The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-08-27

A Fool and His Monev

the Laughing stocks OF the whole world.
give you my word | am almost
ashamed to have people point me out
and say: There goes an American.
| Pooh!''
By this time l had myself pretty
well in hand.
81 daresay the mother loved the
child, which ought to condone one
among her multitude of sins. | take it.
of course, that she was entirely to
blame for everything that happened. :"
They at once proceeded to tear the
poor little mother to shreds, delicately
and with finesse, to be sure, but none
the less completely. No doubt they
meant to be charitable.
This is what silly American no
body gets for trying to be somebody
over here just because her father has
trunkful of Millions" said Elsie, con-
elnding a rather peevish estimate of
the conjugal effrontery laid at the door
Of Mr.. Pless late wife.
"Or just because one of these spend
| thrift foreigners has a title for sale, +"
said Billy Smith sarcastically
He was deeply in love with her
when they were married, y said his wife.
~ don't believe it was his fault that
they didn't get along well together. "
"The truth Of the matter is, said
Elsie with finality, sshe couldn' t live
up to her estate. She was drag, a
stone about his neck, 1t was like put
ting one s waitress at the head of the
table and expecting her to make good
as a hostess. -
What was her social standing in
New York; | enquired
"Oh, good enough" said Betty
Billy. ''She was in the smartest set,
If that is recommendation.
Then you admit, both of you, that
the best of our American girls fall
short OF being all that is required over
here. In other words, they can t hold
a candle to the Europeans.
. Not at all, " they both said in a |
flash.
"That s the way it sounds to me. :"
Elsie seemed repentant. ~ suppose
we are little hard on the poor thing.
She was very young, you see.
What you mean to say, then, is that
she WASH t good enough for Mr.. Pless
and his coteric. y
No, not just precisely that ad-
mitted Betty Billy Smith. ''She made
bid for him and got him, and my con |
tention is that she should have lived
up to the bargain. -
4" Wasn't t he paid in full9" | asked,
with slight sneer.
"What do you meant"
"Didn t he get his money9''
~ am sure / don I see what money
has to do with the case said Elsie.
with dignity. Mr. Pless is poor man
We heard. There could not have been
very much of marriage settlement. y
"A mere million t. start with re-
marked Billy Smith ironically. ats
all gone, my dear Elsie, and / gather
hat fatherinlaw locked the trunk YOU
'peaA of and hid the key. You don t
know women as well as | do, Mr. Smart.
Both of these charming ladies pro- /
sessei to adore Mr.. pless wife up to |
he time the trial for divorce came up. {
Vow they've got their hammers and I
lat-pins out for her and" $
THAT ism t true, Billy Smith," cried !.
elsie in fierce whisper. "We stood Z
" her until she disobeyed the mandate a
or whatever you call it--of the court. t
'he did steal the child, and you can t
eny it," i
Poor little kiddie,n said he, and
rom his tone I gathered that all was a
OF rosy IN the life of the infant in I
his game of battledore and shuttle n
ock. t
10 my disgust, the three of them re- Il
used to enlighten me further as to "
he history, identity or character of u
Ither Mr.. or Mrs. Pless, but of course l.
knew that | was entertaining under IL
y roof, by the most extraordinary CO. p
lcidence, the Count and Countess of rt
omething or other, who were at war, d
nd the child they We're fighting for W
ith motives of an entirely opposite s
ature.