nel Vigo certainly is not flattering to
the gentleman. I regard him as a deserving patriot. May you not be in
error? Give the devil his due. You must not tar-and-feather the wrong
man."

"Yes, yes, yes! I mean to be just. The devil should have his due. As
for Vigo, I want no dealings with him, or with any of his stripe. I
shouldn't hesitate to recommend a coat of tar-and-feathers and a ride
upon a fence-rail for him. And if I should ever detect Tom, or any of
my boys, even sympathizing in any attempt to dissolve the Union, I
would warm the pitch for them myself, as sure as there is a God
Almighty."

"Good-night," said Burr, stiffly, and went upstairs to bed. The next
morning he and Dupeister rose early, and were on the way to Pittsburg
before their host was well awake. The sons arose betimes, however, and
bade the parting guests good speed.

After breakfast, Colonel Morgan summoned his family and told what had
passed between himself and guest.

"He has insulted us by assuming us to be traitors at heart. Aaron Burr
is meditating dangerous designs. I will write to the President."

Tom and George, impressed by their father's stern seriousness, and now
realizing the presumably infamous nature of the service to which
temptation might have lured them, hung their heads. The mother held
hers high. Her jealous patriotism was alarmed and quickened. No taint
of disloyalty should infect her sons, nor should word or look of hers
hint weak misgiving of their rectitude. She assumed the Morgan stock
incorruptible, and spoke proudly as befits an American matron. There
was no tremor in her voice, no indecision in her steady eye, which
flashed the sentiments uttered by the tongue.

"The brightest name in the world's history is that of George
Washington--the blackest that of--" She paused, and her youngest
son pronounced the detested name, "Benedict Arnold."

"Benedict Arnold--yes; his sword was recreant, his heart false. In
all our annals only this one officer's record is polluted, God forbid
the rise of a second traitor. But, my sons, if treason should again
threaten liberty, I know on which side the Morgans will be found."

So speaking, this true "Daughter of the Revolution" unlocked a
colonial chest containing relics cherished as credentials of family
honor, and took from it a banner, tattered and rent in battles of the
Revolutionary War. Dark stains consecrated its stripes and stars.

"This is my only brother's blood. My bo