shall go with me in a little 'while and see them." As she said this, she placed the child upon the floor and he ran at once to his mother's side. Ransome had stood near the door, evidently antici- pating some order from his mistress. He was not dis- appointed. Mrs. Blennerhassett motioned to her guests and said : " Pray be seated. Ransome, have three extra plates laid for dinner." Burr and his companions had seated themselves, as requested, but when he heard the direction given to Rzmsome he arose, and, bowing politely, said: " But, Madam, we cannot intrude in so bold a way upon your privacy." Mrs. Blennerhassett assumed a bantering way; " You are in the bower of the princess, sir, and the fairy books say that none could leave it without her permission, unless they killed the dragon that «marded the entrance. Go, Ransome." Burr, quick to catch the spirit of the occasion, re- plied : " Believe me, Madam, I would rather fight the dragon than — " Mrs. Blennerhassett interrupted him with a laugh: "Remain?" Once more Burr fixed his beautiful eyes upon the equally beautiful ones of his hostess. Once more he bowed low and said in those dulcet tones that had charmed so many women and were destined to charm so many more: "no — ^than disobey your slightest wish." The ladies had removed their outer garments aad 176 BLENNERHASSETT Burr, with all the grace of a courtier, took them from them. Mrs. Blemierhassett advanced to receive them. As she walked across the room to place them upon an old-fashioned, but beautifully carved table, she said to herself: " He is such a man as that girl of Clarke's might have worshipped." Returning to join the com- pany she inquired : " Did you enjoy your trip down the river, Mrs. — " " Pardon me, Madam," said Burr, " you have already divined, of course, that my daughter is married. It is my fault that I did not introduce her by her proper name. Mrs. Theodosia Burr Alston, wife of Mr. Joseph Alston of South Carolina." Turning to Theo- dosia, Burr said gayly : " What would your husband say if he knew that I had appropriated you entirely to myself?" Mrs, Blennerhassett looked at Kate : " And is this other young lady — " Burr answered playfully : " No, she is Miss Emble- ton, with no end of suitors, but with a heart fondly clinging—" Kate laughingly repelled the insinuation. "Mr. Burr, you are wrong; you know you are." As Kate spoke she arose, and, although her motive was not suspected by her companions, she turned away to con- ceal some unbidden tears, for, like a flash, a picture of her last meeting with Frederic had passed before her eyes. Theodosia now arose and w^ked towards her friend. " No, Kate," said she, " you are wrong. You are fond of clinging — ^to me," as she said this she caught the young girl in her arms, they turned, and Theodosia continued — " and to father." ■ Burr advanced towards them, extending an arm to each. The arm was taken. He made a short detour which brought them face to face with Mrs. Blenner- hassett. THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL 177 "Am I not a father to be envied, Mrs. Blenner- hassett, with two such daughters ? " " But," said Kate, " if I should marry some young gentleman whom you did not fancy, you would disown me and give all your love to Theodosia and Gamp." , " Pardon my curiosity," said Mrs. Blennerhassett, "but who is Gamp? Another young lady? " " No," replied Theodosia, " Gamp is this little boy, my only son. Father gave him the nickname and calls him by no other." Burr turned to Mrs. Blennerhassett: "His infant lips first spoke the word Gampy to his grandfather. I turned that into Gampillo or Gamp, and, being a word made precious by association, I prefer it to his full name of Aaron Burr Alston." Then turning to Kate, he said, gravely : " But, Miss Embleton, let me not forget to say I shall never disown you, for you have given me the best of reasons for believing you will never marry a man whom I cannot respect." Theodosia said, with a smile : " i think you can trust her, father." " You know you can," cried Kate energetically. " I know I do," replied Burr, decidedly. " My pro- teges never desert or disappoint me." Throwing a glance to his daughter, he said : " I heard good news from Vanderlyn the other day, he whom I rightly named the Genius of the Roadside." Mrs. Blennerhassett looked interested and remarked : " There must be a romance connected with that poetic name, the Genius of the Roadside; I am a lover of the rotnantic — " " I will tell you the story, madam, with pleasure, but as I am a personage in it, kindly free me from the charge of intentional egotism." Mrs. Blennerhassett bowed politely : " Certainly, Mr. Burr, and pray do not detract from your own due for fear of being so misjudged." 1/8 BLENNERHASSETT Burr responded to her very courteous remark by a polite bow. " The story is this : Some years ago, I was called to Albany on business. On my way, a wheel-tire needed repairs and I stopped at a blacksmith's shop for the purpose. While waiting, I walked around the outside of the smithy where my attention was at- tracted by a sketch in chalk upon a bam door. It was capitally done and I turned towards the smithy to ask the blacksmith the name of the artist, when I saw a small boy regarding me with anxious eyes. 'Who drew that picture? ' said I. * I did,' replied the boy, to my astonishment. I found he was an orphan and was working for a farmer in the town. I gave him my card and told him when he was ready to begin the battle of life to come to my house in New York. In less than six months, the Genius of the Roadside pre- sented himself at my door. I sent him to Paris to study art, and his last letter says he is on the road to fame and fortune." Mrs. Blennerhassett remarked, approvingly : " How happy that pleasing news must make you." " It does," replied Burr, " I know of nothing that gives greater joy than to encourage and aid those who are poor, but talented and ambitious. The greatest pleasure I have ever known was found in directing my daughter's studies." "Yes," said Theodosia, "and such terrible scold- ings as you used to give me about my handwriting and my grammar." " Yes," interjected Kate, " my lectures came in let- ters. They all begfan with a good scolding, had a lec- ture in the middle, and ended with words so kind that, like sweets after a nauseous medicine, the diss^jeeatde ; flavor was all taken away." It occurred to Burr that they had devoted consider- ate time to purely personal matters. He was afraid THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL 179 that perhaps this kind of conversation had been carried to an obtrusive extent, so he remarked : " My dear young ladies, we have been very thought- less to take so much time to talk about ourselves, to the disregard, and, no doubt, discomfort of our hostess." Turning to Mrs. Blennerhassett, he inquired with an apparent air of great interest : " Is your husband q native of New England or Maryland, Mrs. Blenner- hassett?" " Neither, sir," she replied. " He was born ir Hampshire, England. His father was an Irish gentle man, but his parents were visiting in England." Burr made another inquiry : " Was he in the Eng- lish army ? " " No," she replied, " his inclination has always been to literature and science. He went to school at West- minster, but graduated at Trinity College, Dublin." Burr was persistent in his questioning : " Did he practise law ? " "Yes," she answered, "and was made Doctor of Laws in 1790. The troubles in his native land led him to sell his estates to Baron Ventry, and he after- wards came to England, where we met." " Like a true knight errant," said Burr, resuming his playful manner, " he went in search of his lady love and found her." " Hardly that," said Mrs. Blennerhassett, with a laugh, " for he had a sister in England, the wife of Admiral de Courcy." " He that was Lord Kinsale? " Burr asked, qwickly. " Yes," she replied, " I am English, and yet our people pride themselves on their independence. My father was Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man. My grandfather was General Agnew " — Burr, who had been listening intently, broke in; "Who fell at Germantown?" i8o BLENNERHASSETT " Yes, sir, did you ever see him? " Burr drew himself up proudly. "Neither your grandfather nor myself were taken prisoners during the Revolution, and we never met. But I have heard that he was a brave man and died like a true British soldier, hating all rebels and loving his king." Mrs. Blennerhassett continued her story : " We re- moved to New York in 1797. My husband traveled through the States in search of a place in which to make our home. He bought the upper part of this island and we settled here in 1798, moving, at first, into a blockhouse." " And in seven years only," cried Theodosia, " you have made this wilderness blossom like a rose — " " And built this beautiful mansion," said Kate. Burr added : " Which, in its design and execu- tion, shows the possession of exquisite taste by its owners." Mrs. Blennerhassett was pleased with the deftly worded inquiries and remarks which enabled her to give some particulars of her past life, and that of her husband, without seeming to obtrude them upon her guests. " Yes, my husband's property enabled us to gratify our tastes. Living away from the busy world, this island becomes our world, and you can imagine my husband and myself are never happier than when kind fortune sends some guest to our door who can tell us what is going on in the States, and dear old England.^' Approaching footsteps and a voice were heard out- side. " My husband has returned," she cried. As Blennerhassett entered the room, she arose to meet him. He was so nearsighted that he did not notice the presence of the guests who were seated some dis- tance from the door. "It's all right, Margaret," he cried, cheerfully, "William escaped without a lash. Parker was indig- THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL i8i nant, but I couldn't identify the candles could I, my dear, and so — " But, at this point, Mrs. Blennerhassett thought that his explanation had proceeded far enough. She grasped her husband's arm and said in a low tone to him, " But Harman, we have guests. Let me present you." She advanced with her husband towards the little party who arose as they approached, " Mr. Burr, allow me to introduce my husband." Colonel Burr advanced with extended hand. " I am delighted," said he, "to make Mr, Blennerhassett's acquaintance." Blennerhassett drew back, a look of uncertainty upon his face. "Burr!" he exclaimed. "What Burr? Not Aaron Burr!" Burr bowed low, and said in dignified, measured tones, " Colonel Aaron Burr, at your service," Blennerhassett looked disturbed. The thought ran through his mind, " The man who killed Hamilton — " then, realizing that ordinary politeness required that he should speak, he said: " You are welcome, sir, to the hospitalities — " Mrs. Blennerhassett remarked, apologetically, to Burr, " My husband is very nearsighted. Harman," she said, ad ressing her husband : " Colonel Burr is waiting to shake hands with you." Blennerhassett drew himself up and said with hau- teur, " I regret it, sir, but I cannot give my hand to the murderer of General Hamilton." A look of aston- ishment showed itself in Mrs. Blennerhassett's face, " Remember, Harman," she cried, " he is your guest, and that his daughters are present." Burr comprehended the situation. It had ever been thus; always prejudged before he had an opportunity to speak a word in his own defence, presuming that he had been disposed to speak that word. But he regretted the situation in which Mrs. Blennerhassett i82 BLENNERHASSETT had been placed by her husband's untoward remarl^ and, like a true gentleman, he hastened to rescue Ikt from her dilemma. He turned to her : " Madam, do not fear. I shall not transcend the bounds of hospitality." Addressing Blennerhassett, he said : " Sir, my friend Hamilton, whom I shot, would not have used so harsh a term as murderer." Here Blennerhassett, who had evidently based his jopinion upon Mr. Ashelyn's remarks concerning the duel, cried, " But he was at your mercy ! " Burr replied in a spirited manner : " He was the aggressor and met the fate that any man invites when he slanders a gentleman and then refuses reparation. Slander has slain more than the sword." Blennerhassett was not convinced. "Duelling is not an attribute of a gentleman or a hero. The pol- ished Greek knew nothing of it. The noble Roman was above it. Rome held in equal detestation the man who exposed his life unnecessarily, and he who refused to expose it when the public g^od required it. Her heroes were superior to private contests ; they indulged in no vengeance except against the enemies of their country." Mrs. Blennerhassett was almost overcome by her emotions. She knew the firmness of her husb^d's character when his sentiments were strongly aroused. She divined that her guest was equally set in his opin- ions. A collision of highly wrought and excited tem- pers seemed imminent. She ran to her husband and grasped him by the arm, while Theodosia and Kate took their posts on either side of Burr. Little Aaron had wandered off to the other end of the room, evidently much interested and amused by the pretty pictures that he had found in a book which he had taken from the table without permission. On his part, Burr felt that unless his visit was to come to an untimely conclusion, and all the visions that "this is your answer/" THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL 183 he had formed of Prince Fortunatus were to vanish in thin air, he must, in some way, explain to the master of the house the event which, it was evident, he so thoroughly misunderstood. " Ladies," Burr began, " you will bear me witness that this unhappy discussion is not of my choosing, and I trust will forgive me if I live over again that sad affair by recalling some particulars that must be un- known to Mr. Blennerhassett." Turning to Mr. Blennerhassett he asked, in ringing tones : " Sir, sup- pose a mean and cowardly individual should slander you and not stand up to it when cornered? Suppose you should forbear and forbear, forgive and forgive; yes, even stoop to remonstrate? If you had no choice except to slink out of sight, a wretch degraded and de- spised, or meet the calumniator on the field and silence him, what would you do ? You are an Irish gentleman and I can answer for you. You would meet him, as I did ! Supposing when you stood up to fire he caught your eye and quailed under it like a convicted felon? You would kill him, as I did ! Supposing you should find his last will and testament to read like the con- fessions of a penitent monk; you would despise him, as I do!" Blennerhassett thought for a moment. His wife looked into his face, anxiously. At last, she saw those signs which, to her practised eye, indicated that the severity of his former judgment was to be relaxed. Turning to Burr, he said: " Had you never braved death but in a duel, your words would have no effect upon me, but you both did your duty in the army of your country, and I had for- gotten, we are not Greeks or Romans, but the slaves of cruel modem customs. Sir, there is my hand. Wel- come to Blennerhassett Island ! " CHAPTER XVII THE SONG OF THE DRUIC BURR had carried his point. He and his party had received a cordial welcome from boA the Prince and the Princess, and, although he did not express his intention to his companions, his mind was made up to remain upon the island until he had se- cured every possible advantage from the new acquaint- ance that he had made. He was not sorry, all things considered, that there had been a misunderstanding and some explanations had become necessary. The result had been that he was now on a much better footing with his host and hostess than he would have been had the visit been but a casual call with no attendant' excit- ing circumstances. The incidents which had tran- spired had broken the ice and had opened several ave- nues through which he could present his schemes to his entertainers. The dinner was very enjoyable. In addition to Col- onel Burr's party, there were Mr. and Mrs. Reed and their daughter. No reference was made during the repast to the business relations between Mr. Blenner- hassett and Mr. Reed, but the pleaseid expression on the latter gentleman's face, and the looks of contentment upon those of his wife and daughter, indicated that Mr. Blennerhassett's kind treatment of them in their finan- cial difficulties was greatly appreciated. After dinner, Burr walked down to the little boat- landing. The boat was there and James Gray was its sole occupant. Burr entered the boat and signified his »84 THE SONG OF THE DRUM i8j desire to be rowed back to the raft. There be obtained the trunk containing his personal wearing apparel, and, also, those belonging to his daughter and Kate. These were placed in the boat. Then Burr called the hands together and informed them that he would probably stay for a week or ten days at Blennerhassett Island. He had decided to retain Tom Walters, one of the boatmen, and Bob, the negro boy. He paid Gray and the other boatman for their services and told them that he had no further employment for them. Then Wal- ters rowed him and the baggage back to the island. He then returned to the raft, Burr informing him that he would signal him if he wished the boat at any time. The evening of the first day was passed very pleas- antly in Mr. Blennerhassett's library. The walls were covered with bookcases, upon the shelves of which but few vacant spaces could be found, for his library was extensive, consisting mainly of valuable scientific works. A door opened from the library into the labora- tory in which he carried on his scientific experiments — which, unfortunately, had been experimental only for they had resulted in no new and valuable discoveries. Burr felt equally as well at home in a library as he did upon the battle-field., On the latter, he commanded men; in the former, he commanded authorities, and marshalled them in line as though they had been in- fantry, cavalry, and artillery. On this first evening, he deftly introduced the subject which was uppermost in his mind. He took occasion, however, to employ only his literary infantry, for the time liad not come to open fire with his literary artillery, or to have his literary cavalry make the final charge. The wearied party soon retired so as to arise at an early hour, and the first day of what was to become a most memorable epoch in American history had passed. The next day, Mr. and Mrs. Blennerhassett devoted themselves exclusively to the entertainment of their i«6 BLENNERBASSETT quests. There was a boating trip upon the river, in the course of which Mrs. Blennerhassett pointed out many natural beauties which would ordinarily have escaped the eye of a casual observer. Then there was another quiet journey into the uncleared portion of the island. Towards evening, the sky became overcast and dark clouds shrouded both moon and stars from sight. After supper, Ransome sought his master, bearing a request from the other servants that they might be al- lowed to take the big boat and go fishing by torch-light The request was overheard by Burr, and when Mrs. Blenrierhassett asked him if he would like to accom- pany the party he gladly consented. Then Kate asked if she might be allowed to go, but as there were to be no other ladies in the party, Burr convinced her that her request was inappropriate, and induced her to with- draw it. The party set ofif, many of the number holding aloft Jiuge, flaring torches which emitted not only light, but a great quantity of pungent smoke. Mrs. Blennerc hassett, Theodosia, and Kate watched the party from the little boat-landing. When a good catch was made, the cries of the pleased fishermen were borne across the water, the little party of listeners entering into their enjoyment. Finally- the zest of the fishermen was sat- isfied and they started on their homeward trip. When they had progressed a short distance, one of the negro boatmen struck up in a loud, resonant voice the wdl- known patriotic air called " The Song of the Drum." Burr sat in the stem of the boat, the light of the torches falling upon his face. As he heard the well- known words " 'Twas in the merry month of May," the boat, its occupants, the flaring torches, and the ■idarkly-flowing river vanished from his view and he saw another sight. His mind went back to the even- iag ®f the Fourth of July, 1804, just one wedc previous TEE SONG OF THE DRUM 187 to the meeting on the field at Weehawken Heights. The occasion was the annual dinner of the New York branch of the Society of the Cincinnati, of which Alexander Hamilton was president. Burr was a mem- ber, but he took no active part in the festivities. He sat with his eyes fixed upon the man who, in one short week, he was to meet upon the field of honor. As the fact of the forth-coming duel was known ta but few persons, the real cause of Hamilton's ap- parent lack of interest in the proceedings could not have been divined by those present. He was usually the life of such gatherings, entering into them, even at his age, with all the enSiusiasm and vivacity of a young man. When requested to sing a song, he refused. When the request was again preferred, he refused for the second time, but, in response to the universal de- mand that he should sing one song at least, he finally said, " Well, if you must have it, I will. You know I can only sing one song anjrway." Then he sang " The Song of the Drum," but it was noticed by many, who- afterwards referred to it, that it was not given with the dash and spirit that he had shown on former occasions». While this was passing through Burr's mind the boat had reached the landing. Burr joined the little party and they walked towards the house, while the fisher- men took their catch to the storehouse in which meat, fish, vegetables, and other food supplies for the great house were kept. As they walked slowly along, Kate remarked : " The song sung by the boatmen was really enchanting as the melody came floating over the water." " Yes," said Mrs. Blennerhassett, " I like that song and I don't like it. I like it because it is patriotic and because the melody is simple but sweet." "What is your reason for disliking it?" inquired Burr. "Because," remarked Mrs. Blennerhassett, "our 1 88 BLENNERHASSETT boys have been able to learn the words of two stanzas only, and they have sung them over and over so many times that I have really become tired of them. I have written some poetry myself, but I find it impossible to write anything to match the ones they have." " I am no singer," Burr remarked, " but I have heard the song a great many times. I have a fairly good mem- ory, and if I can recall the words of some of the other stanzas I shall be pleased to give you a copy of them." " You may be sure," said Mrs. Blennerhassett, " that I shall be greatly pleaded to receive them, and that t)leasure will be shared by our boys." The next morning, when they gathered at the break- fast table, Burr laid a folded sheet of paper beside his plate as he took his seat. The fact was that every word in " The Song of the Drum " had been indelibly engraved upon his memory while he sat that night with his eyes fixed upon the man who had been his foe for thirty years, so he had little difficulty in writing out the words of thie song after he had retired to his room. When the morning meal Ivas over, he passed the writ- ten sheet to Mrs. Blennerhassett, remarking that it contained, as nearly as he could remember, the missing stanzas of the song. " Oh ! please read it to us, Mrs. Blennerhassett," cried Kate, and her request was echoed by Burr and his daughter. They had heard that their hostess possessed marked elocutionary ability and this seemed to offer a favorable opportunity for the display of her powers. Mrs. Blennerhassett consented graciously, and de- Kvered with great fervor and dramatic expression thC words of the song: I " 'Twas ia the merry ttionth of May, When bees from flower to flower did huc^ Soldiers through the town marched gay, i The village flew to the sound of the driNk THE SONG OF THE DRUM 189 From windows lasses looked a scores Neighbors met at every door; Sergeant twirled his sash so gory, And talked of honor, wotmds, and glory." II The sergeant stroked his moustachios. On a farmer's door gave ringing blows. And said, " My boy, the time has come To shoulder your musket and follow the dnuB." Then father and the grandfather, too. The hammer and sledge on the anvil threw ; And three recruits from that house did come For they'd all decided to follow the drum. Ill The cobbler bald was soling a shoe. The waxen thread was pulling through ; The sergeant entered and took a seat. And with these words did the cobbler greet : " Of course, my friend> you've heard the news. We're going to war and we need some shoes, As we can't wait, you'll have to come, So pack up your kit and follow the drum." IV The tailor slim with legs so loose. Was pressing a seam with a red-hot goose; A kick at the door, it opened wide And the burly sergeant in did stride. " We're off to the war, my little friend. And we want a tailor our clothes to mend. So pick up your goose, don't look so glui^ 'Tis a glorious trade to follow the drum." The clergyman sat his study within Devising new ways to battle with sin; A knock was heard at the parsonage door, And the sergeant's sword clanged on the floor. I90 BLENNERHASSETT "We're going to war, and when we stood motionless and speechless in the gladsomeness of this first moment of reunion. Words seemed unnecessary and the lips of neither moved to frame them. Then, Frederic broke the silence : " You said, Kate, there was only one man in the world whom you cared to meet. Am I that man ? " She had not looked into his face, but now she glanced up at him, and, as a flush spread over cheek and brow, she confessed, " r was thinking of you." Frederic took the girl's hands in his, and, holding her at arm's length, looked into her face with a scru- tinizing glance. " And I have been thinking of you for two long years, since you deserted me for a life with hifti. Had I met you a thousand miles away from li&n, I virould have said I have never ceased to lov^ 2o6 BLENNERHASSETT you, but when I find you in his company, I can CHiljr say—" Was he going to renew the old conflict? Although the grasp upon them was tight, she withdrew her hands from his and said, with just a touch of her old time spirit, " You were going to say that you hate me." " No," rejoined Frederic, quickly, " I hate him, and he shall answer to me for his actions. Mrs. Blenner- hassett has gone to bring him here so that I may speak with him." Kate clasped her hands. " You must not meet him ! " she exclaimed. " It rests with you," he cried, " to prevent our meet- ing and the consequences which will surely come from it." " What can I do? " asked Kate, hesitatingly. Again, Frederic caught her hands in his and drew her towards him. " Come with me, Kate, this very in- stant. I will make you my wife, for I love you; but you must come now and swear that you will never look upon his face again." Kate again wrested her hands from the tight grasp which held them, and, drawing herself up, proudly, said, " Desert my benefactor in such a way? A man who has always treated me like a daughter; who gave the poor orphan girl what she never knew before, the blessing of a father's love? Frederic, you ask too much. Only let me say good-bye to him, and I will go." The young man's hot temper, again fiercely roused by the known proximity of the man he most hated, would not allow him to grant even this slight con- cession to the woman he professed to love so much. All the vengeful fire in his nature rose at this request. "Not one word, Kate, to him. Hark! They are coming. If he enters this room before we leave it, as A DREAM OF EMPIRE 107 i a asai of honor, I can do but one thing — demand an explanation, which he will refuse; I shall challenge !hmi, and one of us will diie, and end this heart- ache." • Kate's own fiery> spirit was stirred. She faced him defiantly, "And you are resolved upon this course?" The look in her eye caused him to lose what little self- control he had possessed up to this moment. Advan- cing towards her, he cried, " Before Heaven, I swear I will take no other ! " As he spoke the words, he raised his right hand to give force to his oath. He looked so strong and mas- terful, as he stood there. " They will surely fight," tijought Kate, and a shudder ran through her. He had Stated the case plainly. Their meeting must be averted and there was only one way in which it could be done. She must yield ; but was it for the sake of the man who loved her with so fierce a passion, or was it as much from regard for him who had been a kind, indulgent father? It made no difference; she must yield. She turned to him and said simply, " Then come." Frederic caught her in his arms and clasped her so firmly that she struggled to free herself. " Come! Come ! ! " she cried, " or we may be too late." She felt the necessity for speedy action excused this short love-making. "Mine at last!" he cried; he took her hand and they rushed from the room. As Frederic grasped the handle of the door, prepara- tory to opening it, on the other side of it, Ransome had just placed his finger upon the latch with the intention of entering the room. As the door was suddenly opened, Ransome relaxed his hold and stepped back- wards. So intent were Frederic and Kate upon making a speedy exit,, that they did not notice the old servant who, as he l '"'ed after them, gave another of his 3o8 BLENNERHASSETT wnctuous chuckles; then he entered the drawing room, Baying, as he did so, ■ '= . ' : . , " Now ef this wasn't broad daylight, I should 'apeet' that that was a 'lopement." Ransome had hardly closed the door before it was opened again and Mrs. Blennerhassett entered, accom- panied by Colonel Burr. She looked about the room and, not sedng Frederic, cried, "Not here! Where can he be?" Then, spying Ransome, she asked, " Ransome, have you seen Mr. Clarke?" The old servant nodded his head, affirmatively. " I can hardly say I saw him, Missus, he was goin- out so speedy, but I did get a glimpse." "Gone?" exclaimed Mrs. Blennerhassett, " where did he go and when? " The old retainer chuckled again and said: "He went through that door, jess now like a shot, with Miss Emblieton, and they seemed in a drefful hurry." Colonel Burr, who had been an interested listener to this conversation, now turned to his hostess with a smile upon his face : " I think I can explain the situa- tion, Mrs. Blennerhassett. The young man, whose story I have heard from Kate, met the young lady. She has explained matters; he is satisfied, and they have gone to smooth down their feathers before they face us again and say they are going to build a nest of their own. Kate is a splendid girl. I have educated her as if she were my own, and if she loves the young man, he shall have her with my blessing." " I hope so," answered Mrs. Blennerhassett, " I shall be delighted if the afifair turns out so happily." While Colonel Burr had been expressing his senti- ments, Ransome had left the room; as he did so, Mr. Blennerhassett entered in time to hear his wife's closing words. "What is it all about, Margaret?" he asked; As his question fell upon their ears, his listeners A DREAM OF EMPIRE 209 turned towards him; he continued, "I am so full of Colonel Burr's land schemes that I do not exactly knov9, ■ what affair you are talking about." " Your wife will tell you all about the affair, which is the old, old story; two young and loving hearts, happy only in each other's company. But now I am desirous of talking over our business matters with Mrs. Blennerhassett who, I am confident, is a business woman." "You are right. Colonel," said Mr. Blennerhassett, " you must tell Margaret , for I never engage in any business without her advice." " And consent," added Mrs. Blennerhassett, with a laugh. At that moment, Theodosia burst into the room, her face filled with animation; she held an open letter aloft in her right hand. Apparently rpgardless, for the in- stant, of the presence of Mr. Blennerhassett and his Wife, she ran to her father and threw her arms about his neck. " Father, he is coming," she cried, " he received your letter and is on the Way; he says he may arrive before his letter. He will go to Marietta and await a letter or message from you if you have gone beyond." She held the letter up before her father's eyes. " See! what a long letter he has written me." , Burr clasped her slight form tenderly in his arms and pressed a kiss upon her upturned face; then held her at arms' length and said, playfully, " And how did he end it? I wager there is not one word for me, his affectionate father-in-law." Theodosia cried: "Oh, yes! he says," and she looked at the letter, " kiss for me those who love me, and so I must kiss you." As Theodosia withdrew herself from her father's embrace, she saw the pleased faces of Mrs. Blenner- hassett and her husband. Turning to them, she asked^ "€>« you forgive me for being so thoughtless? i 2IO BLENNERHASSETT felt so happy over my letter; and when I am happy^— yes — when I am sad, if my father is near me I always confide in him. In my happiness, I forgot my polite- ness." Turning to her father, she said, with an as- sumed air of surprise, " I am greatly shocked, father, ,'that you did not reprove me when I first came into the , room." Then, with a merry laugh, she cried, " I am ' going to look out on the river and see if he is coming," and she ran from the room. Mrs. Blennerhassett looked after the retreating figure; then, turning to her gfuest, she said: " What an all-impassioned, sensitive, thrilling creature vour daughter is, Colonel Burr." " Yes," he replied, " she is all brain and heart. Madam, and I sometimes fear that the brain is too active and the heart too loving for the fragile casket in which nature has placed them." Mr. Blennerhassett, who had not been greatly in- terested in the scene which had just taken place, now remarked : " Would it not be a good time. Colonel Burr, to explain that land business to my wife? " " Your husband," said Burr, turning to Mrs. Blen- nerhassett, " has all the impetuosity of the Celtic race. How different from our Jersey phlegm. It seems born in a Jerseyman to never do to-day what he can just as well put off until to-morrow. That's the reason our citizens live to such an advanced age.." His clos- ing remark provoked a hearty laugh in which he joined. " Well, Colonel," said Blennerhassett, somewhat im- patiently, " if you do not tell Margaret to-day, I cer- tainly will do so." " Perhaps it is better that you should," replied Burr, courteously. " If she agrees with your present opinion, our path will be clear. If she disagrees, then we must combine our forces and convince her by fact and ir- res?