Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-18
The Argus Daily Short Story
A Social Triumph.-By r. A. Mitchell.
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary Presa


I Dora appeared in the ballroom Ida
was besieged by them for introduc-
ton TO that pretty little country girl"
Dora's card was soon filed with names,
and as she sailed over the floor her
Madonna-like face. the simple manner
in which her hair was done, the IN
studied arrangement of her costume.
so unlike the elaborate toilets OF the
others. attracted every eye.
Two young men, both frequent Wis
itors at the Rowlands'. George Her
bert and Edward Dickinson, secured
the pick of Dora's dances early in the
evening when her card was a blank.
Herbert was a young man with his
way TO make in the world Dickinson
was prominent in society and a cotillion
leader. Dora was naturally graceful,
and she and Dickinson were much
observed when dancing together. Ida
Rowland had designs on Dickinson and
noticed his attentions to her cousin
with i'll concealed rancor. When the
ball was over the unique feature
among the ladies had been Theodore
Clemence.
The next morning Mrs Rowland sat
down with her niece to do some coach
ing.
Dora she said, IT owe it to your
father and mother and to you to warn
you against some of the snares of So
cial life. Many of the young men have
nothing better TO do than win hearts
merely TO throw them away. There's
Ned Dickinson. He has no occasion
to work, having $4,000 year income.
he would like nothing better than to
amuse himself with a poor girl from
the country Ike you"
Oh, desa- - GOnT mean II
auntie! How careful 1 must be-!
George Herbert is a different stripe
entirely. He is occupied with making
his way in the world and has no time
for flirting. But he would be very
foolish to marry poor girl. His FAM
lily have always been in society, and
70 keep his position he should marry a
fortune"
"A what7"
"a fortune-half q million at least"
How could a man marry a fortune?
Our men in the country marry girls"
You innocent creature! mean
that the girl George marries should
have a fortune"
OH exclaimed Dora in that soft
chfd's voice of hers and with a mild
expression of wonder in her eyes.
I'm glad you told me about this.
auntie. Not that 1 expect to marry
either Of these young men would
only marry some one l fell In love
with But it's well to know how you
do these things in the city"
There are social successes that no
one can account for-young girls with
out fortune, no great beauty, no blue
blood in their veins. who have achiev-
ed prominence in a social world into
which some Of their wealthy rivals
have sought admittance In vain. The
only advantage Theodore possessed
that could be so considered was her
introduction. Then suddenly every
one was talking about that girl who
had appeared at the bachelor ball in a
costume so simple that only an srtis-
tic genius could have designed it. One
can conceive of even so trifing a mat
ter starting a career in the social
world, but it could not possibly main
tain such a career.
Yet Immediately invitations began
to pour in on Theodore, some Of which
we're not accorded her aunt and cou-
sin. They would have sent her home
from sheer jealousy had it not been
that to have this social light as their
guest was decided advantage TO
them. They were willing to put up
with an occasional slight since on the
whole they were gamers.
Edward Dickinson fell violently in
love with Theodore. confessing his pas
sion for her, at the same time lament
ing that he could not ask her to be his
wife-she having no dowry-because
without a considerable accession to
his fortune he would be. unable as a