Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-02-18
Frederick Van
SlassOn's Shock
By MAITLAND FURBUsH
UOpyriEhi. iS0a. By D.lly story Pub. CO..

- 0A@N AA%ONN NARANNAA 14A
Nor was Freeman Dustin altogether
to blame. although partially so, 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 IL is the world because It has
the means and taste to sip the elegant
designations OF life, but the world
where men battle for living and sue
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 worshiped
How was he TO understand that Van
Slasson had been accustomed to be
obeyed. fiattered. bowed down before
all his life long-to be petted of women
and consulted Of men. until his dig
nifty and self approval had become a
mantle which enveloped him and
which all his little circle Of friends re-
spected as the mantle of Elijah.
Win DAoiin llit uuu bten very dii-
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 adj
venturous spirit, he tried life at its
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 IL
to the Klondike 10 search for gold,
soldiered II in Cuba and the Philip
pines-in fact. had let the strenuous
life in the strenuous way. lie 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 bis
bills and have a .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 a 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 well as the
standard goes and became quite at
tached to the Injuries about him. His
salary was not large. but ample for his
needs. and he saw promised promotion
ahead Of him.
How was a man OF this sort 10 un-
derstand a born arlstocrat like Fred
erick Van Slasson. who was born TO
great wealth and taught from his era
die that only the softest things. the
most excellent and delicate Injuries OF
earth we're for him. and that he was
made of finer clay than the rest OF
MISUNDERSTANDING the Van Slassons 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 a man OF IS. with hair as white
as snow. although his features we're
rudy and almost youthful His fea-
lures were delicate and aristocratic.
his forehead distinctly intellectual. He
was 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 a charming voice. He was in
every way a dillitante. an artist and an
aristocrat.
Now 1t 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 Il happened in this case that
woman brought together these anti
podes. She was Van Slasson's niece
and ward. beautiful girl whose physi-
cal graces we're crowned by an alert
mentality and 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 a
sacred charge upon Frederick Van
slasson. and all her interests were
placed in his hands. He had accepted
the charge reluctantly. but discharged
Il most conscientiously. Not only had
he devoted himself to the care and en-
hancement 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
his nature had turned upon her; and
she had given him all the respect and
love and tenderness Of her bountiful
girihood. To him she was an idol
made Of precious dust To her he was
the best and kindest and wisest Of men.