The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-01-15
Heroine
Weakness
A Story Of Old Virgins
0v EUNlCE BLAkE

That peninsula which lies between
Chesapeake bay and the James river
is replete with interesting associations.
1t was there that the first settlement
was made In North America. there
sprang up the patriarchai system Of
the plantation. and there occurred
of the most noted struggles in a wa
that resulted In the downfall OF that
system.
The second Of these periods u the
most delightful to contemplate. The
descendant Of the cavalier bad become
the planter. His o n were tne men:
his daughters were possessed Of many
virtues The age OF chivalry had no
yet given way to the more matter Ut
fact existence that has pervaded the
south since the var between the states
About Williamsburg. the seat Of
william and Mary college. were scat
tered families who were the flower OF
the Virginia ~aristocracy Edward Fitz
Herbert. d planter living in this sec
ton. was blessed with IONS and daugh
ters who had grown up among Gus
toms that had been inherited from the
defenders of King Charles
At this time. when the family OF Mr.
and Mrs. Fitz Herbert were passing
from youth to manhood and woman
hood. an invalid. BECKER van rromp
went from New York to Williamsburg.
hoping tina: the climate OF Virginia
might restore him to health. There
be met Eugenia Fitz- Herbert, a typ
cal southern girl, with a wealth OF
raven black hair. a complexion like the
mingling of the magnolia and the rose.
and a bewitching figure.
Ii there "a one virtue mons the
southern planters of those days more
prominent than others 1t 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 Ill health. and he was
| drawn to her on account Of an attrac
| tiveness that captivated all who knew
her.
The lite lived by these people was
Of England. They gave house parties
and rode to bounds. Eugenia was u
| fine horsewoman and fond Of bunting.
but. since Blocker 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 MS spir
it was eager for action.
Naturally this attention drew him
closer to Eugenia. indeed. 1t was not
long before be %worshiped her. Her
| father and brothers noticed the grow
ing attachment and frowned upon it,
| their ideal for a husband for this 6ow
or 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 bis talents and at
tainments. 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 n of them she
replied with fire In her eye that for
sunately there was q way by which Il
weak man might show that be was
--.o a. n>% .pnw31r tn a cfrnn0 mai
If 1t became necessary to do so. and
she referred to the code duello. where
the weaker could pull the hair trigger
of q pisto, with the anne facility as
the stronger.
This defect in her lover continued to
trouble Eugenia. She nursed It and
broOded over It. not because she COD
sidered it a defect. but because she
was conscious that her family and her
associates regarded Van Tromp as one
who could not take a position In the
community in which she lived U c as
she would desire. At any rate. she felt
so deeply on the subject that b failed
to conceal it from her lover,
Not only did the New Yorker learn
IL CrOuJ EuS0uld. UOl OuC VI oCs
ers. who was friendly to him. said to
him one day:
Blocker. why don't You challenge u
a fire eater and shoot himi That VII
satisfy everybody. and they'll let you
alone"
Because" was the reply. II don'
rare to kill a man simply to prove thai
I'm not a coward
There came to the peninsula IRON
New Orleans u creole named LIE B0uf
who was received In the social circle
Of the planters and. being q young mar
OF aristocratic manners and having III
aggressive way with him. was very
popular with the women. ae was MOI
a man to brook any obstacle to his de
sires or advancement and was inclined
to treat those whom he considered hia
interiors with n silent contempt NOR
CALLING b ontsp0ken superiority.
What are now states united tn reab
~ 40 we'll as In name were then sep
: arate colonies. In many respects an