A DREAM OF EMPIRE
_Or_ THE HOUSE OF BLENNERHASSETT
_By_ WILLIAM HENRY VENABLE
AUTHOR OF "A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES," "JOHN HANCOCK, EDUCATOR," &c.
_New York_ DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY _MDCCCCI_
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Copyright, 1901, By Dodd, Mead and Company.
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TO EMERSON VENABLE
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Contents
I. AN ECCENTRIC VISITOR. 1 II. A NOTED CHARACTER ARRIVES IN PITTSBURG. 16 III. PILLARS OF SMOKE. 28 IV. PLUTARCH BYLE MAKES A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 39 V. IN THE LADIES' BOWER. 45 VI. DOCTOR DEVILLE AND HIS LUCRECE. 62 VII. CONSPIRACY. 71 VIII. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 82 IX. DON'T FORGET THE BITTERS. 97 X. "NOW TO MY CHARMS AND TO MY WILY TRAINS." 118 XI. PALAFOX GROWS INSOLENT. 127 XII. SNARING A PHILOSOPHER. 137 XIII. THE ENCHANTED GROUND. 150 XIV. A LARGESS OF CORONETS. 169 XV. THERE BE LAND RATS AND WATER RATS. 181 XVI. A PATRIOT NOT TO BE TAMPERED WITH. 193 XVII. THE BUSY NOTE OF PREPARATION. 205 XVIII. THE VOYAGE OF THE BUCKEYE. 218 XIX. ARLINGTON'S RIDE. 234 XX. MOSTLY LOVE MATTERS. 247 XXI. PRO AND CON. 262 XXII. NOT A TRUE BILL. 269 XXIII. THE FATAL CIPHER. 278 XXIV. THE MIDNIGHT DEPARTURE. 286 XXV. HEROINE AND HERO. 297 XXVI. OUT OF THE NET INTO THE TRAP. 312 XXVII. FLIGHT AND SURRENDER. 326 XXVIII. WHAT BECAME OF THEM. 333
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A DREAM OF EMPIRE.
I. AN ECCENTRIC VISITOR.
It was the first of May, and the sun had passed the noon line in a bright sky, causing the shadow of Peter Taylor to fall east of north and infusing his substance with the delightful languor called Spring Fever. Leaning upon an idle spade, Peter watched the lazy motions of a negro slave whom he had directed to trim a level lawn ornamented with flowerbeds. The English origin of the overseer was revealed by his looks and in his speech.
"Scipio, 'ave you 'oed the corn?"
"No, boss, but I's jes' gwine to ten' to it right away."
"Well, make 'aste. Daniel and Ransom can 'elp you, and tell Honest Moses to get the south patch ready for the watermelon seed."
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Dream of Empire by William Henry Venable
- 2: He saw the silver flood of the Ohio River which
- 3: Byle interrogated him Potterin' about for greens
- 4: Bladderhatchet Blennerhassett
- 5: Blennerhassett was himself a botanist
- 6: Blennerhassett hurried into his library
- 7: Plutarch Byle plodded his way to his skiff
- 8: Attired in a suit of black broadcloth
- 9: As he turned to ask young Brackenridge
- 10: Burr proposed that he and Arlington should retire
- 11: Harman Blennerhassett is an agreeable man
- 12: And continued his protestations to Burr
- 13: Burr resumed conversation abruptly Arlington
- 14: That an expedition against Mexico
- 15: The unuttered soliloquy of Aaron Burr
- 16: Plutarch byle makes a new acquaintance
- 17: Arlington looked on in astonishment
- 18: The Byle episode put Burr in a merry mood
- 19: Arlington laughingly replied in the same extravagant vein
- 20: Arlington gallantly picked up the flowers
- 21: I will pilot ahead with Colonel Burr
- 22: From the presence of Evaleen he received access of eloquence
- 23: Burr scanned the indecisive mouth
- 24: You are speaking of Colonel Burr
- 25: And called out cheerily Lucrece
- 26: I come to Premiereville no street no house
- 27: Arlington picked up both the ugly weapons
- 28: Burr procured a fine saddle horse
- 29: Who could induce Aaron Burr to come to Ohio
- 30: Though he had never before heard of Racilia
- 31: Which he now christened Salome
- 32: Aaron Burr presented himself at the barracks
- 33: And make Louisiana and Mexico one domain
- 34: Wilkinson sat up straighter in his chair
- 35: That Wilkinson felt a momentary sense of being detected
- 36: Thus reflected General Wilkinson
- 37: Palafox I won't be harsh with you
- 38: Evaleen and him her name's Evaleen walking
- 39: I've got as snug a piroque as ever oversot
- 40: Whose unconscious temerity Blennerhassett
- 41: Arlington in wise passivity submitted to the infliction
