The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-10-16

ne naQ LfTeQ OF MS Towing lie ana
had set up tannery in the newly
formed territory beyond the Ohio, and
"a little town had sprung up round it,
he had named the place ST. Blaise--
for on the 3rd of February he had turn
ed the initial spadeful of earth.
He had donated the land for the
now thriving city's first church. Two
Of the sons entered the priesthood, one
to become the diocese's first Bishop.
Each of his children was named after
the saint on whose feast day he was
born. His eldest son, Basil Kenning-
ton, had furnished the funds for the
erection of the states first Catholic
college, and to which the men of each
succeeding generation of the family
had gone. And all had come out and
remained model exemplars of their re-
ligion.
Hilary Remington was a Catholic.
Nobody could deny it. He. attended
Mass every Sunday, received Com
munion each Easter and Christmas.
He contributed to the support of his
parish and to Catholic charities, too.
But the pastor could not get him to
join the Holy Name society; he never
was present at Benediction; he would
not fast during Lent; newell, you
shall see how much he modified his
fulfillment of this tradition
The second great family tradition
was leadership in all public affairs.
Augustus Remington had been ST.
Blaise's first mayor and a representa-
tive in the states first legislature His
son, Basil, had sat in congress for six
terms. The latter's son, Vincent, had
also been sent to Washington Hill
ary's father had been general, con-
gresham and a U. S. ambassador.
Hilary himself was the acknowledg-
ed leader of his party in the county,
but he had been twice defeated for
congress and had announced that he
would not again be a candidate for
office. He followed the tradition of
leadership; but he did not lead very
far
Another Remington tradition was
that the men always married money.
Old Augustus had eloped with the
heiress to miles of rich Virginia land.
His escendants-those who married
had to man taken brides of wealth.
Hilary's mother had been the daugh-
ter Of a famous Chicago millionaire
No one could say that his own wife
was poor woman. However, she had
brought him much less than million,
which, for the times, was a bit below
the family standard.
1t was also a tradition that a Ken
nington invariably married convert.
Again, this began with the original
member, for. Augustus had converted
his Huguenot sweetheart to the true
Faith before their marriage. Her guar
dian violently Directing, she had run
away to be united to the man and
the religion of her choice. So, like
wise, when any succeeding Kenning-
ton became engaged to a Protestant
girl-there were no Catholics of wealth
or position for them to associate with
that young woman was straightWay
received into the Church.
Belinda Rhea was Protestant when
first she met Hilary Remington. She
joined the Church just before their
marriage. But you'll know in a mo-
ment that this tradition, also, was
modified.
The heir to all these traditions, lit
tie Sixtus Remington, was listening
to a story of ST. Xavier which his
mother was reading to him, when his
father entered the room.
Hilary sat down and watched his
son. The boy, rapt of face, was drink
ing in the sweet, pious legend. Hilary
frowned. He glanced at the library
walls, where in their mahogany frames
his oil-done ancestors looked down or
the room, toward the splendor of which
each had contributed his share.
AS his wife continued the story, hel
voice low and soft, thrilling approving
ly, he coughed and interrupted.
IL beg your pardon, Linda, but
| wish to speak to you. Please call Miss
Herman
When the governess had taken Six
| tus away, Hilary turned on his wife
| putting down the cigarette he had jus
lighted.
Really, my dear, l wish you'd stol
reading that kind of stuff to the boy
You're shaping him straight for the
cloister."
His wife looked at him in amaze
| ment
| 'Other Kenningtons have becom,
monks" was all she could think t,
say.
Never the heir; never the onl.
son!" Belinda recovered from her SUI
4 prise.
/ why, Hilary Remington! In tn
name of all that is sane, what pos
sesses you? Do you mean to say yo1
protest against your son hearing littl
stories about the saints? Tell me
what kind of Catholic are your
"a born one.' he answered quick
4 ly, maliciously.
i There was nothing tame about hi
wife. She blazed at him now.
4 You think | joined the Church jus
so could marry you, don't you
| Well, you're mistaken. / had resolve