Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-12-02
The
American
He Entered London Society,
as He Had Made a
Fortune
BY BEATRICE GARDINER
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.


i-i-f-f-t-i-i-i-t-i-s-i.i.i-s-i-l-i-i-i-i
Mother" said Gladys Poindexter.
daughter of Sir John and Lady Poin-
dexter. this effort to keep up is
wearing me out. The estate has so
dwlndled that we should be living on
$500 year and we are spending
f1,OO0"
But. my dear. II we retrench we
shall lose social position that has
been the family right for 800 years"
At that moment Lord Toppingtons
card came up.
Lord Toppington was typical Lon
don swell. AS he entered, seeing
Gladys. he frowned. Her mother saw
his displeasure at her daughters pres
ence and made an excuse to send her
from the room. Lord ToppingtoD seat
ed hims If and said;
Lady Poindexter. l come In the In
terest OF young American who has
recently arrived In London with de-
sire to enter the social circle. He has
applied to me to secure an entrance
for him, and | have consented TO do
whatI can in the matter. He gives a
dinner on Wednesday evening next
under my management. have put
the names of yourself. Sir John and
your daughter on the list of guests.
trust you will accept"
THE Poindexters have never known
any Americans" said my lady, with
reserve.
And would not suggest your doing
so now" replied his lordship, except"
he lowered his voice-"this fellow
Springer is enormously rich
you mean that he will buy shares
In Sir johns
81 have tried him on that, and he
would not bite. He says he prefers to
put out the cash." Sinking to whis'
per: HE has deposited sum to my
credit with my bankers, which l am
to place where l like. have f200 put
down against your name on the list"
Lady Poindexter's expression chang
ed. She looked down upon the carpet
meditatively.
Can you assure me that this will
not be known?"
81 can"
Not for fifty times the amount
would consent to Gladys hearing Of
it. She has g1eat family pride and
would scorD such a transaction"
Lord Toppington took bit of paper
from his pocketbook and, rising, Of
fered his hand to Lady Poindexter.
The paper was in his palm. and when
he left it was in hers. 1t was check
for E200.
George Springer was a very singular
young man. He had a genius for
finance that few men even understand.
When he began his career ten years
before his appearance In London he
startled old financial heads by the APP
parent recklessness of his plunges. and
they predicted brief career for him,
the. end being his burial under an enor
nous debt. Instead he emerged with
millions to his credit. Being still a
bachelor. he concluded to see the
world. not on the outside. but on the
inside. With keen insight into hui
man nature he knew that there are
but few things in the world money will
not buy. He had gone practically to
work to gain an admission to British
society. selecting Toppington, an impe-
cunious nobleman of excellent lineage.
whatever that means, and one Of sthe
best social engineers in London.
: He, advised with Toppington as to
what lady he should reserve for him
self to take into dinner. and Topping
ton told him that Gladys Poindexter
would be as well worth cultivating as
any one. Toppington also explained
that Gladys was ignorant of the fact
that her presence had been purchased
and If she got an inkling of 1t the
Poindexters from that moment must
be counted out from their calculations.
Springer was especially attentive to
this information. He had keen APP
probation of values and values OF diff
ferent kinds Moreover. he appreciat-
ed the difference between moral and
money values. He had no permanent
use for these people whom he had
bought and was interested in meeting
one whom he could not buy. He was n
bright fellow and a good conversa-
tionalist. He devoted his exclusive
attention to Gladys .PoindeXter. re-
framing from being diverted from her
Mt any time by others. There are three
stages of refinement-viz. not enough.
sufficiency and too much. Springer
belonged to the middle of these three
rlasses, He had not become effemi-
nate. Indeed. he was a. fine specimen
Of physical and intellectual vigor not
yet undermined by possession of abb
normal wealth. Such man was like
~ to be agreeable to such girl as
Gladys Poindexter.
The American succeeded in making
vs. quick an introduction into London
fociety as he had into the coterie of
multimillionaires. He was more often
met in the Poindexters' company than
others. and his attentions to Miss
Gladys were noticed. But one day
there came terrible break in this in
timacy. Gladys was relied upon by
her father and mother to guide the
family down the dangerous current
of family finance. and many rock
she avoided by her management. One
day when she was trying TO make the
balance in her check book and pass