-*Hile argument," and with a low bow, he added, A DREAM OF EMPIRE an " while you are so engaged, with your kind permission, I will join my daughter." When Colonel Burr left the room, Mr. Blenner- hassett said to his wife, " He is a wonderful man." " So are you, Harman," his wife rejoined, " or you might be if you would use your talents in a way to let the world see your ability. What does Colonel Burr have in mind ? " " A great scheme, Margaret. Come, let us sit down. A certain Baron Bastrop owns a very large tract of land on the Washita River in the Territory of Louisiana. Colonel Burr wishes me to join him and others in pur- chasing this land, with two purposes in view; one, to divide the land into estates and sell them, thus realizing an immense fortune between us; the other purpose is to establish a colony of independent and worthy indi- viduals and rear around us a society remarkable for the refinements of civil and social life. What do you think of the idea^ Margaret ? " His wife replied, impulsively, " It seems a grand idea, and one in which, if you join him, you will find an opportunity to become what nature intended you should be, a leader and perhaps a ruler of men." " You have high aims for me, Margaret," he said with a smile. "I am, I will allow, somewhat pleased with the scheme; but I am afraid I should soon wish for the old study, and the library, and my telescope, and 'cello." His wife replied, " All the pleasures you name and enjoy here you could enjoy there as well as here, and in a larger circle, I should have opportunities that our present isolation denies to me." Blennerhassett looked into his wife's face. "Are you unhappy here, Margaret?" "No, Harman, a thousand times no!" she cried, taking her husband's hand in hers. ," No woman could be unhappy with such a husband and such a home; but 212 BLENNERHASSETT you would become famous there; here, there are rusHC to appreciate your worth." "But," he interrogated, "if I were happiest here?" Mrs. Blennerhassett took the hand which she held in hers, placed it about her neck, and sat close to her husband's side : " Then your wife would say, remain here, for your happiness is hers." Blennerhassett embraced his wife, "And yours is mine, Margaret; if there is any other place where you would be happier than here, there I will make a home for you." The great door was suddenly opened. Mingled voices and a merry laugh were heard. Blennerhassett and his wife rose to their feet and stood in an expectant attitude. The door was flung wide open and Theodosia entered leaning upon the arm of a young man, followed closely by her father. " My husband, Mrs. Blennerhassett, Mr. Blenner- hassett," said Theodosia. " I am glad, Mr. Alston," remarked Mrs. Blenner- hassett, " that you find your wife in such good health and spirits. This morning she was so indisposed that I sent to Marietta for a physician." " Yes, a Doctor Hosack," said Mr. Alston. " I met him on the way. A gentleman named Clarke volun- teered this morning to visit Mr. Blennerhassett and see if Colonel Burr were here. Soon after his departurej my impatience overcame me and, learning the road was a good one, I started on my horse, expecting to meet him on his return. Instead, I met the doctor, and asked if I was on the right road; he said he was on his way back from Mrs. Blennerhassett's and that Mrs. Alston was ill, and so I came on here at a swift gallop." "The road to Marietta is a good one," said Mrs. Blennerhassett. " Mapy a time have I made the tr^ A DREAM OF EMPIRE 213 t© and fro of an afternoon for business or pleasure. We have half a dozen fine saddle horses. What do you say, Colonel Burr, to a horseback ride to the wilder- ness at the other end of the island ? It will give us a splendid appetite for dinner and complete Mrs. Alston's cure." Colonel Burr bowed: "I will follow your lead. Madam, to the river's brink." " I often ride into the river," replied Mrs. Blenner- hassett. Burr made another courtly bow : " Then I will follow you to the bottom of the river, if you will but lead." Mr. Alston inquired if Mr. Blennerhassett would accompany them. " Why, certainly," said Theodosia; " we could not think of deserting our host." " Don't mind me," exclaimed Blennerhassett, " I never ride horseback. Ransome is always my driver. Besides, I have so much t^ do in the laboratory that I am in no danger of suffering from ennui." Mr. Alston said : "As we have no word in the English language for ennui, Americans ceirtainly should not suffer from it." " No," cried Burr, " but a Frenchman said ennui in France was synonymous with existence in England, and so the English did not need any such word;" Laughing heartily, the little party left the room to make preparations for their ride. - After their departure, Blennerhassett sat for a while with an abstracted look upon his face. Whether his thoughts were pleasant or otherwise could not have been divined from his expression. Whatever they were, they were broken in upon by the sudden entrance of Ransome. " Massa Blennerhassett ! " Blennerhassett looked up, gazed at Ransome for a moment, and then said, " Yes, Ransome, what do you want?^*^ ,■..-." j: [ .■!- 214 BLENNERHASSETT " A man wants to see you, Massa Blennerhassett, a sailor man." " Well, show him in," said the master, rising as he spoke. Ransome approached him and, in a low voice, said: " He says he wants to speak to you very private, and no one in the house mus' know he is here an' when he goes." " Have my wife and the others gone to ride? " Mr. Blennerhassett asked. "Yes, sah, they have all gone, and Missus took Philander with her to cut down the underbrush." "The coast is clear then," said Blennerhassett to himself. To Ransome, "Tell him to come in, Ran- some." The servant went to do his bidding. " Who can he be? Some old river boatman who wants assistance, but why so much secrecy and mystery ? I will not see him but will send some money to him by Ransome. " Ransome ! Ransome ! ! " he called, in a loud voice, and had hardly ceased when the door opened and Ran- some ushered in the old sailor, as he had called him. " Here, sah, here's the man." The old sailor looked at Ransomd and waved his hand in a way to indicate that his presence was not de^ sired. Mr. Blennerhassett turned towards the man who was dressed in the costume of a river boatman. He was old and grizzled and had evidently been long in the business. The owner of the great house often had de- mands made upon him for assistance, for the story of his wealth had been widely spread and, in the minds of the simple country folk, his modest competency had been swelled to a fabulous amount. " My good man, what can I do for you? How much money do you want? " The sailor approached Mr. Blennerhassett, with one A DREAM OF EMPIRE 2 1 5 finger of his right hand uplifted, and, in a low whisper, asked : " Say, Cap'n, are we alone ? No danger of being rung up for a storm, eh ? " Blennerhassett started back and regarded his visitor with a dignified air. " I cannot imagine any reason for your visit unless for assistance, and no reason what- ever for so much precaution, so much mystery. Who are you ? " " In the first place," said the man, " I am not a sailor." As he spoke, he removed the false whiskers which had covered his face, and took off the old griz- zled wig. Blennerhassett looked at him in astonish- ment The man continued : " In the second place, my name is Graham, John Graham; I am a special agent of the United States government on secret ser- vice." The man s statement of his official position quickly recalled Blennerhassett's scattered senses, and he asked, " What is the nature of that special service ? " The man looked at Blennerhassett and smiled. " I have my suspicions that it will not be necessary for me to explain the nature of my visit here." Blennerhassett, with a more severe manner than he had before asstmied, addressed his visitor. "Your innuendo under certain circumstances might be insult- ing. As I do not know the nature of your suspicions, nor to what knowledge of mine you so vaguely refer, I will give you an opportunity for further explanation. Be seated, sir." The man walked towards the farther end of the long room, followed by Blennerhassett who, although un- able to understand his visitor's strange actions, yet had aifficient curiosity to wish to know the object of his visit Graham finally selected a seat upon a divan, Ife back of which was towards the great door, while Blennerhassett sat in a chair facing him. 2 1 6 BLENNERHASSETT " Pardon me, sir," said Graham, leaning back in his luxurious seati " but we detectives always go upon the supposition that our clue is a good one and our sus- picions sure to be proved correct." " Your last remark is more tinsatisfactory than your first," said Blennerhassett ; ",What have I to do with detectives ? " Graham shrugged his shoulders. " You have a vis- itor, a certain Mr. Burr." " My visitor," rejoined Blennerhassett, " is Colonel Aaroft Burr, ex-Vice-President of the United States." " Exactly," said Graham, " there can be no mis- take about the man. He is the man; he is the Mr. Burr I mean. Excuse a leading question, but what answer have you given to his request that you join him in his treasonable plot ? " Blennerhassett jumped. to his feet and cried, excit- edly, "Treasonable plot? Sir, your imagination has run away with your senses. He has mentioned no treasonable plot to me." Graham said to himself, "I am too early." Thea aloud : " Pray be seated, Mr. Blennerhassett Then he has broached no scheme of conspiracy to you as yet," and he strongly emphasized the last two words. Blennerhassett again sank into his Chair. Then aa idea seemed to strike him. He looked at Graham and said, " Where are your proofs that you are what yoa say you are?" " That is a question ybii should have asked m theil first place," remarked Graham. "I am prepared to answer your inquiry." He placed a paper in Blenner- hassett's hands and, unfolding another, held it up for his iiiSpection. " The document in your hand," he con- tinued, " speaks for itself; and here," as he said this he held the outstretched document close to Blennerhassetf s eyes, for it occurred to him that he had heard it siM that the gentleman was very nearsighted, "ismyt A DREAM OF EMPIRE 217 mission, signed by Thomas Jefferson, the President of the United States." Blennerhassett examined the papers carefully, tfien he said : " They seem to be conclusive. Sir, I am an Irishman by birth, and, as such, I have become used to plots and government emissaries. I had hoped that my adopted country would have no use for these instruments of despotism. I am sorry to learn that the government of a free country is obliged to employ spies to track the footsteps of those with whom it differs politically. Plain talk now, after we have exchanged these mutual compliments, can do no harm. What are your suspicions as regards myself ? " Blennerhassett's remarks did not seem to disturb Graham's equanimity. He replied, " To speak plainly, then, sir, my suspicion is that you are aiding and abet- ting this Colonel Burr in a scheme calculated to disturb the peace of the country." • ■ Blfennerhassett sprang to his feet again and spoke more excitedly than before : " False ! sir, false in every •respect ! I am the last man in the world who would disturb the peace or impair the prosperity of the United States. Weary of political strife in my native land, I have sought, and found, an asylum in America, and I can never violate its tranquillity. I have no doubt your charges against Colonel Burr are as weak as your sus- picions of myself have proved to be." Graham's manner was still unruffled, as he re- plied, " And yet, Colonel Burr is known by the government to have come West to ascertain the sentiments of the people of the Western States upon the subject of a "separation from the Atlantic States." '- " Imjxjssible ! '* cried Blennerhassett, "the union of these States, cemented by the blood of its patriots, can never be broken at the will of any State that has pledged itself to obey the constitution. It is like a marria^ 2 1 8 BLENNERHASSETT in the sight of God, which man has no right to put asunder." While Blennerhassett had been speaking, Graham had quietly resumed and carefully adjusted his dis- guise. He arose from the divan as he remarked, " True and patriotic words, Mr. Blennerhassett. Would that all Americans thought so and that none would ever think otherwise. Then you have no information to give the government in this matter ? " Blennerhassett answered him spiritedly, " None whatever, sir ! Colonel Burr has never mentioned the subject to me; but, if he does, I will answer him as I have you, and, in addition, inform the President of his treason at the earliest moment." Graham bowed: "The President, sir, shall be in- formed of your patriotic feelings and intentions. Allow me, sir, to thank you for your courtesy and to—" " Good morning, sir," said Blennerhassett, with asperity. He pointed towards the door at the farther end of the room, and approached it, closely followed by Graham. Blennerhassett opened the door and said, " You can leave the house through this room. There is a door leading on to the lawn, and you can make your exit without meeting my guests. I hear their voices. They have returned from their ride." " Thank you, sir, for your foresight," said Graham. He entered the small room quickly and closed the door behind him. Blennerhassett walked towards the other end of the room just in time to meet his wife, Theo- dosia. Colonel Burr, and Mr. Alston, as they entered. " No need to ask us, Harman," cried Mrs. Blenner- hassett, " yes, we have had a splendid time." "Your wife is a break-neck rider, Mr. Blenner- hassett," remarked Colonel Burr, "and easily dis- tanced me, old soldier that I am." " She made me think of an Engli^ htssar cbai^fing the enemy," cried Theodosia. A DREAM OF EMPIRE 219 Mr. Alston turned to Mr. Blennerhassett, " Had the English brought such riders as your wife with them, we should still be subjects of King George." Mrs. Blennerhassett made a beautiful picture as she stood there, in her becoming riding-costume; the long ostrich plumes fell over the edge of her wide-brimmed hat; her cheeks red with excitement, while she nerv- otisly tapped the folds of her habit with her whip. She made a low courtesy, " Your flattery, gentlemen, is highly appreciated. To-morrow we will have a twenty- mile .gallop and see if our horsemanship is as reliable as it is brilliant." " That is so," remarked Burr, " the forced march is oftentimes a greater achievement than the brilliant charge." " Now," said Mrs. Blennerhassett, " we will sit down and discuss Colonel Burr's proposition while the subject is on our minds. Oh, Harman, Colonel Burr has ex- plained his scheme to us all, and we all agree with him that it is a brilliant idea, a realization of the dreams of the poets and the hopes of philosophers." Colonel Burr saw his opportunity : " Yes, and who knows but that our model State may become the real Utopia in which the true, the beautiful, and the good may govern our relations; that Mr. Blennerhassett may become the conservator of our liberties, with Mr. Alston and myself to aid him, respectively, in the arts of diplomacy and war; that his lovely wife may grace the position of first lady in the land, while my daughter and Kate — ^where is Kate? — act as her maids of honor." " You have outlined the picture, my dear Colonel," cried Blennerhassett, with enthusiasm; "I would have a State in which science and art would so absorb our time and interest our minds that politics and diplomacy, intrigue and war, would naturally fall into disfavor and disuse. The duties of life should become pleasures; these ple^tu'es, patriotic duties. A land in which those 820 BLENNERHASSETT above would always endeavor to lift to a higher level those who were below. To secure such a Paradise on earth as that, I would give my labors, my fortune, and my life." " All this is possible, Mr. Blennerhassett," said Burr;' " yes, sure of accomplishment, if you and a few others endowed with wealth and education will be the pio* neers. But there must be one who will be the first, theil others will follow his lead." As Burr ceased speaking, Blennerhassett drew hint* seif up to his full height. The subject had been sO interesting, that for a moment he seemed transformed; he looked at his auditors and said in clear, ringing tones: " Then I will be that first; if mine the greater risk, then mine the greater joy, if success crowns our efforts ! Colonel Burr, ybu can rely upon the word of Harman Blennerhassett." Coldnel Burr approached Blennerhassett with ex- tended; hand, " I do, and will ! " he cried. They clasped hands. As these two men, whose lives and fates were to be so closely linked together in the future, sealed their compact, their three witnesses looked on with interest and apprehension. f Once more the great door was thrown back upon its hinges and Kate rushed into the room, closely followed by Frederic. Burr released Blennerhassett's hand and turned to meet his protege^. "Here's my little girl back again," said he, in his most winning manner," she has made it up with her lover and now she comes for her father's blessing. You have it," he added, as Kate grasped his hands and fell upon her knees at his feet., " No, no! " cried Kate, springing to her feet again, " pot that. He is as bitter against you as ever and called you names that I should not dare to, repeat bei fore you." Frederic sprang forward and grasped Kate's hand. A DREAM OF EMPIRE 221 " For the last time, I ask you, Kate will you forsake that man forever? " Kate tore her hand from his grasp and rushing to Burr threw herself into his arras. Then, turning to Frederic, she said, proudly, " This is your answer) '* CHAPTER XTX *' ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN MERELY PLAYERS * A 'MONTH had passed by and Colonel Burr and his companions were still the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Blennerhassett. The days and even- ings had been passed in devising plans and in arguments and speculations connected therewith. The great table in the library was covered with books and papers. Maps had been consulted, authorities referred to, and sheets of paper had been covered with long columns of figures. But, if there were marked indications of a busy time in the library, in other parts of the house, and outside of it, the signs were still more significant. The big raft had been poled across the stream and was now moored near the little landing. The services of Walters and the negro boy. Bob, were now required in other directions than that of boatmen. In one of the secluded glades that Burr had noticed in his first jaunt through the island, a little cabin had been erected, and in it one of the new recruits was busily engaged in casting bullets for the muskets and rifles which, securely packed, were hidden in the natural cave, the location of which had been observed by Burr. In some of the outbuildings, Blennerhassett's servants were busily engaged in parching grain and putting it into boxes and barrels for transportation — ^no one knew whither. Kegs of powder and a number of swords, together with cartridge-belts, bullet-pouches, powder- horns, and other military accoutrements, had arrived upon the island, usually by night, and had been con* MERELT PLATERS 223 eealed in the capacious storehouses. Blennerhassett had contracted for the building of a flotilla of bateaux. These w^re to be of quite large size, each capable of carrying sixty men with their provisions and military trappings. At some of the conferences, Blennerhassett, his wife;, and Colonel Burr were present; but the usual procedure was for Colonel Burr to advance his propositions to Mrs. Blennerhassett, by whom they were first con- sidered; then she presented them to her husband who rarely failed to finally coincide with her judgment of what was best to be done. One day, when the three were together in the library, Blennerhassett looked up and, with an appearance of jocularity which he rarely assumed, propounded the important question, " What shall we call this new do- main of ours ? " " Judging from the amount of labor it has required and is likely to call for in the future," said Burr, " I should think Workland would be the best name for it." " If our plans work out as we have designed them," Blennerhassett remarked, " and everybody is obliged to do his or her part of the work, no drones being allowed in our Utopia, there will be so much time left for recrea- tion and amusement that I think Playland more appro- priate." " The names suggested by you gentlemen," said Mrs. Blennerhassett, " are both good, but there is a much better one." Burr looked at her, inquiringly : " Home- land," she replied, in response to the interrpgErtive glance. " Capital ! " cried Burr, " what nobler title than IQng of Homeland." " I think there is one that is nobler," remaiieed lfe& Blennerhassett. "What is it? "asked Burr. The lady smiled : " Queen of Homdand." 224 BLENNERHASSETT * Burr arose and made one of his courtly bows. " My dear Mrs. Blennerhassett, you already possess that title." " I hope the sword and gun will not be needed in Homeland," said Mr. Blennerhassett. " Only to repel invaders envious of our happiness and prosperity," remarked Burr. But he was not thinking of a pastoral country full of hard-working but con- tented farmers. In his mind was a picture of a domain with a throne, and a king, and an army. " Only to repel invaders," fell from his lips again, as he com- pleted his mental picture. The evenings were devoted to literature, art, and music. The latest books were discussed and recent achievements in painting and sculpture were considered. Then Blennerhassett brought out his violin and 'cell® and greatly pleased his listeners with his artistic rendi- tion of music of a high order. Between the musical titlmbers Mrs. "Blennerhassett recited poetical selec- tions, and -the gatherings were greatly enjoyed by all:' "Harman," said his wife, one evening-, "we must treat our frieids here to a session of the Shakespearean Club;. I suppose you all like Shakespeare ? " she quer- ied, turning to her guests. " He is the king of poets ! " exclaimed Burr. "I love him best," remarked Thebdosia, "because he understood the heart of woman. He may have cre- ated Wicked ones> but never a vain or a foolish one." An evening was then fixed upon for the meeting, and Mrs. Blennerhassett sent neatly-worded and hand- somely-written invitations to a dozen ladies and gen- tlemen who lived in Marietta, or in the adjoining coun- try. Doctor Johnsori and t)Octor Hosack being among the number. At last the time appointed came, and the guests were all assembled in the drawing-room which was bril- MERELr PLATERS 225 liantly lighted and beautifully decorated witH flowers and vines. Mrs. Blennerhassett was, naturally, the in- spiration and guiding spirit of the occasion. Address- ing the assemblage, she said : "Our little club has no constitution or officers. Like the Russian editor who prints a newspaper only when he can get paper and ink and news together at the same time, we meet only when the spirit moves us. We call our little entertainment the Session of the Shakespearean Club. Our motto is — All the World's a Stage." — ^As she said this, she turned to the company and cried, " Who can finish the quotation? " Several voices repeated the balance, but Burr's clear- cut, incisive tones were heard above the rest : " All the men and women merely players." Theodosia looked up with an animated countenance and said : " The words of the melancholy Jacques in—" But before she could complete her remark Kate called out, " As You Like It," and the whole company burst into laughter. " If there is no objection," continued Mrs. Blenner- hassett, " I will assume my usual role of stage man- ager." This declaration was received with signs of ap- probation. " The first selection," said the Mistress of Ceremonies, " will be a scene from the ' Merchant of Venice.' We do not give it intact, but read, only cer- tain portions which show its intent and purpose." She then passed the written parts to the readers. ~ " Colonel Burr," she said, " I have cast for Shylock; my husband for Antonio; Doctor Hosaek as the Duke, while I will endeavor to render* the lines allotted to Portia.'-' Thus designated, the readers took their places in the centre of the room, while the faces of the auditors evinced very deep interest in the coming dramatic scene. As Portia delivered the closing words, she closed hca: 226 BLENNERHASSETT book, and the readers, forming in line, bowed their acknowledgments of the plaudits of the company. A call was then made for a violin solo by Mr. Blen- nerhassett, to which request he obligingly responded, adding, for an encore, an exquisite little air upon the 'cello. The Mistress of Ceremonies again took the floor. " This time," she said, " we will leave the mimic stage entirely to the gentlemen. I will not tell you what play the scene is from, but give you all a chance to recognize and name it. I will only tell you that it is the second scene in the third act of the play. Mrs. Blennerhassett passed one of the written parts to Colonel Burr and the other to her husband. She took her seat beside Theo- dosia and lovingly placed one of her arms abou* her. The readers began : Burr, as Cromwell: "O, my lord. Must I then leave you ? Must I needs forego So good, so noble, and so true a master ? Beai witness, all that have not hearts of iron, Widi what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord. — The king shall have my service ; but my prayers Forever, and forever, shall be yours." There was a slight pause; a dozen voices cried out "Henry the Eighth!" We«nerhassett, as Wolsey: Cromwell, I did not thmlc to shed a fear In all my miseries ; but thou hast forced me Out of thy honest truth to play the woman. Let'« dry our eyes : and thus far hear me^ Gronni^; And — ^when I am forgotten, as 1 shall be; And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mentioa Ot me more must be heard of — say, I taught thee^ Say, Wolsey— that once trod the ways of glca^. And sounded all the depths and shoals of honoi^^ FtMUkd tfcee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in; A alHS and sale out, tbough thy master mist'd 8.^ MERELT PLATERS 227 Marie but my fall, and that that ruin'd me. Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition; By that sin fell the angels; how can man then. The image of his Maker, hope to win by 't? iove thyself last; cherish those hearts that hate tfaMi; G>rruption wins not more than honesty. Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace. To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's, Thy God's, and truth's; then, if thou fall'st, O Cromw^ Thou faU'st a blessed martyr. Serve the king, And, — Pr'ythee lead me in: There take an inventory of all I have. To the last penny : 'tis the king^s : my robe, And my integrity to heaven, is all I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell, Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal I serv'd my king, he would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies. Vremwell: Good sir, have patience. Wohey: So I have. Farewell The hopes of court 1 my hopes in heaven do dwelL" Blennerhassett astonished Burr and the other stran- gers to this form of entertainment by the earnestness and force with which he deUvered the celebrated speech of the great cardinal, and the dramatic truth and power of his reading were greatly appreciated and loudly ap- plauded. Refreshments were then served. Tea and coflfee in dainty little china cups; wines of half a dozen varieties in delicate, fragile glasses; appetizing cakes and fruits of various kinds. Then the conversation ran wild; comments upon the readings and the readers; discus- sions of the real meaning of this or that line or word of the text. The never to be silenced query, was there really a William Shakespeare, was debated ("'o and con. Then the Mistress of Ceremonies rang her little bell aod i28 BLENNERHASSETT announced that the entertainment would close with a scene from the tragedy of " Macbeth." Quiet was at once restored and all waited anxiously for what was to be the crowning event of the evening. The Mistress of Ceremonies once more passed around the written books. To Colonel Burr, she assigned the part of Macbeth; to her husband, that of King Duncan ; to Mr. Alston, that of Banquo, she assuming the character of Lady Macbeth, ' while the minor characters enlisted the ser- vices of nearly every one in the company with the ex- ception of Theodosia, who firmly but politely refused to take part in the reading. The scene first represented was the arrival of King Duncan at Macbeth's castle; then followed Macbeth's profuse welcome to his sovereign. Omitting minor matters, the next scene disclosed the plot designed by Lady Macbeth for the fulfilment of which her cow- ardly-minded and weak-kneed husband was to be the instrument. Next followed the murder scene and the exciting dialogue between the two murderers — one an assassin in thought, the other in deed. The selection from the tragedy closed with the sleep-walking scene which was rendered in a superb manner by Mrs. Blen- nerhassett who rose to the full requirements of the character. In the course of it, however, a most un- toward incident occurred which robbed the talented reader of the climax of her scene, and caused the com- pany to break up in a most unexpected manner. As Mrs. Blennerhassett, in her role of Lady Macbeth, spoke the line, " Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him ? " one of the guests, a young girl, unthinkingly turned to Theodosia, by whose side she was sitting, and said : " She might have expected it; all Scotchmen are full-blooded you know." From this speech, which was entirely unexpected, Theodosia shrank and gave a shriek of horror which at- MERELT PLATERS 229 ttacted the attention of every person in the room. The readers dropped their books and Burr, Kate, and Mrs* Blennerhassett ran towards the excited yoting woman iwho seemed to be suffering from hysteria. The con- tinual references to ambition, blood, and murder, to which she had listened during the evening, had been top much for her sensitive organization, and she had given way under the pressure of her overwrouglit feelings. ' Theodosia was taken at once to iher room and pro- fessional assistance was rendered by the two physicians who were present. ' ■ ■ The next morning a conversation took place between 'Burr and his son-in-law, at the close of which both had come to the conclusion that it would be best for Theo- dosia and her boy to rteturn home, at once to South Caro- lina, on which journeys of course, it, would be neces- sary for her husband to accompany her. It was recog- nized by both of them that although, to the casual ob- server, these were the piping. times of. peace, the in- tuitive knowledge and penetratibn of Theodosia had discerned behind them the omens of strife. Soon after the cMiclusion was arrived at that the Alstons were to return home, Doctbr Hbsack called to make inquiries in regard to his patient of the previous evening. Upon learning of the intended speedy return to the East, he said that his trip to the West had reached its termination, and he had intended to journey towards his home in New York City in a few days. He re- marked to Mr. Alston that if his presence would not be considered obtrusive, he should be glad to accompany their party. Mr. Alston assured him that his presence would be a welcome addition; for, if his wife should have another attack, he would be of invaluable service to them. So the matter was thus arranged. Mrs. Blennerhassett opposed the return both by argu- ment and entreaty. She said there was no more health- ful place in the world than their island home, and that «30 BLENNERHASSETT Mrs. Alston would soon recover from her indispoerf* tion. But, as she did not know the real objections to the further stay of Theodosia, she was, of course, unable to combat them understandingly, and both arguments and entreaties were of no avail. She, however, carried her point in one particular. She persisted that it was unkind to leave her alone after she had enjoyed herself so much in the company of members of her own sex,— to deprive her of them both at one fell swoop. She insisted that Kate should remain with her, and, as the young girl had no real home, after a talk with her fos- ter-father, it was decided that she should remain. Preparations were made during the day for the de- parture for Marietta where the stage was to be taken at ten o'clock the next morning. Doctor Hosack arrived at the island two hours before that time, for he wished to be sure that his patient was in proper condition to undertake the journey. Burr had learned of the doc- tor's change in his plans so as to form one of the party. As the doctor entered the drawing-room. Burr rose to greet him, exclaiming, " Doctor, you have won my lasting gratitude. My daughter's life is dearer to me than my own; but yet, in such a case as this, how powerless is a father's love." Friendly relations had been re-established between Burr and Doctor Hosack. It was not a remembrance of the duel that had caused the latter to show an indisposi- tion to meet Colonel Burr when he first learned of his presence on Blennerhassett Island, but rather the rumors of what reached his ears regarding the relations supposed to exist between Burr and Miss Embleton. When he learned the true facts of the case and saw that the stories which had been circulated were only part and parcel of that malignity which certain persons had always evinced towards Aaron Burr, his reticence van- ished and former friendly relations were resumed. MERELT PLATERS ajf Another kind offer of assistance was to be made t9 ^e little party which was to start upon its travels within a couple of hours. Turning to Burr, Blenner- hassett said : "My man, Ransome, had better go with you to Marietta, — and farther," he continued as he turned to Mr. Alston, " if you desire. If you wish, you can take him home with you. He is a good traveler and we have plenty of servants and to spare." Burr remarked: "He would be of great service, Alston." Blennerhassett said quickly, " Then he goes — ^that is settled." Mr. Alston was evidently greatly pleased by this act ©f courtesy on the part of his host. " I will not refuse your great kindness, but I must say more than one word to thank you for your— 7" Burr finished the speech : " As I shall remain here after you are gone, I will keep on thanking him. But you and the doctor ought to prepare for your journey at once." " We will," said Alston, and, taking the doctor's arm, they both left the room. At this moment, Ransome entered to make some inquiry in regard to the baggage. " Gome here, you rascal ! " cried his master. " Yes, Massa." : " Ransome, I am going .to send you away." "Good Lor' don't, Massa. I'll be a good nigger. Don't send poor Ransome away. How'U you ever shoot birds or catch fish or — " " If I don't have you to do it for me," laughed Blennerhassett. " I don't know; I think it will be necessary to buy my game." Burr, who had been looking at a book that lay upon a table near by, at this remark, turned and said quicklv • "Learn to do that, Mr. Blennerhassett, and I will 232 BLENNERHASSETT soon make a politician — no, I mean a statesman of you. The kind marksman sells both game and the credit of shooting it^ — for cash." Blennerhassett replied somewhat sternly:. "So niuch the worse then foi" honest sport-^— and the couiitry of the politician — I mean statesman." During this colloquy which, in his present excited Condition; was above poor Ransome's comprehension, but which he feared had some connection with his im- pending fate, he had fallen upon his knees at his mas- ter's feet and looked up with an imploring expression upon his face. Blennerhassett's- features relaxfed as he saw the up-turned visage. "Get up, Ransome, get iip." As he said this, he took his old retainer by the arm and assisted him to his feet. "I am not going to send you to South Carolina because you are a bad nigger, but because you are a good One." Ransome's face brightened. " Did you say Souf Car'lina, Massa?" " Yes, South Carolina. You are going home with •Mrs. Alston and her husband. Are you sorry you are going?" Ransome was too politic to express unlimited ap- proval of the idea, so he said : " Sorry for some, 'cause I don't want to leave you and the Missus and the chil- lem-and glad for some, 'cause my ole, ole, mammy lives down in Souf Car'lina." " You shall go and see her," cried his master. ** Colonel Burr, tell your son-in-law that Ransome is to see his old mother before he returns. Here is money." Burr advanced with his hand raised deprecatingly. ** No, I will pay that, or my son will — ^no refusal." Blennerhassett counted out some money from his purse and placed it in Ransome's hand. Burr re- marked: "You are as obstinate a man as myself. I MERELT PLATERS 23 j must see if I can be of any service to my daughter.'