Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-07

" made up his mind that he would
N9fs9i retire from bSsiness. The instant
49, that he retired from business
Mrs. John r.. Brown made up her mind
that 1t was up TO her to do the rest. And
with characteristic modesty she concluded
that she was past master in the art Of do
ing it. Like Noddy Bofin's wife. her
hobby was Society-with a capital s.
Bellport was a large place. Mrs. John p.
Brown had a contract on her hands. Bell
ports inner set was a genuine inner set,
one that was determined to keep out the
outer set. And Bellport's inner set. though
most exclusive. was strong in numbers.
Mrs. John =. Brown found that societv
Tesembled to some extent, the magic boxes
the large box on the outside inclosinR
the smaller graduated boxes. which re-
quired breaking one by one, until the Jewel
inside was reached. Mrs. John p. Brown
started in to break the outer box. This
was comparatively easy. so were the sec
ono third and fOurth-her bank account
hclped along amazingly with these.
But she was after the jewel i'm the small
est LoX, Now there were two Jewels. in
iact' Enclosed therein. Bellport was a place
no. Wlth one, but with two social leaders.
inc van Rcnssalaers and the Cradlebaughs
the 'rauIebaughs and the Van Renssa-
lacrs-these two families constituted tho
Kennel in the nut. These families vyara
each aristocratic. The Van Renssalaers
were rich and aristocratic mereIv-tbe
CradIebaughs were that and more. thew
were influential. The head of the Cradle
paugh family was president of the First
national bank, president of the local trolley
c~ompahy-the Consolidated-an president
OF the concern that owned the new tele-
phoE' franchise. He was a director in
everything. He was a fine gentleman Of
''o pa school with white side whiskers
ara a very portly presence.
Mrs. Brown had some of .Jobn Pc .,.,
ness lnstincts-she had helped him mako
his money. She understood the 6rst rrina,
pies OF advertising. She kept her ewes omen
and she took quick note of what tho go,
SWEETEST OF the crowd wore and bouyh, 80
ulu-and she followed in their footstons
but she went them just a shade hotter ir..
enough 10 be noticeable. Still. sha wos
nirs' John l.. Brown, and there were umi-
~tations. ""o I'M
strohg point was her turnout-it WAS
She most expensive one in the pIace Sbo
hau the finest pair of horses rigVad ro
IN the finest set of harness and dr., uina
Oehlnd them the finest carriage. This turn-
Sut was always In commission II che
uesired 10 go around the corner She stapnad
INTO the carriage. II 1t was necessary for
ner 10 go down town to the department
~ 10 heT butchers, grocer's, anywhere.
-. 'ONh her carriage. For months she did
moi enter n trolley car-that 10 her waa
the essence OF all that was conmon wa"
But Mrs. John Z. Brown reckopoa mia.
OUT her host. Horses and fnotmen o.,
coachTnen, no matter how much thay go
~Te mere nesh and blood. And thougb bor
nOTses dldnt kick, her coachman and har
iootman dld. She was forced TO do what
everybody does-use her horses and -
carriage just to the extent permitted nv
her servants, and no more. And so she VOC
urlVen to the trolley cars. and found tho,
= tair proportion of the troIley's patrons
belonged to the elite.
On the first Jay tnat she descended FROM
her lofty perch and began once moro 20
pu'rohlze the vulgar street cars. she
stepped maJestically to the corner OF tho
street and hailed the first one that came
Sions, she was not the only one who
""iIou the car One of the society bellies
OF the place did the same thing at the sana
corner Mrs. j. Pendleton Brown knew
THIS young lady. and started in to EXHIBIT
evidence of that fact. But the Young ladv
nNed her glance upon an invisible MONT
some Feet higher than Mrs. John "a hat
. MA1I
ana completely and Enthusiastically ignored
her.
me car approached and stopped. And
"hat was Mrs. J. Pendleton's astonIsb-
meht to note that this same young lady
VINO had refused TO speak TO her-that his
young lady grasped tho conductor Of tbe
car by the hand and whispered In his ear.
Ana what she whispered sounded like;
'Howdy ouGhty-two! Mrs. Brown was
startled out OF her seven senses.
The consolidated had many good IooLi,n
conductors on its line. But none was 80
handsome as Number 1902, upon the Main
street line. He was tall and boyish
looking and he looked at everybody
and everybody looked at him. The girls
dld' anyway, and so did Mrs
Pendleton ~Brown-but her glances vcro
frausht with indignation. The girl who
mad hrst made Overtures TO this conductor
WAS NOT the nnIp ono ~