Democratic messenger., 1911-11-18

should nave provided some means OF
conccaliug ToppngtOn's check. but
had failed 10 do so. Gladys demand
cd 10 know what the check was for.
There was 'amlly jar. AZ the end OF
which Lady Poindcxter confessed
that the money had come Indirectly
from the American
Had Gladys been Indifferent TO
Springer the discovery would have
had been. TO say the least, much
pleased with him the Incident plunged
her into the depths Of modification.
Filial consideration prevented her
venting her feelings upon her poor old
parents. Toppington was beneath her
contempt. Springer was the only one
fit TO be made to feel her Indignation.
The next time she met him socially
at ball given by the Marchioness 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 powcrless TO smooth away.
Here was 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 ont money from his newly
acquired millions. II was doubtful 10
which OF the two the situation was
more painful. the American or the
English girl. Ills having purchased
an entire from the others gave him no
qualms of conscience or self contempt
his purchase from Gladys Poindexter
he regarded n brutal use OF his money
He did not know how to go about
making reparation. lie 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 10 the insult he had offered. 1t
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 II TO his interest TO
smooth the matter over. The Poln-
dexters were among those whom he
considered his stock in trade. and any
break between him and them would be
to his injury After giving Gladys
time to cool he went 10 her and exon
Grated Springer from all blame. assur-
ing her that he had known nothing OF
those who were to be approached with
a view to buying his way into society
She averred that no man with the In
stincts OF gentleman would buy his
way Into any society.
However. the more she thought OF
the matter the more she blamed every
one connected with II more than she
blamed the fountainhead Indeed
she came to feel secret admiration
for this man who had so profound Il
contempt for the effete social distinc
tions 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 out. as
she had never felt Il before. the prac-
tical status Of America In contrast
with the decay of social grandeur In
| Europe. the result of all this was
that she wrote Springer Il note apollo.
gizing for cutting him. combining her.
self 20 the apology. ignoring any blame
or excuse for bis own part In the mat
ter of buying his way into society
This gave him an opportunity which
he 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 II valuable favor" would ap
pear on every plate. In her case the
gift would be worth not over few
shillings Gladys debated for some
time whether 10 accept or decline the
invitation. Her own parents hnd been
bought. On their account would II not
he better tu ignore openly 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 sealed envelope which contain
ed. judging from its want OF pliability.
cardboard. Her host admonished her
TO refrain from opening 1t before her
return home. ana she needed the al
monition. \ 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 10 be no special apti
tude to the gift. The girl WAS sur
prised. for she had expected that
Springer would by II make some deli
cate reparaton for having paid money
for his acquaintance His photograph
meant nothing. Indeed. since cordial
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