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；　and　descend　upon　the　Spanish　settlements　at　the　mouth　of　the　Mississippithose　same　hated　settlements　that　had　refused　to　the　Kentuckians　the　right　of　navigation　for　their　commerce；　thus　shutting　them　off　from　the　world　by　water；　as　the　mountains　shut　them　off　from　the　world　by　land。

Hence　the　Jacobin　clubs　that　were　formed　in　Kentucky：　one　at　Lexington；　a　second　at　Georgetown；　a　third　at　Paris。　Hence　the　liberty　poles　in　the　streets　of　the　towns；　the　tricoloured　cockades　on　the　hats　of　the　men；　the　hot　blood　between　the　anti…federal　and　the　federalist　parties　of　the　State。

The　actions　of　Citizen　Genet　had　indeed　been　disavowed　by　his　republic。　But　the　sympathy　for　France；　the　hatred　of　England　and　of　Spain；　had　but　grown　meantime；　and　when　therefore　in　this　spring　of　1795　the　news　reached　the　frontier　that　Jay　had　concluded　a　treaty　with　Englandthe　very　treaty　that　would　bring　to　the　Kentuckians　the　end　of　all　their　troubles　with　the　posts　of　the　Northwestthe　flame　of　revolution　blazed　out　with　greater　brilliancy。

During　the　hour　that　John　Gray　spent　in　that　assemblage　of　men　that　night；　the　talk　led　always　to　the　same　front　of　offence：　the　baser　truckling　to　England；　an　old　enemy；　the　baser　desertion　of　France；　a　friend。　He　listened　to　one　man　of　commanding　eloquence；　while　he　traced　the　treaty　to　the　attachment　of　Washington　for　aristocratic　institutions；　to　another　who　referred　it　to　the　jealousy　felt　by　the　Eastern　congressmen　regarding　the　growth　of　the　new　power　beyond　the　Alleghanies；　to　a　third　who　foretold　that　like　all　foregoing　pledges　it　would　leave　Kentucky　still　exposed　to　the　fury　of　the　Northern　Indians；　to　a　fourth　who　declared　that　let　the　treaty　be　once　ratified　with　Lord　Granville；　and　in　the　same　old　faithless　way；　nothing　more　would　be　done　to　extort　from　Spain　for　Kentucky　the　open　passage　of　the　Mississippi。

At　any　other　time　he　would　have　borne　his　part　in　these　discussions。　Now　he　scarcely　heard　them。　All　the　forces　of　his　mind　were　away；　on　another　battle…field　and　he　longed　to　be　absent　with　them；　a　field　strewn　with　the　sorrowful　carnage　of　ideal　and　hope　and　plan；　home；　happiness；　love。　He　was　hardly　aware　that　his　own　actions　must　seem　unusual；　until　one　of　the　older　men　took　him　affectionately　by　the　hand　and　said：

〃Marshall　tells　me　that　you　teach　school　till　sunset　and　read　law　till　sunrise；　and　tonight　you　come　here　with　your　eyes　blazing　and　your　skin　as　pallid　and　dry　as　a　monk's。　Take　off　the　leeches　of　the　law　for　a　good　month；　John！　They　abstract　too　much　blood。　If　the　Senate　ratifies　in　June　the　treachery　of　Jay　and　Lord　Granville；　there　will　be　more　work　than　ever　for　the　Democratic　Societies　in　this　country；　and　nowhere　more　than　in　Kentucky。　We　shall　need　you　then　more　than　the　law　needs　you　now；　or　than　you　need　it。　Save　yourself　for　the　cause　of　your　tricolour。　You　shall　have　a　chance　to　rub　the　velvet　off　your　antlers。〃

〃We　shall　soon　put　him　beyond　the　reach　of　his　law；〃　said　a　member　of　the　Transylvania　Library　Committee。　〃As　soon　as　his　school　is　out；　we　are　going　to　send　him　to　ask　subscriptions　from　the　President；　the　Vice…President；　and　others；　and　then　on　to　Philadelphia　to　buy　the　books。〃

