New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-02
XVII.


r,a;re rapidly found people gathering about her.
sh. hogan to have little list of her own The
Ives of the two gentlemen who had dined with
h.rself and husband in Goldwin's company, each
,.tsd herself and husband to dine at their own
souss. The dinners were both of sumptuous quality.
AID attended by numerous other guests. Claire
,oaas deep impression at both places. Her toll
ises were rich and Of unique taste; she was by far
tbs most beautiful woman at either assemblage.
Thu sudden financial glory of Holliser whose actual
wealth was tripled If not Quadrupled by rumor,
east about her exceptional grace beauty and wit an
added halo of distinction. She was the kind OF
woman whom women like. In not few OF her
own sex she quickly reused an enthusiastic parti-
sanship.
"You are bound to lead, or nothing" Mrs. Diggs
xon said to her. 81 see this very clearly. CLAIRE
though for that matter, / have seen it all along"
al mean to lead, or nothing" answered Claire.
nth her superb candor. THUS far have not found
udlhicult."
Mrs. Diggs put up her thin fore6nger.
"Tut, tut" she demonstrated. "Dont be too
confident. Ambition may overleap itself. Re.
member that you still on the Threshold"
"rve crossed it, said Claire. laughing. "Pye
rot into the drawIug-roOm."
"No you haven't my dear. You have vet
achieved nothing secure, absolute. decisive. Now,
I'm not q bit of q sDob, myself, an you know. But
understand how to like one; can measure
the mettle of the foe you've got to fight with Let
ma talk plainly together, we always do. None OF
the very heavy swells have as yet admitted you.
There's NO use of denying this You're being
ereat deal talked about. You've broken bread
Already. and you've received invitations to break
more bread, with some very nice. exclusive women.
But they are of the first rank they're not OF the
great proud, select clique. True, Cornelia has
called on you, and Sylvia Lee has called. You've
returned their visits and have seen neither; neither
was at home. But then neither is at home except
on her visiting day, and that Is customary written
with much legibility on both their cards Bnt on
both the cards which you received no day at all iras
wuitfeR. I've never mentioned this before. have IL
Well, it never occurred to me until last night.
was nervous, and couldn't sleep; that dear Man.
haitian was out at the club, smoking those horrid
cigars which flush bis face 50 and hurt his poor,
Dear brain Pm sure. Perhaps 1t was that winch
kept me awake and made my mind wander toward
YOU and reflect upon this peculiarly interesting
utage of your career. The little circumstance l
have mentioned may mean nothing, but Fm in
tlned to think otherwise; everything, no matter how
trivial, about Cornelia, is sure to mean something.
But however this NAV be, affairs have now reached
apeculiar pass with you. You must make coup.
ny dear--a grand COUP"
milling. 81 haven't doubt And now you await
ny sanction of
Ms Digs creased her pale forehead. IN a re1ec-
Stve irown. mo. not precisely that, my dear.
haven't yet quite decided what it IS TO be. But
have almost decided Suppose that you do not make
1t at all-that is not in your own person. Suppose
that make 1t for you"
Your inquired Claire.
"Yes Suppose that 1 send out cards for hugo
reception, and place your card within the same
envelope. Then you would receive at my side. don't
Jon know and everybody who came must hence
forth be on your list as well as on mime would
launch you boldly forth. in other words would
s sssa.l ysu under my wing would give you my
marked intimacy now existed between Claire
ana Goodwin He would ma, often orop
afternoon; Hohster was not by any
means at home every evening, when he and Clare
have good many solitary engagements. Stag
dinners claimed him there would be nocturnal
oftos morrow's chances. Then. too. he had been
made q member of the Metropolitan CLUB, an IN
slitution oddly hard and IN way oddly easy 10
enter; 1t was the one great reigning club OF tne
continent; none other precisely resembed 1T; the
Dclal leaders who did not belong to ~ were
lev, and 10 cross its doorstep at Will
was the unfulflled dream Of many a social strug-
sler.
Claire cordially Liked Goodwin. If he had been
Importance so knit in with his personality. lie
sxnaled such an atmosphere OF peeuniary ana pa
selan celebrity, that one could I'll lhlak OF MN Us
ssEsf being or ever having been obscure. She was
seclay frank with him regarding her ambitious
aims He would throw back his hand
! lsr ingenious con6dences. He would tell
i uo ss sns vet the be- %Os wa. sa@9ehO%
.oIced to accept her quite the opposite of one
All. yes, in; ensely opposite" he would add with a
ngttsred pull at his silken moustache that she
et TO be studied in Its emotional snggestiveness,
With large sigh that shs suspected OF beng less
Muaied, and with look in his charming hazel eyes
mIs1 would nearly always make her avert eer own;
ms homage mad become a very substantial fact ana
sneknew just how much " IL the popular standard
gwifsly discretion would permit her TO receive,
ust how mnch OF 1t would be her advantage and
r,ceyed that she bad drawn this Judicious iine OF
icuistlon. Now and thea be made littie semi.
gcose attempts to overlap 1t, but al tne WORST a
cord could curb him where glance failed. que
sand him. all in all. sataiory but never vicious
Alter h.s 81 sSs rein always era ss @ recorded
ins tod HIM of the latters proposed coup. ne
:Voxed at her sharply for moment aud then made
Good AsavsnsIS he exclaimed. THAT woman
A'Sviss youl Ii would be complete rum"
apon soa psgs my TREND and as such must I'm nSs 81
~ presence reprimandsd Claire. stoutly.
Mespectf Why, Of course respect her. Not phys.
S5.sgs But ali other ways l. consider her
sss sh'.9l. Shes got q big. warm heart N that
Rse,,U oouy OF hers She's as liberal AS the ar.
49, sne isn't good form-she isn't swell, and no
Ssss.n,y power could make her 80. OF course she
~. n u thiak she has really lost caste. She may
~ yen that she does but privately she has an i'm
fs belief In her ability to play the fine lady at
, fs, h1e9sts notice. don't know any woman more
ltsX oisapproved Of by her own original set. Shall
you what this idea of hers would result In II
Ssassusaily carried outf distinct inquiry to
s. Ss, melt She has crowd Of queer friends whom
couldn't slight for the world; she's TOO con.
5k~s asy good hearted She'd invite them all, and
Wy would I'll come. Her notable relationship
4 rsssAensacks. and Heaven knows who else-woud
s~s and perhaps shudder whoa they got the