* As he said this, he left the room. On Ransome's face, a broad smile had taken the> place of the look of fear that had appeared in it when his master first addressed him. " Bless you Massa, and my ole mammy will bless you, too. Good-bye, Massa." " Don't stop to say good-bye now, Ransome, but go and get ready for your journey." As is usual on such occasions, farewells and good^ Ibyes and hand-shakings were indulged in to profusion, and hearty and sincere wishes for a safe and prosperous journey were extended to the travelers. The partings J)etween Theodosia and Mrs. Blennerhassett, and ThecH dosia and her friend Kate, were tender and womanly;! but out of regard for Theodosia's nervous conditioiij the leaVe^takirigs were made as short as possible. But there was one final interview yet to come, the length of which was to be determined by herself, and not by her companion. This interview was with her father and took place in the great drawing-room which, as if by common understanding and consent, had been left to them for their sole occupancy about half an hour be- fore the contemplated departure. " Father," said Theodosia, " I cannot leave you, when our next meeting is so uncertain, without say- ing something that I have upon my mind. You have told me part of your plans and schemes. To my un- derstanding, they have seemed good and proper, and I have approved them; but you must pardon me, father, if I say that I think you have other designs which you have not confided to me, and which, perhaps,' from my jpoint of view, would not commend themselves to my judgment. I do not wish to force your confidence, dear father; in fact, in the condition in which I now am, it were better that you should tell me no more than I already knovir." , Biirr nodded his head.' Theodosia continued : " You 234 BLENNERHASSETT remember the other night, father, when I was so osex- ccttne ? " Here, Burr nodded again. " I cannot explain to you," said his daughter, " how I suffered on that occasion. During that scene from the ' Merchant of Venice,' when you knelt there sharpening the knife upon your shoe, and glaring at poor Mr. Blennerhassett, the reality of the scene so affected me that I could have screamed with horror as I have often done when I have awakened from a nightmare." Burr smiled but said, tenderly : " I am afraid, my idear Theodosia, that you fell asleep and dreamed part of what you have told me. I am sure I have no designs ttpon poor Mr. Blennerhassett, as you call him." " I know what you mean," cried Theodosia. " Of coarse you have no designs upon his life; I do not mean that; but I know as well as you do that his wife is an ambitious woman, that she listens eagerly to your plans and then as eagerly presents them to her husband. He, poor man, having little mind of his own, follows the road that she marks out for him. I can imagine, although no one has told me, that he is going to invest money in your schemes. Suppose that money is lost? Money, you know, is the next thing to blood, and by some people it is considered to be of even greater value; ior they will shed blood to obtain it. You are good friends now, father, but if that money is lost, these same good friends may become your bitter enemies in the future; and God knows you have too many of those to iwish to add to their number." Burr may have winced internally but his face ex- pressed neither approval of, nor resentment for his daughter's plain speaking. But she was not through. " How I wish, dear father, you would follow the ad- vice given to you, as Cromwell, by Mr. Blennerhassett as Cardinal Wolsey. He charged you to fling away am- bition. Would that I could add my words so strongly Ito those of the great Cardinal that you would fling it MERELT PLATERS 235 away, idear father, and come home to live with us in South Carolina." Here Burr evinced the first signs of disapprobation that he had manifested. " No," he cried, " I do not propose to commit sui- cide by living near those cursed rice swamps. They will yet be the death of you and your child." Theodosia had become greatly excited during the interview, and this reference to the possible death of her child brought on another nervous attack. " Death ! " she cried, " Yes, it is always death ! Don't you re- member in the play the other night where the wicked Macbeth killed the good King Duncan? Don't you remember when Lady Macbeth was trying to remove the signs of blood from her hands that she said who would have thought that the old man had so much blood in him? Then a lady who sat beside me leaned over and said : ' That is because he was a Scotchman, and Scotchmen are always full-blooded.' Oh ! father, when she uttered those words you can imagine the picture that came to my mind ! " During this long interview, Burr had uttered but few words, and made but few signs either of assent or disapproval. He seemed to recognize that the nervous condition of his daughter was responsible for her lan- guage. He took her gently in his arms and pressed a kiss upon her forehead. "You will forget all this, my dear one," he said, " when you are back home and you and little Gamp re- sume your studies. You will hear from me often, and it will not be very long before I shall come to you or send for you to come to me again." The door opened and Mr. Alston entered, accom- panied by little Gamp. The time had come for their departure. Turning to his son-in-law, Burr said : " Theodosia and I have been discussing Shakespeare. If I were to speak in a manner as much like that of the «56 BLENNERHASSETT great poet aS it is possible for me to do, I should say: Take her to her home, Joseph, for in these surroundings she is much affected by idle fancies and fantastic phantoms. Do not take her 1 t the rice swamps, Joseph, for it is to the pestilential miasma which arises there- from that are due the pains from which she suffers. No, Joseph, take her instead to the high hills where she can breathe the pure air that blows from the tall trees and the higher mountains beyond. There will she learn calm philosophy, and sturdy thought will take the place of boding fancies and vain imaginings." Re- suming his ordinary manner, he said : " Cheer up, Theodosia ! when next we meet you will find that kind Fate has marked me for her favors, and that I am bending low beneath the blessings showered upon me." For a few moments at least, this very hopeful, very sanguine man implanted trust and confidence in the bosom of his child. She smiled brightly; her eye was full of fire; her voice betrayed no tones of sorrow or regret; and no one would have thought that the fare- well words spoken were for more than a brief period. Theodosia did not see her father again until he stood before the bar of justice at Richmond on trial for his Kfe, charged with conspiracy and high treason. CHAPTER XX AN EAVESDROPPER PHILANDER, the head man at the stables, had been promoted to Ransome's place. He was a young negro and had not had the opportunity- to acquire, either by age or experience, that politic man- ner which had been so marked a characteristic of the old retainer. Neither did he liossess that oily, unctuous chuckle which had usually preceded Ransome's entrance and accompanied his departure from the society of his superiors. Philander seldom kughed and rarely smiled, his countenance preserving , almost uniformly a staid and sober demeanof. This was in marked contrast to his uncertain ^.nd often ungrammatical language. He had formed an unjust criterion for determining the social condition of visitors to the island, his judgment being based upon the cut and quality of their clothing. Maiiy a heated' debate had taken place at the stables between him and the boys, in which he strongly maintained that a gentleman could always be known by his clothes. About an hour aner the departure of his guests east- ward, Mr. Blennerhassett sat in his library contemplat- ing a map of Louisiana which was spread out upon the table before him. A dozen or more pins, their heads capped with red or black sealing-wax, had been stuck in different portions of the map. Mr. Blenner- hassett was measuring the distance between these pins with a pair of calipers, and then ascertaining the num- ber of miles represented by resorting to a scale which was printed at the bottom of the map. 237 238 BLENNERHASSETT While thus engaged. Philander entered the library. "Dar's a pusson out dar who tole me he wants ter see yo'." " Show the gentleman in," said his master, without looking up from his work. Philander hesitated. " He ain't no gen'leman, Massa Blennerhassett, he's only a pusson. His clo'es is ole and dirty. I reckon he is only a boatman out of a job." " Did he give his name? " asked his master, looking up. " No, sah, he said he'd been here afore. He tole me yo'd know him." The thought immediately flashed through Blenncr- hassett's mind that the spy, with whom he had had an interview, had come back again — ^but for what pur- pose? " You may show the person in," he said finally, con- forming unthinkingly to Philander's phraseology. " Wait a moment," he cried, before Philander reached the door. " Has Colonel Burr returned to the house? " " No, sah; he informed me confidenshally that he ■w«re goin' to ride half way to Marietta, but he tole me he would be back ter dinnah." The next question threw Philander off his guard: " Did Colonel Burr give you any money? "" "Yes, sah, a triful." " How much ? " asked his master, sternly. "A dollar, sah." " Well, Philander," said Mr. Blennerhassett, " if you take money again from any of my guests for services rendered them, for which services I compensate you in many ways, I shall have a talk with Marmaduke." " Yes, sah," said Philander, bowing and leaving the room hastily. "That was foolish in me," soliloquized Blenner- hassett, " he will take the money just the same in the future, but he will never own up again to having re- AN EAVESDROPPER 239 mved any. How easy it is for a good man to make other men liars." As Philander opened the door of the library to admit the new comer, the latter turned to him and said sharply : " My colored friend, don't be too particular about showing me the way I've been here before." When Philander had closed the door, the visitor spoke, in his natural tone of voice, to Blennerhassett : " Do you recognize me, sir ? " Blennerhassett replied : " I have a good memory, sir, but I did not khbw until the other day that the government of the United States used detectives in disguise to do its bidding." "That is because," said Graham, for it was he, "detectives seldom disclose their identity to suspected parties." Blennerhassett who had remained seated up to this time, arose from his chair and said in an excited man- ner : " Sir ! What do you mean ? " Graham replied, coolly : " But in your case, as you are not a siispected party, I throw off my disguise." Blennerhassett inquired, his ire still rising, " If I am not a suspected party, why come here at all ? " Graham advanced until he reached the end of the table. Then he raised his right hand, and pointing with his forefinger at Blennerhassett said, dramatically: " Because there is a dark and portentous storm-cloud gathering in the horizon which will burst in the near future and cause sad fatalities within that unsuspecting circle — ^your, home. The government sends me not to suspect you, but to warn you ! " At this point, Blennerhassett's natural politeness as- serted itself. He motioned his visitor to a chair not far removed from his own, which he resumed. " Were I really in danger of being innocently drawn into a questionable proceeding, this solicitude of the govern- ment would be paternal, friendly, and worthy of my 240 BLENNERHASSETT deepest gratitude. Such not being the case, I haye no such feelings of gratitude. I will admit thajt„I have united with Colonel Burr in a plan for colonizing and improving a large tract, of country, and Colonel Burr has already paid a Kentucky gentleman forty thousand dollars for it." - i Graham now propoujfided an, inquiry: "And what reason does Burr give for buying this land? Is he going to found an empire? " ^•",Yes," was the reply. "This is a confession," t said Graham to himself; then aloud : " So Burr has spoken of his designs ? " Blennerhassett felt impelled to make some explana- tion. " Colonel Burr; and myself have a design in com- mon;, to found an empire of sturdy yeomanry— ^willjjigf emigrants from oppression in Europe. We shall gi^ this land in hundred acre lots for farms." At this, Graham remarked, in a satirical tone : "And you two gentlemen propose to govern this country within a country?" Blennerhassett replied: "No, not that entirely; we hope to make a million dollars by the scheme." " And this, you think, is all ? " asked Graham, still retaining the satirical tone which he had assumed. Blennerhassett arose and said in a stern but digni-» fied manner : "It is all — of my plans, of my admis- sions — ^and of our interview. Do you know the way out, sir?" Graham bowed : " Thank you, yes." Then he said to himself " and the way in again." As Graham placed his finger upon the door-latch he turned to Blennerhassett : " I can take a hint, sir." Blennerhassett threw himself into his armchair,, ap- parently weary of the interview, and resumed his con- sideration of the map before him. As Graham's words fell upon his ear he said, without looking up : " Take It tiiaa — and your departure at the same time, sir." AN EAVESDROPPER 241 Graham released his hold upon the door-latch. He advanced a few steps towards Blennerhassett. "As you say, sir, but when the President of the United States instructs me, I shall make bold to call on you again. Good morning, sir." The door closed behind him. Blennerhassett sat for a few moments with his head resting upon his hand,: evidently in deep thought. Then he leaned back in his chair and said, reflectively : " Am I mistaken in this man. Burr ? I think not. I wish all men were as frank and honorable. No ! such a man could not be base — no such loving father could intentionally bring dishonor on such a daughter. This suspicion of Burr and his friends is but part of a sys- tem of political and social ostracism. Perhaps Presi- dent Jefferson, successful as he is, is yet jealous of his defeated rival, and hopes to crush him utterly. If that is his scheme, he will find that a Blennerhassett will not aid him. The true Irish blood always boils when rulers plot against the people ! " , In the drawing-room, another interview was taking place, the participants being Mrs. Blennerhassett and Kate. " What a tender-hearted, loving father Colonel Burr is," remarked Mrs. Blennerhassett. " I was really glad that he decided to accompany his daughter part of the way, at least to Marietta; for 1 was afraid that she would break down utterly, and be unable to undertake the journey." " Your husband is tender-hearted, too," rejoined Kate. " He ran out of the house, without his hat, in the hot sun. When he reached the landing, the boat had gone; but he called out at the top of his voice : * Good-bye^ Ransome, remember me to your good old mother.* As we walked back to the house together, he explained to me that he had neglected to say good-bye to Ran- some when the party started off." ^42 BLENNERHASSETT " When two persons love each other dearly," said the married lady, " both are apt to be tender-hearted." " I am afraid I am not tender-hearted," remarked Kate. As she said this, she averted her gaze. " It is because you do not love the right one as dearly as you ought." " Do you think so, Mrs. Blennerhassett? Did I do iwrong in being true to my benefactor ? " " Not wrong in being true to him," said Mrs. Blen- nerhassett, slowly, evidently considering the subject be- fore speaking, " not wholly right in not being true to both. You are both self-willed and impetuous. The feeling that divides you is unworthy of both of you, and no one would like to see you happy more thEin your benefactor. You made the scene and he had but one course to pursue. All lovers' quarrels should be duels without seconds — not battles with spectators on the housetops." Kate rose and looked into her mentor's face. " Thank you, Mrs. Blennerhassett. I wish I could be as happy as you are. I will go to my room and think of your words — and of — " Frederic ? " interrogated Mrs. Blennerhassett. '' And of Theodosia," Kate replied, calmly. When she was alone, Mrs. Blennerhassett solilo- quized : " A proud girl, but, I think, a true and honest one. I will yet bring Frederic and Kate together." The next moment, she advanced to greet her husband and Colonel Burr who entered arm in arm. The gen- tlemen stopped, when they reached Mrs. Blennerhassett, and faced each other. " The confidence you have seen fit to place in me," said Colonel Burr, " is extremely flattering. It seems that there has been, without explanation, a sort of con- sent between our minds." The lady was evidently impressed by this statement of the accord existing between her husband and theil AN EAFESDROPPER 243 honored guest. " I agree with you, Colonel Burr. You are the only one I ever saw who could fully appreciate my husband, and, at the same time, fulfil his exacting ideal of what a friend and companion should be." Burr bowed low before the beautiful wife of his host : "To hear such commendation is pleasant, but doubly so when your voice and manner show equally that your husband's choice of a friend is not repugnant to your- self." "Repugnant?" cried Mrs. Blennerhassett. "I am delighted that Harman has found someone who dares to tell him that Blennerhassett Island is not the world." Her husband rejoined : " I wish all parts of the world were as enjoyable as Blennerhassett Island." " So do I," said Burr. " So does the lazy oriental prince wish always to be surrounded with effeminate comforts. Such pleasure is merely passive. The pur- suit of personal gratification invariably ends in selfish- ness." Blennerhassett saw that the argument was against him. " Well, to please you both, for I see you are in league against me, I will acknowledge that I am both lazy and selfish — and that I can live happily and die peacefully in this little Paradise." " But," cried his wife, " you have a growing family —they will soon demand advantages which others can bestow better than ourselves; and with increasing outgo and a reduced income your fortune will steadily di- minish." " I have no doubt, Mr. Blennerhassett, that your wife states the case just as it is. Pardon me, if I pre- sume when I say I think you are deserving of a higher sphere. Your talents and acquirements seem to have destined you for something more than vegetable life; and'Since the first hour of our acquaintance I have con- sidered your seclusion as a fraud on society." " Yoo drew your picture, Margaret, in tX)o darfi 244 BLENNERHASSETT colors," said her husband. " We are not poor, nor in danger of becoming so ; but the increased expenses you mentioned may swallow the interest and menace the principal. My object in joining Colonel Burr in his land scheme is to increase my private fortune, but to do that will not draw me from my home." Burr felt that the matter shduld not be pushed for- ward too strongly. " Not at first, but if pur success equals my anticipations, we shall need your presence; and I know your wife will be filled with pleasure when you are restored to the social and active world." As Burr had anticipated, the concession made by him caused Blennerhassett to make a more pronounced dec- laration of his interest in their contemplated under- taking. " For Margaret's sake, and that of our dear children, I will try to conquer my selfish delight in this — my island paradise. Can I do more than ask to be admitted to partnership in any speculation which may present itself to your judgment as worthy to en- gage my talents ? " " Frankly and nobly spoken, sir," cried Burr. " Let us be seated while I unfold to you both a scheme whidl has in it the elements of wealth, pleasure, popularity, and it may be, in time, power." When his suggestion; ■ had been complied with. Burr continued: " The sub- j ject of securing land in the Southwest has been in my mind for years. This purchase from Colonel Charles Lynch of four hundred thousand acres lying between the Sabine and Nachitoches Rivers is my first move towards the realization of my projects. I have paid down five thousand dollars." Bleflne,rhassett broke in, impetuously : " I will be ready with my part at the time appointed." At this point, a dramatic situation took place, mucli better suited to the mimic stage than to the drawing- room of a country gentleman. It had so happened that in taking their seats their backs were turned towards AN EAVESDROPPER 245 the doof which Blennerhassett had indicated to Graham, at his first interview with him, as offering the readiest mode of egress from the house. It was a habit of. Burr's, when talking to interested listeners, to so place himself as to get a view in profile. He had learned by experience that when you look in people's faces it puts them on their guard, and to their questioner they present as impassive a face as is pos- sible. Burr sat at the right hand of his listeners. They looked directly forward, or into each other's faces, and the thoughts and feeliqgs that affected their minds were quickly mirrored in their countenances; yet neither fancied they were under the keenest ob- servation. Graham, at a safe distance from the house, could see the interior of the room. His quick eye had discerned their positions, and he irhagined that a subject of more than ordinary importance, was under consideration. He looked around;: none of the servants were in sight. He quickly entered the little room at the back of the great drawing-room and approached the door which opened into it. Fortunately for him, it was ajar. Spies always feel warranted in adopting underhand measures for securing information, and many an important secret has been learned by eavesdropping,: "This land .purchase," cried Burr, raising his voice to comport with the magnitude of the subject, " is but a commercial enterprise, but it may lead to a glorious military adventure in which I wish you to engage." Blennerhassett jumped to his feet and exclaimed, ex- citedly: " Then I wash my hands of the whole affair. Colonel Burr. I am a citizen of the United States and I will never bear arms except in its defence, obedient to that law that makes it a pleasure for a patriot to sac- rifice his life for his native land." Burr accepted the situation. "Give me your hand ! " Blennerhassett drew back. Burr continued : " Rest aa- 246 BLENNERHASSETT Eured that I will never ask you to raise your hand against others than enemies of our country." The thought ran through Blennerhassett's mind — perhaps the President is right after all. Then he spoke, hesitatingly: "I do not understand you, Colonel Burr." " I see you do not, and it is my fault. Let us resume our seats." Assuming a most mysterious air, with marked intensity of speech. Burr said: " I am in posi- tion to know some official secrets. Among them, is the probability of a war with Spain." This remark again stimulated Blennerhassett to excited speech : " If the United States declares war against Spain I am willing to follow you. Colonel Burr, in any legal en- terprise for the subjugation of the Spanish dominion in this country — like the treatment of my native land, the relics of an abominable and heartless tyranny." Burr now perceived that the crucial period had ar- rived. He must stake all now and win or lose. But he meant to win ! " And when I tell you that my plan is to wait until this war cloud is ready to burst — then enlist recruits in the West from among the purchasers of our lands — form a private expedition against Mexico — conquer it with its untold wealth, and then lay the prize at the feet of a grateful country, shall we fail in obtaining our reward ? They will not and cannot de- prive us of the honest glory that we shall win," Burr continued, vehemently. " Yourself, the governor — I, your trusted friend — your wife, the first lady in the land — ^my daughter and Kate at her side — can you look on this picture of life, action, heroic, patriotic accomplish- ment and still think of books and crucibles, of flowers and music? Are there any sweeter sounds than the trmnpet's clangor and cannon's roar — when the trum- pet shouts freedom to an oppressed people — the cannon secures their liberties ? But I am excited. No doubt my words will terrify your wife and disturb her peace AN EAVESDROPPER 247 of mind. She may one day wish that I had never en- tered your happy home." Mrs. Blennerhassett had been greatly interested in the preceding conversation. She, could restrain her- self no longer : " Do not forget, Colonel Burr, that my grandfather was a soldier, and that the daughters of England are as brave as her sons. Your words make my blood thrill in rny veins, but Harman is as cold as stone." " Oh no, Margaret, I am excited, but I don't show it by words or looks. I am thinking — and that reminds me that I have been experimenting in my laboratory on a new explosive compound which will render gunpowder useless in warfare. Come to the laboratory, and, while I am experimenting, we can talk over this scheme of yours." As they arose, Burr remarked, " This scliemeof ours." Mrs. Blennerhassett joined forces, as she usually did, with their guest : " Yes, Harman, this scheme of ours." " Well," remarked Blennerhassett, " I suppose, as we are in league together, we must call it this scheme of ours." The trio left the drawing-room and wended their way to the library. This 'had been their usual place for consultation. If they had never discussed financial and political matters except within its secluded precincts, the portentous clouds referred to by Graham might not have gathered over the Blennerhassett household as quickly as they did. The spy, by eavesdropping, had learned what he most wished to know. He left the house, cautiously, by the side door, as he had on a pre- vious occasion. He peered right and left, but, again, there was no one in sight. He walked down to the water's edge where, concealed beneath some overhang- ing trees, he found his boat. He got into it, and, ply- ing his oars vigorously, moved swiftly towards the Dhio shore of the river. CHAPTER XXI " A DIVIDED DUTY " WHILE the trio of land speculators and possi- ble political revolutionists were discussing Colonel Burr's Southwestern scheme in the library, and while John Grziham was rowing swiftly in the direction of Marietta, Captain Frederic Clarke, at- tired in the uniform of the Ohio militia, entered tlie great hall of the Blennerhassett mansion. He threw himself into one of the leathern armchairs. " I wonder what is going on. I am detailed to await secret orders, and, with my company, have spent the day, so far, on the other side of the river. I could not resist the temptation to try to see Kate once more. I hear that two gentlemen and a lady went to Marietta fhis morning — one was Burr, the other his son-in-law, and the lady, his daughter. Kate must be alone then. I will do as she says. What can it matter, after all, what I think or say of Colonel Burr ? Is it any worse for me to say I do not hate Burr when I do, than it is for me to say I don't love Kate when I do ? " Kate entered the room from the rear door. Frederic was effectually concealed from sight, for the diair in which he sat was of massive proportions, with a back reaching far above his head. The ears of lovers are wonderfully sensitive; often, they hear, or think they hear, each crtiier's voices when the distance that separates than renders such cc«nmuni- cation not only improbable, but inqjossible. Kate seaned to be under tiie inflaetKe of a ddti^n oi tkis matms^ "^ DIVIDED DUTT" 249 "Frederic! Frederic!! Why how foolish! I thought I heard his voice. And if I did, what would he think of me if he heard me calling his name — so tenderly ? " Frederic sprang from the great armchair and ran to the lovely girl, the true feelings of whose heart had been so unintentionally disclosed. "He would think just what he does, and always has — that you do love him. He knows and confesses that he loves you, and only a foolish pride and useless resentment have pre- vented him from saying those words tliat would remove all differences and bring our hearts togel^Iier for life." " And you will say those words and give up that use- less resentment ? " said Kate, archly. " If you will — do not say too much, for I am not angry now — and when you yield, shall I be less kind, less yielding? " Then she thought, " I wish Mrs. Blennerhassett could hear me." " I have something more to say and I must say it," remarked Frederic. " Let me say, then, I am still op- posed to Colonel Burr, politically. We differ as honest men can without losing our respect for each other. For what he has done for you, and others, as friend and benefactor, I can respect and — " " And what? " cried Kate, going to him and' placing her hands upon his shoulders and looking up into his face. " And love him! There, it's out at last.",; .Frederic put his arms about the young girl who was ovefjoyed at this sudden and unekpecteid turn of affairs, i : . . " This moment of happiness makes up for so many days of misery, so many heartaches — oh, Frederic!" she said, as she buried her face upon his shoulder. " It carries me back to that .beautiful morning," he fcegan. " Don't ! don't speak of that morning, Frederic. Let us begin a new life this day and put away all the btttec past" 2S0 BLENNERHASSETT " Kate, we will." For several moments, they stood in perfect content with this long-deferred but now secure happiness. Sud- denly, they heard a voice. They quickly released each other, and, turning, faced the man who had spoken. He repeated his inquiry, quickly appreciating the fact that what he had said had not been heard. " Do I address Captain Clarke ? " " That is my name, sir," replied Frederic. " Your business." " Is private," replied the man. " For your ear alone — ^begging the lady's pardon." " Excuse me a moment," said Frederic. " Under the circumstances, you are most excusable," -the man replied. Frederic accompanied Kate to the door at the rear of the great hall through which she 'had entered so short a time before with a seemingly hopeless love in her heart, and through which she now passed with that love in full flower, shedding its sweetness upon her and upon the young man who had won her first and only love. " You will come to me, Frederic," she asked appeals ingly, " as soon as your business is attended to ? " "At once." " And are you sure, Frederic, that you can greet my ioster-father kindly and take your wife with his bless- ing? Frederic answered her in decided tones : " No word or act of mine shall ever tend to recall past differences or make new ones between myself and Colonel Burr, your foster-father." Her hand lingered in his for a moment — ^then she was gone. He returned to meet the man who was awaiting him. The stranger was dressed in a neatly-fitting suit of blue broadcloth, a semi-military costume. He held a cocked liat in his hand and had every appearance of beinga **A DIVIDED DUTT" 251 gentleman. When Frederic stood before him, he sard: " Now, sir, I am at your service." " Have you directions from your superior officer,. Colonel Phelps?" " I have," Frederic repUed. " They are to obey such orders as may be given me by a man named — " " Graham," said the man, " that was the name, was it not?" "It was." The man opened a paper and handed it to Frederic. " Are you satisfied that I am the party ? " " I am," Frederic replied, laconically. " What do you consider would be your duty if I gave you an order to arrest two persons ?" inquired Graham. " My duty as a soldier is to obey orders regardless of personal consequences." Graham nodded his head, ap- provingly. "Andyou will doit?" Frederic resented this continued questioning, the real purpose of which he could not understand. " This is useless trifling, sir, and hints at an imputa- tion that any honest man could notbut resent." Graham bowed and said, suavely : ", Pardon me, but when a person is selected to carry out the will of the- President of the United States, there must be no possible- doubt of his fitness." " The President? " cried Frederic, with a look of as- tonishment. Graham had now reached the point at which he had been aiming. " Yes, and this paper empowers you to arrest Aaron Burr for conspiracy, ^nd high treason, and Harman Blennerhassett as an accomplice and acces- sory." ' ' Frederic started back. Like lightning, the misery of the situation flashed upon him. Had Fate decreed that there should forever be a bar between him and the woman he loved ? Recovering himself, he cried : 2S2 BLENNERHASSETT "No! I cannot do it — I will not! " " Why not ? " asked Graham, affecting surprise: " Because I cannot," cried Frederic, who turned hfe back rudely on the President's representative. "What prevents you, a soldier, from doing your duty? " asked Graham with a tinge of sarcasm in his tone. Frederic turned quickly upon his questioner : " The sacred tie of friendship — spare me this blow, Mr. Graham. Anyone else can serve this as well as I. Mr. and Mrs. Blennerhassett are my dearest frienck and as innocent as you or I of such a crime." Graham's tone of sarcasm deepened : " Is Colonel Burr also one of your esteemed friends ? " Frederic cried, impetuously : " He has been my great- est enemy — " then his tone changed — " but there are reasons — " " Personal ones ? " asked Graliam, " I thought an honest soldier spurned such trifles." " Trifles ! " cried Frederic. " Oh, my God ! If you orily knew." " Tdl me," remarked Graham, sententiously. " I cannot. It is too sacred a trust." "Tell me, or do your duty," said Graham, sternly " 'Refuse to do the first, and you must serve the writ of arrest. Decide! There is no time to lose. By my orders, which your Colonel even must obey, the men of your command are now landed on Blennerhassett Is- land. They are secreted, but await your orders. Your answer ! " ; Frederic replied, proudly^ " I will not tell you my reasons." " Come then," cried Graham, " order your men here and do your duty, or a court martial will bring out your cherished secrets." Graham turned on his heel and strode towards tiiC (door. Then he turned and beckoned to Frederic to *^A DIVIDED DUTV* 253 Icdlow ktm. The latter threw one agonized glance towards the door, where, so short a time before, he had parted from Kate; then he followed GrahEim out df the room. Kate, whose heart was full of her new happiness, had sought through the g^eat house for Mrs. Blennerhassett, but she had been unable to find her. She tried the door of the library but it was locked, and she knew that there was nothing then for her to do but to wait until her friend came out of her own accord; iso she went back to her own room to think about her lOver and to cry a little, womanlike, because her future happiness seemed assured. The occupants of the library, having finished the present consideration of the momentous subject before them, repaired once more to the great hall. " I knew I was not mistaken in you, Mr. Blenner- hassett," said Burr. " Pardon my presumption, but I have assumed from the first that you would join me. I have done much, in a quiet way, since I have been under your friendly roof." " You have not had time to do a great deal since you bought the land," said Mr. Blennerhassett. " Now we shall know the secret of those visits to Marietta," his wife exclaimed.' Burr:replied : " Yes, you shall know ; it is your right. While you have been making contracts for boats to carry sturdy settlers to our new doiriain, I have been providing for the military part of the enterprise. I have told you, and it is true, that the muskets and rifles and powder and ball and food, that we have provided, will be needed by our band of pioneers for immediate sustenance, and for protection against the jealous Spaniard or predatory Indian; but you -^vrjll see nbw, if you have not realized the fact before, that these con- comitants of warfare may be used for aggressive as welt as defensive purposes. I have ordered a boat, wIhqI* «54 BLENNERHASSETT will be a palace, for yoursdf and Mrs. Blennerhassett It will have a fireplace and glass windows." "That will be delightful!" cried Mrs. Blennerhas- sett. " I always loved the water." " So do I>" remarked her husband, " but I shall miss Ransome when there is any fishing going on." Burr continued the elucidation of his plans: "As soon as we are established, Alston, who is heart and soul with me, and Theodosia and Gamp will join us. Our boats will hold five hundred men. I shall have no lack of recruits. Our enterprise is to be a peaceful one until the United States declares war against Spain. Then we, and our band of pioneers, will aid the Mexi- cans to tjirow off the Spanish yoke. We will form a democratic empire, and enridi ourselves until our wealth shall put to shame the dreams of romance." Burr's black eyes sparkled with unusual brilliancy. For the moment, he seemed intoxicated with enthusi- asm. Mrs. Blennerhassett, with nervous fingers, clutched at her husband's arm, her eyes fixed upon Burr with a look of intense admiration. On the other hand, Blennerhassett appeared somewhat dazed and looked as though he did not fully comprehend the magnitude of Burr's schemes. Kate looked in the door at the farther end of the room. In a clear sprightly tone, she called out : " Do I intrude?" Mrs. Blennerhassett looked towards the door and saw the smiling face revealed there. "Not at all- come in — you can join our little plot." Kate approached her friends with quick steps : " Are you all plotting against me? I came to ask advice from friends — ^not to encounter enemies." The illusion was dispelled, and Burr and Blenner- hassett were once more in a world of realities. " My dear Kate," said Burr, " I hope you wiU never meet w©rse enemies than we are." *'A DIVIDED DUTY" 255 " I know I can never find truer friends." Blennerhassett seemed slowly to grasp the situation. "Ah! I understand. I imagined — of course I didn't • — I imagined that I saw the Captain from my labora- tory window. That was when I burned my finger with the sealing-wax, my dear." " I will tell the truth," cried Kate, and, as she spoke, a deep flush suffused her cheeks and brow. " He was here and he said — " "What!" cried Burr, "again? That makes the third time he has proposed." " But it was the first time he ever told me that no word or act of his would ever tend to recall past differ- ences or make new ones between himself and Colonel Burr. There, I think I have said it almost word for word." Mrs. Blennerhassett caught the blushing girl in her arms and kissed her repeatedly. " Let me congratu- late you, Kate. Frederic is a noble fellow." " So he is," said Blennerhassett, now thoroughly in- terested. " We will have a big wedding here and close with a dance; and then the guests can row home by moonlight on the river." "Won't it be lovely?" cried Kate, with delight. " Why, there is Frederic now." Frederic entered the room, but stopped when he had taken a few steps forward. 