A　shadow　fell　upon　the　face　of　another　officer；　and　in　a　lowered　tone　he　said；　with　cold　emphasis：　〃I　am　sorry　that　the　citizens　of　this　town　should　stoop　to　ask　anything　from　such　a　man　as　George　Washington。〃

The　schoolmaster　scarcely　realized　what　he　had　done　when　he　consented　to　act　as　a　secret　emissary　of　the　Jacobin　Club　of　Lexington　to　the　club　in　Philadelphia　during　the　summer。

The　political　talk　ended　at　last；　the　gentlemen　returned　to　the　ladies。　He　found　himself　standing　in　a　doorway　beside　an　elderly　man　of　the　most　polished　hearing　and　graceful　manners；　who　was　watching　a　minuet。

〃Ah！〃　he　said；　waving　his　hand　with　delight　toward　the　scene。　〃This　is　Virginia　and　Maryland　brought　into　the　West！　It　reminds　me　of　the　days　when　I　danced　with　Martha　Custis　and　Dolly　Madison。　Some　day；　with　a　beginning　like　this；　Kentucky　will　be　celebrated　for　its　beautiful　women。　The　daughters　and　the　grand…daughters　and　the　great…granddaughters　of　such　mothers　as　these〃

〃And　of　fathers　like　these！〃　interposed　one　of　the　town　trustees　who　came　up　at　that　moment。　〃But　for　the　sake　of　these　ladies　isn't　it　time　we　were　passing　a　law　against　the　keeping　of　pet　panthers？　I　heard　the　cry　of　one　as　I　came　here　to…night。　What　can　we　do　with　these　young　backwoods　hunters？　Will　civilization　ever　make　pets　of　themever　tame　them？〃　John　felt　some　one　touch　his　arm；　it　was　Kitty　with　Horatio。　Her　cheeks　were　like　poppies；　her　good　kind　eyes　welcomed　him　sincerely。

〃You　here！　I'm　so　glad。　Haven't　you　seen　Amy？　She　is　in　the　other　room　with　Joseph。　Have　they　explained　everything？　But　we　will　loose　our　place〃she　cried；　and　with　a　sweet　smile　of　adieu　to　him；　and　of　warning　to　her　partner；　she　glided　away。

〃We　are　entered　for　this　horse　race；〃　remarked　Mr。　Turpin；　lingering　a　moment　longer。　〃Weight　for　age；　agreeable　to　the　rules　of　New　Market。　Each　subscriber　to　pay　one　guinea；　etc。；　etc。；　etc。〃　He　was　known　as　the　rising　young　turfman　of　the　town；　having　first　run　his　horses　down　Water　Street；　but　future　member　of　the　first　Jockey　Club；　so　that　in　the　full　blossom　of　his　power　he　could　name　all　the　horses　of　his　day　with　the　pedigree　of　each：　beginning　with　Tiger　by　Tiger；　and　on　through　Sea　Serpent　by　Shylock；　and　Diamond　by　Brilliant；　and　Black　Snake　by　Sky　Lark：　a　type　of　man　whom　long　association　with　the　refined　and　noble　nature　of　the　horse　only　vulgarizes　and　disennobles。

Once　afterward　Gray's　glance　fell　on　Amy　and　Joseph　across　the　room。　They　were　looking　at　him　and　laughing　at　his　expense　and　the　sight　burnt　his　eyes　as　though　hot　needles　had　been　run　into　them。　They　beckoned　gaily；　but　he　gave　no　sign；　and　in　a　moment　they　were　lost　behind　the　shifting　figures　of　the　company。　While　he　was　dancing；　however；　Joseph　came　up。

〃As　soon　as　you　get　away；　Amy　wants　to　see　you。〃

Half　and　hour　later　he　came　a　second　time　and　drew　Gray　aside　from　a　group　of　gentlemen；　speaking　more　seriously：　〃Amy　wants　to　explain　how　all　this　happened。　Come　at　once。〃

