its. Only one thing is
sure--I must go!"

"I cannot say good-by!" said she. "Ah, do not ask me that! We are but
beginning now. Oh, see! see!"

He looked at her still, an unspeakable sadness in his gaze--at her
hand, extended pleadingly toward him.

"Won't you take my hand, Merne?" said she. "Won't you?"

"I dare not," said he hoarsely. "No, I dare not!"

"Why? Do you wish to leave me still feeling that I am in your debt?
You can afford so much now," she said brokenly, "for those who have
not won!"

"Think you that I have won?" he broke out. "Theodosia--Theo--I shall
call you by your old name just once--I do not take your hand--I dare
not touch you--because I love you! I always shall. God help me, it is
the truth!"

"Did you get my letters?" she said suddenly, and looked him fair in
the face.

Meriwether Lewis stood searching her countenance with his own grave
eyes.

"_Letters?_" said he at length. "_What letters?_"

Her eyes looked up at him luminously.

"You are glorious!" said she. "Yes, a woman's name would be safe with
you. You are strong. How terrible a thing is a sense of honor! But you
are glorious! Good-by!"

CHAPTER XVII

THE FRIENDS

Allied in fortunes as they had been in friendship, Meriwether Lewis
and William Clark went on side by side in their new labors in the
capital of that great land which they had won for the republic. Their
offices in title were distinct, yet scarcely so in fact, for each
helped the other, as they had always done.

To these two men the new Territory of Louisiana owed not only its
discovery, but its early passing over to the day of law and order. No
other men could have done what they did in that time of disorder and
change, when, rolling to the West in countless waves, came the white
men, following the bee, crossing the great river, striking out into
the new lands, a headstrong, turbulent, and lawless population.

A thousand new and petty cares came to Governor Lewis. He passed from
one duty to another, from one part of his vast province to another,
traveling continually with the crude methods of transportation of that
period, and busy night and day. Courts must be established. The
compilation of the archives must be cared for. Records must be
instituted to clear up the swarm of conflicts over land-titles.
Scores of new duties arose, and scores of new remedies needed to be
devised.

The first figure of the growing capital of St. Louis, the new Governo