Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-11

i mere were no curious ISIlCS tl Il uttI
paSt-the fine arts were as nothinG-but
everything else was immense. magnit-
cent and moving onward with the pow
er and rapidity of a huge planet
through space.
One day a party OF which Lady
Gladys WAS part alighted from a car
riage at the entrance to a manufactur-
ing establishment covering nearly a
hundred acres with a view to inspect
ing il. They were shown through each
department by its foreman. The dress
of these persons depended upon the
work done in their charge. Some were
in business costume. some in overalls.
In one of them, a foundry. they were
turned over to a young man whose re
fined appearance contrasted with his
grimy overalls. He was very attentive,
explaining all the manufacturing de-
vices so clearly that they were easily
understood. Lady Gladys asked a great
many questions involving explanations
above those ordinarily given. The
young man was much pleased with the
intelligence she evinced in her ques-
tons and was surprised that she had
such a knowledge of mechanics as ad-
mitted of her asking them. The two
parted with a newborn interest in each
other.
Not long after this visit Lady Edger-
ton and her daughter were invited to
dine with a lady who apologized for
one of the guests they were to meet.
a young man who was not known in
society. He has" said the hostess.
some hold on my husband and has
asked for an invitation to meet you and
your daughter. But your acquaintance
need only be for the evening" In re-
peating this to her daughter Lady Ed
gerton also transmitted the intelligence
that the hostess had felt obliged TO in
vite man to meet them for whom she
did not care to vouCh. Lady Gladys
noted the information and said she
would act upon II.
When the dinner came OF and the
guests met in the drawing room Gladys
recognized in one of them. resplendent
in evening dress, the man in overalls
who had shown her through the foun-
dry. She started, but when the young
man. though somewhat embarrassed.
greeted her with a pleasant smile she
recovered herself and returned it. He
! was introduced as Mr.. Morlock and
was assigned to take the scion of Brit
fish aristocracy to dinner. Seated side
/ by side. the two at once fell into ami
| mated conversation.
( where did you learn so much about
/ mechanics" he asked.
81 have always fancied that line" re-
piled Lady Gladys. land when at Cir
ton took n special course in It. ! pre-
sumo you learned 1t in a better way
than theoretically-tha is. practically"
Il first learned it theoretically, with
some practice thrown in
How"
AT the - Polytechnic institute"
The girl looked surprised. But
American ways were new TO her. and
she was ready to hear almost any
thing Still this case puzzled her.
She had met him as foreman in foun-
dry She had been told that he was
not one of the elite in society. He had
sufficient influence to demand an invi-
tation TO meet her. and lastly. he was
a graduate Of one OF the first scientific
institutions in the country. What did
it mean?
The lady was too we'll bred to inter
rOgate her dinner companion as to his
social status and contented herself
with conversation. which she found
not only entertaining. but charming.
After dinner she found an opportunity
to speak with the hostess. who told her
81,
the information vouChsafed was this:
In America. or. rather. New York.
position in what is called society can
only be attained by an effort. or, in
the case of bachelors. by certain serv-
ices to hostesses. Mr. Morlock had no
time for the former and no taste for
the latter. Consequently he had no
social status In New York society.
Lady Gladys could understand me-
chanics. but the elements Of the social
structure Of New York were too much
for her. and she did not pursue the sub
ject. From the time Of her meeting
with Mr.. MorIOck her mother noticed
that she seemed indsposed to encour-
age the other young men she met-the
cotiliiOn leaders. the cubmen. the
diners out-even though they owned
skyscrapers or their safes were stuffed
with securities.
When Lady Edgerton had finished
her incursion. with n view TO securing
husband for her daughter. she found
in her net but one fish. Mr.. MorlOck.
But he was considered in America an
excellent catch. He had applied prac-
ticaIly his scientific education and
was about 10 step into position Of
$4,000 Il year. Yet this was a mere
beginning with him. He soon became
leader in his line and one OF the
iron kings OF the country.
In time he went TO England and mar
ried Lady Gladys Edgerton. Rut she
knew well that he would not remain
there. and she was content to live in
America. one Of the very few women
OF the British aristOcracv 10 marry an
A - L.