Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-28
Frederick Van Slasson's s Shock
By MA1rLAnn TuRBusrr
eCoDyrighs, 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Co,

Copyright, isos, by Daily Story Pub. co.1
 A T first 1t was thought that the "A shock would kill hin--his heart was trifle weak from high living, but he rallied after few days and the only results that were visible manifested themselves by violent outbursts of abuse and most eloquent cursing
 Nor was Freeman Dustin altogether to blame, although partially 50; for giving the white-haired old aristocrat such a shock. Dustin was a man of the world-the big, seething, doing world--not the narrow stratum that thinks it is the world because 1t has the means and taste to sip the elegant dissipations of life, but the world where men battle for a living and suc- cess in free-for-all contest, throw down the gauntlet to all corners and abide by the decision of the joust. Consequently how could he be expect ed to understand the exclusive idols that Frederick Van Slasson worshfped. How was he to understand that Van Slasson had been accustomed to be obeyed, hattered, bowed down before all his life long-to be petted of women and consulted of men. until his dig nifty aud self approval had become a mantle which enveloped him and which all his little circle of friends re- spected as the mantle of Elijah.
 With Dustin life had been very diff ferent Born of good family. but with out patrimony, he had dashed into the arena of active struggle for existence early in life and, possessed of an ad-i venturous spirit, he tried life at it's worst He had punched cattle in the west, tried his hand at coffee raising in South America, taken a hand at ba- mana raising in Honduras, roughed 1t to the KIondike to search for gold. soIdiered 1t in Cuba and the Philip pines--in fact, had let the strenuous life in the strenuous way. He had not the gifts of the money-maker, how ever. and his ventures never had met with marked success, although he aI- ways managed to get through, pay his bills and have rollicking good time. Naturally intelligent and fairly well educated, his experiences broadened and informed him and everywhere he went he made warm friends of all men whom he met. The rough life he had led had scared the original polish he had inherited and acquired at school and had roughened him in many ways, but he was always a gentleman as the term is used in the broad sense.
 After the war he received an offer to enter the employ of a mining engineer in western city, where his wide and accurate knowledge of minerals and mines made his services valuable, and for the first time since his school days lived among the softer graces and the more ordinary conventionalities that pertain to city life. He did we'll as the standard goes and became quite att tached to the luxuries about him. His salary was not large but ample for his needs, and he saw promised promotion ahead of him. ~
 How was man of this sort to un- iderstand born aristocrat like Fred erick Van Slasson, who was born to great wealth and taught from his era dle that only the softest things, the most excellent and delicate Iuxuries of earth were for him, and that he was made of finer clay than the rest of mankind--barring the Van SIassons in all the collateral branches, and a few other families favored in some ex- traordinary way by divine providence. Van Slasson at the time of the shock was man Of 55, with hair as white as snow, although his features were ruddy and almost youthful. His fea- lures were delicata and aristocratic, his forehead distinctly intellectual. He was a scholar and read widely, owning great library of the rarest and best selected books. He was a connoiseur in art, drew some himself and owned many rare paintings: He was an in tense lover of music and played well on several instruments. besides pos sessing charming voice. He was In every way dillitante, an artist and an aristocrat.
 Now it would appear that there would be no natural way for these two men to come in contact. But in every situation the woman must be taken into account or your answer will be in error
 So it happened in this case that woman brought together these anti
 
 and ward, a beautiful girl whose physi- cal graces were crowned by an alert mentality and a spirituality which charmed and attracted all who met her
 She was the orphan of Frederick Van Slasson's only brother and an heiress of considerable wealth. By the terms of her fathers will she was made sacred charge upon Frederick Van Siasson, and all her interests were placed in his hands. He had accepted the charge reluctantly, but discharged it most conscientious1y. Not only had he devoted himself to the care and en. 4hancement of her fortunes, but had given his best thought and care to her own education and development He had grown to love her as his own daughter, all the starved affection of