New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-21
Continued from page 8


golf course in America; you are interested
in numerous charities; you VIII grant an IN
terview to a reporter in the middle o. tfle
night if necessary for fear the poor felloW
will lose his Job; you are arrested lor Spceu-
ing now and then; you dislike newspaper
notoricty,H confess had 10 get my wlnd
before | could go on, "Your husband IS dead !;
your son is an 90, and came out OF Harvard
with all sorts Of honors.' She made WHY
face knew they were athletic honors.
ale is nicknamcd Hap, old Hap Hazard {;
your daughter made her bow TO society this
winter, and you are doing over your town
house in the event Of her approaching mar
rage; you-'
awful TO be 50 important that one gets
into the papers like that" She chuckled and
held up her hand for me TO cease. NOW,
yourself The name is good-COdman.
1--WE really aren't anybody in particular
10 and /" | told her; "for you see we We
come down to making our living. My
mother was Steptoc-
Josephine Steptoc" she interrupted,
making the connection between JOS name
and Steptoe-shc always noticed trilics.
"And your father was Joshua Goldman?
Good gracious. Why | went 10 school WITH
your mother; but haven't thought OF
those names for years. ..
"We've been rather out Of sight for years,
| assured her; "although, TO be exact, we
were never in sight We were never distin-
guishcd for anything except being Just good'
Sturdy stock. Our financial downfall was
not even spectacular. We belong 10 me
Country Club but we've never been in the
Sunday newspapers.
"Thank Heaven YOU have sense Of
humorm She almost winkcd at me through
the lorgncttc. or at least one eye was curl
ouslv twinkle. "You really are exceeding
nv fondest hopes. Now TO business. | will
tell you what | want
WHICH was what she came for and we
w had seemed to waste time in prclinl-
naries; although perhaps they were ncces-
sarv. In the light Of all that happened after
ward I'm glad she was at least sure Of our
ancestors. She folded the lOrgnettc as If the
inspection were all over and that part salts
factory.
AS nv proposition is somewhat unusual
she went on, I'm at a loss Just where to be.
gin or how to put it. I've never had a social
secretary, although the newspapers have
sad have, because until now We ItF q
needed one" She held up hand suddenly.
1T isn't lust what | want. | remember dis
tinctly you said companion; and yet It IS IN
a way. except entirely different.
| wanted to put out my hand and say
"Shake"-I get mixed up that way myself,
but sat still, COMPRISING my lips ilrmly'
or Id have been gazing at her with my
mouth open.
"Aly daughters coming out necessarily
thrust me into a season. all the usual things
that make girl know she's out or in which
ever way you want to look at it; each par
ticular function outshining another, and
outshining anything else anybody can con-
ceive. Now I've got to 60 through a sum
mer Just as brilliant; but I'm going to have
help,-good, intelligent help, some one who
can speak French, bridge, and all those
other things; some one to be my Secretary
Of Frivolous Affairs" She chuckled and
gave my hand a playful tap with the lor-
gnette. Society is like copper cotfcepot
it won't shine unless somebody stands
around with the polish always ready to give
it a rub.
"And you want me 70 stand around with
the poliSh?" | asked eagerly.
YES" she laughed. Society too gets
in a rut. | want a sort Of social stick TO stir
it up