Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-06-13
TWO LADIES AND
A BRACELET
Experience of a Missouri Man
In London Society.

| Zeke jerks, a native of Missouri, 1t
| twenty years of age lost his father
and gained thereby farm. Not find
Ing the state big enough for him, he
sold his farm and went to Texas.
where he invested the proceeds in oil
/ territory. of which the Octopus Oil
company kindly relieved him for
consideration. Zeke took the consid-
Grafton to New York, where he became
great stock and cotton Spectator
and by the time he was thirty was
worth so many millions that he didn't
| know what to do with them.
Meanwhile Zeke. having determined
| to see something besides his own coun-
try. went to London. where he kept
house in fine style. Having made the
acquaintance of several impecunious
noblcmen who gave him introductions
| for consideration. it was not long be-
fore he found himself IL member of the
celebrated smart set headed by the
king of England. Certain professional
beauties of the British capital. with
out stopping to consider the origin of
his accumulations. proceeded to lay
plans to transfer as much of them as
possible to themselves.
Among the reigning bellies of that
season-married bellies, not young la
dies the bellies of London usually are
encountered with husbands-was Lady
Arabella Richmond. Twenty years be-
fore her mother had been so favorably
noticed by the king as to be unfavorably
noticed by some Of the puritanical
families of England. Lady Arabella
had inherited Il number of splendid
jewels, and when she wished to crush
a rising rival would put them all on at
some aristocratic function.
But unfortunately, the beauty's eX-
penditures being greater than her in
come. she was obliged now and again
to sacrifice gem. and at the time
Zeke jerks appeared on the London
social stage she had reached point
where her stock of jewels needed re-
plenishing Indeed. without certain
additions her supremacy was in dan
ger. She was among the first to take
up chat unique American, Mr.. Jenks,"
who by this time was the talk of the
town. Furthermore. a rival had ap-
peared from the American colony in
the person of Miss Lillian Lee, ma
tive of Maryland. whose beauty. de-
ightful manners and naturally amia-
bic disposition were slowly making her
favorite Notwithstanding these ad-
vantages Miss Lee could not have RI
vailed the hghborn Lady Richmond
had not the latter reached an age
where even cosmetics failed to pre-
serve her beauty. The charm Of the
whole matter was that Miss Lee did
not seek to rival any one and was un-
conscious that certain prophets were
whispering that she would soon be at
the head of the reigning bellies.
1t was at this time that Lady Ara
bella was winding her tentacles about
Zeke jerks. He had been growing
more and more devoted and gave ev.
cry evidence that he was not only en-
raptured with the position he occupied
before the London social world, but
with Lady Richmond herself. One day
he called upon her at the hour for aft
ernoon tea to ask favor.
Desiring. he said, to make some ac-
acknowledgement to a lady of high social
standing who had graciously accepted
his attentions. he asked Lady Rich
mond to name gift that would be
acceptable. 1t being obvious that Lady
Richmond herself was to be the recipi-
ent, she eagerly consented. She was,
however trifle surprised at Mr.. jerks
giving her a limit of $4,000. At the
end Of a weeks inspection the lady
gave a jeweler an order to send a
bracelet set with single diamond to
H., the American with the bill which
amounted to the limit he had given
her Then she waited to receive the
gift from Mr. jerks, hoping it would
come in time for Il function to take
place at buckingham palace, where
she expected to meet the "chit from
America" as she called Miss Lee. and
to blind her with the sparkle of the
new gem.
But the gift came not, and the queen
of the bellies was obliged to go to the
palace without it. What was her
chagrin to see it on the wrist of Miss
Lee! Lady Richmond. after saluting
the king and queen, retired and never
again appeared us the reigning beauty.
The next day she read in a society pa
per the announcement of the engage
ment of the two Americans, Mr.. Eze-
kiei jerks and Miss Lillian Lee.
Zeke jerks married Miss Lee in the
early springtime and instead of seek
ing further social preferment at the
British capital went off to Egypt with
out even saying goodby to number
Of persons to whom the husband at
least owed his elevation. But, having
paid well for what he had received. he
did not consider any farewell neces-
sary.
Before the next London season came
on Lord and Lady Richmond appeared
in the divorce courts. One of the
charges against the wife was that she
had sunk $1,000 in q bracelet which
she had never received. 1t came out
that when Zeke jerks had asked her
to select gift. supposing it was for
her. being limited to $1,000 and covet-
ing bracelet worth $4,000, she had
directed the jeweler to send 1t to Mr..
jerks with bill for $4,000, charging
her with the remaining 1900. The
Londoners found this item more deli
cious than certain scandalous features
connected with the trial.
Meanwhile Mr.. and Mrs. jerks were
on the ocean returning to America.
Automobile Rurs.