The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-03-23
miscellaneous.
UNDER A BAN.
Youths Companion.


Mr.. Fearing said to his friend, Colonel Hardy
the superintendent OF the Military Univer
sity at B.. The two gentlemen were
walking over the building, when Mr.. Fear
ing's attention was attracted to cadet, who
stood at some distance from his companions
absorbed in a book lie held.
ayes, he is one of the best cadets studious
respectful, orderly, but'-Colone Hardy
paused and glanced at his friend.
whats the meaning of that big but p
laug he'd Mr.. Fearing. ut conveys a world
OF sinister meaning. Something like the
wicked f,iry's evil gift, which destroyed all
the good That was bestowed before?"
"Oh, don't mean that" Colonel Hardy
said an fact, it W, shame to use the
qualifying bit Gppropps Of Walter Stewart,
1t slipped out Inadvertently, but, you see,
can't help remembering that his father, Ever
ard Stewart, was NJ his age quite MS promis-
ing youth"
Mr.. Fearing started with surprise.
You don't mean to say that That young
maA is n son Of Everard Stewart, the default
err, the torger, who is serving out life sent
ence in the penitcntiary?"
unfortunately, yes. His eldest son There
was some slight objection to his being en-.
tered in the university on that account.
Stewart must have heard or surmised this,
for he is sensitive and proud, and holds him
self aloof from his fellow-cadets, even when
they make advances to him."
"How long has he been herc?"
-Four years, and now he stands at the head
of the graduating class. He has chosen the
army for his profession, wisely, think, for
there, less than in any other life, are Il man 8
antecedents closely scrutinized. He will
IN hra rruIlopt cplIior tl,o
people are wealthy and influential enough to
push him toward In his profession"
Mr. Fearing smiled.
$50 there is really no peason for your quail
flying but save the disputcG ono Of heredily 7
Now what did you really means You are
too old ard TOO wise man 10 allow your
self n groundless prejudice"
Colonel Hardy colored, and looked EN-
barrassed,
"Oh | don't know, Fearing. It's all non
sense, of course, but there's kind of uncer-
tain feeling about Stewart; drea that
something wrong may develop suddenly
Other young men with his record would sur
prise me beyond measure by going astray
but, as for him, I'm ashamed to say | would
feel no surprise. Yet really do like and re-
spect him, and would not have said what
did to any one but you"
"Oh, of course" Mr.. Fearing answered, sar-
casticallly. "You know I'm a queer old cod
ger, who is always running tilt against the
prejudices of an unjust world. You know
the surest way to enlist my sympalhes was
10 show me person public opinion frowns
upon because his father or his grandfather
was n scoundrel.
"You like that young fellow, but you don't
trust him yet you would be pleased Ia have
me like him, and trust him, too, Ms kind of
dnende for your own injustice Well, | like
his looks, and I'll not lose sight of him."
Colonel Hardy laughed and loVked graft
fled, for lie knew that his eccentric friend
meant what he said. He was wealthy old
bachelor, who did deal of good in an I'M
osientatious manner, and he was pleased to
think that Walter would find friend able
and willing to assist him in any career he
might choose. He had told the story with Il
purpose, and even enlarged upon his own
vague suspicious, knowing that was the
surest way to enlist Ills good old friends in
dignant sympathies,
But 1t is doubtful ifa knowledge OF the u-
terest he excited would have brought CLEAN
of pleasure to Cadet Stewards grave face.
An intolerable sense of disgrace weighed him
down, and crushed the natural light
ness OF youth from his nature.
He threw himself into his studies aud his
military duties with fierce, feverish ardor, for
only then he found fOrgetfuness. He had low.
ed and admired his father, and the thought of
him in prison garb and in felons cell came
like fearful ghost to poison his life. He
had shrunk from accepting cadetshlp at the
university, offered him by his mothers
brother, but the persuasions of that most un
happy mother had outweighed his own
wishes.
On thu day Of the conversation have re-
peated, he was even more grave than usual.
His duties MS officer oIlhe day had forced him
to report Cadet Stacey as guilty of gross mis-
conduct and Stacey, who was one the worst
cadets in the university, had resented the re.
port and the punishment it brought. Through
some means Sewart had heard of his insult
ing remarks.
..1ts disgraceful to have to submit to such
indignities from fellow like that y he cried,
of he dared to speak TO me outside OF the uniz
versity, I'd insult him. To have the son of a
felon, regular thief, put over the heads of
gentlemen is more than I'm going to stand.
If that fellow has a chance, he'll turn out q
greater scamp than his jail.bird father. It's
in him, and it's bound to come out"
That day party OF ladies visited the uni
versity, and it was the duty of the officer of
the day TO escort them over the building and
the grounds. Among them was n very pretty,
wild young miss, about sixteen years old, a
rude little hOyden, who insisted upon seeing
everything and fitted from spot to
spot.
She rummaged among the curiosities in the
museum, tossed about the volumes in the IL
brary, and chased the goldfish in their big
glass bowl with her hands in the water.
Walter Stewart noticed that she wore a
magnificent diamond ring, remarkable for its
size and peculiar setting. Cleaning through
the water, it gave him the unpleasant i'm.
preston of gnome's eye of which he had
been reading in one of Hotimanns wild, weird
tales the night before.
But Miss Lands soon tired of her sport
with the goldfish which she had scared out of
their few senses. Her attention was attract
ed by monstrous stuffed alligator, which,
with wide-open-jaws, reposed under the ta-
BILE on which the globe Of the fish was placed.
She gave an affected little scream.
ooh what an awful monsterl And Jim
writes from Louisiana that they eat up little