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ageddon。
Behind the parson came William Penn in the glory of a new bridle and saddle and a blanket of crimson cloth； his coat smooth as satin； his mane a tumbling cataract of white silk； bunches of wild roses at his ears； his blue…black eyes never so soft； and seeming to lift his feet cautiously like an elephant bearing an Indian princess。
They were riding side by side； the young husband and wife。 He keeping one hand on the pommel of her saddle； thus holding them together； while with the other he used his hat to fan his face； now hers； though his was the one that needed it； she being cool and quietly radiant with the thoughts of her triumph that daythe triumph of her wedding； of her own beauty。 Furthermore show was looking ahead to the house…warming that night when she would be able to triumph again and also count her presents。
Then came Major and Mrs。 Falconer。 Her face was hidden by a veil and as they passed； it was held turned toward him： he was talking； uninterrupted。
Then followed Horatio Turpin and Kitty Poythress； and then Erskine and his betrothed； he with fresh feathers of the hawk and the scarlet tanager gleaming in his cap above his swart； stern aquiline face。 Then Peter； beside the widow Babcock； he openly aflame and solicitous； she coy and discreetly inviting； as is the wisdom of some。 Then others and others and othersa long gay pageant； filling the woods with merry voices and laughter。
They passed and the sounds died awaypassed on to the town awaiting the； to the house…warming； and please God； to long life and some real affection and happiness。
Once he had expected to ride beside her at the head of this procession。 There had gone by him the vision of his own life as it was to have been。
Long after the last sound had ceased in the distance he was sitting at the root of the red oak。 The sun set； the moon rose； he was there still。 A loud； impatient neigh from his horse aroused him。 He sprang lightly up； meaning to ride all night and not to draw rein until he had crossed the Kentucky River and reached Traveller's Rest； the home of Governor Shelby； where he had been invited to break his travel。
All that nigh he rode and at sunrise was far away。 Pausing on a height and turning his horse's head； he sat a long time motion…less as a statue。 Then he struck his feet into its flank and all that day rode back again。
The sun was striking the tree…tops as he neared the clearing。 He could see her across the garden。 She sat quite still； her face turned toward the horizon。 Against her breast； opened but forgotten； lay a book。 He could recognize it。 By that story she had judged him and wished to guide him。 The smile smote his eyes like the hilt of a knight's sword used as a Cross to drive away the Evil One。 For he knew the evil purpose with which he had returned。
And so he sat watching her until she rose and walked slowly to the house。
XXII
IT was early autumn when the first letters from him were received over the mountains。 All these had relation to Mount Vernon and his business there。
To the Transylvania Library Committee he wrote that the President had mad a liberal subscription for the buying of books and that the Vice…President and other public men would be likely to contribute。
His sonorous； pompous letter to a member of the Democratic Society was much longer and in part as follows：
〃When I made know to the President who I was and where I came from； he regarded me with a look at once so stern and so benign； that I felt like one of my school…boys overtaken in some small rascality and was almost of a mind to march straight to a corner of the room and stand with my face to the wall。 If he had seized me by the coat collar and trounced me well； I should somehow have felt that he had the right。 From the conversations that followed I am led to believe that he knows the name of every prominent member of the Democratic Society of Lexington； and that he understands Kentucky affairs with regard to national and international complications as no other living man。 While questioning me on the subject； he had the manner of one who； from conscientiousness； would further verify facts which he had already tested。 But what impressed me even more than his knowledge was his justice； in illustration of which I shall never forget his saying； that the part which Kentucky had taken； or had wished to take； in the Spanish and French conspiracies had caused him greater solicitude than any other single event since the foundation of the National Government； but that nowhere else in America had the struggle for immediate self…government been so necessary and so difficult； and that nowhere else were the mistakes of patriotic and able men more natural or more to be judged with mildness。
〃I think I can quote his very words when he spoke of the foolish jealousies and heartburnings； due to misrepresentations； that have influenced Kentucky against the East as a section and against the Government as favouring it： 'The West derives from the East supplies requisite to its growth and comfort； and what is perhaps of still greater consequence； it must of necessity owe the secure enjoyment of indispensable outlets for its own production to the weight； influence； and future maritime strength of the Atlantic side of the Union； directed by an indissoluble community of interest； as One Nation。'
〃Memorable to me likewise was the language in which he proceeded to show that this was true：
〃'The inhabitants of our Western country have lately had a useful lesson on this head。 They have seen in the negotiations by the Executive； and in the unanimous ratification by the Senate of the treaty with Spain； and in the universal satisfaction of that event throughout the United States； a decisive proof how unfounded were the suspicions propagated among them of a policy in the General Government and in the Atlantic States unfriendly to their interests in regard to the Mississippi。 。 。 。 Will they not henceforth be deaf to those advisers； if such there are； who would sever them from their Brethren and connect them with Aliens？'
〃I am frank to declare that； having enjoyed the high privilege of these interviews with the President and been brought to judge rightly what through ignorance I had judged amiss； I feel myself in honour bound to renounce my past political convictions and to resign my membership in the Lexington Democratic Society。 Nor shall I join the Democratic Society of Philadelphia； as had been my ardent purpose； and it will not be possible for me on reaching that city to act as the emissary of the Kentucky Clubs。 But I shall lay before the Society the despatches of which I am the bearer。 And will you lay before yours the papers herewith enclosed； containing my formal resignation with the grounds thereof carefully stated？〃
To Mrs。 Falconer he wrote bouyantly：
〃I have crossed the Kentucky Alps； seen the American Caesar； carried away some of his gold。 I came； I saw； I overcame。 How do you think I met the President？ I was riding toward Mount Vernon one quiet sunny afternoon and unexpectedly came upon an old gentleman who was putting up some bars that opened into a wheat…filed by the roadside。 He had on long boots； corduroy