Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18
THE GREAT SECRET
Continued from page 10


cess indeed! What does it amount to?"
She paused for moment to take breath.
realized then that the woman whom | had
known was something of fraud puppet
hung out with the rags of European manner,
according to the study and observation OF the
shrewd little woman who pulled the strings. 1t
was Mrs. Van Reinberg of London and Paris
whom had met upon the steamer; it was Mrs
Van Reinberg of New York who was talking
to me now, and she was speaking in her own
Look here, Mr.. Courage!" she said, leaning
toward me with her elbows upon her knees, and
nothing left of that elegant pose which she
had at first assumed. :" l suppose I've got my
full share of the American spirit, and tell you
I'm a bad hand at taking a back seat any
where, or even front one on sufferance.
And yet, wherever go in Europe, that S
what we have to put up with. You think
we are mad on titles over here. We are not;
but we are keen on what title brings over on
your side. Take your Debrett-there are
don't know how many baronets and lords and
marquises and earls, and all the rest of it.
Do you realize that whatever public place l, m
in, or even at a friends dinner party, the
homely, stupid wives of those men have got
to go in before me, and if they don't-why,
know all the time it's matter of courtesy
That is what makes me mad. Don't you dare
to smile at me now. I'm in deadly earnest
In this country, as far as society goes, am in
the lead. You may say it doesn't amount to
HULL, ciu yOu dIC llSllt. DuI ~ HidhOS ~ Gil
the worse when I'm in Europe and see the
sort OF women | have to give place to. Don't
you ST. there, Mr.. Courage, and look at me as
though / was woman with some foolish
grievance to talk about. 1t has got beyond
that, let me tell you'll
81 can assure you, Mrs. Van Reinberg-"
began M ,:. NJ c ;, =, .--,,..s
" | am not the sort of woman to complain at
what | don't try to alter. What is the good of
having husband whose nod is supposed to
shake the money markets of the world, if you
don't make use of him.
l nodded sagely "You are quite right"
said. Money, after all, is the greatest power
of to-day. Money will buy anything"
agreed Po59Psry psn few Mrs. o vaR R eanb9g
people have any idea how to use it to get what
they want. They go over the other side and
hire great houses, and bride your great ladies
to call themselves their friends and bride
your young men with wonderful entertain
ments to come to their houses. They spend,
spend, spend, and think they are getting value
for their money. Idiots The great lady
whom they are proud to entertain one night
is as likely as not to cut them the next. Half
the people who go to their parties 60 out of
curiosity, and half to meet their own friends
not one to see them; not one because it does
them the slightest good to be seen there. They
are there in the midst of it all, and that is all
you can say. Their motto should be, On
Sufferance.' That is what l call going to work
the wrong way"
You have" l suggested, some other
scheme?"
She drew her chair little closer to mine,
and looked around cautiously Il have" she
admitted. That is what we are all here for,
to discuss it and make our final plans"
And Prince Henri" l murmured.
Precisely! He is in it, of course l may as
well tell you that he is dead against my making
conhdant of you but have a sort of fancy
to hear what you might have to say about
it. You see, I'm practical woman, and though