Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-06-23
THE GOLDEN
KEY
By ELSIE 8. MATTESON

Tom Brinkwater began life as u
foundryman and became a multimil-
lionaire. While making his money be
married a woman with social aspira-
tons. Mrs, Brinkwater's desires in
this respect were gratified in the place
where she lived. a western city, but
no sooner had she conquered in that
field than she grew ambitious for a
larger and more important one.
But her husband did not become a
mutlimillionaire till the two had been
married long enough to have a daugh-
ter seventeen years old. To introduce
this daughter. Rosamond. into the big
gest. richest and at the same time the
most difficult social swim In the west
ern world then became Mrs. Brink
waters ambition. AS for Rosamond.
she was very well satisfied with the
friends she had and did not care to
enter new field. She was much be-
loved by those who knew her intimate
ly and, though no one knew it but her
self. was very much predisposed to q
certain young man, Macdonald Sher-
man. young lawyer. as a life part
ner. Not even Mr.. Sherman was aware
that a heart was ready for him to
gather. and even If he had been the rap
idly growing fortune Of Mr. Brinkwater
would have made the young man
backward in gathering it.
There were three grades of refine
ment in the Brinkwater family. Tom
was presentable among well bred per-
sons, and that was all that can be said
of him. Mrs. Brinkwater had acquired
a good deal of the savoir faire of So
ciety woman. Rosamond was q lovely
girl In her own home and among her
intimate friends. but there was an un-
derly1ng coldness about fashionable So
ciety that repelled her.
The finding that the doors of the
elect of New York society were closed
against her only stimulated Mrs. Brink
waters ambition to effect an entrance.
and she began the study of the situa-
ton. Unlimited means were at her dis
posal, but there were hundreds of
wealthy families knocking at the so
c1al doors who were not admitted.
Mrs. Brinkwater hunted the dog mar
ket for the highest bred poodle and
bought one that took first prize in
dog show. In this way she got some
free advertising in the newspapers.
Then a span Of horses she bought at
tracted similar attention in the animal
horse show. By these two coups the
lady's name was becoming somewhat
known, but she knew that If she re-
laxed her efforts it would soon be lost
again. So she Joined the suffragettes
and gave largely to the cause
This last move was probably the
most effective of all Mrs. Brinkwater's
moves, since it brought her in touch
with a number of New York's social
leaders. But this did not mean a social
acquaintance. The goal was not yet
even in sight The aspirant had not
yet been invited to the house of a sin
gle family prominent socially.
One day while discussing suffragette
business with lady who seemed in
clined to be friendly Mrs. Brinkwater
told her what she had done to get into
society and asked what more she could
do. Then and there for the first time
the hunter for the portal by which she
might enter had the secret revealed to
her. 1t was the touch of gold, but the
gold must be expended in the right
way. The informant knew a family
who had been born in the swim. Their
fortunes had failed.
The same evening when Mrs. Brink
water told her husband that she had
found the key to New York society and
that 1t was money he replied, "Ill
draw you a check for hundred thou
sand as soon as you want it."
mot so fast. The way it is done is
more important than the money. You
are a director In several corporations.
Doubtless some one of thea needs an
officer for year at salary of $780,
O00."
Not long after this Mr.. Won G. re-
ceived the appointment. He was CIV
en- rosewood desk at the office of
the Brinkwater Manufacturing compa-
ny, and his salary was paid in ad-
vance. Occasionally some duty was
assigned him, but he was not required
to perform it unless he chose to do so.
The Brinkwaters were invited to
dinner at the Won G.'s and at the
houses of several other families con-
nected with them, all in the swim.
These doors having been opened. 9TH
ers followed suit. Within half a year
after the turning of the golden key the
aspirant, her husband and her daugh-
ter found themselves members Of the
charmed circle.
But Tom Brinkwater spoiled this so.
cial achievement. One of his former
business associates, who had also
made his millions, came from the west
with aspira lions similar to those of
Mrs. Brinkwater. Tom was asked
how he did it and let the cat out of
the bag. AS soon as 1t was out it ran
meowing through the gilded parlors.
The Brinkwaters were dropped.
Mrs. Brinkwater was furious. Tom
was crushed with remorse at what he
had done. Only one of the family was
not disappointed Rosamond Brink
water found the cocktail drinking md