Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-03-08
;WRIGHT'S
! CORNER
IN SOCIETY
BY WALTER a. TiCE
Copyright, 1901, by w. A. Tice.

| Sluereu an Ouu OLD cnap. lie lnvarl l.
bly, did those things which were n II
expected and left undone those things
! for which his friends felt they had a
right to look. Even ON the Stock Ex-
change. where he had amassed a fer
tune, he specialized ON lines directly
opposed to current reports.
When he found that Bertram, his
only son. had incurred during his SEN
Tor year ut college an unconscionable
amount OF debt, instead of adopting the
customary parental tactics, he prompt
| ~ paid the bills and doubled the young
fellows allowance.
"Let the boy have his fun" he de-
clared. This is his last year in col
| lege. Why, I sowed a few oats my
self at that age. and look at me now"'
But, when few years later Bertram
married Edith Byrne. favorite on
the light opera stage, family friends
held their breath and waited for the
deluge of fatherly wrath. Surely
Major Wright. who traced his geneal-
overlook this! Arlstocratic blood, fam
fly pride and parental affection all
would rebel against the mesalliance.
But again did the majors proverbial
contrariness assert itself. He received
the bride with open arms.
Not SO the social set In which the
wrights had always moved. Conserv-
alive in the extreme. with old fashion
ed suspicion OF stage life and stage
| people still lurking In their minds. they
declined politely but firmly to receive
young Mrs. Wright. In spite Of the fact
that the majors wife. now gone to her
long rest. had been their leader in her
day. and the old Wright mansion a
favorite rallying ground before Bertram
was born. The new Mrs. Wright had
once played boy roles and worn
Here the speakers voice would be
discreetly lowered. and a feeling Of
| general despair over Bertram's pros
poets would settle upon the gossips.
| As for the major. he seemed to grow
young again In the invigorating society
of his new found daughter. who was
q charming girl and felt a genuine af-
| lection for the dear old chap. who had
so easily forgiven her for winning his
sons love. To make the two men hap
| py became her object in life. Their
wishes were first In the household.
| and the major became her devoted
slave, to the extent that the slightest
lack OF attention on the part Of the
husband was promptly resented and
atoned for by some delicate little
Il - no 20 in,
law.
"Egad. SIR" he would say to his old
cronies at the club. you don't know
my daughter! She's the dearest little
woman In the city. sir"
And the men who met her agreed
with Major Wright cordially and
openly. The women. however. con-
tinued to raise their lorgnettes and
their shoulders when she passed by
and carefully refrained from leaving
cards.
The major. for the time. was so happy
that he did not notice the social ostra-
cism TO which the house of Wright was
being subjected. and the younger men,
bers OF the family were too thoughtful
TO bring the condition to his atten-
ton. When he finally woke up to a
realization Of the situation. he was
quickly transformed into a mimic vol
cano-that is. internally. Outwardly he
disdained to discuss the matter with
any one. least of all with the two peo-
pie essential to his happiness. Instead
| Of talking he wrote out a handsome
check and sent Mr.. and Mrs. Bertram
Wright abroad for the summer He
felt sure some solution of the problem
would present itself during their alb
sence.
But. alas. the day of their homecom-
ing arrived. and the doughty major
realized that he was no nearer storm
ing the social citadel than when the
young couple had sailed for Europe.
In the society columns Of the daily pa
pers he had read that Mrs. Edmund
A. Glider was to give the first impor-
tant social function Of the ensuing sea
son. n dancing party. The Glider ball
room was the pride of the social world
in which the Wrights had moved. The
elegance of the entertainment, the ex-
clusiveness of the invitation list and
the beauty Of the youngest daughter.
who was to make her debut on this
great occasion. all furnished material
for newspaper gossip. And Major
Wright sat In his library lingering an
oblong. creamy envelope directed to
Major Winslow A. Wright" Only
one invitation, and Bertram and Ber-
trans sweet wife would be home that
day!
He tossed the invitation on his desk
and walked down to his Office. a storm
OF wrath seething In his warm. loving
heart. Before he settled down to busi-
ness a messenger appeared and handed
him a note. with in Haste-Deliver
Immediately" written across one
corner.
Major Wright tore 1t open and read II
hurriedly. then again carefully. and
a third time. more deliberately than be-
fore. These words met his eyes:
Ny Dear wright-For Gods sake let me have
some c. N. and r.! I'm short about 500 shares,
and il don't get them I'm a ruined man. l will
pay any price. Make your terms. Yours.
| EDMUND A. GLIDER
Major Wright told the messenger to
wait FIVE minutes in the main office:
then. locking himself in. he thought
hard and fast.