The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-06-20
A Valuable Souvenir.

IOrginail
Winslow Cocker came Of a wealthy
family: but fortunately for him the
Nealth had all disappeared before 1t
had an opportunity to interfere with
his abilities 70 make his way in the
world. He went to Alaska on the news
or the gold discoveries there and BY
lucky stroke made an immense fortune
before he was twenty-eight. Then,
having regained the family prosperity.
he laid plans for the social status. His
family several generations before had
been London swells, 80 he went to
London to look for social prefermont
He said nothing there about his
wealth, but announced that he was
Cocker, with a view Of trying, If the
name would insure him, an entree to
society. Some remembered the posi-
tion held by his ancestors, but no one
seemed to take him up on account OF
ii. Then he mentioned his wealth,
but even that--at least the mention Of
it-made no impression On society.
Finally he fell in with Sir Thomas
Spottiswoode, an impecunious baronet.
who told him that to get into society
he must spend money and spend 1t in
way to accomplish the object he de-
sired. Sir Thomns offered to direct
his expenditures for d consideration.
A bargain was struck BY which Sir
Thomas was to receive f1,000 for him
self and an unlimited amount for So
ciety.
The beginning was dinner given by
Coker, the invitations to which were
given by the baronet. He knew those
In society who needed money and paid
literally for acceptances from the right
people. Among those invited were
Mrs. MulholIand and her two daugh-
ters, Lillian and Grace, aged respec-
lively twenty-four and twenty. Coker
was by no means an unattractiYe man,
and Grace Mulholland took fancy to
him. But In sending checks Sir Thorn
as made mistake. He sent a separate
check to the mother and each of the
daughters. Grace Mulholland had been
unaware up to that time how her moth
err maintained her social position In the
face Of poverty and was indignant.
She sent her check right back, and to
Mr.. Coker himself
Coker said nothing about the matter
to his social manager. He felt sure
that in the main the baronet was man
aging well, and this turned out to be
the case. He steered Coker by grad
ual zigzag approaches, as military men
reduce O fertilization, into the best set
in London. Coker after a few months
got beyond the people he had invited
to his first dinner, though in rare In
stances he met the Mulhollands. After
a time be broke through the GOODNESS
with which Miss Grace treated him,
having excused himself for his action
toward her on the ground that he had
desired to enter London society and
had placed the management Of his
entree into the hands Of another. In
time her prejudice was worn away,
but scarcely before the American rose
TO social position so high that he was
quite beyond the Malhollnnds, and he
never met them.
Cocker spent several years in Lon
don, reaching the topmost round Of the
social ladder; then. at thlrty-four. he
had exhausted whatever pleasure
there had ever been in It for him. lie
resolved TO return to his native land
and lay out for himself career. What
that career was has nothing to do
with this story. Shortly before leay-
ing he was driving by the house where
the Muholands lived and saw a red
flag flying. Upon inquiry be learned
that Mrs. Mulholland's management Of
her affairs had not been q financial
success and the home given the family
for services to the state by the FIRST
Mulholland must 90 by the board.
a few days later Coker sent out In
yitations TO q farewell dinner. It was
o souvenir occasion--that Is, a souvenir
vas to be given to each guest He
gent an invitation to the Mulhollands,
writing one himself for Miss Grace,
begging her to accept If she declined