Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-04
The Argus Daily Story
The American-By Beatrice Gardiner.
Copyrighted. 1911. by Associates Literary Bureau

The next time she met him socially
at a ball given by the Warehouses OF
Bladesby-she turned her back upon
him. He at once OWNED the cause.
For the first time since his arrival
in London Springer felt that he had
encountered something that his mil
lions were powerless TO smooth away.
Here was a girl striving 10 maintain
for her family-contrary to her own
judGment-the social standing they
had always enjoyed, maintaining for
herself rather the substance than the
shadow Of that position, for whose
acquaintance. unbeknown to her, he
had paid out money from his newly
acquired millions. II was doubtful TO
which of the two the situation was
more painful. the American or the
English girl His having purchased
an entire from the others gave him no
qualms Of conscience or self contempt;
his purchase from Gladys PoindeXter
he regarded a brutal use OF his money
He did not know how to go about
making reparation. He had no right
to enter her house and had not had
any such right from the first, since
had she known the terms on which
the acquaintance had been made she
would not have consented to them.
To write an excuse would be only to
add to the insult he had offered. IT
seemed to him that he could do moth
ing but grin and bear the position he
occupied toward her.
Toppington. who was very adroit.
very tactful, felt it to his interest to
smooth the matter over. The Poin-
dexters were among those whom he
considered his stock in trade, and any
break between him and them would be
10 his injury After giving Gladys
time TO cool he went to her and exon
Grated Springer from all blame. assur-
ing her that he had known nothing OF
those who were to be approached with
view to buying his way into society.
She averred that no man with the in
stincts OF q gentleman would buy his
way into any society.
However, the more she thought or
the matter the more she blamed every
one connected with 1t more than she
blamed the fountainhead. Indeed
she came to feel secret admiration
for this man who had so profound a
contempt for the effete social disttnc-
lions of the old world that he set about
its purchase in the same way he would
buy country place. She had always
heard America and Americans decried.
but the incident had brought ont, as
she had never felt II before. the prac-
teal status Of America in contrast
with the decay Of social grandeur In
Europe. The result of all this was
that she wrote Springer note apollo
giving for cutting him, combining her
self TO the apology, ignoring any blame
or excuse for his own part in the mat
ter of buying his way into society.
This gave him an opportunity which
lie was not slow to improve. with
his usual direct action he invited her
TO farewell dinner he was to give be
fore leaving London, mentioning that.
though n valuable favor" would ap-
pear on every plate, in her case the
gift would be worth not over a few
shillings. Gladys debated for some
time whether to accept or decline the
invitation. Her own parents had been
bought On their account would 1t not
be better to ignore openly a matter
which she would bury down In her
own heart She wrote an acceptance.
At the dinner where the guests open
ed packages containing their favors
they were found TO be very costly.
Gladys Poindexter found upon her
plate a sealed envelope which contain
ed, Judging from its want OF pliabilitv,
cardboard. Her host admOnished her
to refrain from opening It before her
return home, and she needed the ad-
monition. A natural curiosity induced
her as soon as she had retired TO her
room to open her favor. She found
only a photograph Of the host OF the
evening.
There seemed to he no special npd-
tude TO the gift. The girl was sur
prised. for she had expected that
Springer would by it make some deli
cate reparatiOn for having paid money
for his acquaintance. His photograph
meant nothing. Indeed, since cordial
ty had not been re established between
them. there was a positive indelicacy
in the gift.
Then suddenly an idea struck the re-
cipient that brought n color 10 her
cheek. Could he mean by what he had
given her TO imply that it was himself
that was offered?
1t was late that night before she
slept, and n long day followed, for shr
surmised that IL she had interpreted
his favor Alright he would be with her
before another day had passed to con
firm her view. II was O'Clock In the
evening when n turnkey threw open
the dra wing room door and announced
In a loud voice:
"Mr. Springer"
Mrs George Springer nee PoindeX-
ter lives with her husband in America
most Of the time Neither Of them
"a res for society. and all attempts Ia
zeep them In touch with the British
hereditary aristOcracy or the American
circles have proved failures.
They live much by themselves.
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