The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-02-24
OUT Of THE NIGHT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE THREE

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It's very narrow-mlndel ANA dis
gusting," said Miles Indignantly.
1T may be- But you ana ! can
alter the whole constitution of 50
ciety as it exists. The present idea
among country folks 'n England j
to have acquaintances as like them
selves as can be managed. Perhaps
in few years time l. will only
be thought interesting to know those
who differ from you. who are as
unlike as possible. Il yoI want tc
tilt against social barriers, do SC
by all means, but l warn you that
if you do you must give your life
to it. And somehow I do think Mrs
Trent is bad example to begin
with, because to own the truth, she
seems to me personally objection
able, and would serve to point the
moral-to emphasize the need for eX-
clusiveness."
But Mrs. Bardsley-picture it,
EXclusiveness. The eXclusiveness of
people like the Bunburys-people
without an idea, without beauty or
brains or wit. or anything else to
recommend them, so rar as one can
see"
Mrs. Rardsley's eyes twinkled.
They have the one great essential,
she said; you know what to eX-
pect of them. They will not sur
prise you. You know their code, and
they can be depended upon to act
up to it. That is no bad thing in So
cial dealings. Have you not some.
thing a little like il in the world
OF sport? Is there not an institu-
tion called the Jockey Club, which
determines the basis of things? And
in cricket, too? Have l not heard
you or Jem say, of something un-
worthy, That's not cricket? Well,
the Bunbury's subscribe to all the
articles of our big Club. 1t is some
thing, you know. | confess that, to
my thinking, it is something"
But if one attains to it only by
losing ones individuality ones
flavor stammered Miles, his limit
ed vocabulary at fault; and burst
out laughing at the word that he
had used.
Vernon was interested. She had
not known that Miles was ready to
champion the unusual.
Mrs. Bardsley looked more grave.
MY friend" said she to the young
man, you came to ask my advice
don't suppose for a moment that
you came to take it. But however
that may be, l must throw in a
warning. If you force Mrs. Trent up
on this neighborhood, you may know
yourself to be contending on behalf
of a broad principle; but everybody
else will simply think that you ad-
mire Mrs. Trent. Be prepared for
that. If you want to make a broad
er basis, to take in people whom we
stupid old narrow fogies are wont
to leave out, begin with some fam
lily who, from every point of view but
that of birth and position, are beyond
criticism. If you do that, | promise
to help you as far as may be-"
But you know" urged Miles, still
hot upon his point, obeying the
motion with which Mrs. Bardsley
led him to stroll with her down the
path. leaving the girls out of ear
shot, 'but you know it must be so
rotten for her-I feel sure she ought
to belong to us-to be married to a
coarse old ruffian like Dan Trent, and
find everybody looking down their
noses at her"
But, Miles, are we to suppose
that she did not know what he was
until the adverse opinion of the coun
ty revealed it? Think of him, He
does not veil his coarseness under
any veneer of polish, does he? Why
did she marry him If she is really
a refined woman?'
Il suppose" said -;fles, that wo
men are sometimes driven to des
perate shifts. She probably had nc
money, and didn't feel suited to be a
governess."
We'll, if so, she made the bes,
bargain she could, and must accept
it, drawbacks and all But you know