- 42: Arlington presently took leave to join Byle
- 43: The taunt raised a laugh at Arlington
- 44: To wish he had never met Evaleen
- 45: He did not neglect the Blennerhassetts
- 46: Burr experienced a thrill of surprise
- 47: And do not succeed in the conquest of Mexico
- 48: Even a leader for James Wilkinson
- 49: Persistent importunity of Palafox
- 50: That's the name Don Estevan Miro
- 51: You and Aaron appear to be thick
- 52: Blennerhassett acquitted himself admirably
- 53: Blennerhassett kept hexameters flowing several minutes
- 54: Again Blennerhassett nodded three or four times
- 55: Blennerhassett felt much gratified by the insidious censure
- 56: While Blennerhassett tramped about Belpre
- 57: I much doubt his interest in Evaleen
- 58: Spanish needles and sticktights
- 59: Blennerhassett could hear your broad views
- 60: Excepting a skiff lying alongside the scow
- 61: Tell me more about your Theodosia
- 62: At this crisis Dominick believed he saw what his mother
- 63: Madam Blennerhassett participating
- 64: Embracing and kissing Theodosia
- 65: My Theodosia was so christened
- 66: On business relating to the Wachita lands
- 67: And Theodosia joined in the applause
- 68: Evaleen is my most intimate friend
- 69: At a place called 'Cache la Turlipe
- 70: I hadn't better teched Pluggie
- 71: It was eleven o'clock when Pepillo
- 72: This one word was all Pepillo uttered
- 73: And they were escorting Aaron Burr and Colonel Dupeister
- 74: He had expressed sympathy for Aaron Burr
- 75: Dupeister nodded an emphatic yes
- 76: The design which Vigo abetted was nefarious
- 77: Aaron Burr is meditating dangerous designs
- 78: The big keelboat is to transport provisions
- 79: Byle had a spice of mischief in his composition
- 80: Blennerhassett looked incredulous
- 81: I do believe she might have shook Danvers and took Arlington
- 82: On ze joli bateau with ze mademoiselle
- 83: And catamounts in those jungles
- 84: A sleeping sawyer does its sawing under the surface
- 85: At last Lucrece returned the glass to the captain
- 86: As Evaleen listened to these naive sentences
- 87: Evaleen saw floating barrels and boxes
- 88: Evaleen could not hide her dismay
- 89: Arlington found keen enjoyment in what he saw and heard
- 90: Arlington proceeded southward toward Natchez
- 91: Arlington decided to dismount and take the chances
- 92: Arlington leading his panting beast
- 93: Mex knew the meaning of pistols
- 94: Then turning to Sheldrake with a grin
- 95: Putting his arm around Evaleen
- 96: Evaleen interpreted the silent language exchanged
- 97: Palafox chuckled at the question
- 98: Sat down on the bench beside Palafox
- 99: Cacosotte bent over Palafox and saw a corpse
- 100: They say Daviess sent a challenge
- 101: Do you recamember how Daviess hopped up and snarled out
- 102: Announced the coming of Burr and his counsel
- 103: Of the hospitality of Old Kentucky
- 104: The three gentlemen were accosted by the ghostly Solitarius
- 105: The first was a letter introducing Samuel Swartwout
- 106: Wilkinson shall be second to Burr only
- 107: Swartwout was under engagement to join Burr at Nashville
- 108: Among the letters was one from Burr
- 109: Blennerhassett opened his eyes wide
- 110: Blennerhassett hurried to the bedroom of his boys
- 111: You say you represent the State of Ohio
- 112: Blennerhassett was afloat to join Burr
- 113: Hoping to intercept Blennerhassett
- 114: He told her a dismal tale of the doings of the militia
- 115: Byle freely imparted his version of how matters stood
- 116: Responded Madam Blennerhassett
- 117: Byle bolted out of the room to the long porch
- 118: The flotilla had passed New Madrid
- 119: Blennerhassett hurried to his superior
- 120: Rousing from his remorseful reverie
- 121: But how would Madam Blennerhassett judge him
- 122: Burr quenched the resentful fires that burnt in his heart
- 123: He looked back at Arlington wistfully
- 124: This was the lodge of the district sheriff
- 125: Hinson looked incredulous and scared
- 126: It was natural to speak of Burr
- 127: Lucrece snugged close to her soldier
- 128: Named for your daddy's Orleens brother
- 129: Blennerhassett was consciously guilty
- 130: And Evaleen thought he intended to tell its history