The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-11-04
A Social Skirmish.

from leadership OF winters social
festivities, determmed to rest for che
sunliher season. But bow, was she to
fnd a place of rest? Heir to millions
that had been handed down TO her
through several generations. prominent
not only socially, but as dlrectress In
numberless womens societies. IL was
no easy matter for her to get away
from the incessant calls that were
made upon her. After considering
many plans she selected small sum
mer inn in the mountains. where she
engaged a room for $40 a week and
registered as plain Mrs. Jones
Now. Mrs Jones had heard that in
these summer hotels the guests meet
and intermingle for g season on terms
of temporary equality. to separate at
the end OF August and go to their
homes and accustomed associates. Sew
eral ladies' nodded to her without in.
PRODUCTION. so she nodded, smiled and
often passed a pleasant word with
those she met.
But Mrs. Jones soon found that her
mods and smiles in some cases were not
returned in kind. Before she had
been at the inn a week Il was appar-
ent that the social features of the place
were under the direction Of small
clique managed by certain Mrs. Dole.
In other words. Mrs Dole ran the so.
clal part as the landlady ran the board
and lodging.
Mrs. Fordyce-Jones, who had long
been hunting for n new sensation. had
suddenly found one. Hiding from in.
vitatlons OF the most refined people
grets," she was astounded Mt the dis
covery that she was tabooed by those
who had neither blood. exceptional
breeding nor money. 1t was a greet
shock TO her amour propre. II set her
to thinking. Sue had regarded the
welcomes that were given her by her
peers ms coming from her natural at.
tractiveness. Here were people social
ly her interiors as well as in other
respects who had no use for her.
Mrs Jones determined TO capture
the clique, not by making herself
known. not by frowning upon them.
but by her winning ways. She lay In
wait for some OF their husbands, and
the men became willing captlves But
the same reserve. the same Icy indlf-
ference. pervaded the women As soon
as Mrs. Jones discovered that she was
making no Roadway in this direction
she desisied.
Mrs. Jones tried TO think that she
was enjoying the absurdity OF the sit
uation. but she was not. One might
expect that she would. These people
were nothing 10 her. and they were
making themselves ridiculous. But
the fact remained that at that pnr-
flcular place she was snubbcd. She
had boon told again and again that the
reason of her social prominence was
her personal lovellness. Why did not
that loveliness give her the same ad-
vantage now? 4 tlnge OF color came
over her face as the fact forced itself
upon her that I'm her own circle. she
was surrounded by natterers; that Il
was not herself that society worshlped,
but her power 10 help others onward
and upward.
Nor did Mrs. Jones relish being
denied companionshlp. though she had
come to the inn 60 avoid companion.
ship. The best people there were
made afraid of each other and her
by the clique. and she had nothing In
common with the palmer class TO he
found at summer hotels. She there
fore sat by herself on the piazza pre-.
tending to read a novel. but I'm reality
thinking upon the lesson OF her life.
Was she not when at home playing
the part played by Mrs. Dole? She
was obliged TO admit that she was.
though IN different way. She had q
kindly word and smile for every
one. As to her invitations and those
she accepted. she acted as she had o
good right 10 act-upon her own sweet
VIII She had never known any other
surroundings than these Of wealth md
refinement: therefore she felt assured
she could not possibly be a snob. She
thought much upon reforms she would
like to make on her return. but they
Gid not upon consideration Seem prac
ticable.
One morning near the end OF August,
wheu the denizens Of the hotel. the
elect and The ordinary. were summing
themselves on The piazzn. a carriage
resplendent with yarnish and gold
plate. the door emblazoned with coat
OF arms-thc Fordyce-Joncs arms
driver and footman on the box In ma
room colored livery and white silk
stockings. drove up to the unpreien.
tiOus stone whcreon guests and bag
gage arrived ana departed. Every
woman sat up ana stared No one
was In the carriage so It was probable
that some one was going IN II Who
could II be? Presently Mrs. Jones IN
simple travelling costume came oat
OF the Inn with the landlady 10 whom
she gave a kiss az parting. entered the
carriage and was driven away.
There was CONSERVATION on the part
OF every woman of the clique What
did Il neanY who was Mrs JOncsY ?
Did she own the cqnlpageF What was
such an eqaipage doing M n point so
remote from the cIiyf The lanalady