St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-07-27
UNDER A BAN.

,,ondent of the Military University at
ie"ol The two gentlemen were
b 1,;ng over the building, when Mr..
w y,""r;ne,s attention was attracted to
q cadet, who stood at some distance
a com nm his companions, absorbed in
hook he held.
.nd;ons, respectful, orderly, but
Ssolonel Hardy paused and glanced
az What's the meaning of that big
Mnt' ?" laughed Mr.. Fearing. ut
, M, a word of sinister meaning
t Syometimes like the wicked fairy's
'a Gift, which destroyed all the
" nod that was bestowed before?"
e s"Oh, don't mean that" Colonel
n HARDY said. "In fact, it was
ibame to use the qualifying but apro-
' nos Of Walter Stewart. 1t slipped
q p pUt inadvertently, but, you see, |
O" help remembering that his ia
t ,ber Everard Stewart, was at his
a onl ouite as promising youth"
Mr. Fearing started with surprise.
nyou don't mean to say that that
n ,ounq man is a son of Everard
h Stewart, the defaulter, the forger,
II Who is serving out a life-sentence in
n the penitentiary =
ii Unfortunately, yes. His eldest
n son There was some slight objec-
"a ion to his being entered in the uni
n versitv on that account. Stewart
ID must have heard or surmised this,
d inr he is sensitive and proud, and
n bolds himself aloof from his fellow
cadets, even when they make adj
II yances to him."
Il How long has he been here ?"
-Four years, and now he stands at
h the head of the graduating class.
He has chosen the army for his pro-
II iession, wisely, | think, for there, less
H than in any other life, are a mans
antecedents closely scrutinzed. He
Fl will make a brave, gallant soldier,
n and his mothers people are wealthy
and influential enough to push him
H forward in his profession"
Mr.. Fearing smiled.
$50 there is really no reason for
your qualifying but save the dis
outcd one of heredity? Now what
n did YOU really mean? You are too
N old and too wise a man to allow
Yourself groundless prejudice"
n Colonel Hardy colored, and look
n ed embarrassed.
ooh. don't know, Fearing. It's
all nonsense, of course, but there's a
kind of uncertain feeling about
Stewart; a dread that something
wrong may develop suddenly Other
Young men with his record would
surprise me beyond measure by 60
ing astray; but, as for him, I'm
ashamed to say would feel no sur
prise. Yet | really do like and
respect him, and | would not have
said what | did to any one but
YOU"
"Oh, of course" Mr.. Fearing
answered, sarcasticallv. You know
! I'm a queer old codger, who is al
ways running a tilt against the
aiotic prejudices of an unjust world.
You knew the surest way to enlist
my sympathies was to show me a
person public opinion frowns upon
because his father was scoundrel.
You like that young fellow, but
YOU don't trust him; yet you would
be pleased to have me like him, and
trust him, too, as a kind of amende
for YOUR own injustice. Well, | like
his looks, and I'll not lose sight of
him."
Colonel Hardy laughed and looked
gratihed, for he knew that his
4 eccentric friend meant what he said.
He was wealthy old bachelor, who
did deal of good in an unostenta-
tious manner, and he was pleased to
think that Walter would find a
friend able and willing to assist him
in any career he might choose. He
told the story with a purpose, and
even enlarged upon his own vague
suspicious, knowing that was the
Surest way to enlist his good ole
friends indignant sympathies.
But it is doubtful if knowledge o
the interest he excited would have
brought CLEAN of pleasure to Cadet
Stewards grave face. An intolera
Die sense of disgrace weighed hin
down, and crushed the natural light
heartedness of youth from hi
nature.
He threw himself into his studies
and his military duties with fierce
teverish ardor, for only then be fount
forgetfulness. He had loved and ad
mired his father, and the thought o
him in prison garb and in felon
cell came like fearful. ghost tt
poison his life. He had shrunk from
accepting a cadetship at the univers
ity, offered him by his mother
brother, but the persuasions of tina
most unhappy mother had out
weighed his own wishes.
On the day of the conversation
have repeated, he was even NOR
grave than usual. His duties a
officer of the day had forced him tt
report Cadet Stacey as guilty c
gross misconduct and Stacey, VIII
was one of the worst cadets in tn
university, had resented the repor