The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-06-05
TWO LADIES AND
A BRACELET
Experience of a Missouri Man
In London Society.


| twenty years Of age lost his father
and gained thereby farm. Not f1nd-
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 Oh
company kindly relieved him for q
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
noblemen who gave him introductions
! for consideration, 1t was not long be-
fore he found himself a 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 Ia
dies; the bellies Of London usually are
encountered with husbands-was Lady
Arabella Richmond. Twenty years be-
fore her mother had been 80 favorably
noticed by the king as to be unfavorably
noticed by some Of the puritanical
families of England. Lady Arabella
had inherited a 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 a gem, and at the time
Zeke jerks appeared on the London
social stage she had reached a 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 that unique American, Mr.. jerks"
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-
Hghtful manners and naturally amia-
BILE disposition were slowly making her
a favorite. Notwithstanding these adj
vantages Miss Lee could not have H.
vailed the highborn 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 I'M
conscious that certain prophets were
whispering that she would soon be at
the head Of the reigning bellies.
It 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 &C.
acknowledgement to a lady Of high social
standing who had graciously accepted
his attentions, he asked Lady Rich
mdnd to name gift that would ~
acceptable. It being obvious that Lady
Richmond herself was to be the recipi-
ent, she eagerly consented. She was,
however, trife surprised at Mr.. jerks
giving her limit Of $1,000. At the
end Of weeks inspection the lady
gave q jeweler an order to send 4
bracelet set with a single diamond to
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 1t would
come in time for a 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 60 to the
palace without IL What was her
chagrin to see It on the wrist Of Miss
Leel Lady Richmond. after saluting
the king and queen. retired and never
again appeared as the reigning beauty.
The next day she read In a society pa
per the announcement Of the engage
ment of the two Americans, Mr.. Exc
kiei jerks and Miss Lillian Lea
Zeke jerks married Miss Lee In the |
early springtime and instead Of seek
ing further social preferment at the
British capital went or 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 f1,O0O In bracelet which |
she had never received. It came out |
NH Nx~a~~