〃There　is　nothing　to　explain；〃　said　John；　with　indifference。　Joseph　answered　reproachfully：　〃This　is　foolish；　John！　When　you　know　what　has　passed；　you　will　not　censure　her。　And　I　could　not　have　done　otherwise。〃　Despite　his　wish　to　be　serious；　he　could　not　help　laughing　for　he　was　very　happy　himself。

But　to　John　Gray　these　reasonable　words　went　for　the　very　thing　that　they　did　not　mean。　His　mind　had　been　forced　to　a　false　point　of　view；　and　from　a　false　point　of　view　the　truth　itself　always　looks　false。　Moreover　it　was　intolerable　that　Joseph　should　be　defending　to　him　the　very　woman　whom　a　few　hours　before　he　had　hoped　to　marry。　〃There　is　no　explanation　needed　from　her；〃　he　replied；　with　the　same　indifference。　〃I　think　I　understand。　What　I　do　not　understand　I　should　rather　take　for　granted。　　But　you；　Joseph；　you　owe　me　an　explanation。　This　is　not　the　place　to　give　it。〃　His　face　twitched；　and　he　knotted　the　fingers　of　his　large　hands　together　like　bands　of　iron。　〃But　by　God　I'll　have　it；　and　if　it　is　not　a　good　one；　you　shall　answer。〃　His　oath　sounded　like　an　invocation　to　the　Divine　justicenot　profanity。　Joseph　fixed　his　quiet　fearless　eyes　on　Gray's。　〃I'll　answer　for　myselfand　for　her〃he　replied　and　turned　away。

Still　later　Gray　met　her　while　dancingthe　faint　rose　of　her　cheeks　a　shade　deeper；　the　dazzling　whiteness　of　her　skin　more　pearl…like　with　warmth；　her　gaiety　and　happiness　still　mounting；　her　eyes　still　wandering　among　the　men；　culling　their　admiration。

〃You　haven't　asked　me　to　dance　to…night。　You　haven't　even　let　me　tell　you　why　I　had　to　come　with　Joseph；　when　I　wanted　to　come　with　you。〃　She　gave　a　little　pout　of　annoyance　and　let　her　eyes　rest　on　his　with　the　old　fondness。　〃Don't　you　want　to　know　why　I　broke　my　engagement　with　you？〃　And　she　danced　on；　smiling　back　at　him　provokingly。　He　did　not　show　that　he　heard；　and　although　they　did　not　meet　again；　he　was　made　aware　that　a　change　had　at　last　come　over　her。　She　was　angry　now。　He　could　hear　her　laughter　oftenerlaughter　that　was　meant　for　his　ear　and　she　was　dancing　oftener　with　Joseph。　He　looked　at　her　repeatedly；　but　she　avoided　his　eyes。

〃I　am　playing　a　poor　part　by　staying　here！〃　he　said　with　shame；　and　left　the　house。

After　wandering　aimlessly　about　the　town　for　some　two　hours；　he　went　resolvedly　back　again　and　stood　out　in　the　darkness；　looking　in　at　her　through　the　windows。　　There　she　was；　unwearied；　happy；　not　feigning；　and　no　more　affected　by　what　had　taken　place　between　them　than　a　candle　is　affected　by　a　scorched　insect。　So　it　seemed　to　him。

This　was　the　first　time　he　had　ever　seen　her　at　a　ball。　　He　had　never　realized　what　powers　she　possessed　in　a　field　like　this：　what　play；　what　resources；　what　changes；　what　stratagems；　what　victories。　He　mournfully　missed　for　the　first　time　certain　things　in　himself　that　should　have　corresponded　with　all　those　light　and　graceful　things　in　her。　Perhaps　what　hurt　him　most　were　her　eyes；　always　abroad　searching　for　admiration；　forever　filling　the　forever　emptied　honeycomb　of　self…love。

With　him　lov