'Mr. and Mrs. Blenner- hassett and Colonel Burr approached him and extended their congratulations. He refused their outstretched hands and turned his face away from Kate's eager gaze. All looked at him, astonishment depicted upon their countenances. There was a look upon Frederic's face which none of those who saw it could under- stand. They stood expectant; it was for him to ex- plain. Finally, he said, with apparent difficulty of utter- ance : " Ladies and gentlemen, this is the saddest mo- 256 BLENNERHASSETT ment of my life, when it should be the happiest. I have! a most disagreeable duty to perform." Kate approached him, her hands outstretched : " Are you going to take back your promise? " Frederic drew a document from within the breast of his coat and slowly unfolded it. " By this warrant I am directed by the Governor of Ohio to arrest Aaron Burr for conspiracy and high treason, and Harman Blennerhassett as an accessory." Kate gave a loud shrielc and fell prostrate at her lover's feet. Blennerhassett stood irresolute. He did not seem to comprehend the full meaning of the words that he had just heard. Mrs. Blennerhassett calmly regarded the stolid face of her husband. Burr looked at Clarke and a grim smile played over his face. Then he spoke : " It seems I am to be blessed with a most dutiful and respectful son-in-law." From Kate, there came a low cry of despair. Bun- stepped quickly forward. " Forgive me, Kate, I was unthinking." He lifted her to her feet and supported her tenderly. " Frederic ! " she cried, " this must not be ! How could you? Why did you not warn me so he could escape?" There was a withering sarcasm in Burr's next words : " His plans were well laid, but they will miscarry. He was willing to play the hypocrite, Kate, to gain yow hand, when he knew that in a short time he would dis- grace your foster-father in your eyes." " You wrong me greatly. Colonel Burr," said Fred- eric. "The Blennerhassetts have been my deasest friends." "Have been?" said Burr, in a tone foH of koojfc "well qualified! You say your document emanates from the Governor of Ohio. This island lies withal i&e jurisdiction of Virginia." ••^ DIVIDED DUrr" 257 Frederic answered this remark in a sullen, defiant tone : " The warrant is issued at the President's re- quest. He is not hkely to have made such a grave mistake." " Why not ? " asked Burr. " It is not necessary for the President of the United States to be a scholar. Pro- ceed, young man, to serve your warrant; but, first con- sider the consequences to yourself." Frederic spoke in a decided tone : " I shall perform my duty as a soldier, whatever may befall me. You must both go with me to Marietta." "And if I refuse?" cried Burr. "If I resist this base and unexampled violation of the sanctity of a happy home? If I repel the accusation against Mr. Blennerhassett and myself with the scorn and contempt it deserves — are you the man to be the tool of a politi- cal conspiracy to wreak vengeance upon a rival — de- feated, but yet so strong as to be feared ? " Frederic unsheathed his sword : " Resistance will avail you nothing." At that moment, Graham entered and took a posi- tion by the side of Frederic; Burr and Blennerhassett looked at the newcomer, but with varying emotions. 'Despite the removal of his disguise, Burr had recog- nized him. "Ah!" he cried, "I recognize in this emissary of Ihe President my former boatman, James Gray — who could not swim ! I can excuse you now for your lajck ©f feeling when my little grandson was struggling in fee water. The duties of a spy naturally render him deaf to the wants of suffering humanity." Frederic looked at Burr and then at Blennerhassett. "I hope and pray to Heaven that the innocence of 3P0U both will be made as clear as the sun, but it is to the people of America it must be proven, not to me. " Captain Clarke,*' said Grahsaxi, " time presses. If 258 BLENNERHASSETT you have not the courage to do your duty I will call in a squad of soldiers to aid you." Despite the gravity of the situation which so closely affected him, for a moment Burr's thoughts were turned towards the young man standing thus between two fires, and in his heart, for he was not a revengeful man, he truly pitied him. Then a scene passed before his eyes. Before the Duke stood Desdemona, her father, and Othello; then, he seemed to hear the words that fell from her lips: "I do perceive here a divided duty." Mrs. Blennerhassett, who had remained silent up to the present time, now spoke with a voice full of indig- nation : " And you have deemed it necessary to bring a guard to assist you? Captain Clarke, you are a cow- ard I" Kate cried: "This must be a dream, Frederic, a horrid dream ! " Burr turned to Graham : " Mr. Spy, excuse me, for I know you by no other name — I will go with you and convict my accusers of conspiracy and perjury." " You speak to me as though I were the criminal," retorted Graham. Burr rejoined : " A man who is guilty of inhumanity is capable of a crime." " You know what the law is," said Graham dog- gedly. " Yes," cried Burr, " the law is whatever is boldly asserted and plausibly maintained. Now it is on your side, but you shall not take this innocent man from his home." As he said this, he pointed to Blennerhassett. " If you should ever need him it will not be necessary to bring a regiment of soldiers. If I am found guilty, it will not prove that Mr. Blennerhassett is also. If I am found not guilty, Mr. Blennerhassett surely cannot be guilty." He continued : " Mr. Spy, I am your pris- oner. I must deny Captain Clarke the pleasure of tak^ "A DIVIDED DUTT" 259 ing me into custody. I deny his authority, but I bow to the will of His Majesty, the President ! " Graham went to the great door. Burr followed him. Then, he turned and said, in his most winning manner : " Friends, au revoir, I will take dinner with you to- morrow." A low bow, and the door closed after him. Frederic seemed to feel that the assumption of au- thority by Graham, and Colonel Burr's refusal to sub- mit to arrest at his hands, had, to a great extent if not wholly, extricated him from the dilemma in which he had been placed. He turned towards Kate and extended his hand. With a cry of repulsion, she shrank from him and took refuge by the side of Mrs. Blennerhassett; then all the fierceness of her temper and the heat of her indignation showed themselves. Looking at Frederic with an angry gleam in her eyes, and the cut beneath her lip showing a livid red, she cried : "Frederic Clarke, I hate you! More than that, I despise you ! I will never marry you while my foster- father lives ! " With an agonized cry, she buried her face upon Mrs. Blennerhassett's bosom, and was quickly encircled by loving arms. When Frederic reached the lawn, before the house, he stopped to think. He recalled how he had been placed by the hand of Fate between duty and love. He had failed to perform the one and had lost the other. The afternoon of that dreadful day wore slowly away. A short time after the departure of Colonel Burr, the spirit of the good housewife rose triumphant, 'and Mrs. Blennerhassett went to attend to her house- hold duties. Mr. Blennerhassett remembered that he had not completed a certain chemical experiment in his laboratory, and was soon intent over it. Kate asked if she could accompany him, for she did not dare to be left alone with her sorrow which, it seemed to her, was greater than she could bear. At five o'clock in the afternoon, Mrs. Blennerhass^ 26o BLENNERHASSETT rushed into the laboratory with an affrighted look upon her face. " Oh ! Harman," she cried, " and you, Kate, go up-stairs and get the children and run as fast as you can with them down to Colonel Burr's raft. It is no use to go to the boat-landing, the soldiers are there." " Why, what's the matter? " exclaimed Kate. Blen- nerhassett seemed stupefied. " Only four soldiers went with Colonel Burr," said Mrs. Blennerhassett. " The remainder were left on the island. They broke into the storehouse and took what- ever suited their fancy. They ate up what they could and wantonly destroyed the rest. That would not have been so bad, but they broke into the wine-vault and are fighting for the possession of the liquor with the fury of demons. We must not remain here any longer. Oh! Kate, do what you can to help me. I will get some clothing for ourselves and the children. We must fly at once ! " Kate grasped Mr. Blennerhassett by the arm and they soon reached the nursery, while Mrs. Blenner- hassett went to complete the task which she had laid out for herself. In less than half an hour, Blermerhassett, his wife, Kate, and the three little boys were on the raft which had brought Colonel Burr and his com- panions to the Island Beautiful. The faithful Walters was at his post. Bob was sent to find Philander and Marmaduke, and they joined the little party on the raft. Within the great mansion, one would have thought the terrors of the French Revolution were being enacted again. The drunken soldiers entirely ignored the re- straint of their officers, if any had been exercised, and acted like fiends incarnate. The furniture in the great hall was overturned and the leathern seats slashed with bayonets. In the drawing-room, the pictures were torn from the walls and their destroyers danced upon the broken fragments. Musket, rifle, and pistol shots de- Biolished the beautiful mirrors, the statues and the "^ DIVIDED DUTT" 2«i articles of vertu with which the room was filled. The cabinet of curiosities was lifted by four sturdy soldiers, and with a shout of drunken glee, hurled through the window-panes. The curtains and lambrequins were pulled down by ruthless hands and thrown into the cen- tre of the room. Upon them were piled the broken fragments of the beautiful furniture which had adorned the room. Then the destroyers invaded the library. Books of almost priceless value were pushed from the shelves with bayonets and thrown in a promiscuous pile upon the floor. In the laboratory, the unthinking dese- crators grasped bottles of chemicals and smashed them upon the stone floor of the room. To this act was due the final work of destruction. Explosion followed ex- plosion and the seething flames drove the uneducated ruffians from the room. They made no effort to re- strain the progress of the fire. It invaded the library and found new fuel in the immense pile of books, maps, and papers which it contained. Gaining headway, it penetrated the once beautiful drawing-room. It took but a short time for the flames to mount to the ceiling and then upward to the second story. The blinding smoke and the heat drove the brutalized soldiers from the mansion. They gathered upon the lawn, and there, as a fitting finale to their drunken orgie, they attempted to dance, while showers of sparks and blazing embers blown by the stiff breeze, fell about them. The feelings of the homeless party upon the little raft in the river can only be imagined. Great clouds of black smoke rose from the burning pile, followed by massive shoots of flame which filled the now darkened sky with a lurid light and made the Ohio look like a river of blood. There was no chpice, now. The only course left them was to follow the fortunes of the leader of the en- terprise, by which they had lost so much, but in which they had so earnestly joined. Burr had told them 262 BLENNERHASSETT that when he left the island he would proceed to Frank- fort, and thither they decided to make their way. Be- hind them, lay their palace in flames, soon to be but a mass of blackened ruins. Before them, was the Prom- ised Land with hopes of greater power, honor, and riches than they had lost. The signal was given to the boatmen to cast off, and the raft moved slowly down the river. The shouts and songs of the drunken soldiers still reached their ears. As they neared the western end of the island, a loud crash was heard and a volume of sparks and burning embers shot upward towards the sky. This was the last farewell of Harman Blennerhassett and his wife, Margaret, to their once beautiful -home, for Fate had decreed that they should never see it again. Some years later. Nature, in one of her wrathful moods, sent down upon the Island Beautiful a waste of waters which swept away forever every vestige of the artificial graces that the hand of man had added to the original charms with which the hand of God had beau- tified it in its primeval stats. CHAPTER XXII GUARDED BY THE GREAT SPIRIT GRAHAM, after arresting Colond Burr, de- livered him to Colonel Phelps who took him to Marietta for trial. The whole affair was a farce; for, if an indictment had been granted, no jury could have been found to convict him. Burr ■was released and he proceeded to Frankfort. Here he was again arrested at the instigation of two noted political opponents. This second trial also proved to be a comedy. Among his defenders was Henry Clay, and in a short time he was once more a free man. Then he pressed on to Natchez which had been fixed upon as the rendezvous for the flotilla of bateaux which was to leave Blennerhassett Island laden to the water's edge with provisions, munitions of war, and his army of recruits. Wilkinson heard of the on-coming of the northern invaders. The time had now come for him to save him- self as Jefferson had known he would when it became necessary. Making changes in a cipher letter that he had received from Burr so as to have it contain positive evidence of contemplated treason on Burr's part, he forwarded it, together with other incriminating papers and statements, to the President. The latter under- stood. He had won ! His feared and hated rival was now completely in his power. He issued a proclama- tion in which he stated that certain persons were en- gaged in a seditious and treasonable undertaking. He used no names, but those who read saw the name of 2^3 264 BLENNERHASSETT Burr stand out as plainly as did the writing on the wall at the Babylonish feast. The President called upon the civil and military officers of the United States to ar- rest the conspirators, and upon the good citizens of all parties to sustain the adrniiiistratibn in this hour of peril. The Governor of Mississippi Territory was not so mealy-mouthed, for he offered a reward of two thou- sand dollars for the arrest of Aaron Burr. . In the meantime, Wilkinson had not been idle. He informed the Spanish military commander in Texas of the projected invasion and assured him that the American army would stand side by side with that of Spain to repel the invaders. In New Orleans, he was loud in his protestations of loyalty to the American flag and in condemnation of Burr and his associates. Look upon this picture of the man Wilkinson! He proved false to his friends in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He proved false to the King of Spain whose bribes he had taken. He pi;oved false to his own country in so far as he had been in any way true to those whom he finally deceived. Not satisfied with his triple treachery, he proved false to his brother officer, thus completing the quadrangle of in- famy. The fair-faced friend became a foul-hearted foe. Warned by friends in the city of New Orleans of the President's proclamation and of the attitude taken by General Wilkinson, Burr recognized the fact that to pro- ceed farther South would surely result in his arrest. He learned, too, that a price was set upon his head, and he jknew that the friends of Hamilton and the friends of Jefferson would use all the power they possessed to secure his conviction for high treason. He realized that the chances were against him ; that he would prob- ably be captured and taken North for trial; neverthe- less, he determined to make an attempt to reach the Atlantic coast, and, if possible, escape to Europe. Having taken the positiori that he had towards Spain, GUARDED Br GREAT SPIRIT 265 he could not count upon finding a refuge in Mexico, in Cuba, or any other of the West Indies. He told his followers, some sixty in number, of the failure of the expedition. At his request, followed later by his abso- lute command, they manned their boats and began row- ing up stream having first sunk their arms and muni- tions of war to the bottom of the Mississippi. It was their intention to land at some point in Tennessee or Kentucky and disperse to their homes. Burr had secured for himself a sturdy young horse. He had a pair of pistols in his holsters and a supply of ammunition. He filled a bag with provisions and fastened a couple of blankets to his saddle. Then he mounted, bade farewell to his comrades, and turned his iace towards the East. He knew the hardships and trials that he must undergo before he could reach South Carolina, and the few friends that he had left in the •world upon whose assistance he could count; but he was a man, despite his small stature, of great physical strength; inured to hardship and privation, of indomi- table courage, to whom the word fear was unknown. He had started upon the trip early in the morning; about noon, he stopped and made a frugal repast beside a small brook. With his abstemious habits, he knew that his supply of food would last him for many days, and he had no fear but that his horse, if left to hirnself^ would find the means of subsistence. Coming to a little glade in the forest, as the sun was sinking low in the West, he determined to spend his first night there. He tethered his horse, built a fire, and then prepared his supper. He had filled his canteen with water from the brook, and his simple wants were soon supplied. Then he sat down upon the trunk of a tree that had been thrown to the ground in some great storm, filled his pipe, lighted it, and began to think. However im- jassive and hard to understand Colonel Burr may have been to other people. He was a man who had no se- 266 BLENNERHASSETT crets from himself; he was not afraid of self-intro- spection. He had now reached the meridian of life. The night was still. Never had man a better oppor- tunity to look back upon the events of a busy life and decide, in his own mind, whether the course that he had fdlowed up to that time should be pursued, or whether he should make a sharp turn and follow a new and untraveled road. As he looked up at the blue empyrean, studded with stars, two seemed to be familiar to him. Perhaps those two stars were the ones that controlled his life, he thought. He did not know their astronomical names but, in his mind, he felt, personally, that they should be called Pride and Ambition. Why had he quarreled with Washington? Why had he left the staff of the command?r-in-chief when the way to glory seemed open to him ? Someone, he felt at the time, must have poisoned the mind of the General against him. He did not then know who it was; he had found out since, and to his mind's eye came a picture of that July morning on the Heights at Weehawken; that account had been settled! But why had he not asked Wash- ington the cause of his reserve and distrust, and, when he had learned the cause, why had he not endeavored to explain the matter? Simply because Aaron Burr never explained anything to anybody; his pride would not allow him to do so. , Then he thought of those stirrmg days when his exertions in the State of New York had brought suc- cess to the Democratic-Republican party, and when the electoral votes were counted it was found that Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr had an equal number. In- stead of allowing the Federalist party to make a tool of him, instead of, allowing his opponents among the Democratic-Republicans to accuse him of being a traitor to his own party, why had he not come out boldly and declared in unmistakable terms that he had GVARDED BT GREAT SPIRIT 267 no ambition to be president at that time? Simply be- cause his pride would not allow him to explain, and because he was ambitious to be president even if Thomas Jefferson were obliged to take second place. Then his mind wandered again to the field at Wee- hawken. Had he done the best thing for himself in killing Hamilton ? No ! assuredly the worst thing pos- sible for himself; but why had he not published the confession of Hamilton's confederate, which had come into the possession of Van Ness, and those other papers which would have vindicated his action in the minds of his countrymen? Simply because Aaron Burr's pride would not allow him to explain. Hamilton had been made a martyr by his pistol-shot, while to him, Burr, had come nothing but obloquy. He might have avoided this if he had made the papers in his possession public; but he had decided that their con- tents should not be made known for fifty years after his death, so that matter, too, was settled. Then he realized how he had been cajoled and hood- winked by Wilkinson. He saw now that Wilkinson had been acting a part which, no doubt, had been suggested to him by the President. It had succeeded only too well. To some of his friends^ he had spoken caily ,of his land schemes by which a great amount of money was to be made; to others, he had hinted at the probable action of Kentucky and Tennessee in casting their fate with New Spain rather than with the United States. This he had been prompted to do by Wilkinson who told him it was the only way in which to arouse Congress to action. To others, he had confided the details of the proposed expedition into Texas and Mexico. He informed them, as he had been told by Wilkinson, that at the proper time the President would call upon Congress to declare war against Spain; and then Burr and his followers, aided by the army of the United States, would take |)ossession of this South- 268 BLENNERHASSETT western Territory. He saw how all these speeches, so contrary in their nature, would be used against him; and he realized that the supreme effort of his life would be demanded in order to save that life. For several days, he kept on his course eastward. On one occasion, after night had fallen upon the forest, having found no satisfactory place in which to rest, he pushed on in the darkness. Suddenly, he entered a clearing in the woods, and, as his horse bounded for- ward, he was surprised to see a large fire around which were seated some thirty or forty human forms. His quick glance soon discerned that they were Indians. He slipped from his horse and, taking hold of the bridle, walked towards the party. Several of the braves jumped to their feet and came towards him. He addressed the first in English, but he evidently did not comprehend; then he spoke in French, which one of the party did understand. He learned afterwards that this Indian had originally belonged to one of the Louisiana tribes. Fortunately for Burr, the meeting upon which he had chanced was a peaceful one; in fact, the Indians were engaged in smoking the pipe of peace when he dashed into the clearing. Walking towards the chief of the party, he saluted him, and then pointed to the pipes. One was passed to him, and, at a sign from the chief, he took a seat beside him and smoked, as the others did. By means of the French interpreter, he told the chief that he had left the palefaces and desired to cast his fortunes in future with the red men. On the morrow, he wished the braves might be called in council, and he would tell them strange stories of what was going on in the world around them, of which they knew "nothing. "When I speak to you," he said, "let me speak as {cme of you. Give me one of your costumes, and you GUARDED Br GREAT SPIRIT 269 will see that v/hen I talk to Indians that I talk like an Indian and act like one." His horse was taken away by one of the braves to be cared for. Burr was shown to a wigwam which was placed at his disposal. He was supplied with food, and later the complete costume of a Creek chief was brought to him. Despite his peculiar position, this wonderful man slept quietly through the night, and when he awoke in the morning, he donned his Indian garb. The council was called at mid-noon, and at about ten o'clock Aaron Burr, in the dress of a Creek chief, stepped into the centre of the council, ■ and thus addressed the meeting : "Friends and Brothers: I come from the North, Not satisfied with driving your brothers a thousand miles from the seacoast, your enemies have now turned their eyes towards the South and are preparing to drive you into the Gulf. There are thousands of them armed with deadly rifles. They wish for your land, and, in order to possess it, they wish for your lives. I am sick of this work of bloodshed and slaughter. I will take no more part in it. I have come to warn you. I have come to tell you that it is useless for you to resist them. But I come to tell you that I know of a land, far away," and he pointed to the Southwest, " where, if you will follow me, the white man will not follow you. There we can live in peace and plenty for years to come. There your children may be bom and grow to manhood, and your fathers and mothers and grandsires may die and be buried in peace." He took his seat, and for a long time not a word was said. Then one of the chiefs arose and spoke : "We have heard the words of our white brother. We know that what he tells us is true. We know that tiiese lands that belonged to our fathers and which became ours after them must pass from otir hands. We know that we shall be driven into the Gulf or find 270 BLENNERHASSETT graves in the land where we have lived so long. But the Creeks are not cowards ! If we should go with you to that land where some of our brothers went years ago, it would be said that we were cowards and that we did not dare to stay and fight. That we ran away at the approach of the white man. Where are our brothers that went to that far-off country years ago ? We have never heard from them. They are dead. Our fate would be the same. No! The Creeks will remain. They will fight to the last! It shall never be said that the Creeks were cowards and were not brave enough to stay and fight for their native land." Grunts of approval came from the chiefs who were gathered at the council. Burr arose and made one more appeal for them to follow him, but he soon saw that his efforts were useless. He was attended to the door of his wigwam, which he entered. The clothes which he had worn had been taken away. What was to be done next ? Should he continue his travels dressed as a Creek Indian ? Such a course would be even more dangerous than to proceed in that of a river boatman which he had worn since he left Natchez. But the Indians solved this question for him. Food was brought at noon and night. After darkness fell, an Indian entered and laid a bundle down before him. He knew it contained the clothes that he had worn when he entered the camp. Taking off the costume of the Creek warrior, he resumed his former disguise. Then he heard a soUnd outside. On looking out he found that his horse, saddled and bridled, stood by the opening. Burr understood. He left the wigwam, mounted his horse, and, without a word, pushed into the forest in the darkness of the night. As he rode on, a grim smile played over his features. How was it that he had escaped death at their hands? How was it that they had failed to have sport with GUARDED Br GREAT SPIRIT 271 him by tying him to a tree or post as a victim and inflicting upon him all sorts of torture ? He well knew. His actions and that speech had saved his life. The Indians had thought that he was insane and no Indian would raise a hand against a man thus afflicted. To their untutored minds a person bereft of reason, who cannot look out for himself, is expressly guarded by the Great Spirit. CHAPTER XXin BETWEEN THE MILLSTONES IT will seem strange that so few of Burr's expected followers joined him at the appointed rendezvous. A glance at the history of the time supplies an un- deniable solution of the situation. The President's proclamation had been issued just in the nick of time. It struck the western malcontents at that desperate point of uncertainty which just precedes positive action. Had it been issued a month later, twenty thousand fol- lowers would have flocked to Burr's standard, and the conspiracy, or rebellion, would have been recorded in history as a revolution. Those who had been loudest in their denunciations of Congress were now dumb as oysters. Those who had vaunted their ability to bring down a SpanicU-d at long range were conspicuous for the zeal with which they followed the plough or wielded the hoe. In hundreds of homes, the brightly-burnished musket or rifle, to- gether with bullet-pouch and powder-horn, had stood ready to be clutched when the signal for the advance was heard. After the tenor of the proclamation became known, the unloaded weapon hung peacefully over the mantelpiece, or was relegated to a dark comer of the attic. If the Rubicon had been passed, all these men would have been warriors, for the issue would have been success or failure, life or death. No, these were the piping times of peace and only conspirators and traitors bore arms unlawfully. The country was startled. Loyalty and patriotism BETWEEN THE MILLSTONES 273 sprang up. To all, without distinction of party, the whole affair seemed plain. Aaron Burr, the disap- pointed politician, who had tried to defeat Jefferson at his first election, and who had hoped to secure the highest place in the gift of the people by virtue of his position as Governor of New York; who had killed Hamilton because the latter had worked successfully to defeat his aspirations; who had conspired to keep Ken- tucky and Tennessee from joining the Union; this fili- buster, at the head of armed followers, now intended to take possession of Louisiana and the mouth of the Mis- sissippi; next to conquer Texas and Mexico and make himself the head of a new empire. How natural and probable all this seemed to the people in those days. Yet, it must be remembered that the Federalists, of whom Hamilton was the great exponent, were op- posed to the United States extending westward. On the other hand, the Democratic-Republican party, of which Jefferson was the head, believed that the " star of empire " should take its way westward, and that the United States should reach to the eastern border of the Mississippi at least. To timid men, it seemed prob- able that after the arch-traitor Burr had conquered the Southwestern Territory, that he would have designs upon the country bordering upon the western bank of the Mississippi Rivier. As Napoleon Bonaparte was the terror of Europe, so Aaron Burr became the terror of America. As English mothers used to frighten their children by telling them that Bonaparte was coming, it is not improbable that some American mothers in- fluenced their offspring with tales of the great traitor and conspirator, Aaron Burr. He was the man on horseback, ready and willing to ride into power over the rights of the American. Republic, which, by years of ■battle, thousands of lives, and millions of treasure, had been made free. Here was a man who men- aced their liberties and whom it was their duty to £74 BLENNERHASSETT remove from their path so that he could do their com- mon country no further injury. It is not to be won^ dered at that all patriotic citizens looked to Jefferson to free them from this ogre, this spectre ! Thus it happened that the same man who by his tact and political skill made Jefferson President of the United States, by his unsuccessful scheme rooted the Virginia politician in his seat, and for sixteen years after the expiration of Jefferson's term Virginia wa^ the mother of Presi- dents. For several days after his adventure with the In- dians, Burr kept on his way. He had to lose some time in allowing his horse to rest, and his supply of provisions had become quite small, but he knew by various sig^s that he was approaching a more settled region. One night, he espied a light and judged by its posi- tion that it must be in some log-house. He had been advised that when he arrived at a river, which he had recognized, that not far beyond lived a certain Colonel Hinson who was in sympathy with his plans, and it was his purpose to reach this man and remain secreted for a few days before deciding upon his future course. Arrived at the little rude cabin, he alighted from his horse and glancing through the window saw two men playing a game of checkers. This seemed a peaceful avocation and he knocked at the door. He inquired of the young man who answered the summons, the direc- tion to Colonel Hinson's house. This was given him, and, thanking his informant, he mounted his horse and rode off. As the young man who had given Burr the ipforma- tion came back into the cabin, his companion said : " Come, Perkins, sit down and finish the game." " No," said Perkins, " I have better game on hand. Do you know who that man was who came to the door?" BETWEEN THE MILLSTONES 275 "Of course, I don't," said the other. "I didn't look at him. Why should I ? " " Well," said Perkins, " that man means two thou- sand dollars to me; if you'll help me catch him, w«11 divide." " No," replied the other man, " you can have the whole of it. I don't take any stock in your story." Perkins was not particularly desirous of imparting any more information to his companion. If hfe had told him that the man who had come to the door was Aaron Burr, for whom a reward of two thousand dol- lars was oflfered, he had no doubt his friend would have been willing to accompany him. But Perkins was human, and realized that two thousand was twice as much as one thousand. So, dashing out of the cabin, he started towards the house of the sheriff of the county, which was not far distant from Colonel Hinson's. To the sheriff he told his story, and, being promised part of the reward if he made the arrest, the sheriflE went to the Colonel's house. There he found that a stranger had arrived, had introduced himself to the Colonel, had been made welcome, and was enjoying a good supper before a blazing fire. The sheriff was welcomed by the Colonel and introduced to Burr, who^ of course, had given an assumed name. Burr was at his best that evening. Story followed story; witticism followed witticism, and the Colonel and the sheriff shook their sides with laughter. Al- though the sheriff had come with the intention of arresting Barr, the idea rapidly vanished from his mind; and when, at half-past eleven, he told the Col- onel that he must go home, he made no attempt to interfere with the personal liberty of Colonel Hinson's guest. On going from the house, the sheriff was met byr Perkins who, half-frozen, abused him roundly for his feilure to make the arrest. The sheriff resented this 276 BLENNERHASSETT and told him that the man's name was not Burr; and that if Perkins wished to make a fool of him- self he had his permission. Perkins, however, knew his man. He had seen those eyes when Burr had pre- sided over the Senate at Washington, and he knew that there was not another man in America with such a pair. Procuring a horse, he rode to Fort Gaines, and, making his report to the oflEcer in command, a squad of soldiers was sent with him to make the arrest. Burr, by the advice of Colonel Hinson, had left, early the next morning, on his course eastward; but he was overtaken by the party of soldiers, and, Perkins having sworn that he was Aaron Burr, the fugitive was taken into custody by the United States troops. Then followed a long, dangerous, and uncomfortable journey northward. It covered several weeks, but finally, Richmond, Va., was reached, and Burr was in- carcerated in the penitentiary. The news of his arrest- soon spread over the country. A grand jury was at once impaneled to bring in an indictment against him. The celebrated Chief Justice Marshall was to preside at the trial. A true bill was found and the date for the trial fixed. Burr determined to conduct his case in person, but he called to his aid his great friend, Luther Martin, of Maryland, Mr. Wickham, and Edmund Randolph of Virginia. Counting himself, this made a quartette of legal notables. The prosecution was conducted by Colonel Hay and Mr. McRae, and to their number was added, later, the celebrated William Wirt, afterwards Attorney-General under President Madison. It is not necessary to go over any but the most im- portant details of this remarkable trial, the stenographic .report of which covered a thousand printed pages. iThe counsel for the defence, knowing that the whole BETWEEN THE MILLSTONES 277 power of the administration was to be directed against the prisoner, made a demand for certain papers known to be in the possession of the President. This demand was refused by the Executive, but, after long days of weary and apparently useless arguing, it was finally decided by the Chief Justice that the papers must be produced. This was a point gained for the defence. Edmund Randolph did not quibble in the speech he made on this occasion. He openly declared that his client was being prosecuted not alone by the judicial power of the government but that the Executive was using all his influence and making every possible endeavor to se- cure a conviction. William Wirt's celebrated speech, in which he described the arrival of Burr at Blenner- hassett Island, and the events which followed, has probably not been equalled in the history of the Ameri- can bar. But eloquence in a lawyer, although a great possession, after all, is not so convincing as absolute fact. The government tried to prove constructive trea- son, meaning by this that as Burr had been accompanied by armed followers, it was conclusive proof that if he had come into collision with the forces of the United States that those arms would have been used and such use, of course, would have been considered as high treason under the law; but the defence showed thai neither Burr nor his followers had committed any overt act. Two witnesses could not be produced by the gov- ernment to show that either Burr or his followers had committed any such act against the peace of the govern- ment, its property, or its military defenders. Thus the case fell to the ground, and those who had been indicted with him were acquitted of the charge of high treason. Then another attempt was made to indict Burr and his associates for misdemeanor; but this, too, signally failed. Prompted by the