Gilpin observer., 1903-04-23
CHAPTER l.
The Van Heemskirks.


the May A. d. 1S86-the same clear
air and wind, the same rarefied fresh
ness, full of faint, passing aromas
from the wet earth and the salt sea
and the blossoming gardens.
In the city the business of the day
was over; but at the open doors OF
many of the shops little groups OF ap-
prentices in leather aprons were talk
ing, and on the broad steps of the
City Hall a number of grave-looking
men were slowly separating after a
very satisfactory civic session. They
were all noticeable men. but Joris Van
Heemskirk specially SO. His bulk was
SO great that it seemed as II he must
have been built up; it was too much
to expect that he had ever been a
baby. He had fair, ruddy face, and
large, firm eyes, and mouth that
was at once strong and sweet. And
he was also very handsomely dressed.
The long, stiff skirts of his dark-blue
coat were lined with satin, his
breeches were of black velvet, his ruff
fes edged with Flemish lace, his
shoes clasped with silver buckles, his
cooked hat made of the finest beaver.
With his head little forward, and
his right arm across his back. he
walked slowly up Wall street into
Broadway, and then took northwest
erly direction towards the river bank.
His home was on the outskirts OF the
city, but not far away; and his race
lightened as he approached 1t.
Councillor Van Heemskirk's father
had built the house and planted the
garden, and he had the Dutch rever-
ence for a good ancestry. Often he sent
his thoughts backward to remember
how he walked by his fathers side, or
leaned against his mothers chair, as
they told him the tragic tales OF the
old Barneveldt and the hapless DE
Wits; or how his young heart glowed
to their memories of the dear father
land, and the proud march of the Ba-
tavian republic.
Good evening, Mr.. Justice. Good
evening, neighbor," and he stood
minute, with his hands on his garden
gate, to bow to Justice Van Gaasbeeck
and to Peter Sluyter, who, with their
| wives, were going to spend an hour
or two at Christopher Laer's garden
"Men can bear all things but good
days" said Peter Sluyter, when they
had gone a dozen yards in silence;
since Van Heemskirk has seat in
the council room, it is a long way to,
his hat.
Come, now, he was very civil,
| Sluyter. He Dows like man not
used to make low bow, that is ALL
We'll. well, with time, every one
gets into his right place. In the city
Hall. l may yet put my chair beside
his. Van Gaasbeeck."
so say l, Sluyter. and for the pres
ent it is all we'll as it is"
This little envtous fret Of his neigh
Dor lost itself outside Joris Van Heem-
sMrl:'s home. Within it, all was love
and content. Madam Van Heemskirk
was a little woman, with clear-cut
features, and brown hair drawn back
ward under cap OF lace very stify
starched. Her tight-fitting dress of
| blue taffeta was open in front, and
looped up behind in order to show an
elaborately quilted petticoat of liSh,
blue camblet. Her white wool stock
ings were clocked with blue, her high
heeled shoes cut very low, and clasped
| with small silver buckles. From her
trim cap to her trig shoes she was
pleasant and comfortable picture OF
happy. domestic woman; smiling.
peaceful, and easy to live with.
When the last duty of the day was
| finished, she let her bunch of keys
g. ten. igfa otA sn1 ~
| Jingle, that made her Joris look at
her with smile. Then he asked
Where is Joanna and the little one?
And Bran should be home ere this"
II am not uneasy. Joris. They
were to drink dish of tea with
Madam Semple, and Bran promised
to go for them. And, see. they are
coming; but Bran is not with them,
only the elder
Elder Alexander Semple was great
man in his sphere. He had a reputa-
tion both for riches and godliness and
was scarcely more respected in the
| market-place than he was in the Mid
die Kirk. And there was an old tie
between the Semples and the Van
| Heemskirks-a tie going back to the
days when the Scotch Covenanters and
the Netherland Coniessors clasped
hands as brothers in their churches
under the cross" Then one of the
Semples had fed for life from Scot
land to Holland. and been sheltered
in the house of Van Heemskirk; and
from generation to generation the
friendship had been continued. So
there was much real kindness and
very little ceremony between the fami-
lies. and the elder met his friend Joris
with pleasant good evening" and
sat down in front of the blazing logs.
Joanna tied on her white apron. and
Mt a word from her mother. began tn
lalr rl1 fcl,