Rock Island Argus., 1914-12-21

That peninsula which lies between
Chesapeake bag and the James river
is repete with interesting associations.
IL was there that the first settlement
was made IN North America. there
sprang up the pntrinrchaI system of
the plantation. md there occurred one
of the most noted struggles In waT
that resulted in the downfall of tia.
! system.
The second of these periods is tho
most delightful 10 contemplate. The
descendant of the cavalier bad become
the planter. His sons were tiDe men:
his daughters were possessed OF many
virtues. The age of chivalry had not
yet given way to the more matter of
! fact existence that has pervaded the
south since the war between the stntes.
About Williamsburg. the seat of
william and Mary college. were scat
tered families who were the flower OF
the Virginia arfstocracy. Edward Fitz-
! Herbert, a planter living In this Sec
ton, was blessed with sons and daUgh.
| ters who had grown up among Gus
| toms that had been inherited from the
defenders of King Charles l.
at this time, when the family of Mr..
and Mrs. Fitz- Herbert were passing
from youth to manhood and woman
hood. an invalid, Blocker van Tromp.
went from New York to Williamsburg.
hoping that the climate of Virginia
might restore him to health. There
he met Eugenia Fitz- Herbert. a typi-
cal southern girl. with wealth OF
raven black hair, a complexion like the
mingling of the magnolia and the rose.
and a bewitching figure.
If there was one virtue among the
southern planters of those days more
prominent than others it was hospital
ity. Blocker van Tromp brought let
ters to the Fitz .Herberts and was re-
ceived and introduced by them to the
planters of the peninsula. Eugenia
Fitz Herbert was drawn to him
through pity for his lack of strength.
induced by i'll health. and he was
drawn to her on account of an attrac-
tiveness that captivated all who knew
her.
The life lived by these people was
very like that of the country gentry
of England. They gave house parties
and rode to hounds Eugenia was q
fine horsewoman and fond OF hunting.
but, since Bleeker was not strong
enough to engage in the sport, from
the goodness of her heart she often
made excuses to remain behind when
hunting parties were formed that she
might alleviate his disappointment
For while his body was weak his spir
it was eager for action.
Naturally this attention drew him
closer to Eugenia. Indeed. it was not |
long before he worshiped her. Her |
father and brothers noticed the grow |
ing attachment and frowned upon 1t, |
their ideal for husband for this flow
er of the family being some man of /
prominence. some commanding figure
upon whom the people of the south
would look as a leader. Van Tromp.
whatever might be his talents and at
was not strong enough even
to enjoy the manly sports of a Virginia
gentleman.
Eugenia. understanding this con-
tempt held by her father and brothers
for the want of vigor on the part of
the man she loved. was troubled. When
it was referred to by one of them she
replied with fire In her eye that for
there was a way by which a
weak man might show that he was
equal. if not superior. to strong man
if it became necessary to do so. and
she referred to the code duello. where
the weaker could pull the hair trigger
Of a pistol with the same facility as
the stronger.
This defect in her lover continued to
trouble Eugenia She nursed it and
brooded over it, not because she con-
sidered it defect. but because she
was conscious that her family and her
regarded Van Tromp as one
who could not take a position in the
in which she lived such as
she would desire. AT any rate. she felt
50 deeply on the subject that she failed
o conceal ii from her lover.
Not only did the New Yorker learn
I from Eugenia. but one of her broth
RS. who was friendly TO him. said to
him one day:
"Bleeker. why don't yon challenge
fire eater and shoot himt That will
atisfy everybody. and they'll let you
lone"
Because" was the reply. 81 don't
are TO Kill man simply TO prove that
IN not Il coward
Ihere came TO the peninsula from
tew Orleans a creole named lie Bouf.
Who was received In the social circle
f the planters and. being Il young man
+ aristocrntic manners and having an
aggressive way with him. was very
opular with the women. He was not
man TO brook any obstacle to his de
Tres or advancement and was inclined J
D treat those whom be considered his 7
Interiors with II silent contempt more
allinc than outspoken superiority.
What are now states united in reali- q
y as well as in name were then sep
rare colonies. in many respects an U
iGonistic. There was certainly moth 1
,c in common between Louisiana. Y
'hicb was mostly French. ana New
ork. which was mixture of Dutch u
nd English. France and England q
-