Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

GOWN the 7 OuTtneNS lawn, ana some
times at these meetings Van displayed a
kind and degree of interest which. to
Bettys mind, could not be aroused by the
mysteries or beauties of Babylon1an
cuneiform.
Nov. the three directing spirits of the
~ colony were Mrs. Lansing. Mrs
Hardee, and Mrs Van Alstyne, and be-
fore the summer passed it was plain even
to casual observer that if Betty Court
ney was more intimate with any of the
Colon1sts thar rS 1T was with those
three women. s.., shared their con-
fidences, and gradually began to share
their responsibilities those many small
but in effect mighty and important, plans
that direct and conduct the affairs OF such
a community Men know nothing OF
such things some women know little
They accept the routine or innovations
of their lives all as matter OF course.
never pausng to think that there must
be planning and directing power behind
this social routine, these innovations
Bettys active, resourceful brain was
on fire with it all. She cautiously telt
each step of her advance, knew what IT
meant, studied the next step. pondered,
submitted to the test of her native wit the
meaning of each social phenomenon. ITS
her conclusions to her next step.
Mrs. Courtney is really a great help
to us" remarked Mrs. Van one day after
a meeting of the four, when Betty had
gone Betty knew when there was
something to be gained by being the first
to depart
Yes assented Mrs. Lansing, and
the best thing about her is that shes an
aristocrat Now, I'm right onto her
curves! She pretends that her rowing life
has worn off the sharp angles OF her CON
ventionalities. You listen to your Aunt
Lansing! That is all her little pose. She's
more of a conservative than any OF the
rest of us
lack was down at the steamer seeing
some people off ;" continued Mrs. Lansing,
referring to her husband, and he saw
Count Serristori, who was suddenly called
home, you remember, by some important
family affairs. lack says the little fellow
was full of praises for the Courtneys, and
confessed that he had been desperately
in love with Genie He told Jack that as
he couldn't win Genie. he would not try
to marry any American girl. Well, what
l started out to tell you was. that the
Count told Jack that the Courtneys IN
Europe were received by all sorts OF swells,
and were greatly admired friends OF his
ldLnel- Nat just SHOWS you eihI DSeeS
Courtne is having her little joke when
she tells us that she and her husband lived
d very bohemian life over there.
So it came to pass that, as the time
drew near for the wedding OF Gene and
George, the Courtneys were not only
established as members of the very best
standing in the exclusive colony life. but
that Betty was one of the acknowledged
leaders of the set.
While Jack fell in very comfortably
with all the social activities of the colony,
he never could quite understand the glow
of ecstasy that lighted up Betty's whole
life because of her triumph. She found,
and rather to her surprise, too, her
keenest svmpathizer in Uncle Hiram.
Betty, dear he said to her one time,
"vour folks, and that means my folks,
held their heads mighty high among the
greatest in the land, way back before the
war of the Revolution, and it does my
old heart good to see one OF my kin right
back into the place in society where she
belongs 1t takes money, know, all this
does, and that IS the reason I'm making
this provision for Virginia myself. You
and Jack will have to look out only for
yourselves and Paul I've seen to it that
Virginia will have just as much as George
Hardee, SO that they can keep right along
in the society you have established for
1,,% ct,o