Executive, the foreman of 278 BLENNERHASSETT the jury brought in a verdict of " Not Proven." This form of verdict had never been allowed in any comitry with the exception of Scotland. The idea of it is to show that although the jurymen have no doubt in their minds of the guilt of the prisoner, as the fact has not been conclusively proven, they return, their verdict in that form. In other words, it attaches a stigma to the accused from which he can never escape. But the clerk of the court knew that neither England nor Amer- ica recognized any such form of verdict, and, in enter- ing it upon the records of the court, instead of using- the words " Not Proven," he recorded " Not Guilty." " , Thus, after years of unrest, Aaron Burr found hiw self once more a free man; free as far as his physicai*| movements were concerned; free as regarded the opera- tions of his own mind; free to go and come without re- straint. Surely, he was not enclosed within walls of stone and his escape prevented by bars of iron; but, when he looked about him, he realized that he was still imprisoned; that all about him were thousands of humad' beings, and that it would have been easier to have. cut his way through walls of stone than to reach the hearts of those who surrounded him. There were no iron bars to sever before he could secure his liberty, but the stern faces and repelling looks that met him on every side formed a yet stronger barrier between him and freedom. It would require the highest order of literary skill i to make attractive the recital of the legal proceedings connected with this State trial, but there were many in- cidents relative thereto which admit of interesting por- trayal. After the commencement of the trial, a revulsion took place in the public mind, especially at the South. TTie President had expected when Burr was arrested that he would be completely overwhelmed by the odium of treason cast upon him. He knew that the Federal- "AARON BURK, IN THE DRESS OF A CREEK CHIEF, STEPPED INTO THE CENTRE OF THE COUNCIL, AND THUS ADDRESSED THE MEETING :" BETWEEN THE MILLSTONES 279 ists would look with gratification upon the downfall of the man who had caused the death of their great leader. To those members of the Democratic-Republican party who supported the President, the complete ruin of Aaron Burr was a political necessity. The culmina- tion of the presidential stratagem was to have been the crushing of his hated rival between these upper and nether millstones. When tlie period of second-thought came, many men believed, if they did not openly express the opinion^ that it was not quite fair to call a man a traitor until he had been proved to be one by due process of law. No man looked less nor acted less like a traitor than Aaron Burr. He appeared in court dressed in a suit of black velvet; his shirt ruffle was immaculate; his. hair brushed back and carefully powdered; his shoe- buckles shone brightly. Throughout the trial, he main- tained his notable equanimity and showed a marked civility and graceful courtesy even to his relentless, prosecutors. His rooms in the penitentiary were well furnished by outside contributions. Flowers, fruits, wines, and every conceivable delicacy in the shape of food were sent to him by the ladies of Richmond and from frienda afar. Socially, he was still a king. Politically, out- side of personal friends, there were " none so poor to do him reverence." The great legal battle drew interested witnesses from all parts of the country. Winfield Scott, then a young man, but destined to become famous as a gen- eral, listened to the testimony, as did the youthful Washington Irving who afterwards made his mark in the world of literature. To some lady friends, the latter wrote that he considered Colonel Burr a much- abused man. General Andrew Jackson and young Zachary Taylor, future Presidents of the United State*, stood side by side in the crowded court room. 28o BLENNERHASSETT The non-arrival of General Wilkinson delayed the progress of the trial some three weeks. The President had counted upon his testimony to compass Burr's complete discomfiture. Instead of posing, as the Presi- dent had anticipated, as the saviour of his country, Wilkinson made a most contemptible spectacle on the witness stand. By adroit cross-examination, he was forced to confess that he corresponded in cipher with Burr. His deepest humiliation came when he was obliged to acknowledge that he had changed one of Burr's letters so as to make it appear treasonable in in- tent. In the words of an American historian : " Jefferson made himself the especial champion of Wilkinson, but no explanation could make the latter's course square with honorable dealing, and Wilkinson, the double traitor, the bribe taker, the corrupt servant of a foreign government, remained at the head of the American army." This southwestern afifair has almost universally been called " Burr's Conspiracy " in histories, biographies, school-books, magazines, and newspaper articles; but; Burr asserted. General Jackson believed, and books have been written which aimed to prove, that Wilkinson was its originator. Before the trial began, Theodosia arrived at Rich- mond accompanied by her husband and little Gamp. She had not seen her father since the affecting parting between them in the drawing-room at Blennerhas&ett Island. Burr, on seeing him, clasped his little grandson to his breast and called him a hundred endearing names, inquired about his health and his studies, and seemed oblivious to the fact that an iron door had been locked upon them by the jailer. " But father," said Theodosia, unable to longer re- strain her feelings, " how will this terrible affair end? '' " In an acquittal," Burr replied, calmly. BETWEEN THE MILLSTONES 281 " Be not too confident, dear father," said Theodosia, her eyes filling with tears; " have you not noticed that from the day when you stepped down from the Vice- President's chair, that the hand of Fate has been against you? " "This time it will be different," said Burr. " They have no case." " Father," cried Theodosia, throwing her arms about his neck, " you know how much I love you ! I rever- ence you and, may God forgive me, it would take but little more to m^e me worship you; but, despite all this, I fear, I fear." Burr disengaged himself from her embrace and fixed those marvellous eyes upon her. " Theodosia," said he, in calm, even tones, " if you can be firm I should be glad to have you stay here with me. If, during the trial, your face is calm and untroubled to look upon, it will give me aid and comfort; but if you cannot be firm and resolute and a credit to my system of in- struction, it were better for you to return home and await the result there." So this little Spartan woman wiped the tears from her eyes, steeled her heart, and never by look or action betrayed her inward thoughts or feelings until the verdict was recorded. Then, with a glad cry, she broke the steel bars that had bound her heart and fell in a swoon upon the floor of the court room. Kate Embleton, like Theodosia, was in court every day during the long and tedious trial. Little Gamp had been committed to her charge and rnany times during each day did Burr's eyes turn to look upon the face of his beloved grandson; but those whose minds were evil and whose tongues were scandal-scarred, did not lose this good opportunity to secretly express their opinion that it was the face of the pretty woman and not that of the child that attracted tihe great conspira- tor's attention. 282 BLENNERHASSETT While William Wirt was likening Aaron Burr to the serpent that entered the garden of Eden and tempted our Mother Eve, Blennerhassett, the subject of the panegyric, was making entries in his journal and writ- ing letters to friends in direct contradiction to the posi- tion assumed by his counsel. His hopes of gaining honor, fame, and fabulous wealth were gone; but he had not given up the hope of getting back, with interest, the money he had invested in the enterprise. Of course, if he had not met Burr, the drunken Ohio militia would never have pillaged his house and set it on fire. But he often afterwards thought, with a shudder, if he had never seen Burr, that his house, his family, and he himself might have been victims of the great flood that came several years later, washing away in its ruthless waste every building from the island. On the evening of the day when the verdict was ren- dered, a complimentary dinner was given by Burr to his counsel and some close personal friends who were in Richmond. Felicitations were in order and many were the toasts that were drunk in commemoration of the signal victory won by the accused. Burr and some of his friends retired at a late hour, but at the suggestion of Luther Martin, who was a devotee of the dinner table, and particularly of the wine bottles that graced it, the conviviality was kept up far. into the morning hours. Anecdote after anecdote about Burr followed each other in rapid succession. His family, his child- hood, his education, his military exploits, his legal suc- cesses, his political career, and his social reputation furnished abundant food for comment. "I heard a story once," said one of the guests, " about an incident that took place at a murder trial. I have always wondered whether it were true or not, but have had a delicacy about asking the Colonel directly." " I know what you mean," said Martin. " Burr told me about it. Yes, it was actually true." BETWEEN THE MILLSTONES 283 The great lawyer rose to his feet with difficulty. Like many noted legal luminaries and celebrated states- men who have flourished before and since his time, Luther Martin never spoke so well as when under the influence of stimulants. " It was a murder case," he began, " and Burr formed the opinion that the principal witness for the prosecution was the real murderer, and not the person who had been accused. The trial took place on a stormy day in winter and the court room became quite dark. The judge did not wish to adjourn the court until certain evidence had been given and so candles were ordered to be brought in. They were placed in what was considered the most advantageous positions, but cast, of course, only a glimmering light through the large court room. It so happened that by the ar- rangement, the face of the principal witness for the prosecution was in the shade. He was being cross- examined by Colonel Burr, who wac not satisfied be- cause he could not see the face of the witness. He then determined upon a great coup which required as much nerve to perform in a crowded court room as would have been demanded to lead a charge of Con- tinental militia against a regiment of British regu- lars. But Burr thought nothing of this, and he also thought he knew his man. He took two candles from the table at which he had been sitting, and going across the room, faced the witness, holding the candles high in the air so that the light from them fell directly upon his face. He cried in tones which rang through the court room : " ' What you have said is untrue, sir, from first to last, and you know it! I will ask you one more ques- tion, but before doing so, I declare in the face of this assemblage and before the judge and jury here sitting, that it is my honest belief that you are the real mur- derer!' 284 BLENNERHASSETT " Fixing his piercing eyes upon the witness in the dock, he cried, ' Have I spoken the truth? ' " The man thus confronted, and thus boldly accused, lost his self-possession; his nerve gave way, and he fell in a state of collapse in the witness-stand. When he revived, his protestations and exclamations were so confused and contradictory, and in themselves such evi- dence of his guilt, that he was remanded into custody by the judge and at a later day was proven guilty of the murder and suffered the fate he deserved." CHAPTER XXIV THE MEANEST MAN IN AMERICA THE morning after the complimentary dinner given by Aaron Burr to his counsel, quite a large number of officers connected with the United States army was gathered at one of the lead- ing taverns in the city of Richmond. The trial of Burr had awakened great interest in mili- tary circles. He had both friends and foes in the army, and each class was much interested in the trial and its outcome, and many had obtained furloughs in order that they might visit Richmond. Besides these, there were many old army friends of Burr who had known him during the Revolutionary War, and who were enough interested in him to make the trip. Among those gathered at the tavern in question was General Andrew Jackson of Tennessee. He had been Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of his State and had visited Richmond more from a legal than from a mili- tary point of view. He was acquainted with Chief Jus- tice Marshall and wished to witness his conduct of this celebrated case. The fiery old Tennesseean was seated in the big room of the tavern. Near him sat Zachary Taylor and young Winfield Scott, who, although not yet in the regular army, contemplated a military career. There was alse present Colonel Claiborne who, it will be remembered, was attached to that portion of the army under com- mand of Gener^ James Wilkinson. It will be noticed by tbe change in his title that the former Captain Clai- »8S 286 BLENNERHASSETT borne had profited by his military connection with General Wilkinson. He knew himself that he had also profited financially to a great extent This latter fact was known to many others but, from motives of self- interest or expediency, they kept their knowledge to tiiemselves. Colonel Claiborne had come to Richmond, in com- pany with General Wilkinson, expecting to be called as a witness to give corroboration to the General's testi- mony; but, it having come to the ears of the prosecu- tion that if Claiborne were put upon the stand he would be subjected to a very severe cross-examination which might disclose certain facts that would disparage the testimony of their principal witness, Claiborne had been advised to leave the city quietly, which he had done. His appearance at the tavern was the first that had been seen of him since the day before General Wilkinson stepped upon the witness-stand. As is well known, General Jackson was a strong par- tisan. He had believed in Burr's plan for driving the hated Spaniard from what seemed destined to become American soil. Besides, he was well acquainted with General Wilkinson's past career and did not believe that the leopard had changed his spots. Colonel Claiborne had been introduced to General Jackson on his arrival in Richmond, and thought it proper to approach him and utter the usual compli- mentary remarks which the General prized so much. " You have been out of town," said General Jadcson. " Yes," replied Colonel Claiborne, " I have been to Washington." " Did you notice while there," asked Jackson, " that the hitching-post which President Jefferson used on the day he was inaugurated had been cut down and carried away for keepsakes ? " The fact was that Colonel Claiborne had not been in Washington, but had been hiding in a Virginia town MEANEST MAN IN AMERICA 287 about twenty miles from Richmond. Not suspecting the General's purpose, he replied: " Yes, I was told so one day when I was at the Capi- tol." The General nodded and a few minutes later Colonel Claiborne was talking to some military friends in another part of the room. Turning to Zachary Taylor, who stood near him, Jackson said, in an under- tone: " What an infernal liar ! I was in Washington just before I came to Richmond and the post stood there just the same as ever." As was common among military men when off duty, stimulants were in active demand, and the conversation waxed louder and louder. A large party was gathered about the chair in which General Jackson sat, listening with interest to his comments upon men and things. One of the party asked Jackson what he thought of General Wilkinson's testimony. " If I did not know the man," was his reply, " I might have been led to think he was tdling the truth, but considering what I know about him, I don't believe he could tell it if he tried." " I do not think you ought to make such a statement as that, General," said Captain McVea, a North Caro- linian, " unless you have strong evidence upon which to base such an opinion." "You don't, eh?" said the choleric old gentleman, "well, supposing I have the best of evidence upon which to base my opinion, what would you say to that?" " I should say," replied the Captain, very politely, " that I should like to hear the evidence before accept- ing the opinion." "You are a very cautious young man," remarked General Jackson. " General Wilkinson came of good family," answered 288 BLENNERHASSETT Captain McVea, apparently not noticing Jackson's last words. " I know he did," the General replied, " and no doubt his mother prayed that he might grow up to be a great and good man and have a successful and honorable career. All good mothers do that. I hope she is not living now, for I am afraid she would be terribly dis- appointed in her ofifspring." " What you have said, General Jackson, is your opin- ion, but it does not supply the evidence that I should like to hear." The General looked about the room. Suddenly his face lighted up. " Hardin ! " he cried out in his sten- torian voice, " come here ! " The man addressed was apparently more than sixty years of age. He had a stern, rugged face which showed that he had borne his share of the troubles and exigencies of frontier life. He approached General Jackson. " Here, Hardin," said the latter, " is a mem- ber of the army. Captain McVea, I believe your name is — make you acquainted with Colonel Hardin of Ken- tucky, my sister State." A chair was oflfered to Colonel Hardin and he sat down beside the General. " I have been expressing my opinion rather freely, perhaps, about our mutual ac- quaintance. General Wilkinson, and this young man thinks I have spoken a little too harshly. Now will you oblige me by telling this company what you know about Jim Wilkinson ? " " I thought," said Hardin, " that that story had grown old and was forgotten, but I suppose some of the younger members of the army have never heard it. To oblige you. General, I will tell the story over again, but I never like to do it. It calls up very unpleasant memories." Nearly every man in the room had been attracted by General Jackson's loud call for Colonel Hardin, and MEANEST MAN IN AMERICA 289 all stood expectantly awaiting the story, which, al- though known to some of the older ones, was new to the greater part of those present. Colonel Hardin spoke in a straightforward, business-like way : " On the night before the battle of Saratoga, I made a reconnoissance and learned quite accurately the num- ber and position of the enemy. I was on my way to the headquarters of General Gates to give him the par- ticulars I had gained, when I met Wilkinson, who, in company with some brother officers, was returning from a drinking bout. I informed Wilkinson of my discovery, and, being anxious to reach my regiment, asked him to carry, the news to General Gates. Wil- kinson promised to do this, and he kept his promise; but in his recital he made no mention of me, taking to himself all the credit for the results secured by the re- connoitre." Here General Jackson could restrain his feelings no longer : " The next day the battle took place and the page of American history which records it is bright with the light of victory. It is shameful that an ignoble act should be so closely connected with an illustrious achievement ! " After this interruption, Colonel Hardin continued his narrative: "General Gates naturally felt greatly in- debted to Wilkinson. He chose him to bear his report of the victory to Congress then sitting at York, Pennsyl- vania. Wilkinson was three weeks making the trip and the news was a week old when he delivered the report. At the same time, he also presented a letter to Con- gress which Gates had intrusted to him. It contained a recommendation from the General that Wilkinson be made a brigadier-general as well as a suggestion that Congress should further reward him by presenting him with a sword." Here General Jackson's indignation again got be- yond bounds. " If it had been my duty to present the 290 BLENNERHASSETT sweud to him, I would have had it made into a corlci screw first." This remark drew forth a hearty laugh from the greater part of the company. Hardin continued: "The rank of brevet brigadier- general was accorded him, but the resolution relating to the sword was defeated. This adverse action was due to a remark made during the debate by Doctor John Witherspoon. In his broad Scotch accent, he convulsed the house by saying — ' I think ye'd better gfie the lad a pair of spurs.' " " You can't fool a Scotchman," cried Jackson, " and it turned out that Wilkinson could not fool his brother officers. News traveled slowly in those days, but Wil- kinson's contemptible act was soon noised throughout the country and forty-nine brigadier-generals of the Continental army joined in a protest to Congress against his being allowed to retain a rank so dishonor- ably acquired. The force of public opinion was too much for Wilkinson and he was obliged to resign his brevet. If my name had been George Washington, I would have had him cashiered and dismissed the ser- vice. Excuse me, Colonel," he said, turning to Hardin, " for taking the words out of your mouth, but I could not help it." " I tiiink you can tell the rest of it. General, much better than I can," said Hardin. _ " In spite of all," Jackson went on, " he profited by his acts of meanness. He was made Adjutant-General, then Secretary of the Board of War of which Gates was a member." "His conduct was surely very reprehensible," re- marked Captain McVea, " but the effect of one wrong step may often be retrieved by subsequent good ones." "My young friend," said Jackson, restraining his rapidly rising wrath, " you evidently do not know much about the career of the man whose cause you are supporting. Instead of doing better, he went from bad MEANEST MAN IN AMERICA 291 to worse, and he has never stopped in his downward course. Perhaps you do not know that he was con- nected with the Conway Cabal, the purpose of which was to have Gates supersede Washington; but the rum bottle played him false again, and, while under its influence, he let the cat out of the bag to Lord Stirling, and the scheme, to call it by no worse name, was frus- trated." The General now grew eloquent. He was full of his subject and could retain a sitting posture no longer. He arose, and as he did so the. company fell baci from too close proximity to his outstretched arms. Raising his voice until it could have been heard upon the street by passers-by, he said : " From the time Wilkinson told the cowardly lie by which he sought to deprive my brave brother oiificer here," pointing to Hardin, " of the credit due him, he seems to have lost all sense of moral discrimination. The voice of his conscience is either silent or dead. From that time, he has seemed to regard the world as his oyster to be opened either by his mendacious tongue or his dis- honored sword." Captain McVea had apparently been much impressed by the statements made by Colonel Hardin and General Jackson, but he did not choose to acknowledge it so publicly. Thinking to change the subject, he asked, somewhat irrelevantly. " How did he get his appointment in the army? " - " He was appointed by the great and good George Washington," answered General Jackson. " One of the supporters of his application gave as a reason for en- dorsing him that^ — when Wilkinson was unemployed he was dangerous to public quiet. But Washington seems to have taken stock in him. He made him a major-general and afterwards appointed him to be commander of the army to succeed that honest old dare- devil soldier, Mad Anthony Wayne. That was going down rather than Up. As I said before, Wilkinson prof- 292 BLENNERHASSETT ited more by his treachery than honest men have by bravery, I think he is the meanest man that America has ever produced and God forbid that she should ever turn out another like him. Some one of you gentlemen asked me my opinion, and I have given it. I think he is the meanest man in America, and, if reports are true, those who are intimately associated with him are not much better." As these words fell from General Jackson's lips, more than half of the company turned and looked directly at Colonel Claiborne, for the fact of his position on General Wilkinson's staflf was well known to them. The Colonel had heard the words uttered by General Jackson, but probably would not have noticed them had he not so suddenly become the subject of such close inspection. The color rose in his cheeks and his lips trembled. Pushing his way through the crowd until he stood before Jackson, he said, " Did I understand your last remark? " " 'Pon honor, I don't know," was the General's rfr ply, " I am not responsible for your understanding." " Will you kindly repeat it," asked the Colond, smothering his rising indignation, " Certainly," answered General Jackson, " I said substantially that Wilkinson was a rascal and many of those who are about him are not much better than he is." " Did you intend anything personal by that? " asked Colonel Claiborne. " I can't say," rejoined the General, " if the remark hits you, it must have been intended for you." " I consider your accusation altogether too sweeping in its nature, and I must request that you say to these gentlemen that you did not intend to call me a rascal." " I never said I did," cried Jackson, " but as you are 60 particular about the language I used, I will inform MEANEST MAN IN AMERICA 293 the company here assembled that I have no direct proof that you are a rascal but I have conclusive evidence that you are something else. Didn't you say that you had been in Washington within the past fortnight ? " "Yes," replied Claiborne, "but what of that?" " Oh, that's all right," replied Jackson, " but when I asked you about the Jeffersonian hitching-post being cut up for relics, you said that you heard about it when you were at the Capitol. Now I happen to know that the post is there all right, and my private opinion is, using no names, of course, that somebody is a liar." " You might as well use my name," cried Claiborne, 'losing control of himself. " Well, then, if you wish it. Colonel Claiborne," said the General, " in the presence of the assembled com- pany, I will say that when you told me you had been in Washington during the past fortnight, you lied. If you cannot understand that, I will try to make it more explicit." "Such language," exclaimed Claiborne, "in the presence of witnesses, entitles me to that satisfacticai which no man of honor can refuse to grant me." " I will give you all the satisfaction you want," re- plied the General, slowly and deliberately. " In what form do you want it? " " Either a public apology," said Colonel Claiborne, " before the company present, or you will receive a mes- sage from me." "Then deliver your message right here and now. Colonel Claiborne. I suppose you mean that I must fight you. Well and good." Turning to young Taylor, he said : " Come, Zachary, you must be my second. You are going to join the army and you may as well get used to the sight of blood. Colonel Claiborne, I pre- sume you can find some friend to act for you." The Colonel spoke to several persons but they ex- cused themselves on vaiswus grounds. At last, of his 294 BLENNERHASSETT own volition, Captain McVea approached Colonel Oai* borne and offered his services which were gladly ac- cepted. " Come here, Zachary," said the General, grasping his arm and leading him out of ear-shot of the com- pany, " you must insist on certain points. Being the challenged party, I have the right to select the weapons and I choose broadswords." "Broadswords!" cried Taylor, "why! you don't know how to use one." " Neither does he," said the General with a laugh, " if I say pistols or rifles, I shall be sure to kill him for I am a dead shot. If I say swords, such as he carries, he will be sure to kill me for I had as soon fight with a caseknife as one of those frog stickers; and mind you, Taylor, we must be faced ten paces apart. There must be a master of ceremonies, or referee — I think young Scott will be willing to act — and when the master says Ready we are to advance and engage. As soon as either is wounded, the master is to call Time and that will give us a chance to rest and examine the nature of the wound." " And it will give us seconds a chance," said Taylor, " to see if an amicable adjustment of the difficulty can- not be made." " Well, you seconds can do all the talking you want to," the General rejoined, " but when I go into a fight, with one man, or a regiment, I mean to win or die in the attempt." The insulting epithet which had been so publicly applied and the ensuing challenge which had been so publicly given and accepted, with the news of the im- pending duel, spread over iJie city like wildfire. The time agreed upon was the next morning at daybreak, and when it arrived the principals and their seconds had reached the ground where they found a large body of spectators in attendance. Winfield Scott had agreed MEANEST MAN IN AMERICA 295 to act as referee and he look his position about midway between the contestants. A long search had failed to find any broadswords in the city, but, in a gunsmith's shop, a pair of old-fashioned cutlasses were found which, after being sharpened, were shown to General Jackson and he declared they would answer the pur- pose splendidly. A hundred pairs of eyes were fastened intently upon the duellists as they stood at the stated distance of ten paces apart. Winfield Scott uttered the word " Ready ! " No sooner had it fallen from his lips, when Jackson, grasping his cutlass, crouched down as though he were on the track of an Indian brave and advanced in a stealthy but speedy manner towards his antagonist. The latter was evidently bewildered for he did not know how to meet the attack. He advanced a few steps to- wards the General, then stood motionless. With a loud yell that startled his hearers, the General straightened up and made a move as if to retreat Colonel Claiborne involuntarily started forward but the General did not retreat far. With has cutlass extended, he rushed upon his opponent and, before the latter could parry the blow, gave him a severe thrust in the left arm. " Time ! " called the referee, and the contestants re- turned to their posts. An examination of the wound showed that, although severe, it was not serious, even though the blood flowed freely. A handkerchief was tied about the injured arm, and Colonel Claiborne stood once more at his post. Again, the referee called out " Ready ! " This time the General astonished both the spectators and his opponent. Grasping his cutlass in both hands, he swung it from right to left as thot^h it were a scythe, and advanced rapidly towards Colonel Claiborne who was still more at a loss than before to know how to meet his on-coming assailant. Weakened by tiie loss of blood, and sure that his doom was sealed, his nerve gave way, and he turned and incon- 896 BLENNERHASSETT tinently fled to the woods, closely pursued by the Mdi^ii: ingly enraged General. " Time! " cried the referee at the top of his voice. The General paid no attention but continued his course^ still brandishing his cutlass from right to left. Botl» seconds then joined in hot pursuit. Colonel Claiborne was much lighter in weight and swifter of foot than his older competitor. He reached the woods and was soon lost to sight. The seconds caught up with the General and taking him by the arms, induced him to return to the duelling ground. When he reached it, the whole company of spectators gathered about him and he burst into a hearty laugh. Turning to Taylor, he said : " I only meant to have some fun with him. That man has a guilty conscience, and no man who has a guilty conscience can ever hope to come out first best in a duel. Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just. I might mention names but I will not, but when a man kills his defaraer in a duel and then successfully fights, almost single-handed, all the lawyers that the government can bring against him, I think he is a pretty smart fellow." The entire company returned to the tavern, where General Jackson's health was drunk at his expense. In a short time he again waxed eloquent and cried out in a voice that sounded like thunder : "By the Eternal! If I could have my way with Wilkinson and that cub of his, I'd take away their swords, tear off their epaulets and stripes, and drive them out of town to the tune of the Rogues' March." The next day, he wrote a letter to a friend in Nash- ville giving a ludicrous account of the duel. " My an- tagonist," he wrote, " started due West about half-past six A. M. He is evidently still on the way, no word having been received from him at Richmond. He, no doubt,^ thinks I am still on his track, armed with the avenging cutlass. If you should happen to meet him, MEANEST MAN IN AMERICA 297 JTOU can assure him that I am going to Washington to make sure about that hitching-post, and that I shall not come West again for several weeks, which will give him plenty of time to get back to New Orleans in safety so as to make arrangements io^ tii& proper reception of th« heroic WtJWn'iAi" CHAPTER XXV THE CITY OF LUTETIA FIFTY years before the Christian Era, Julius Caesar, at the head of his victorious Roman le- gions, ravaged Ancient Gaul, and, after defeat- ing Vercingetorix, encamped in and about the City of Lutetia of which he gives an account in his Commen- taries. Eighteen hundred and fifty years thereafter, another great conqueror, the peer of Caesar, made a great fete at Paris, the capital of the country of which he, Napoleon, was emperor, even as Caesar had been emperor of Rome. History had repeated itself; or, rather, had reversed itself, for he had gone forth from the City of Paris, built on the site of the ancient City of Lutetia, and the victorious legions of France had, in their turn, ravaged the domain which had been the seat of the Roman Em- pire under Caesar. On the evening of this festal day, the palace of St Qoud was ablaze with light. The people of France, for Paris was France, were intoxicated with enthusi- asm. During the day, the son of the Emperor had been christene!d and proclaimed King of Rome. Aaron Burr was one of the immense concourse of Spectators that stood in the pouring rain and gazed upon the illuminated palace. He had been an enforced resident of Paris for twenty months, when, of his own free will, he would have limited his stay to a fort- night—possibly a month. Why had he remained so long? It is inconceivable that the French authorities S98 THE CITT OF LUTETIA 299 should have insisted upon i-etaining within their bor- ders a man who so ardently desired to leave them be- hind him. But it was not the fault of the French government that he was denied the desired passports. The opposi- tion came from a different source. General John Arm- strong who had been a classmate of Burr at Princeton and who was now United States Minister to France; Jonathan Russell, who was charge d'aif aires at Paris; and Mr. McRae, Consul at Paris, who had been one of the counsel for the prosecution at Burr's trial for high treason, formed the trio which combined their forces and used every endeavor to prevent Burr's return to his native land. When one reflects, if he had been allowed to leave France when he desired, that his daughter Theodosia might have been spared to be with him and care for him in his declining years and that her own valuable life and that of her son might have been saved, the responsi- bility of these three political enemies of Burr for these sad occurrences becomes manifest. It should have caused them a lifelong regret, being an unnecessary sacrifice for which there could be no adequate requital in this world. To the average mind exile is a most unhappy con- dition. We imagine the poor outcast driven from home and friends and forced to seek an asylum in some foreign land, surrounded by people who speak a strange language and by customs with which he is not ac- quainted. He is overcome with homesickness, that Heimweh which the Germans consider the most acute mental suffering a human being can endure and live. No doubt the majority of those who, from casual reading, have learned that Aaron Burr was an exile in Europe for four years, have formed some such picture in their minds of his existence while abroad. But such mental conceptions are not always correct, and the 300 BLENNERHASSETT pages of history, it must be confessed, do not always convey the whole truth. Fortunately, Aaron Burr left behind him the means of ascertaining just how he passed these four years of exile. To be sure, he was sorry, very sorry indeed to leave his beloved daughter Theodosia, her little son, and his daughter's husband to whom he was greatly attached, and between whom a feeling closely approach- ing that of love of father and son existed. Burr left many friends behind, but the real ties that it cost him pain to sever were those that bound him to his daughter and her child. But Burr was sanguine. Whatever misfortune might overtake him, he was hopeful of the future, and during his four years residence in Europe his constant thought was of his return and the joyful meeting to follow with his daughter and her child. In proof of this, the nine hundred printed pages of his diary while in Europe supply conclusive evidence. This diary was not written for publication. It was intended only for the perusal of his daughter, Theodosia. He says many times in the course of it : "I will tell you all of this story when we meet and have our little chats together." It was de- signed as memoranda to guide him in giving more complete accounts of his travels when, safe at home with his daughter, they sat together during the long summer evenings or the still longer ones that come in winter; and he continually refers to these anticipated conversations. His enemies, of whom it may safely be said that ha had legion, and those persons so little interested in him as to believe anything prejudicial that might be said of him, have constantly spoken and written of the •fact that he was reduced to poverty while abroad, but they do not tell the whole truth; perhaps they do not know it. It will be magnanimous to assume that they did not know that some ten thousand dollars due him THE CITT OF LUTETIA 301 in the United States, and which he counted upon re- ceiving from time to time while in Europe, were never paid. From this fact. Burr was often forced, as anyone in like circumstances might have been, to rely on the kindness or generosity of his friends; but it must be said to his credit that he never borrowed when he could pawn or sell anything of value that he possessed. To his further credit, it must be added that he indulged in no fine raiment for himself; he was abstemious in food and drink; he smoked a pipe because cigars were too expensive ; he borrowed newspapers instead of buy- ing them; he lay in bed on cold days to save coal or wood, and he never accepted an invitation to a dinner if he thought the party giving it had any idea of the reduced state of his finances. His extravagances were purchases of presents for Theodosia and her boy, nearly all of which, however, were sold or pawned in order to secure his passage-money home. A single incident will show the consummate philos- ophy of the man. One day, while in London, he found that his whole fortune consisted of two half- pence. He wrote in his diary that he was glad he had them instead of a single penny, for he could jingle the half-pence and they sounded more like money. To such a man, adversity might cause worriment, pain, and suffering, but it could implant no thorns to rankle and smart. If the tree of life supplied him with fruit, he was grateful therefor; if it gave him but buds- and flowers he was thankful; if naught but leaves were denied him he was equally content; if these were beyond reach, the bark of the tree sufficed for his humble wants;, if this last failed, he chewed the bitter roots of adversity sweetened by hopes of the future. And now, after four years of amusing and instruc- tive travel coupled, to be sure, with some privations. 