Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-04-02
Heroine
Weakness
A Story Of Old Virginia
o. EUNIcE BLAKE


That peninsula which lies between
Chesapeake bay and the James river
III replete with interesting associations.
II was there that the first settlement
WIS made In North America, there
sprnnc mp the patriarchal system Of
the plantation, and there occurred one
of the most noted struggles In war
that resulted In the downfall Of that
system
The second or these periods is the
most delightful to contemplate. The
descendant OF the cavalier had become
the planter His sons were fine men;
his daughters were possessed of many
virtues The nge OF chivalry had not
yet given way to the more matter of
fnct existence that has pervaded the
south since the war between the states.
Ahnni Williamsburg. the seat of
William and Mary college, were scat
tered families who were the flower of
the Virginia aristocracy, Edward Fitz-
Herbert. n planter living in this Sec
ton, was blessed with sons and daugh.
tiers who had grown mp among Gus.
toms thnt mad been Inherited from the
defenders OF King Charles /.
Al this time. when the family OF Mr..
ana Mrs Fitz- Herbert were passing
from youth To manhood and woman.
huod. M invulid. Blocker van Tromp,
went from New York to Williamsburg,
hoping that the climate OF Virginia
might restore him to health. There
he met Engenia Fitz- Herbert a typi-
cal southern girl. with a wealth Of
raven black hair, complexion like the
mingling Of the magnolia and the rose,
and bewitching figure
II there was one virtue among the
southern planters of those days more
prominent than others 1t was hospital
ity. Blocker van Tromp brought let
tiers 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 III health. and be was
drawn to her Oh 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 a
fine horsewOmnn and fond of bunting,
hui, since Bleeker was not strong
enough TO engage In the sport, from
the goodness OF her heart she often
mndr excuses to remain behind when
hunting parties were formed that she
might alleviate his disappointment.
For with. his body was weak his spir
II was eugrI for action. ,.
Naturally this attention drew him
closer to Engenia. Indeed II was moi
father nnd brothers noticed the grow.
ing attachment and frowned upon It.
their iden foI a husband for this flow.
er OF the Tnmily being some man of
prominence. some commanding figure
upon whom the people of the south
would look as leader Van Tromp.
Whatever might be his talents and at
talnments WIS not strong enough even
to enjoy the manly sports OF Virginia
gentleman
Eugrnin. 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
1t wns referred to by one of them she
replied with fire In her eye that for
tunHtely there was way by which a
wenk man might show that he was
equal " not superior, to a strong man
II II beramc necessary to do so. and
she referred to the code duello, where
the wenkrI could pull the hair trigger
Of n pistol with the same facility as
the stronger.
This defect In her lover continued to
trouble Eugenia She nursed II and
broodcd over IL. not because she con-
sldcred II defect, but because she
WIS conscious that her family and her
nssociates regarded Van Tromp as one
who could not take position in the
community In which she lived such as
she would desire. At any rate, she felt
so deeply on the subject that she failed
10 conceal II from her lover.
not only did the New Yorker learn
II from Eugenia. but one Of her broth
ers who was friendly to him. said to
him one day:
"Bleeker why don't you challenge a
fire eater and shoot himf That will
satisfy everybody. and theyn let you
alone"
Because" was the reply. II don't
care to kill man simply to prove that
I'm not q coward"
There came to the peninsula from
New Orleans a creole named LIE Bout,
who was received In the social circle
Of the planters and. being young man
OF nristOcratic manners and having an
aggressive way with him. was very
popular with the women. He was not
u man to brook any obstacle to his de
sires or advancement and was inclined
10 trent those whom he considered his
interiors with silent contempt more
CALLING thnn ontspoken superiority.
What nre now states united in reali-
~ as well as IN name were then sep
nrnte colonies. In many respects an
;ngonistic There was certainly moth
ing In common between Louisiana,
which was mostly French. and New
York. which was a mixture OF Dutch
and English. France and England
we're especially antngonistic, and the
n,.lata nanga ay.nno fhfoa .uara afV