The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-01-26
It's not possibleto disguise the fact

Il Is nOt DtSSlDIt " ulSSulSC tilV ittS =
that it was a distinct shock to the
family when the heir OF all the
Van StuyvenS announced his intention
of enlistng for the Spanish-Amerlcan
War: not only announced 1t, but did
so with an utter absence Of the
apologetic preface which ought prop
erly to have accompanied such be-
trayal of their hopes. Far otherwise
had been their plans for his summer,
and closely connected with a Gilded
Helress lately imported on visit from
the Far West. The Heiress had been
n schoolmate Of his sisters, and her
beauty was patent; so, also. were a
certain Western vigor and breadth Of
horizon, which, under other circum-
stances, might have been viewed with
distrust. But this energy was con
doned since the gliding was unques-
toned; for, truth to tell, this last had
In the course Of generations been
growing as thin and tarnished with
the Van Stuyvens as was the gilt of
the frames of the old Stuarts and Cop
leys and Smyberts that looked down
upon them from the walls Of the din
ing-room, where the family were as
sembled at breakfast when the bomb
Of the sons announcement burst In
their midst.
AFTER all, it Is in the line Of our
traditions" said Honoria Van Stuyven,
the eldest daughter. and the embodi-
ment Of pride Of ancestry, which
caused her to shine out resplcndcnt on
certain days with golden decorations
Of patriotic orders; and as she spoke
she glanced from the portrait Of Gov
ernOr Jan Van Stuyven on n military
charger to the Revolutionary sword Of
Captain Stephen Van Stuyven. who
fell at White Plains.
But at Il years to bear such n
burden" sighed his mother. "The
command Of regiment Is a terrible re
sponsibility for young man."
AT this moment there became OBJ
pervable remarkable phenomenon
upon the face of the Van Stuyvcns'
English butler. If the same facial
movement had been made by any one
less perfectly trained and imper-
turbable than Simmons Mrs. Van
Stuyven would have called 1t grin.
Even though after moment she felt
sure that her short-sighted eyes had
played her false she was conscious OF
something Of the uncomfortable
amaxement that must have filed the
mind Of the prophet Balaam when his
ass suddenly took hand in the con-
sersation. For the first time she was
vaguely racOnciled to the thought
mat, from motives Of economy, she
mad been obliged to give Simmons his
dismissal, and that he was about to
oe replaced by maid, blow which,
up TO this time, she had found it hard
to bear.
l don't suppose shall quite enter
"a colonel, you know, mother
modestly explained her son. THAT po-
slt'on belongs to O'Reilly."
My DEAR" said his mother, what
name! He cannot be man of any
family
he has wife and seven children"
answered her son, provokingly; and
oere' for the first time, the Gilded
nelress joined in the martial CONVEX
ntion.
We know who Colonel O'Reilly is
y the WesE" She said Il don't Won
yer you want to go with him. He has
s0ne some magnificent Indian-fight
as' and was raised from the ranks for
courage"
As. Van Stuyven shuddered.
Raised from the ranks. Not West
.Oinf man? How can my son wish to
'erve under Lim?"
but he doesn't seem to look at it
suae as sou do" insisted the visitor.
. julius, regret to say" explained
&c mother Of the crrant one, has
asser seemed to care as much as we
.vuid wish for his line of descent, b,K