302 BLENNERHASSETT this "poor, miserable outcast," to use the language oi his enemies, who had been received everywhere with courtesy and honor by the nobility and by men of science, letters, and art, stood gazing at the palace of St. Cloud — ^but^ he was thinking of his passports. One great pleasure had come to him in Paris which atoned , for all the sufferings which he had undergone; He had met and been on terms of the closest social in- timacy with Vanderlyn, the little New York boy whom he had christened the " Genius of the Roadside," and for whose early education in art he had supplied the funds. It is interesting to note the manner in which Burr finally secured his passports. One evening, at a social gathering, he had become acquainted with a Mile. St. Clair. With the gallantry common to gentlemen of that time, he accompanied the lady to her lodgings and was invited to visit her. Several Asys afterwards, while making a call there, the conversation turned to pictures and sculpture, and she expressed a desire to view an exhibition of paintings by the great masters which was then being given at the Louvre. Burr en- deavored to secure the desired ticket of admittance. He stated his wish to a friend, the Due d'Alberg. The Duke gave him a letter to M. Denon who was the Director-General of the exposition at the Louvre. This meeting with Denon proved to be a most for- tunate one. Denon gave him the ticket. Burr was on his way to deliver it to Mile. St. Clair when he was met by an American named Griswold, then a resident of Paris. Mr. Griswold wished to take a party of ladies to the Louvre but he needed one more tidcet. Burr, on learning this, gave him, without hesitation, the one that he had procured for Mile. St. Clair. A few days later, he secured a second letter from the Duke to M. Denon, which the latter honored witii another ticket 'Denoa invited him to dine with him» THE CITT OF LVTETIA 303 and there Burr became acquainted with the Due de Bassano. The next day. Burr again started to deliver the ticket to Mile. St. Clair, but, stopping to make a call upon a French gentleman, who was a friend of his, he was introduced to a German lady named Albertine, whom he declares, in his journal, was the most beautiful woman whom he met while in Europe. She expressed a wish to visit the Louvre and Burr, with his natural gallantry, offered to accompany her, using the second ticket that he had obtained for Mile. St. Clair. On his third attempt to obtain a ticket, Denon asked him to take breakfast with him. It was on this occa- sion that Burr called his attention to his South Amer- ican scheme. M. Denon was much interested and wished to read a copy of the Memorial which Burr had prepared, but which he had, so far, been unable to bring to the attention of the Emperor Napoleon. M. Denon read the Memorial and then put it into the hands of the Due de Bassano. Burr was given the third ticket and, as he says in his journal, to prevent all possible contingencies, he walked directly from the Louvre to Mile. St. Clair's to place it in her hand. To his third visit to Denon must be ascribed his suc- cess in finally securing his passports, for the Due de Bassano brought the matter to the personal attention ef the Emperor. CHAPTER XXVI BV COMMAND OF THE EMPEROR A FEW days after the one upon which he had breakfasted with M. Denon, Burr was sitting in his little room, which was about ten feet square, in the fourth story of a house in the Rue Petite St. Augustin. In one corner of the room was a large bed; the greater portion of the remainder of the room was occupied by a very large table upon which were thrown in promiscuous confusion, letters, food, pipes and tobacco, and articles of clothing. Upon the wall were a few rude shelves on which some books and pam- phlets were arranged in an orderly manner. A wood fire was burning in the open fireplace. In his journal, Burr says that nineteen-twentieths of the chimneys in Paris smoked all the time, and the other twentieth occasionally. He had suffered so much from being obliged to inhale the odor of burnt wood that he decided to rebuild his chimney, but none of the French masons would consent to make the changes that he de- sired. Finally, by the efforts of a rich English lady, living in Paris, he secured the services of an apprentice who carried out his plans; but, every time he laid a brick, he declared that it was of no use and that he knew it would be of no avail. But to Burr's delight, when the change was completed he found that his fire drew finely, and he was never afterwards troubled with smoke except when a heavy gale blew down the chim- ney, and being at the top of the house, he was some- times subjected to this annoyance. 304 Br COMMAND OF EMPEROR 305 It was about seven o'clock in the evening. Burr had made a frugal meal of bread and butter, cheese, some grapes, and half a bottle of Roussillon wine. He had borrowed some American papers from a friend and was reading and smoking his pipe when there came a loud knock at the door. He had locked it to prevent interruption and so paid no attention to the first rap. Then it came again, louder and more peremptory than before. Burr arose and opened the door. A tall figure entered and, throwing back a long military cloak, dis- closed a handsomely embroidered uniform by which Burr knew him to be an equerry of the Emperor. The equerry addressed him in French: "M. Burr?" Burr bowed his acknowledgment of the name. Then the man stated that M. Burr was commanded to present himself at the Palace of the Tuileries by His Majesty, the Emperor. The thought at once flashed through Burr's mind that the Due de Bassano had pre- sented his Memorial to the Emperor, and that His Majesty wished to see him in relation thereto. Asking the man to give him a few moments in which to attend to his toilet, he made his preparations hastily, and, donning his great surtout, he followed the equerry down the three flights of dark and rickety stairs. Arrived at the door, he found a carriage waiting; they entered and took their seats. For some little time neither spoke. Then the equerry said: " Perhaps you are not aware, M. Burr, that when a person, whether of French or foreign birth, is com- manded to visit the Emperor and is granted a private interview, it is understood that the party so received is neither to commit to writing, nor to speak to any person of what transpires at the interview. Have I your word of honor, M. Burr, that this custom will be followed by you after your interview with His Majesty? " 3o6 BLENNERHASSETT "You have," replied Burr, and no more was said until the palace was reached. Burr followed the equerry through the brilliantly- lighted corridors and was shown into a small reception- room. Here he threw ofif his surtout and, standing before a full-length mirror, adjusted his wig and the folds of his lace shirt-front. He was not in court dress, nor was it to be expected that he could be under the cir- cumstances. In a few moments, the equerry returned and Burr followed him through what seemed an endless succes- sion of corridors and passages and finally was shown into a large reception-room, brilliantly lighted. The room was empty. Burr took a seat upon a beautifully upholstered divan. The equerry left the room and closed the door behind him. Burr glanced around the apartment. It was large and very high, with a dome- like ceiling. It was handsomely decorated and a carpet of most exquisite pattern and softness of texture cov- ered the floor. Directly opposite him, some portieres covered the entrance to an adjoining room. Thoughts passed through his mind with the speed of lightning. What should he say ? How should he pre- sent the ideas that were uppermost in the most favorable maimer to His 'Majesty? The opportunity of his life had come ! Perhaps, as the result of this interview, the summit of his ambition might be reached, and he re- solved that for once, at least, his pride should be sub- servient to the other passion — ^ambition. As Burr sat waiting for the entrance of the mighty conqueror whose ear he had endeavored so long to gain, the principal events in that man's successful career flashed before his mind. He saw the young Corsican yearning for a wider field of action than the little island of his birth afforded him. Next he saw the ardent stu- dent at the military school at Brienne. He saw the " Little Corporal " with his bearded French veterans BT COMMAND OF EMPEROR 307 ravaging the sunny plains of Italy, like a barbarian monarch despoiling churches, museums, and palaces of their pictures and statues, their treasures of gold and silver, and sending them home to his native land. He saw him take his first step as Consul, next First Consul, then Consul for life. Then a furious battle scene came before his eyes — the bloody field of Marengo which humbled Austrian pride. Next came before his vision the picture of the coronation, when the impatient conqueror took the crown from- the hands of the Pope and placed it upon his own head. Then, to the imperial crown, he saw him add a kingly one when he joined Italy to his domain. Then came the scene of another field of carnage — Aus- terlitz — where the haughty Austrians were again hum- bled and made to bite the dust. Then followed the battle of Jena, where the Prussians — ^who had kept aloof from previous campaigns, and who had hoped to surprise their enemy — ^met with a crushing defeat. Finally came that sad and ever-to-be regretted scene-^-the divorce- ment of .he childless Empress — followed so soon by a marriage with the daughter of his enemy. And now the Emperor of France and the Empire of the French had an heir to the throne who only a few days before had been proclaimed King of Rome. Could the Emperor Napoleon have seen the future of his offspring, with what despair would he have learned that his son was never to sit upon the throne of France; that he was to be educated as an Austrian and every effort made to teach him to hate the land that gave him birth. It would have afforded him some solace to have known that his son ever remained French at heart; that he yearned throughout his short life to re- turn to his native land, and that he was to be im- mortalized by a French poet, a century later, who, in memory of his noble father, poetically christened him L'Aiglon, or " iThe Eaglet." 3o8 BLENNERHASSETT While Burr sat deeply engrossed in thought, he heard a slight sound. He glanced up, and the hero of Marengo, Austerlitz, and Jena stood before him. Burr sprang to his feet and made a low and courtly bow. Then drawing himself up to his full stature, he looked towards the Emperor. He did not speak, for well he knew that a commoner, in the presence of royalty, must wait for royalty to speak first. Finally, the Emperor said, " Colonel Burr, from the United States?" Burr again bowed, and replied simply, " Yes, Your Majesty." Then the Emperor seated himself, and by a sign, in- dicated to Burr to do the same, and the latter resumed his position upon the divan. "The Due de Bassano," said the Emperor, "has called my attention to your Memorial. I have read the same, but I regret to say that I am so much involved in matters requiring my attention upon the continent of Europe, that I have no time or inclination to undertake conquests so far removed from the Empire. But I am a young man yet. When I have reached your age, I may find time to carry out the purposes of your Memorial." " When you have reached my age," answered Burr, feeling it was necessary now for him to say something, "Your Majesty will look in vain for other conquests; for, by that time, the whole civilized world will bow to Your Majesty." " Well," rejoined the Emperor, " if that time ever arrives I shall not, like my friend Alexander, sit down and cry for more worlds to conquer." For a moment, there was silence. Then the Emperor said, and a strange looked passed over his face, "I judge from what the Due de Bassano has told me that your career has been a checkered one, and not crowned Br COMMAND OF EMPEROR 309 with that success which you, no doubt, at one time anticipated." "That is true. Your Majesty," Burr replied, de- termined that his pride should be kept down. " You are still ambitious? " asked the Emperor. " At my age," began Burr — " Mon Dieu!" cried the Emperor, rising to his feet, "at your age, if you have not been successful, you should be more ambitious than ever." "Whatever ambition I may have. Your Majesty, would be more than doubled if I knew that I had your recognition, not to say support, of what I may be en- gaged in." For a moment, the Emperor seemed to be musing. Then, turning to Burr, he asked : " To what do you, from your point of view, attribute the success of the French arms ? " "To the acknowledged bravery of the French soldier, and the unequalled military ability of their com- mander," said Burr, again making a low bow. " So far so good," rejoined the Emperor, " but you have not stated all." " No," answered Burr, " there must, of course, be adequate financial support for all military undertak- ings." " Wdl spoken ! " replied the Emperor, " but there is another point that you have omitted." Burr did not speak. The point, whatever it might be, was not sug- gested to him. Then the Emperor said, " You have forgotten the use of statistics." "Statistics?" asked Burr, glancing up at the Em- peror, with a slight look of wonderment upon his other- wise impassive face. " Yes," said Napoleon, " statistics are the foundation of my success. . In the secret archives of the War De- partment are the names and addresses of every manu- factory in the Enqrire which is capable of furnishing 3IO BLENNERHASSETT clothing, food, munitions of war, or other suppli«^ needed for the use of the army. The kind and quality of machinery are recorded, the number of men that can' be employed, the quantity of goods that can be manu-J factured, working a specified number of hours a day, and when employed both day and night. When a campaign is projected, orders are sent to each of these; manufactories to turn out a definite quantity of goodJ on a specified day. These are forwarded to certaidl designated points on the same day, where they are re- ceived by persons who have been instructed how to dis- pose of them. Thus, within two days, my army is clothed, armed, supplied with provisions and ammuni^ tion, and on the third day moves forward to new con-^ quests and greater glory." Burr's face expressed his admiration for the plan outlined by the Emperor's words. " You have said," continued the Emperor, " ths^ whatever ambition you possess would be doubled und^ certain circumstances. Supposing I should oflfer you' a position in my army ? .What effect would that have upon your ambition?" " Your Majesty, before accepting," replied Burr, " I should ask but one favor. I have been separated for four years from my only child, a daughter, and my only grandson. I should wish to see them once more.;. After doing so, I would willingly, gladly, return to France and place my sword and my life at your dis- posal." " Be it so! " said the Emperor. " I will give orders to-morrow that a passport, allowing you to leave France, shall be issued to you. Go home, say farewdli to your daughter and your grandson; then return to France. I will give you a commission in the Frei^ army and, if all else fails you, if you can in no othei* way reach the summit of your ambition, if you are brave and fearless and faithful to the Empire, you may 'THE.HKROOF MARENGO, AUSTERLITZ, AKD JENA STOOD BEFORE HIM." Br COMMAND OF EMPEROR 311 yet ^ a Marshal of France ! " As the Emperor uttered these words, he drew back the portieres, and an instant later they dosed behind him, In a few moments, the door was opened and th^; equerry entered. Without a word, Burr followed him to the reception-room where he donned his outer gar- ments. The carriage was reached, and they were driven back to the house in the Rue Petite St. Augustin. Burr mounted the creaking stairs alone and entered his little room. By means of flint and steel he lighted his candle. His fire had gone out but with the burning fire within him he needed no outward warmth. For hours he sat and gazed into the blackened embers. To him they seemed alive with flame, in the midst of which he saw Theodosia and Gampillo. Then the scene changed. There was a figure on horseback, dressed in the uniform of a Marshal of France, he was at the head of his troops, rushing on towards the enemy, and Burr saw that the face of this leader of men was his own. CHAPTER XXVII "home again! from a foreign shore" EMPERORS do not always keep their word, as pages of history attest. But Napoleon Bona- parte did not forget his promise and Aaron Burr's passports were promptly forthcoming. Burr then proceeded as fast as diligence, post-chaise, and canal- boat could convey him to Amsterdam. He was fortu- nate in finding there an American vessel called the " Vigilant," commanded by a Captain Coombs. The terms of the passage to America were agreed upon, in- cluding the use of a special cabin which was to be fitted up for Burr's accommodation. Then he made a return trip to Paris at the greatest possible speed, utilizing canal-boat, post-chaise, and diligence, they being, in those days, the only means of conveyance. The acquaintance formed, at M. Denon's, with the Due de Bassano proved to be one of the fortunate events oi his life; for the latter, upon learning his friend's financial condition, generously tendered him a loan of ten thousand francs. With this money, he was able to discharge all his obligations in the city of Paris, and to leave it with all his financial troubles consolidated into one compact debt, owed to a man to whom tlie sum was a mere bagatelle. Then, by means of the same te- dious methods of travel, Burr once more reached Am- sterdam and took up his quarters in the cabin provided for him. But a long and vexatious delay occurred before the vessel sailed. There was war between England and 3ta "HOME AGAIN" 313 France. Holland had been annexed to the French Empire, and, consequently, vessels leaving Dutch ports were considered by the officers of the British navy as belonging to the enemy. The " Vigilant " had no sooner gotten outside the Texel than she was brought to by a shot across her bow from a British man-of-war. Despite the protests of Captain Coombs who persisted that he was en cartel, the vessel and its passengers were taken into Yarmouth Roads. After an investigation by the British authorities, it was decided to release the " Vigilant." Captain Coombs had received certain guarantees which made it much more profitable for him to take his vessel to New Or- leans rather than New York, the original port of desti- nation. Burr did not wish to go to New Orleans for many reasons, the principal one being that the money paid for his passage had nearly exhausted his available funds. The trip from England to New York was really easier of accomplishment than the one from New Or- leans to New York. Captain Cqombs refused to return Burr's passage-money and the vessel sailed before he could take legal steps to compel a restitution. Thus, by no fault of his own, he was left stranded once more in a foreign country. His enforced residence on this occasion lasted for more than six months, during which he came nearer to the line of absolute poverty than he had at any time during his travels. Many of his critics have dwelt upon this as though his financial sufferings were intended as a punishment for his political and social sins; but the common-sense reader, knowing the real facts, will ap- preciate the situation and see that even the most godly might have been reduced to the same straits under similar circumstances. His stay in England was not due entirely to his financial condition. By one of those peculiar decrees of 314 BLENNERHASSETT Pate which are incomprehensible, his old enemy, Jona- than Russell, who had been charge d' affaires at Paris, had been transferred to London and now occupied a similar position at the British capital. Once more he had an opportunity to interpose his official influence which he secretly used against Burr, and a considerable part of the time lost was due to the machinations of this malevolent political opponent. But the tangle of complications was finally un- raveled, and, provided with sufficient funds. Burr took passage upon the " Aurora " bound from London for Newburyport, Massachusetts. The weary traveler had had his progress so often interfered with by unexpectof circumstances, that he stood upon the deck of the " Aurora " as it passed tlirough the English Channel, in a state of suspense, and watched with eager eyes every war vessel bearing the English colors at its mast- head. He gave a great sigh of relief when the " Au- rora " passed Lizard Point and soon after was plough- ing the waters of the open sea. When he had sailed from New York for England four years before, he buried all unpleasant associations and looked forward with pleasurable anticipation to his return. That anticipation had become realization, for the exile was now homeward bound. What recep- tion was he destined to have from the country that had rejected him barely four years before? He realized that he was between two continents with but com- paratively few friends in either and it must be con-, fessed, with more in the Old World than in the New. One day, a heavy rain and sullen clouds brought him to a self-repressive mood. He would give up all ideas of social, political, or military preferment; he would work hard at his profession to make a happy home for Theodosia and Gamp; the chief object in his life in future would be to make a great and noble man of his grandson and namesake. "HOME AGAIN" 31^ The next day, the skies were bright and a strong, fresh breeze was blowing. With them came a great revulsion in feeling. What had the Emperor said? No ! Aaron Burr would rise superior to all adverse circum- stances. The judgments of Nemesis were against those who had risen, not against those who were trying to rise. He would return to France; he would win glory and the rank of field-marshal; he would win greater glory and a title of nobility, and then he would return to America and laugh at his enemies. He would take Theodosia and her husband and Gamp to Paris. He would show the French nobility how immense fortunes could be made in America in land speculations. How easy for him it would be to turn their excited minds towards Texas and Mexico. Filled with the grand project, he walked to the bow of the " Aurora " and, like Columbus, saw before him the mighty country which his mind had created. Perhaps Napoleon would put him in charge of the conquering armies and thus- secure to him the object of his ambition by placing him?, upon a throne. Day by day, these contending forces struggled for mastery. One day, in company with Remorse and Re- pentance, he descended, with slow steps, into the Valley of Self-effacement ; the next day, Pride was his fellow- traveler, and, with long strides, they ascended together the Mountain of Ambition. The " Aurora " landed her passengers at Boston in- stead of at Newbur)rport as had been intended. Burr was disguised so as to escape easy recognition. By ar- rangement with the British Alien Commissioner, he had taken passage for America under the name of Adolphe Amot. He spoke the French language with fluency and, by his fellow-travelers, was supposed to be a native of that country. The name Arnot had become endeared to him by ted an invitation to be present. The balance of the company was cotnfiosed of Matthew L. Davis and ten other residents of New 3«9 320 BLENNERHASSETT York City who were either social or political friends of Aaron Burr. Punctually at the hour fixed upon, the man in whose honor the dinner was given made his appearance clad in his accustomed habit of black velvet. Although in his fifty-seventh year, he had never been a handsomer man than on the present occasion, and his eyes sparkled with a brilliancy which convinced all that they had lost none of their original force and fire. He accepted the congratulations of his friends in his usual urbane and polished manner and thanked them individually for the great civility thus extended to him and the honor conferred upon him by their presence. After the repast was over, Samuel Swartwout arose to make a short address of welcome. "As in days of yore, when we met at the festal board in company with our former associate and politi- cal chieftain, we have a double purpose in view; first, to extend to him our hearty welcome and congratula- tions, upon his safe return; second, to wish him long life iand prosperity, and to express the hope that the power once in his .hands, but temporarily wrested from them, may be once more restored to his grasp." These sentiments were loudly applauded by the as- sembled guests, and Burr, rising, bowed his acknowlr edgment. Swartwout continyed : "I am aware that this is not Richmond Hill; but we have with us to-night the man whose wit and elo- quence and marked personality of character gave to that famous mansion the gi-eat charm that it always possessed for those wrho were so fortunate as to be hon- ored with invitations to become guests within its walls," Swartwout sat down. His closing words were re- ceived with another outburst of applause. Burr rose once more and again bowed his appreciation of the neatly- worded compliment. Remaining standing, he said: AS IN DArS OF TORE 321 "During my exile of four years in Continental Europe, I have had ever before my mind a picture such as I gaze upon to-night. Hundreds of times, while sitting in my lonely lodgings in some foreign city, have I pictured to myself a brightly-lighted room and a well- laden table, with the faces of my friends about it, such 'as I see here to-night. I will own that I have had another picture in my mind and that has been some pleasant room in which I sat in company with my be- loved daughter Theodosia, my little grandson, and my daughter's husband who loves me as a father and whose filial affection is fully reciprocated by me. The man of wealth, situated as I have been, might have thought of his treasures in ships, in land, and gold, but to me those faces of my friends and relatives were a greater treasure than any which can be measured by money value. Let me speak frankly to you. I do not return with any hope, I may say desire, to regain any former political prominence that I may have held in the city, state, or nation. I shall resume my place at the bar and shall endeavor, as all honest citizens should, to earn my livelihood, and in this undertaking I kncHw I shall have the kind assistance of these gentle- men present to-night, as well as that of other friends who are not present. " I may be pardoned for noticing the absence of my old-time friend and valued associate. Judge Van Ness who, I understand, is absent in the West for business purposes. I know you did not come here to-night to listen to an oration by me, but rather to have me tell you in a simple, conversational way some of my experi- ences during my travels; and, as their recital will oc- cupy considerable time, I know you will excuse me if, while so engaged, I resume my seat." The decanters of wine and bottles of stronger bev- erages were now placed upon the table, and many of the guests, after partaking, lighted their cigars and 322 BLENNERHASSETT settled themselves into comfortable positions to partici- pate in what they knew would prove to be an enjoyable literary feast. The conversation was general for some time, but it was immediately hushed when Chairman Samuel Swartwout pounded upon the table with his knife-handle to bring the assemblage to order. Burr began to speak in a conversational tone, but his enunciation was so perfect that every word was distinctly heard. " I will spare you an account of my ocean trip. As usual, it was long and tedious and I was as overjoyed as my fellow-travelers when the shores of Old England loomed up in the distance. I make no secret of what you probably all know. I left New York in disguise and under an assumed name. When I reached Lon- don, I sought out and secured modest lodgings in a re- spectable quarter of that great city. My first visit was to Mrs. Prevost who was a relative of the mother of my Theodosia. Her son, now Sir George Prevost, was at that time in the West Indies fighting the French. Now, as you all know, he is Governor-General of Canada and will probably lead the British forces in the approaching hostilities between our country and Eng- land. " One of my first acquaintances, Jeremy Bentham, was also one of the most enjoyable I made while in Europe. Bentham is a great man but one who will not be fully appreciated in this generation. My inti- macy with him was delightful, and he made his coun- try house at Barrow Green and his city mansion in Queen's Square Place, as much mine as if I had been their owner. His city house bore the very quaint title of ' The Bird Cage.' " I did not go to England without a fixed purpose in my mind. I made many ineffectual attempts to bring my business to the attention of the British Minister, but without success. Having an invitation to visit AS IN DATS OF TORE 323 Edinburgh I decided to accept it. On my way I stopped at Oxford. I was dined and wined by the pro- fessorial dons, and, as some slight return for their civilities, I talked politics and religion with them." The first interruption to Burr's continued discourse came at this point. " Did you find them firmly set in the old theology? " asked Doctor Bollman, with his broad German accent. " Not at all," replied Burr, with a laugh. " I found eveiything in a chaotic state in England; law, politics, and religion were all in a most unsettled condition. It seemed to me as though all the men of dull intellect and feeble powers were in office, while the able and intellectual ones were on the outside, but yet unable to overcome the prestige of those in power." He re- sumed his narrative. " At the Scottish capital I had a most pleasurable time. I was particularly pleased with the lads and lassies who sang the old Scotch songs for me." "Did you ask them to dance?" asked Mr. Davis. " There was no need of it. The man with the bag- pipes was to be found everywhere and I was treated to many exhibitions of their national dances, including the celebrated Highland Fling. The Scotch people, I mean the young ones, approach the French in their spirit and vivacity." "I presume you made many acquaintances there," remarked Colonel Troup. "Yes. One of the most enjoyable was that of David Williamson, a brother of Charles Williamson who used to be one of my most intimate personal friends. David is now Lord Balgray and a great legal light at the Scotch bar. I met Walter Scott who had published The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, The Lay of The Last Minstrel, and Marmion. I think Scott is destined to become the greatest author that Scotland has ever produced. 