r
was also the central figure of all social activities, the cynosure of
all eyes. But the laughing belles of St. Louis at length sighed and
gave him up--they loved him as Governor, since they might not as man.
Wise, firm, deliberate, kind, sad--he was an old man now, though still
young in years.

Scattered up and down the great valley, above and below St. Louis, and
harboring in that town, were many of the late adherents of Burr's
broken conspiracy. These liked not the oncoming of the American
government, enforced by so rigid an executive as the one who now held
power. Threats came to the ears of Meriwether Lewis, who was hated by
the Burr adherents as the cause of their discomfiture; but he, wholly
devoid of the fear of any man, only laughed at them. Honest and
blameless, it was difficult for any enemy to injure him, and no man
cared to meet Meriwether Lewis in the open.

But at last one means of attack was found. Once more--the last
time--the great heart of a noble man was pierced.

"Will," said he to his friend, as they met at William Clark's home,
according to their frequent custom, "I am in trouble."

"Fancied trouble, Merne," said Clark. "You're always finding it!"

"Would I might call it fancied! But this is something in the way of
facts, and very stubborn facts. See here"--he held out certain papers
in his hand--"by this morning's mail I get back these bills
protested--protested by the government at Washington! And they are
bills that I have drawn to pay the expenses of administering my office
here."

"Tut, tut!" said William Clark gravely. "Come, let us see."

"Look here, and here! Will, you know that I am a man of no great
fortune. You also know that I have made certain enemies in this
country. But now I am not supported by my own government. I am
ruined--I am a broken man! Did you think that this country could do
that for either of us?"

"But Merne, you, the soul of honor----"

"Some enemy has done this! What influences have been set to work, I
cannot say; but here are the bills, and there are others out in other
hands--also protested, I have no doubt. I am publicly discredited,
disgraced. I know not what has been said of me at Washington."

"That is the trouble," said William Clark slowly. "Washington is so
far. But now, you must not let this trouble you. 'Tis only some
six-dollar-a-week clerk in Washington that has done it. You must not
consider it to be the deliberate act of any responsible he