Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-02
DAILY SHORT STORY
Mr.. M'Leod.
LOriginal.l

case VI SOHle StuDDOfu iuSIueT. uHlii
they have broken down the barrier
and secured an entrance into the gold
en- circle. And now comes a young
man whom nobody knows and nobody
Vouches for and walks right in.
Donald Mcleod, with Scotch ante
cedents and Canadian connections, APP
peared one morning at Newport, was
driven to a hotel and the same even
ing was seen at the soiree of Mrs. Van
Blinkheisen, in whose veins flows the
bluest blood of the old New York
Dutchmen and in whose Golfers are
deeds TO acre upon acre of Manhattan
Island real estate. No one dared ques-
ton her right to introduce him. All
treated him with scrupulous politeness.
but no one slapped him on the back
and said, ''Old man, command me for
any invitation you want" Mrs. Van
Blinkheisen. led him to several of the
young ladies whom it would seem de-
sirable for him to know, but the mo-
ment her back was turned they pro
ceeded to freeze him from their pres
ence.
1t so happened that Miss Adele Main
waring, yOUag lady whose family
had been well and favorably known in
New York many generations and WHO
for this reason was somewhat fond of
snubbing the wealthiest of the social
leaders, noticed the Sights put upon
the Scotch-Canadian and, yielding to
natural antagonism for the descend
ants of those whose ancestors used to
sell her ancestors garden truck, took
him up and danced with him three
times, holding her head very high the
while, as much as to say, Whose
| wishes to knock chip off my Shout
der let her do So" When the evening
was over and the young man asked
permission to call upon her, she gave
her consent. though she had no espe-
cial desire to receive him. The truth
is that an evening entertainment is
not place to judge of a mans intel
lectual parts, and Miss Mainwaring
had as many friends as she wanted.
When, however, she came to pass an
afternoon in Mr.. McLeod's company
in one of her own little parlors, she
was not long in discovering that he
knew more on any one subject than
she knew on all put together. This
was somewhat surprising to her, for
she was considered, and justly so. a
very intellectual girl. She found him
rather reticent and much more prone
to listen to her than to talk himself.
But there was something in the quiet
way he sat and permitted her to pour
things into his ear that pleased her.
Though Mr.. McLeod's stay at New
port was brief. it was productive of a
great deal of trouble. Some of the
girls who had sighted him took Miss
Mainwaring's acceptance of his atten-
lions as a personal affront to them.
This led to social skirmishing which
soon DlaZed into open war. Mrs. Van
Blnkheisen was much blamed for hav-
ing introduced the fellow" but on
account both of her blue blood and
her vast wealth she was unassailable.
Then society was suddenly further
startled by a report that Miss Main
waring was about to throw herself
away on that Kanuck who,showed no
signs of even being able to wear good
Clothes"
Excellent MATCH exclaimed all the
girls who had quarreled with her.
shell disappear from society and in
time sink to where she .belongs-a ten
ement house,
1t was true that Miss Mainwaring
had given the stranger her heart, but
she hesitated to bestow her hand on
one who did not seem inclined to dis
close his identity. She was something
of a stickler for blood and, being with
out any income in her own right, felt
it necessary that if she married her
husband should be able to support her
in fair style. Mcleod told her that he
could at least give her home and that
he fancied his ancestors were quite as
good as hers. Finally he gained such
an influence over her that she was
ready to accept him as soon as he
should make known his antecedents,
his family and his financial condition.
He seemed in no hurry to satisfy her,
and against her better judgment she
surrendered Internationally.
One afternoon Mr.. Mcleod was sit
ting in the casino. people passing and
repassing. some giving him a slight
nod, others not even a recognition.
Several "bloods" were standing in
group with their backs to him Gnten-
tionaIly). when they heard a CHEEKY
voice behind them say:
Hello, TootsI You here? / thought
you were dancing another dance on
the governor general"
The party turned and saw LORD
Buckthorne, a recent arrival from Lon
don.
Good morning. gentlemen" said
Buckthorne. You know my friend,
Melrose-the Marquis of Melrose? He's
tho RIGHT hand man of the governor
general of Canada
The secret was out. Melrose to es-
cape social notoriety had confided his
identity TO Mrs. Van Blinkheisen alone
and incidentally had won the hearl
and hand of Miss Mainwaring. who
first heard the news of her lovers po-
sition from his friend and after her en-
gagement.
Lady MeIrose occasionally visits New
port and doesn't fail to snub the snub-