324 BLENNERHASSETT " The Duchess of Gordon invited me to her castle and gave a fete in my honor, where I met a great many rep- resentatives of the Scottish nobihty. " When I returned to London, I bore with me some strong endorsements of my Mexican and South Amer- ican schemes from people whom I had met while there, and I made another ineffectual effort to secure an audience with the Prime Minister, Lord Liverpool, but I was unsuccessful." " The times are not yet ripe for your schemes, my dear Colonel," said Doctor Bollman. " You may not live to see their accomplishment, but I believe in them, and the world will one day have to acknowledge that you were the most far-seeing man of your time." " I wish the world was composed of Doctor Boll- mans," said Burr, with a laugh in which the company joined. " But now my troubles were to begin. Some parties in England, instigated, I suppose, by my political enemies at home, endeavored to convince the Alien Com- missioner that, being an alien, I had no right to remain in England. I determined to test their knowledge of their own law and boldly claimed that I was still a Brit- ish subject while on British soil, despite my antecedent connections. Then the lawyers consulted their law- books and the judges read over their decisions and the law professors hunted after precedents. " I was not molested by the AJien Commissioner, for they learned just what I knew they would, that by British law, as soon as a British-born subject sets foot upon British soil, no matter if he has fought against the mother country and has sworn allegiance to some foreign sovereign, he at once becomes possessed, while on British soil, of all his natural rights as a British subject" " Many of your enemies in this country," remarked Colonel Knapp, " have tried to make a point against grour patriotism on account of your declaration." AS IN DATS OF TORE 325 "Yes, I know," said Burr, "that is because -they nnderstand partisan politics better than they do English law. " Finding that they could not eject me from England on the plea that I was an alien, as Byron says, a change came o'er the spirit of their dream. I received a very polite note from Lord Liverpool, the Prime Minister, informing me that, my presence in England was an embarrassment to the English govern- ment, and in which he asked me, very politely, if I would leave the country. When approached in a civil manner I never mean to be outdone in civility, and I replied that I would depart from England if the govern- ment would supply me with free transportation for myself and baggage and leave me at a port of destina- tion to be selected by myself. My conditions were com- plied with, and, in due time, I was landed at Gothen- burg in Sweden, having been a resident of the British Isles for about eleven months. " Not understanding a single word of the Swedish language, some enjoyable and some unpleasant occur- rences took place. I went to Stockholm to see a re- view of the Swedish troops, a war with Russia being threatened. As I looked at them, I recalled the remark of Peter the Great that he had so improved the condi- tion of the Russian army that he was able to fight the Swedes when he had four Russians to one Swede. He added that he hoped some day to make the odds even. " I went to Upsala, the seat of the world-renowned university, where I talked daily with the most learned men in Europe and read ancient Swedish law in the original Latin. Among educated people, I found that my knowledge of French stood me in good stead. I traveled northward to see the gigantic statue of the Scandinavian god Thor. This being the evening of the fourth day of the wedc is part of Thpr's day." " Did you like Sweden? " asked Lather Martin. In 326 BLENNERHASSETT accordance with his usual custom, he had Indulge! very freely in the "beverages supplied; and, up to this time, although an attentive listener, had evinced no disposition to question the speaker. " It is a fine country," said Burr. " The roads are the best to be found in Europe, and the people the most honest. They have no courts for petty offences as the people are never guilty of slight misdemeanors. There is one Swedish custom, however, of which I could never become an admirer, and that is the habit possessed by both sexes of entering your sleeping apartment at any hour of the day or night, unannounced. The doors have no locks and the only way in which you can secure any privacy is by piling up the furniture against them, and even then they will make the most determined efforts to remove the obstruction. " Returning to Stockholm, I crossed the Catt^^t in an open boat and landed at Elsinore in Denmark." " Was Prince Hamlet at home? " asked John Swart- wout. " No," said Burr, with a smile, " but I stood for an hour, in the daytime I am sorry to say, on the battle- mented tower where Prince Hamlet had stood when his father's ghost appeai-ed to him and told him of the fearful murder committed by his faithless mother and her paramour. At Copenhagen, the high public func- tionaries extended to me marked official courtesies and social civilities. If I had been the sovereign of some European kingdom I could not have been treated better than I was in Germany. Everywhere, I stood or sat at the right hand of royalty. Kings, princes, prin- cesses, and grand dukes were my daily companions who met me on the plane of social equality. " At Frankfort, I met the beautiful Princess Louise. She was so affable and courteous that I begged some souvenir of our pleasant acquaintance." AS IN DATS OF TORE ^zf **! will wager you asked for something that she wore," broke in Martin. " You are right, my learned friend," replied Burr. "* I asked her for a garter, but she blushingly refused." " I thought as much," said Martin, which provoked a loud laugh among the guests. " But I got niy souvenir." " What was it," asked Martin, " a stocking? " But this time there was no laughter from the gniests. They •evidently thought that the pleasantry had gone far •enough. " No," said Burr, pleasantly, " She sent me a beau- tiful bouquet of flowers painted on porcelain. There was no name attached so I returned it and asked her to ■at least aftix her initials; instead of which she sent me a charming little note." " Which you have no doubt added to your collection •of similar missives," said Martin. This hit was so palpable that Burr himself joined his guests in the mer- riment which followed. " At Weimar, I met Goethe, the greatest poet that "Germany has produced. He had just finished the first jart of his Faust and Marguerite. He told me that it Tiad been in his mhid for years and it would probably be many years more before he completed it, but he "hoped to do so before his death." At this point, the door was opened and a little boy and girl entered the room. They were meanly clad and their faces showed signs either of want or recent sick- ness. Mr. Davis, who sat nearest the door, turned to them, and said in a sharp tone : " Get out of here ! You have got into the wrong room." They turned to go, tut, as they did so, a most sorrowful expression settled upon their faces. Burr's quick eye took in the situation and, pushing back his chair, he quickly followed the "Children from the room. The guests looked towards 328 BLENNERHASSETT the closed door and many guesses and surmis« were made as to Burr's object in going after them. He soon returned leading one by each hand. On their faces, bright smiles had driven away the former sorrowful expressions. " Gentlemen," said Burr, lead- ing the children forward, " I wish to add to our little company my two companions. Both their grandfathers fell while fighting bravely to secure the liberty of our country. Their father lost an arm and a leg in the Con- tinental army, but while he lived managed to secure a bare subsistence for his wife and little ones. Now he is dead and his wife is unable to support them with- out their assistance. They earn money by going from tavern to tavern and singing to the guests there as- sembled a simple little song which tells in rhyme the story which I have just related. Shall we listen to them?" Cries of " Yes," " Of course," " Certainly/' came from the company. Burr placed the children in an advantageous position and then resumed his seat at the table. The voices of the children, naturally weak, were not unmusical. The poetry was in reality mere doggerel written in a stilted and conventional fashion. But the little singers knew the meaning and felt the force of every word as it fell from their lips, and the song reached the hearts of their listeners. Before they closed. Burr had covered his eyes with his hand and, no doubt, was thinking of the little boy who bore his name. Supposing he were ever to be reduced to such a state of want and misery and had no kind friends to come to his relief? The little song was over and was received with ap- plause. " They are very much to be pitied," remarked Mr. Davis. " It is a shame that the country does not provide for the support of the families of its veteran soldiers." AS IN DATS OF TORE 329 " Republics are always ungrateful," remarked Burr, " but what they fail to do, good citizens should combine to do in their collective capacity. I pity these poor children very much. I pity them ten dollars worth," said he as he arose and took that sura from his purse. He placed the money upon an empty plate and said: " Gentlemen, how much do you pity them? " The plate was passed around the table and when it finally reached Burr's hands again the sum of money that it contained amounted to nearly thirty dollars. Emptying the money remaining in his. purse into his hand, he put it in his pocket. Then he placed the con- tributions in the purse and gave it to the boy who was the elder of the two, with a strict injunction to give it to his mother. Then, stepping to the door, he called a waiter. He whispered something in his ear. A few minutes later, the servant returned bearirig a large bas- ket. :■. " Gentlemen," said Burr, " there are many dainties upon the table, some of which are untasted, while of others only a portion has been eaten. With your kind permission, I will send some of them to the mother of these poor children." As with one accord, the guests jumped to their feet and vied with each other in supplying Burr with viands from the table. " Put in a couple of bottles of wine," said Martin. " It will help to build up the mother's strength. No doubt she is -worse off than the children." The old lawyer's suggestion was complied with and the waiter was instructed to accompany the children home and give the contents of the basket to the mother with the compliments of Aaron Burr and his friends. Burr offered the waiter some compensation for his trouble but he refused it. " Can you sing any other song? " asked Burr, when ^c children were ready to deparc 330 BLENNERHASSETT "We kncvw one more," said the little girl, "that mother taught us." " What is it? " asked Burr. " Mother is Scotch," said the little girl, " and so was father. They used to sing Auld Lang Syne and we learned it from them." " Make room in the centre of the table, gentlemen," cried Burr. A space was soon cleared. Burr lifted the children, one at a time, as gently as the most loving father could have done, and stood them side by side in the centre of the table. Then the guests arose from their chairs without any suggestion and stood about the table. The little voices sang the words of the song and the chorus was taken up by Burr and his guests. As he placed the children once more upon the floor, he kissed each upon the forehead and they then ran out of the room behind the waiter with his ponderous basket, the sound of their childish laughter floating back into the room. And thus ended Aaron Burr's formal welcome home to his native land by his tried and true friends. CHAPTER XXIX A father's love IT was early in the month of January in the year 1813. Burr sat at his desk in Colonel Troup's office. The latter, who was suffering from some slight physical ailment, had gone home. The hour was between one and two o'clock. During the morning, a long stream of visitors had had its wants attended to and had departed. Burr had just returned from the coffee-house where he had obtained his lunch and was smoking a cigar. It was with difficulty that he had found sufficient money to pay for the modest meal which he had enjoyed. Upon his desk stood four large law- books arranged in the form of a rectangle which he called " The Well." Into this well, it was his custom to throw each day all the money received by him for fees and retainers. That morning he had had many calls from the orphans and widows of Revolutionary sol- diers, from relatives of former political allies, and from many former political associates who were now them- selves in reduced circumstances. To none of them did he turn a deaf ear. None of them went away without some substantial recognition of their request for pecu- niary aid. In but few cases were any written acknowl- edgments taken as a record of the loan. In fact. Col- onel Burr gave as little personal attention to the repay ment of money loaned as he did to the repayment of money borrowed. To use an idiomatic expression, he was built that way; if he could make one account square another, financially speaking, he was satisfied. 331 332 BLENNERHASSETT He leaned back in his armchair, gave several strong puffs from his cigar, and glanced up at the picture of Theodosia which hung on the wall opposite him. Then he soliloquized half to himself and half aloud : " With what opposite feelings of aversion and attraction did I return to my native land after an exile of four years. As I walked through the streets of Boston in disguise and under an assumed name, I questioned if it were not 'better that Aaron Burr should die a civil death and that Adolphe Arnot should succeed to his fortune." He leaned back in his armchair and laughed satirically. " My fortune ! " Then his manner changed. " No, that thought conquered me in a weak moment ; it was unworthy of Aaron Burr who still has fortune and fame before him." He arose from his chair, walked across the room and leaned his elbow on the old colonial mantelpiece, beneath which a bright wood fire was burn- ing, the logs and gnarled roots sending a shower of sparks up the wide-mouthed chimney, occasionally^ throwing some into the office itself where they expired harmlessly on the sanded floor. " I came here, found friends as well as foes. Aly dear Troup gave me this office — ^put business in my way — the first three weeks I took two thousand dollars in fees — ^with strength of will and Theodosia and her boy — " Before he could complete his speech, the office door was opened suddenly and Blennerhassett's old servant, Ransome, entered. The old negro's face was beaming with smiles, and as Burr advanced towards him with outstretched hand he emitted one of those oily, unc- tuous chuckles, the vocal construction of which he had evidently not forgotten. Burr cried : "Welcome, Ransome! Your old black face looks brighter than an angel's to me for you bring me tidings from my daughter Theodosia and Gamp. Speak ' Are they well?" Ransome assumed a politic expression : " Lor' bless A FATHER'S LOVE 333 you, Massa, they were well, very well when I lef 'ern mos' three weeks ago. Miss Theodosy, she was nerv- ous like 'cause she hadn't got no letter from you, and Massa Gamp, he, well he was a little ailin', but take 'em all together everybody was well." Burr did not apparently notice the conflicting ele- ments in Ransome's statement. " Yes, yes, poor girl, my letters must have often failed to reach her — and poor Gamp — ^just like his mother — such a slight physi- cal frame. But you didn't come alone, Ransome? " " Lor' bless you, no, Massa," cried Ransome. " I came with Massa Alston. You know there's a war with England and Massa Alston is goin' to be a general. We stopped in Washington and Philadelphy and we jess got to New York this noon. He sent me out to find you. He is at the inn reading his letters. He said when I found you to come and tell him and he would come to see you right off." "I suppose," said Burr, "that he has a letter from Theodosia. I,, too, am expecting one by this mail. Do you know where the post-office is, Ransome ? " The old negro nodded. "Well, here is some money; go and see if you can bring me that most welcome of all gifts — a letter from my daughter Theodosia." With another chuckle, Ransome left the office. He had no sooner closed the door when it was opened again and what Burr supposed to be a client enterd. " How do you do. Burr ? " the newcomer remarked. Burr resumed the chair before his desk. Then he addressed the visitor : " Good afternoon, sir. Have a chair ? How can I serve you ? " " You can't serve me at all," the man replied, " I have come to serve a writ on you — ^not the first time I have had that pleasure." "What do you mean, sir?" asked Burr, "I never saw you before." The man rejoined : "Your memoiy is poor. Burr. 334 BLENNERHASSETT Have you forgotten Blennerhassett Island and your arrest for treason by Mr. Graham — ^that's me — ^the special agent of the United States government. You have fallen considerably in public estimation since then, Burr." Up to this time Graham had remained standing. He now accepted Burr's invitation, and, throwing himself into the proffered chair, looked pat- ronizin^y at Burr. Burr fixed his sharp eyes upon him : " You must have risen in public estimation." " How so ? " asked Graham. " Because," replied Burr, " any honest employment commands more respect than does the life of a spy and informer." Graham smiled : " Well, I won't get mad about that ; that's all gone by now. That duel of yours with Hamil- ton was a foolish piece of business." " You do not have a very high opinion of my late an- tagonist," remarked Burr, coolly. " Hamilton was a gentleman in every respect," said Graham. " If I had not known that, I never should have met him," Burr answered, proudly. Graham smiled again : " It's a pity you were not always so particular about your company. You have aided a great many bad men. Burr — fellows with pretty Iblack characters." Burr looked at the brightly-burning fire in the grate : " They may be black to the world, I care not how black; they were ever white to me." " I am afraid their gratitude never did you much good," the other remarked. Burr arose from his chair : " There you are mistaken. Let me give you an in- stance. After the attack on Quebec, during the retreat, I found an English officer dying from starvation. I gave him water and a piece of dried horse-tongue that A FATHER'S LOFE 335 I fortunately had with me. Thirty-six years after, I met this officer in Scotland and, with his daughter, over a good dinner, we fought our battles over again. I saved the life of an enemy and made two friends. Is grati- tude lacking there ? " Graham arose and waved the paper that he held in his hand back and forth : " I have no time to listen to stories. How about this writ^ — what are you going to do about it?" " In two hours the claim shall be settled," Burr re- plied. " Well, if it isn't, you know," began Graham — Burr answered the implied threat : " Sir ! I told you the claim would be settled in two hours. Good after- noon." After Graham went out. Burr said to himself: " The insolence of that fellow ! But I conquered my- self and that conquered him. That claim of Graham's against me is an unjust one, but it would open many old wounds to defend myself — as I could. I will pay it. To gain a footing here I will even submit to injustice." While talking. Burr had risen from his chair and walked up and down the room. The office door was thrown open and a loud voice inquired : " Does Colonel Burr have an office here with Colonel Troup?" Burr turned quickly. That voice was well known to him. It had lost none of its directness or ringing quality. " Is that you. Van Ness ? " he cried. " Come in ! I am delighted to see you." The two men who had been intimate friends at the bar, on the hustings, and on the field of honor, grasped each other's hands warmly. " I am glad to see you again, Burr, after 3rour long » Burr broke in : " Exile ! call it by its right name, Van Ness." The two old friends seated themselves. Van Ness accepted the proffered cigar. 336 BLENNERHASSETT " I should have seen you sooner, Burr, but my health! has been quite poor and I have been out West looking; after some investments and having a little change of scene after «o many years spent as lawyer and judge. Age does not seem to bear down heavily upon you, Burr. But how is that dainty little lady, your daugh- ter?" " I am sorry to say," replied Burr, " that she is not in very good health, and she never will be as long as she lives near those cursed rice swamps. If I could only induce her to come to New York and live here with me, I should be the happiest of men." " I have always considered your love for your daugh- ter. Burr, one of the most remarkable traits of a very re- markable man." " Remarkable is not synonymous with successful, you know. Van Ness." " The true measure of success," his friend replied, " is found within our own souls and is not determined by the estimate that others place upon our actions. You, at least, have been successful in rearing a daughter worthy of your utmost love." " Yes," assented Burr, " my love for my daughter is the best and truest part of me. My affection for her and my ambition for military renown have been the moving springs of my life." " How about law, politics, and the ladies ? " asked Van Ness, with a smile. " Never loved for themselves, but only as means to an end. I would rather conquer one city than a thousand hearts. I would rather write one military proclamation than a thousand briefs or four presidential messages." Van Ness abruptly changed the subject : " I hope your health was good while you were away." " Poor health is a crime for which I could never for- give myself. A sick man is a very contemptible animal, A FATHER'S LOFE 337 Van Ness. How have my enemies busied themselves during my absence ? " " In discussing your political and social achieve- ments," laughed Van Ness. " Has the bitterness against me on account of Hamil- ton's death died out to any extent ? " " But little," his visitor replied. " The mere mention, of your name leads his friends to revive the whole mis- fortune. It is like waving a red flag before a mad bull." " Ah ! Van Ness, if I had read Sterne more and poli-r tics less, I should have known that the world was wide enough for Hamilton and me. And the Blennerhassett matter ? Has the public mind regained its reason ? " " Your enemies still maintain that you intended to bring about a separation of the Union." Burr cried, indignantly: " What a baseless falsehood ! I should as soon have thought of taking possession of the moon and inform- ing my friends that I intended to divide it smong them. To what other attacks have I been subjected ? " " Your past social victories have caused much ani- mated discussion. By the way. Colonel, were you really the gay Lothario they say you were ? " " I will answer that as a discreet maiden would," re- plied Burr. " I never kiss and tell." "That is what troubles them. Some say that you will tell and mean to tell. They say you have in your possession letters that would compromise the fair fame of many ladies in high social position and that it is your intention to use these letters as levers to lift you back into the social circle that now rejects but fears you." " They can dismiss their foolish fears. I should as soon poison the springs and food that gave sustenance to my enemy as divulge one thought that would injure those ladies who have trusted me. Van Ness, those letters are in safe hands. While I live, they may pro- tect me from, unscrupulous enemies. When I am dead, 33^ BLENNERHASSETT they shall be burned. They shall never be used for a post mortem vengeance. Let me tell you a little story. One day, I was looking at some of my love trophies when I was startled by a knock at the door. I pushed the articles into the box and locked it, and then ad- mitted my fair visitor. Her eye lighted upon a scrap ef ribbon which bound a lock of hair that I had failed to put away. With true feminine intuition, she sur- mised that I had had a visitor. ' Come! tell me directly, what little French girl you have had here. Whose hair is this?' I summoned all my dignity and said: * Madam, it belonged to a lady who was once under my protection; and a woman who has once borne that rela- tion is sacred to me forever.' " "I suppose your fair visitor's confidence was strengthened by your remarks," said Van Ness, with a grim smile. " I have a very vivid recollection that it was." " To own one's peccadilloes is manly," remarked Van Ness, " but is it equally so to assume responsibili- ties that do not belong to you? You never denied publicly the assertions of Mrs. D — which you told me privately were untrue." " Van Ness," replied Burr, in a serious tone, " when a lady publicly proclaims me as her participant in an affair of gallantry, I trust I shall always be too much of a gentleman to disavow the implied honor." How strange it is that Nature often implants in the human form mental attributes of the highest degree and couples with them physical propensities of the lowest order. It would seem as though these opposite qualities were combined in order to prevent the inordinate ex- altation which follows the use and application of the highest mental attainments. Nature herself supplies a parallel. In the tropical regions, flowers and plants reach the most luxuriant growth and possess the moat vivid coloring; but, as attendants upon this wealth ol A FATHER'S LOFE 339 beauty, Nature sends the most venomous reptiles, the most poisonous insects, and the most noxious vapors. It would seem as though the highest development in all forms of life were joined to that of lesser worth in order to secure something approaching an equality of endowment. The minds of philosophers often lead them to strange conclusions; to some, evil is but the lesser good; to others, pain is but pleasure intensified; the Buddhists teach that all pain springs from desire; remove desire, pain vanishes, and Nirvana, or endless quiet, peace, and contentment follow. Another parallel. Hamilton never tired, in those letters which he wrote to personal or political friends, and even to persons with whom he was not acquainted, of calling Aaron Burr the Catiline of America. The simile was incorrect and inappropriate. Aaron Burr never resembled Catiline in the slightest degree. Had Hamilton but compared Burr to Julius Caesar there would have been both truth and aptness in the allusion. History informs us that " Julius Caesar's besetting sin was sensuality, but, without meaning to detract from the criminality of his conduct in this respect, it may be said that it was as much the sin of the times in which he lived as his own, and that the superlative grandeur of his position gave a prominence to his licentiousness which a more humble lot would have escaped. His intellect was marvellously versatile; in everything he excelled. He was not only the first general and states- man of his age, but he was, excepting Cicero, its greatest orator. As an historian he has never been surpassed and rarely equalled in simplicity and vigor of style, and in the truthfulness with which he narrates events of which he was an eye-witness. He was, in addition, a mathematician, philologist, jurist, and archi- tect, and always took great pleasure in literary society." There is one discordant note in this parallel. Ini 340 BLENNERHASSETT modern times, the American Julius Caesar killed the American Brutus instead of Brutus killing Caesar ! Van Ness took a sealed packet from his pocket and extended it to Burr. " Do you recognize that ? " Burr nodded. " I have had it in my possession now for nearly nine years. Judging from what the doctors tell me about my physical condition, you are likely to out- live me and I have thought it best to place this valuable document again in your hands." As he said this, he laid it on the desk before Colonel Burr. " I wish you would look at this matter in the same light as I do, Colonel. I believe there never was a more auspicious time to break the seals of that docu- ment and make its contents public than the present. It would open hundreds of doors that are now closed to you. You are still a young man; you give promise of living to an advanced age and there is no reason why your closing years should not be blessed with that pros- perity and happiness which have so far been denied you except in a transitory and limited way." " Thank you," replied Burr, " I appreciate to the fullest extent the earnest friendship and good will that have prompted you to utter those words, but I must ad- here to my original determination. I prefer to be vin- dicated before sixty million intelligent, unbiased free- men, the future citizens of the United States, rather than seek such vindication from seven million of my present fellow-citizens. The whole lump is leavened with prejudice, and the children are being brought up to think as their fathers and mothers do. My hope is in the third generation." " Perhaps you are right," replied Van Ness, " but, at any rate, I know it is useless to attempt to change your mind. My interest in and regard for you led me to accept the charge of this packet, and I now deliver it again into your keeping, knowing that you will trans- mit it to- " A FATHER'S LOFE 34J " To younger ones, I may," exclaimed Burr, " but n none more interested or more devoted. Well, good-bye for the present," said Burr, as Van Ness rose to gi>. " Drop in within an hour if you can ; I expect a letter from Theodosia and I know you will be glad to hf,ar from her." " Certainly I shall," his friend replied. " I will run in again. I hope you will hear only the best of news." They shook hands once more. The door closed, but Van Ness's heavy tread could be heard until he had descended the flight of stairs that led to the street. The aifternoon, so far, had been unusually prolific in old-time suggestions. "Those letters," thought Burr to himself. " They would fan the fiery feelings of many a brother, husband, and father, and lead to many a duel. No ! I have had enough of duelling; the dead man wins the battle after all. I will never use those letters as a weapon if they let me alone. If my enemies go too far, their sisters, wives, and daughters may give them good advice." There was a timid knock at the door. " A lady," thought Burr, and instead of calling out, " Come: in," Burr opened the door himself and admitted a very hand- some woman, apparently about thirty years ; of age. Burr: did not recognize her, but, naturally, made one of his courtly bows and,, in his. genial, winning manner, said : " I am delighted to see you Mrs. " " Not Mrs., but Miss — Miss Kent." Burr, for once, forgot himself and said, unthinkingly : "What! Miss Kent yet?" " Yes, Miss Kent yet! " replied the lady, with some asperity in her tone. With his usual facility, he extricated himself from this dilemma. " Well, Madam, if you are Miss Kent, yet, I venture to assert that it is not the fault of nw sex." 342 BLENNERHASSETT The lady smiled and said : " You do not recognize me, Colonel Burr. No wonder; it is eight years since we met. I was then plain Emily Kent " " Seven years change the man. No wonder it has taken one year more to transform plain Emily into beautiful Emily." Colonel Burr led the lady to a chair and then took a seat himself. " I read something in the paper a few days ago," remarked Miss Kent, " that, under certain circumstances, might induce me to marry." " What was it? " asked Burr, showing great interest " Listen and I will tell you," said Miss Kent. " A man quarreled with his wife and he has been adjudged*, insane and sent to an asylum." Botli laughed heartily and Burr remarked : " If the judges take that view of the case our lunatic asylums will soon be full of married men." " Did you have a fine time in Europe? " Miss Kait inquired. "Like a year's weather — some sunshine and some shadow. I saw Vanderl)^." " I remember him," said Miss Kent. " You told us about him one evening at a dinner party at Richmond Hill. I shall never forget the beautiful times I had there. I was only seventeen then, and your great house seemed an enchanted palace to me. How is he getting on ? " " He is doing famously. I dined and wined with poets, authors, diplomats, princes and princesses, queens and kings. I put the kings last where they Wong. I^t me give you a maxim, Emily; read a book before you see the author. I was introduced to one in a Paris salon. He talked book for an hour, and, as I had not read his work, you can imagine my misery. But even that was not as painful as my experience the next day.* " Why, what happened then? " "I read his book." "BY THIS BLOW, I AM SEVERED FROM THE HUMAN RACE ! A FATHER'S LOVE 343 "What! was it bad?" " The plot was beautiful — in Shakespeare's hands it could have been made famous for all time, but my poor literary friend was unequal to the task." " What was the story? " " Only this simple tale of human anguish and misery. A poor Venetian gondolier loved a maiden of Austrian birth whose surpassing charms had attracted the at- tention of a gay young libertine, a member of the Vene- tian nobility. The young nobleman was sent on a dip- lomatic mission to Vienna, and, during his absence, the gondolier married the girl and they became the happy parents of two beautiful children. The noble- man returned. Filled with rage at the escape of the girl, he declared the wife was an illegitimate child — she found friends to protect her good name — ^her father and mother were brought from Austria and the wicked charge was disproved. But the Devil helped the noble- man, for the fact came out during the trial that the man and wife were in truth brother and sister." " Horrible ! " cried Miss Kent, and she raised her hands as though to push away an ugly phantom. " The idiotic Frenchman closed the story in true French stjde. The young man went home with his father, the State took the children, and the nobleman took the poor woman who was a wife and yet no wife." " Would Shakespeare have ended it in a manner more true to nature ? " asked the lady, " No, untrue," cried Burr, " and that would have made the story deathless. A father and mother gfuilty, but yet guiltless, would have killed their children and then died in each other's arms I " "And would the public applaud that. Colonel Burr? I have heard they do not like such tragic takings-off ;" "Applause can be obtained for an5rthing. In every theatre in Europe that I visited, they have a parcel of 344 BLENNERHASSETT rascals hired to applaud everything, and they are paid extra for tears and lamentations." His fair visitor proceeded in her questioning : " What displeased you most while in Europe? " "The servants. My valet in Sweden was of no earthly use to me. He got drunk before dinner." The lady arose to go. Burr opened the door and bowed as gallantly as if it had been the exit of a queen. On the threshold, the lady stopped, suddenly, " Why, I am ashamed of myself ! How is TheO^ : dosia?" Burr replied : " I am exipecting a letter every minute. My servant has gone to the post-office. If you will honor me with a call later this afternoon or to-morrow, I shall be happy to give you the latest intelligence." " Thank you," said Miss Kent. Burr bowed low over the little hand that was ex- tended to him and pressed his lips to the gloved fingers; The door closed upon her. She had been one of the lovely girls whose presence at the dinners, receptions); and musical and literary entertainments at Richmon^;* Hill had so greatly contributed to their success; for wherever beauty congregates it will be followed in time by wealth, fashion, and intellect. As Burr once more seated himself before his desk, he thought: " What a power the voice and smile of a Tpretty woman have to drive away melancholy and make one cling to life. When Theodosia and her boy are with me again, I can laugh at fate and pity my eneraies.| Ah! I must borrow the money to pay that claim of Graham's." ** Here 'tis, Massa Burr," cried Ransome as he en- tered, holding a letter aloft in his hand. In an instant Burr had taken possession of it " It is from Theodosia; it is her writing. Sit downy Rat- some, while I read tny letter. Now I shall hear fram ixfaeodosia and Gatng." Ji FATHER'S LOFE 345 Burr cfpeatd. the letter and, with an eager glance, began to peruse it. He had read a few lines when the smile died out of his face and a look of agony took its place. Ransome had kept his eyes fixed upon the reader and, when he saw the change in his expression, he asked: "Bad news, Massa?" "Yes," said Burr, slowly, "bad news and good news. My darling boy, my namesake — my Gamp — our Gamp, is dead. Poor Theodosia! how lonelj' she will be." Ransome's honest old black face showed his sor- row: " Poor Gamp ! We had Such nice times together. He always stood up for Uncle Ransome — ^yes, Massa, he called me Uncle. But the good news, Massa? " " The good news, Ransome, is that my daughter is coming to New York to see her father after a separa- tion of almost five years." Again the office door was thrown open; this time to admit the man who was united by the closest bonds to Burr — his son-in-law, Joseph Alston. "Joseph!" "Father!" The two men embraced each other and stood silent for several minutes. Ransome went on tiptoe into the private office and closed the door. Then his own feel- ings gave way. " Poor Gamp ! " he cried a dozen times as the tears fell from his great honest eyes. . Burr broke the silence : " Our boy is gone." " Yes," cried Alston, " and Theodosia, judging from her letter, is almost distracted. I would return at once but I have been commissioned as a brigadier-general in the army and I must assume my duties immediately. I have written her stating the case plainly. I know what her answer will be. She will tell me to do my duty. He died three weeks ago and, of course, has been buried 346 BLENNERHASSETT long ere this. Nothing could have induced me to leave home had I imagined the end was so near." " You could not foresee it," interposed Burr. " You are not to blame. But she is coming North at once. With all her physical weakness, Joseph, she is a strong woman both in mind and heart. I have been her teacher and can estimate her fortitude better than any- one else." " Yes, she is her father's daughter," assented Alston. " She writes me that she is coming by boat as she could not undergo the fatigue of land travel during the winter season and in her present low spirits." The two men moved towards the open fireplace and, unconsciously, both looked up at the same time. Their eyes fell upon the picture of Theodosia. " With what joy," cried Burr, " shall I clasp her in these arms again! During these long, weary years, Joseph, Vanderlyn's picture of Theodosia has been my companion, my joy, my solace. Do you know, when in Sweden I took it to Breda, the great Swedish painter, for renovation. When traveling, I rolled it up, but I did not know enough to roll the painted side out. In contrast with Breda's bright coloring, Theodosia's picture seemed faded — and that impression has almost made me superstitious." " Dismiss the foolish fancy. We have suffered but Theodosia is left to us. She will remain here for the winter and you will be so happy." " What vessel did she sail on ? " asked Burr. " She does not say in her letter to me." "The ' Patriot,' " replied Alston. A heavy tread was heard ascending the stairs and Van Ness, who had agreed to return, entered the room. "Well, Alston, glad to see you. How are you? How is your wife and little Gamp ? " Alston, unable to speak, turned away. " Van Ness, Gamp is dead, and my bereaved daugh- A FATHER'S LOVE 347 ter is on her way to New Yofk. We are going to the .wharf to see if there are any tidings. Come with us." Burr had noticed Ransome's retreat into the private office. He opened the door and called him. " If any- one asks for me, Ransome, I shall be back in a short time. We are going to the wharf to see if we can, obtain any tidings about the ' Patriot.' " ' When Ransome was left alone his thoughts reverted again to the little boy who had been his almost con- stant companion for so many years. " Poor Gamp; he called me Uncle Ransome. We used to go ridin' together, and fishin', and he never said a cross word to me in all his life." Here he would undoubtedly have given way to an- other burst of grief had not a sharp knock been heard upon the ofifice door. Ransome opened the door and started back in astonishment. " Good Lor' preserve us ! " cried he, " Massa and Missus Blennerhassett. Why I haven't laid eyes on you since I went to Souf Car'lina five years ago." Mr. Blennerhassett's steps were slow and feeble. Mrs. Blennerhassett led her husband to the sofa and/ took a seat beside him. Then she spoke : " We have been through much suffering and many privations since we last met, Ransome." " So has Massa Burr." " I am glad to hear it," she replied. " Hush ! Margaret," cried her husband. Ransome felt that he must impart the sad news that had just been received. " Miss Theodosy's boy, little Gamp, is dead. The news jess come this very minute." "Harman, he is bowed beneath a great affliction. Perhaps in his own distress he will be mindful of the miseries of others. Will he return soon ? " " He tole me to tell anybody that asked for him that he would be back in a few minutes," Ransome replied, " Margaret, I dread this interview. I am so weak. 348 BLENNERHASSETT I wish the time for meeting him was not so soon and S8 sudden as it will be." Ransome opened the door of the private office, " Come in here and rest yourself, Massa Blennerhassett I won't tell him you're here, till you're ready." Ran- some assisted Mr. Blennerhassett to rise and all three entered the private office, a capacious and comfortable armchair being allotted to Mr. Blennerhassett. " And your mother, Ransome, did you see her as you expected to when you left us ? " " Bless you, Massa, yes — and Massa Alston bought her and we lived together until a year ago when she died in these arms." Blennerhassett extended his hand to Ransome, which his old servant took. " You were always a good boy, Ransome." When Ransome closed the door of the private office, leaving his old master and mistress together, Burr en- tered. " Has she come, Massa ? " cried Ransome. Burr threw himself into his armchair. " No, Ran- some, no tidings. The boat is a week overdue, but there have been heavy storms on the North Carolina coast — ^and — ^there is still hope, Mr. Van Ness and my son are at the wharf now." Burr covered his eyes with his hand and sat as if in deep thought. Ransome stood regarding him. Suddenly he remembered some- thing that for the time being he had forgotten. " Massa Burr ! " he cried, " Massa Burr ! 'Massa Burr ! Massa Burr ! ! " cried Ransome again, his voice rising higher with each repetition of the name. Burr dropped his hand. Ransome, in a mysterious way, pointed towards the door of the private office. Burr jumped up excitedly. "In there?" he cried, "what! Theo^osia? Why didn't you tell me before? " Burr started towards the private office, Ransome fol- lowing him wringing his hands in despair for he realized A FATHER'S LOFE 349 tiiat Burr had entirely misunderstood him. Burr threw open the door. "Theodosia! Theodosia!! come to your father!" Mrs. Blennerhassett stood before him. Burr made an involuntary step backward: "Gk)od God! Margaret Blennerhassett! you here? " " Yes, Colonel Burr, we intrude upon your privacy as you once did upon ours. Your unwelcome guests are Harman Blennerhassett and his wife, Margaret — your victims." " You find me suffering from a domestic affliction." "And you find us both suffering from a domestic afiliction," replied Mrs. Blennerhassett. "There is, then, a partnership in misery between us." "We once contemplated a more pleasant partner- ship," remarked Burr. '^Yes, and why did you seek it?" cried Mrs. Blen- nerhassett. "Why did you ever enter our innocent, happy home ? Why did not the flowers wither at your approach? Shall I tell you why you came as a de- stroyer and turned our Paradise into a Hell ? Because your mind was tortured with remorse for the unfor- tunate duel with Hamilton — ^because you were sickened by disappointment in political preferment — ^because you were disgusted with President Jefferson's just and pacific policy with all nations. It was for these reasons that you sought to bury the disquietudes that were tearing your soul, by plunging into deeds of such won- derful magnitude." Burr regarded the speaker with unmoved features but said nothing. The lady con- tinued: "You knew full well the advantages which wealth and influence would add to your undertakings and so you sought first to secure the co-operation of the most conspicuous characters at that time living in the West. My husband was a shining treasure, too valuable to remain unnoticed. His wealth, his ac' eile& CHAPTER XXXVI "iH THE NAME OF AABON BVXkI " Tctsday, June i, 1886. Yesterday I completed my book with a qttotation from Gray's " Elegy in a Country Churchyard." That poem ■ has always seemed to me to establish a closer connection between the mun- dane and the unseen than any other similar work. It is replete with beauties and truths. It is an epitome of human life, here, and the spiritual life hereafter. To me, an author, the comple- tion of a book is of enough importance to warrant a record being made of the fact in this— my journal of passing events. Whether a man's memory be good or poor, I think the keep- ing of a diary is an advantageous mental exercise. Even the best minds are apt to forget apparently inconsequential dates and incidents which maiy afterwards become of supreme im- portance. But in such writing, I do not believe in being held down by any arbitrary standard. When one has said what he wishes to say, he should not try to say any more. Aaron Burr's journal of his exile in Europe is a model in diary construction. All should read it. I do not believe in the slavish habit of opening the entry for each day with a description of the weather and the height attained by the thermometer. Let meteorol^ists attend to that business. I remember reading an old diary which I found in an obscure comer of a garret. It was kept by a young man who had visited a physician and had some medicine prescribed for him in the shape of pills. For a period of more than three months, the entries in his diary closed uniformly with the words " Took a pill and went to bed." 414 BLENNERHASSETT Wednbsday, June 2. I wrote yesterday that my book was completed, but that self- congratulation was somewhat premature. The book, it is true, is completed, but it is not finished. I knew that Col. Burr gave t* Judge Van Ness a sealed packet, with the written injunction that it was not to be opened or its contents made public until fifty years had elapsed after his death. From the descendants of Judge Van Ness, I have learned that the packet was returned to Col. Burr. It was not discovered among his papers at his death and must have been given by him to someone else; but to whom? Then, again, the absolute facts concerning the death of Theodosia Burr Alston are unknown. The generally accepted opinion is that the vessel upon which she sailed from Charles- ton foundered at sea and she was drowned. There have been rumors that the vessel was captured by pirates and she was made to walk the plank. Others have believed that she was made captive by the pirates and experienced an even worse fate than death. Shall I allow myself to be tormented with specula- tions about these matters, or, become philosophical, and, ad- mitting them to be unknowable, worry no more about them? This aften.oon, I became of a practical turn of mind. I visited all the principal book-stores to see if any new works had been published which could throw any light upon these subjects^ Result, nil. Thursday, June 3. I devoted the entire day to groping in musty cellars and dusty book bins for any treasure in the shape of a second-hand book, from which I might, possibly, glean the information of which I was in search. I found nothing new, but I did find some books and pamphlets which corroborated certain points which I had considered to be true. I was glad, of course, to know that my statements could be re-enforced by additional authorities, but I found nothing bearing directly upon the two points which I have mentioned. The twin secrets seemed to be impenetrable. After supper, I came to the sudden conclusion to visit New York. There, I said to myself, I may possibly find that of which I am in search. It will do no harm to try. Saturday, June 5. Spent yesterday and to-day in the new and second-hand book- stores in a vain quest for information which, evidently, is not in IN THE NAME OF AARON BURR 415 print. As I had done in Boston, I found some valuable old pamphlets and one or two rare books. Monday, June 7. Yesterday I went to church. I do not remember the text, but the gist of the sermon was — ^there were some things that it were useless for man to try to accomplish unaided; that they require the infinite power of the Almighty to solve or bring them to perfection. This sermon threw me into a line of thought which led me to determine that but one more day should be spent in what seemed an apparently useless under- taking. Tuesday, June 8. Fortune smiled upon me yesterday. In one of the second- hand book-stores, I found the proprietor most genial and obli- ging. He inquired the object of my search and I told him I was looking for information concerning Aaron Burr and his daughter Theodosia, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilkinson, Harman Blennerhassett and his wife, Margaret. Mr. Cleaves informed me that there was a gentleman living in New York who, for many years past, had given the dealers carte Blanche- to send him any book or pamphlet relating to those individuals that came into their possession, allowing them to fix their own price. Mr. Cleaves said he had a fine library but, so far as he knew, had never written a book. He offered to give me a letter of introduction, which I gladly accepted. It was directed to Col. Justus Dane, the address being that of a Fifth Avenue mansion. Gol. Dane was just going out for a drive, but made an appointment with me for last evening at seven o'clock. The conversation was largely personal — ^that is. Col. Dane told me about himself. With his permission, I made copious entries in shorthand in my note-book, a few of which I tran- scribe here. He has been paralyzed in his lower limbs for the past six years and his only means of locomotion is a roller chair. He was bom on July 11, 1804, the day upon which the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton took place. By the death of his father, who was a ship merchant, he in- herited great wealth. His property consisted principally o£ real estate and the care of it was a great annoyance to him. When ihoat twenty^ooe years of age, he became acquainted witb Aaroa 4 1 6 BLENNERHASSETT Burr, whom he had been advised to consult in relation to tJw! conrejfanclBg and leasing of some real estate property. They became intimately acquainted, and Col. Dane was at Burr's bed- side when he died. He called attention to his library, which consisted princi- pally of works relating to Aaron Burr and those public men whose lives were contemporaneous. He had a collection of pictures, miniatures, and mementos of Burr and his friends. He told me that he had read all the books and from his notes had written out a number of manuscripts which, in reality, formed a life of Aaron Burr. He offered to read the manuscripts to THE DEATH OF THEODOCIA:' Thursday, September 30. We arrived yesterday at the Duke of Hamilton's country house. He has but few visitors at present, but by the first of October, the house will be crowded. The Duke's family physician says that Thorvald will suffer no permanent injury from his accident. What he most requires is rest and good nursing. He is sure to receive these, for Miss Gwendolin has hardly left his side since the accident. As I was sitting this morning with the Duke in the library reading a newspaper, he looked up from the letter he was writing and said, " Sir William has told me of the fate of your manuscripts! and documents. I wish that I could compensate in some way for the loss that you have sustained, but the Hamilton family, although it has rendered service to the country, has done noth- ing of a very distinguished nature that I remember." " Was there a member of your family by the name of Daniel Hamilton," I inquired, " who many years ago left Scotland and went to the West Indies?" "I know to whom you refer," replied the Duke; "he was my grandfather's uncle. I have read about him and his son who, I understand, took a very prominent part in the American Revolution." "What is your Christian name," I asked, "if I may pre- sume?" "Alexander," replied the Duke, "and that was my father's before me. He was a second son and began public life in the navy, but the death of his brother, of course, gave him the title." "Was he engaged in the War of 1812?" I asked. " No," replied the Duke, " he returned to England before that ttne. His principal service was rendered in chasing the pirates ^435 436 BLENNERHASSETT who at that time infested the Spanish Main. He received his first promotion for causing the death of one of the most noted pirates of the time, a Captain Boncourt, I believe." "What! Captain Thaddeus Boncourt?" I cried, for the thought immediately flashed into my mind that if the Duke of Hamilton's father had killed Captain Thaddeus he might I have known or said something about the companion of his fflight. " Yes," continued the Duke, " and several days later the sloop-of-war Cygnet, to which he belonged, overhauled the pirate ship of which Boncourt was captain, and after a sharp fight captured her. He wrote hone a long letter concerning the affair to my mother, to whom he was engaged before he left Scotland. His elder brother died in 1813, and he came home at once, married, and assumed the title." "Are any of his letters in existence?" I anxiously asked. " Certainly; my mother kept all of his letters. But why are you so interested?" I explained to him the discovery that I had made while in Iceland; told him of the contents of the bottle and how much I had learned from them. " You shall have tlie letter and read it for yourself," said the Duke, and, opening a cabinet, he extracted a package of old letters, and, untying them, passed one of them to me. " That is the one. I know it because it is so yellow." I opened it with trembling hands. The letter was a very long one, and I transcribe only those portions in which I was particularly interested. On the Spanish Main, Jan. ig, 1813. Mv Dear Flora : Since I last wrote you, a most exciting affair has taken place, and your Alexander, for whom you predicted fame, has taken the first step upon the ladder that leads to that high elevation. The Cygnet had come to anchor in a little bay on the north coast of Cuba. The night was very dark, but before it closed in our lookout reported that a strange craft was coming towards our hiding-place. I was ordered by the captain to take a boat and reconnoitre in order to learn, if possible, the position of the vessel. We were rowing along almost noiselessly, when suddenly our boat came into coilision with another which we THE DEATH OF THEODOSIA 437 had not seen. I had a dark lantern, and turning the light upon the boat I saw the face of a man; a most remarkable face. I knew it at once, for I had heard Captain Thaddeus Boncourt described by one who had met him. I immediately fired two- shots at him. But I must first explain that upon turning the light into his face, he leaped to his feet and jumped into the water, so that when I shot at him he was in the water and not in the boat. My second, shot must have been fatal, for he threw up his hands aii4 sjink. Then I made a discovery. I kept my Hght turned upon the water to see if he came to the surface again, when I saw something white floating there. Rowing up to it, we discovered that it was a woman who had evidently been in the company of the captain. She was taken into our boat and we started at once for the ship. Our surgeon was called and he rendered every assistance possible. Upon examination, it was found that one of my shots had struck her in the right side and inflicted what was undoubtedly a mortal wound. The surgeon endeavored to locate the bullet and extract it, but was unable to do so. We administered stimulants and she revived enough to open her eyes and utter two words in French; " Mon phe!" We judged from this that Captain Thaddeus must have been her father, although we had never heard of his being married, or of his having any children. It is possible that she had visited him on board the pirate ship, and at the time of his death he was taking her ashore. There was nothing upon her person to indicate who she was, and only the two woids in French " my father," that she uttered, supplied any clue as to her identity. She lingered until the next day and then succumbed to her wound. We buried her at sea, our chaplain performing the service, and all hands stood reverently by as the body was lowered into the water. I was much shocked at the incident. The shooting, of course, was entirely unintentional on my part, and I pray Heaven to forgive me for being the innocent cause of her death. I could read no more. The letter dropped from my hand. "What is it?" asked the Duke. " Only this," I answered, " this letter supplies the last evi- dence that I required to complete my story. The young womad whom your father shot, and who was Vuried at sea, was not 438 BLENNERHASSETT the daughter of Captain Thaddeus Boncourt, but Theodoria Burr Alston, the daughter of Aaron Burr." The news of my discovery was soon communicated to Sir William, his wife, and the other members of our party. I could wait no longer, I must return at once to America. The desire to finish my book came upon me with redoubled force. I knew that I could no longer depend upon the services of young Thorvald, he was in better hands than mine, and so, bidding adieu to my kind friends, I made my way to Liverpool, secured passage upon one of the fast liners, and .was soon on my wey honi«. CHAPTER XLII THE IHONY OF FATE Friday, 'December 31. Received a letter to-day from Sir William Golden informing me of the approaching marriage of Mr. Thorvald Sigurdsson and Miss Gwendolin Appleton. The wedding will take place next month and Mrs. Siguidsson will accompany her husband to Iceland. The company of which Sir William is a director has engaged Thorvald to take charge of the sulphur mines in that island. When Miss Gwendolin looked so coldly upon poor Thorvald daring the cruise of the Rainbow, I imagined that it was her intention to catch either an earl, a marquis, or a duke, during her first London season. But Cupid must have fastened that love-song of Thorvald's to his arrow and the shot was fataL Saturday, December 31, 1887. Sir William Golden writes to me half a dozen times a year. He never forgets to send me a Christmas remembrance, accom- panied by a long letter. The hand of Fate plays wild pranks with us poor mortals. If I had not met Sir William Golden on Broadway, and Thor- vald had not been my companion on the Rainbow, I should never have been able to record the following facts: Thorvald's son has been named Justus Dane Sigurdsson in honor of Ice- land's great benefactor. Sir William Golden's son and heir will some day be known as Sir Burr Golden, while his twin sister may be announced at a Queen's Drawing-room as Lady Theo- dosia. *•*****♦• Monday, March 4, 1901. Last Saturday I completed the rewriting of my book. Sir William Golden, in one of his letters, expressed the hope that 439 440 BLENNERHASSETT the loss of the documents which went down with t&e Rainbow! bad not been wholly irreparable. No, I do not think the loss of the sealed packet was irre- parable. I remembered quite accurately the contents of Theo- dosia's journal and the letters written to her husband and father. I read again, very carefully, Mr. Dane's manuscripts, and noted his mention of the use of plastic cement as a means of opening and re-sealing letters so as to escape detection. I also noted the fact that he acknowledged receiving from Colonel Burr a sample of this cement. I have a suspicion which the lapse of time, I am afraid, will never eradicate, that all that the sealed packet contained, which could have been used for the vindication of Aaron Burr, and much more, is contained in Justus Dane's remarkable manuscripts. I have read Col. Dane's manuscripts over and over agaia until I almost know them by heart. I have incorporated herein such incidents as seemed pertinent to the plot, and illustrative of the action of my story, and have retained the remainder of his writings for future use in a manner as nearly in conformity to the desire expressed by him in his last will and testament as possible. One closing thought which could not have been contained in the sealed packet. How could the irony of Fate be more forcibly portrayed than by the twin facts that Aaron Burr killed an Alexander Hamilton by a shot in the side, and that another Alexander Hamilton, a scion of the same family, also by a shot in the side, gave a mortal wound to Theodosia Burr, his idolized daughter. To-day is Inauguratioii Day at Washington. I attended church yesterday and the clergyman took for his text a passage which related to the actions of kings, princes, potentates, and other rulers of men. It was natural, of course, that he should refer to those illustrious men who had presided over the for- tunes of the great American republic; and I suppose it was perfectly natural, for he undoubtedly imbibed the idea in school, that he should single out Aaron Burr from among his con- temporaries and refer to him in terms synonymous with mur- derer and traitor. I have been looking over one of Col. Dane's manuscripts. I came across a paragraph which I should like to have that clergy- nan read, for I am sure it would act as an antidote to the THE IRONT OF FATE 441 poison iniplanted in his infant mind so many years ago. It runs thus: " When we consider the deceitful friendship and systeniatic treachery of Wilkinson; the personal spite shown by Thomas Jefferson, and the official persecution initiated and pushed for- ward by him; the covert plots and the secret correspondence; the inspired newspaper articles and pamphlets, and the malig- nant political opposition of Alexander Hamilton; the cowardly weakness, inborn vacillation, and unsuspected duplicity of Blen- nerhassett, and the relentless animosity of such men as Cheet- ham, Armstrong, Russell, and McRae, — ^Burr, with all his faults, shines like a radiant star amid such dark surroundings. The wcMider is that with such environment, considering his tempera- ment, losses, and privations, he was so good a man in so many ways as he is shown to be." In another of Col. Dane's manuscripts I found the following declaration and prophecy: " Col. Burr assured me in the most positive terms that in his scheme for the conquest of Mexico there was no feature in any way inimical to the geographical integrity and sovereignty of the United States. Burr was a proud man. He realized that he had lost the confidence of the people and was ostracized socially and politically. Jefferson had gained great credit for the diplomatic tact shown in gaining possession of the great territory of Louisiana by purchase instead of a sanguinary war. Burr wished to parallel this achievement and thus regain the esteem and favor of his countrymen. But his genius was military. He relied upon a great military coup, the conquest of Texas and Mexico. When subjugated, it was his intention to present the fruits of his conquest to the American Union anticipating, as a return for the gift, popular acclaim and a restoration of all his old rights and privileges. " If Burr had been allowed to carry out his original plan, there would have been no war between the United States and Mexico. If Burr's ideas in relation to the abolition of slavery had been adopted, there would have been no Civil War. Should a man who was so far-seeing, and whose plan, if adopted, would have saved his country so many lives and so much treasure, be longer classified with murderers and traitors? Should not the writers of school-books and biographical dictionaries omit these words which thqr have so long used in connection with the name of 442 BLENNERHASSETT Aaron Burr? Should not Wirt's celebrated speech, it was rHet- oric and nothing more, for it had no basis of fact, be expunged from our school reading-books? " It is not improbable that before the one hundredth anniver- sary of the duel at Weehawken Heights arrives, that the friends of Aaron Buee, in all parts of the country, -viiW assist in erecting in Newark, New Jersey, the city of his birth, some lasting testi- monial to signify their appreciation of his worth as a patriotic soldier, a learned lawyer, » far-seeing politician, and a devoted father." SHE ENB "The Books You Like to Read at the Price You Like to Pay" There Are Two Sides to Everything — — ^including the wrapper which covers every Grosser & Dunlap book. When you feel in the mood for a good ro- mance, refer to the carefully selected list of modern fiction comprising most of the successes by prominent writers of the day which is printed on the back of every Grossct & Dunlap book wrapper. You will find more than five hundred titles to choose from — ^books for every mood and every taste and every pocket- book. Don't forget the other side, hut in case the wrapper is lost, write to the publishers for a complete catalog. There is a Grossel 6 Dunlap Book for every mood and for every taste B. M. BOWER^S NOVELS May b> bought wtnrivir booKs are lold. Atk for Groiiet ft Dunlip'* Hit RODEO THE SWALLOWFORK BULLS HAYWIRE POINTS WEST THE ADAM CHASERS WHITE WOLVES BLACK THUNDER DESERT BREW THE VOICE AT JOHNNYWATER CHIP OF THE FLYING U FLYING U RANCH FLYING U's LAST STAND THE LONESOME TRAIL THE RANGE DWELLERS GROSSET & DUNLAP, Pubushers, NEW YORK NOVELS OF FRONTIER LIFE WILLIAM iMacLEOD RAINE May lie had wherevtr booki an mid. Ask for Gnuwt & Ounlap's Hit " THE VALIANT THE FIGHTING TENDERFOOT TEXAS MAN COLORADO JUDGE COLT THE FIGHTING EDGE GUNSIGHT PASS TANGLED TRAILS MAN SIZE THE BIG TOWN ROUND-UP OH, YOU TEX! THE SHERIFF'S SON A MAN FOUR SQUARE A TEXAS RANGER BRAND BLOTTERS BUCKY O'CONNOR MAVERICKS BONANZA RIDGEWAY OF MONTANA WYOMING A DAUGHTER OF THE DONS THE HIGHGRADER THE YUKON TRAIL THE VISION SPLENDID THE DESERT'S PRICE IRONHEART ROADS OF DOUBT TROUBLED WATERS CROOKED TRAILS AND STRAIGHT GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK NOVELS BY TEMPLE BAILEY May be had wherever books are soldi Ask for Grosset & Durlap's list. BURNING BEAUTY Beautiful Virginia OUphant is loved by two men : one tempts .ler with millions, and the other tempts her with nothing more than his devotion. SILVER SLIPPERS Days of delight and disillusionment until Joan Dudley s inight actually came. WALLFLOWERS They were twins, they were '* Wallflowers " perhaps— but they v^cre beautiful, and young and real. THE BLUE WINDOW Hildegarde finds herself transplanted from the middle western farm to the gay social whirl of the East. PEACOCK FEATHERS Jerry, the idealist, loves Mlmi, a beautiful spoiled society girl. A conflict ef wealth and love. THE DIM LANTERN The romance of little Jane Barnes who is loved by two men. THE GAY COCKADE Unusual short stories Cin which Miss Bailey shows her knowledge of eharacter and her skill |in romance tales. TRUMPETER SWAN Randy Paine came back from France to the monotony of everyday affairs. But a girl showed him the beauty in the commonplace. THE TIN SOLDIER Derry wishes to serve his country but Is bound by a tie he cannot in lienor break. J«an loves him and shares his huralllatioa to help him virin. MISTRESS ANNE Into the life of Anne came two men : one is weak and the other stronff an'd they both need Anne. CONTRARY MARY An old fashioned love story that has a very modem application. GLORY OF YOUTH An old question yet ever new — how^ far should an engagement of marriage bind two persons who And they no longer loveP GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK MARGARE T PEDLER' S NOVELS May be had wherevei books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list. FIRE OF YOUTH Phyllis had to make her choice between Terry, who was young and penniless, and Timothy, who was wealthy, attractive and middle-aged. THE GUARDED HALO The story of a girl and a man who threw away honor and reputation to protect untarnished the memory of a friend, BITTER HERITAGE She learned that her father, the man she had idolized, was a thief and a swindler — a bitter heritage not to be escaped. YESTERDAY'S HARVEST The harvest of an early love brings a strange situation and triumph o£ sacrifice. TOMORROWS TANGLE The game of love is fraught with danger. Tot win in the finest sense it must be played fairly. RED ASHES A gripping story of a doctor who failed in a crucial operation and had only himself to blame. Could the woman he loved forgive ;him? THE BARBARIAN LOVER A love story based upon the creed that the only important things between birth and death are the courage to face life and the lov9 to sweeten it. THE MOON OUT OF REACH Nan Davenport's problem is one that many a girl has faced — her own happiness or her father's bond. THE HOUSE OF DREAMS COME TRUE How a man and a woman fulfilled a gypsy's prophecy. THE HERMIT OF FAR END How" love made its way into a walled-in house and a walled-in heart. THE LAMP OF FATE The story of a woman, who tried to take all and givei nothing THE SPLENDID FOLLY Doi you believe that husbands and wives should have no secrets from each other ? THE VISION OF DESIRE It is easy to destroy illusions, difficult to restore them. Anne re- stored love from the ashes of disillusion. WAVES OF DESTINY Each of these stories has the sharp impact of an emotional crisis — the compressed quality o{ one of Margaret Pedlar's widely read novels. GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK THE NOVELS OF SINCLAIR LEWIS May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap's LIsti Within th* ipace of a few yeari Sinclair Lewii hu becom* one of the most Diitinfoithei] of American Novclijte. ELMER GANTRY Elmer Gantry, hypocrite and voluptuary, is painted against a background of church members and professing Christians scarcely less hypocritical than he. In this book Sinclair L^wis adds a vio- lent stroke to his groving picture of materialistic America. IvIANTRAP A clever satire on the adventures of a New York lawyer seek- ing rest and diversion In the northwoods. Instead of rest he finds trouble in the person of his host's wife — ^young, pretty and flir- tatious. ARROWSMITH The story of a country doctor whose search for truth led him to the heights of the medical profession, to the heights and depths of love and marriage and to final peace as a quietly heroic laboratory worker in the backwoods of Vermont. BABBITT Every man will recognize in the character of George Babbitt, something of himself. He was a booster and a joiner, but behind all of his activities was a wistful wonder as to what life holds. ( MAIN S TREET I Carol Kennicott's attempt to bring life and culture to Gophet Prairie and Gopher Prairie's reaction toward her teachings have made this book one of the most famous of the last decade. .GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK ROMANCES OF THE MO DERN GIRL May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap's List. Here is a list of books by well known writers of romance stories for the modern girl. They are writers whose names have become famous with the publication of their stories as newspaper serials. These books are now available in the Grosset & Dunlap Edition. MAY CHRISTIE The High Speed Girl Flirting Wives The Jazz Widow A Kiss For Corinna Eager Love Man Madness Love's Ecstasy ALMA SIOUX SCARBERRY Make-Up The Dimpled Racketeer The Flat Tire High Hat BEATRICE BURTON Lovejoy The Little Yellow House Easy Money Love The Hollywood Girl Honey Lou The Flapper Wife ROBERT D. ANDREWS The Stolen Husband Three Girls Lost One Girl Found ROB EDEN $20 a Week The Lovely Liar Step-Child Love Blind The Girl with Red Hair ELENORE MEHERIN Miss Pat Jerry Chickie Chickie, A Sequel Nora Lee Sandy LAURA LOU BROOKMAN Guilty Lips Mad Marriage Heart Hungry As No Woman Hath Loved Her Love Problem Playmate The Heart Bandit JANE DIXON Miss Hard Boiled ANNE GARDNER Working Wives Masquerade GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers. NEW YORK THE NOVELS OF EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS TARZAN AND THE LOST EMPIRE TARZAN, LORD OF THE JUNGLE TARZAN OF THE APES TARZAN AND THE JEWELS OF OPAR TARZAN AND THE ANT MEN TARZAN AND THE GOLDEN LION TARZAN THE TERRIBLE TARZAN THE UNTAMED THE BEASTS OF TARZAN THE RETURN OF TARZAN THE SON OF TARZAN JUNGLE TALES OF TARZAN THE MASTER MIND OF MARS THE PRINCESS OF MARS THE WARLORD OF MARS THE GODS OF MARS THUVIA, MAID OF MARS THE CHESSMAN OF MARS THE MONSTER MEN THE W^AR CHIEF THE OUTLAW^ OF TORN THE MAD KING THE MOON MAID THE ETERNAL LOVER THE CAVE GIRL THE BANDIT OF HELL'S BEND THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT AT THE EARTH'S CORE PELLUCIDAR THE MUCKER GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD'S STORIES OF ADVENTURE May be had wharever books are sold. Ask for Grosset £ Dunlap's list GREEN TIMBJR THE LADY OF PERIBONKA THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM SWIFT LIGHTNING THE BLACK HUNTER THE ANCIENT HIGHWAY A GENTLEMAN OF COURAGE THE ALASKAN THE COUNTRY BEYOND THE FLAMING FOREST THE VALLEY OF SILENT MEN THE RIVER'S END THE GOLDEN SNARE BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY THE WOLF HUNTERS THE GOLD HUNTERS NOMADS OF THE NOP>TH KAZAN THE COURAGE OF CAPTAIN PLUM BAREE, SON OF KAZAN THE DANGER TRAIL THE COURAGE OF MARGE O'DOONE THE HUNTED WOMAN THE FLOWER OF THE NORTH THE GRIZZLY KING ISOBEL . GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK ZANE GREY^S NOVELS May be had wherever books art solJ. Ask for Grosset anj Diinlap's list THE SHEPHERD OF OF GUADALOUPE FIGHTING CARAVANS WILD HORSE MESA NEVADA FORLORN RIVER UNDER THE TONTO RIM THE VANISHING AMERICAN TAPPAN'S BURRO THE THUNDERING HERD THE CALL OF THE CANYON WANDERER OF THE WASTELAND THE DAY OF THE BEAST TO THE LAST MAN THE MYSTERIOUS RIDER THE MAN OF THE FOREST THE DESERT OF WHEAT THE U. P. TRAIL WILDFIRE THE BORDER LEGION THE RAINBOW TRAIL THE HERITAGE OF THE DESERT RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS THE LAST OF THE PLAINSMEN THE LONE STAR RANGER DESERT GOLD BETTY ZANE ZANE GREY'S BOOKS FOR BOYS ROPING LIONS IN THE GRAND CANYON THE RED-HEADED OUTFIELD KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE THE YOUNG LION HUNTER THE YOUNG FORESTER THE YOUNG PITCHER THE SHORT STOP GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK THE NOVELS OF i GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap't List. FOUND TREASURE BLUE RUIN THE PRODIGAL GIRL DUSKIN CRIMSON ROSES OUT OF THE STORM THE HONOR GIRL JOB'S NIECE COMING THROUGH THE RYE A NEW NAME ARIEL CUSTER THE BEST MAN THE CITY OF FIRE CLOUDY JEWEL DAWN OF THL MORNING THE ENCHANTED BARN EXIT BETTY THE FINDING OF JASPER HOLT THE GIRL FROM MONTANA LO, MICHAEL THE MAN OF THE DESERT MARCIA SCHUYLER MIRANDA THE MYSTERY OF MARY PHOEBE DEANE THE RED SIGNAL THE SEARCH TOMORROW ABOUT THIS TIME THE TRYST THE WITNESS NOT UNDER THE LAW RE-CREATIONS THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers. NEW YORK PETER B. KYNE'S NOVELS May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's List. GOLDEN DAWN.— The story of a dual personality— of a girl who turned from high society to a life of crime in the underworld. THE PARSON OF PANAMINT.— The story of a young parson In a wide open town, told In racy and picturesque language by Chuckawalla BllL JIM THE CONQUEROR.— The romance of Don Jaime Miguel Higuenes, rancher, and Roberta Antrim, red haired society girl from the East. TIDE OF EMPIRE. — The story of a young Irishman who crossed the mountains alone into California and joined the gold rush of '49. THE THUNDER GOD. — A romance of big business, men fighting for enormous stakes and of the brilliant projects of one man, a scientist. THEY ALSO SERVE.— The story of a cowboy's horse that served in France with the artillery. THE UNDERSTANDING HEART.— Men said Monica Dale had the un- derstanding heart of a woman and the soul of a gallant gentleman. MONEY TO BURN.— The exciting adventures of Elmer Clarke with his suddenly acquired million. THE ENCHANTED HILL.— The struggle for honor and the Enchanted Hill Ranch In the Southwest. NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET.— A romance of California and the South Seas. THE PRIDE OP PALOMAR.— When two men clash and the under-dog has Irish blood in his veins — a tale Kyne can tell. CAPPY RICKS.— Cappy Ricks gave Matt Peasley the acid test because he knew it vras good for his soul. CAPPY RICKS RETIRES.— Cappy retires but the romance of the sea and business kept calling him and he comes back strong. KINDRED OF THE DUST.— Donald McKay, son of Hector McKay, mil- lionaire lumber king, falls In love with "Nan of the Sawdust pile." THE^ ALLEY OF THE GIANTS.— The fight of the Cardigans, father and son to hold the valley ol^fihe giants against treachery. WEBSTER, MAN'S MAN.— The adventures of a man and woman in a Central American revolution. A real soldier of fortune story. CAPTAIN SCRAGGS.— This sea yam recounts the adventures of three rapscallion seafaring men. THELONGCHANCE.-Harley P. Hennage is a gambler, the best and worst manof San Pasqual, and there is the lovely Donna. GROSSET & DUNLAP, PubUshers, NEW^ YORK