Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1914-11-28
CHAPTER xVilt.

raging Ene FFiCos
With all their money and all Mrs.
Brands charm the Brands we're not
within the inner circle OF New York
society. Just what the circle is. is
hard to say Those who try to define
1t are generally those who know little
about it. or who at least are not part
of it. The circle is composed OF many
segments. There are times when these
Regments vie with others so that 1t Is
difficult TO tell where the one begins
and the other ends But the bounda-
ries are there, and, generally speaking,
they may be determined by the hori-
zontal and vertical lines. New York
has grown vertically; its skyscrapers
stand as monuments to millions, but
from the Battery to the Bronx It
measures the same number Of feet and
inches as in the day Of Peter Stuy-
vesant and 1t is the landholders Of
New York that dominate the circle
Within its circumference there have
been many encroachments Sayants
are welcomed toasted and forgotten
Marriage and internarriage have
brought many newcomers; million
aires and hillionaircs have been toler-
ated. but the oligarchy remains.
The Brands had neither antecedeuts
nor matrimony as passports, Brands
wife had beauty, culture. wealth: all
the reciprocal means that society
loves, but she lacked incentive and
ambition Her nearest approach to
the inner circle was the Long Island
hunting set She was an ardent horse
woman and rode and drove admirably
She had been received by some very
smart people Of the younger set in
the hunts at Hampstead and Meadow
brook and il she had pursued these &C
quaintauces. might have found an en-
tering wedge to the sacred sphere
But the Brands lived on Little Rock
BAY and it was something of a hard
ship for Mrs. Brand to shift her
mounts from her stable half way
across the island An ambitious WON
an would not let such a little matter
as that stand IN the way OF social pre-
ferment but she found the effort irk-
some. She entered a few OF her favor
ties in the horse show. but more from
pride for her horses than in social
quest In fact. Mrs Brand was not
society mad She courted comfort
and liked her own amusements
When Jane came upon the scene the
situation changed What Mrs. Brand
lacked in way OF aspirations, Jane sup.
piled and what young Mrs. Reynolds
lacked in matter of means was amply
furnished by her new friend And
Jane wanted all or nothing. She craved
not only entree to the circle, but ad.
mittanCe TO It's most sacred confines
She urged Mrs. Brand to seek every
possible avenue OF approach to social
recognition and influenced her to at.
teupt lavish entertainments. Brand
was agreeable enough lie rather en-
ioyed the energy and zeal that Mrs.
Reynolds displayed and approved OF
the effect il had on his wife. He as.
sisted with a supply of unlimited cash.
James only sesame to her goal was
Through her friend and by the means
OF her own personal attraction. She
made the most OF the latter and the
bills from her uodiste and milliner
caused Rob many a miseiying. despite
the abandon with which he made and
spent his money. He liked to see HIS
wife look As good as the best and he
plunged harder and deeper so that he
could crafty her every wish without
the semblance Of question. Economy
was word that he had banished for
ever and if their house had permitted
1t he would have urged hef % attempt
some OF the pvod;Sious affairs that she
shared at the Brands
Yet while Reynolds INDUCED and
encouraged his wife he found himself
often assuming q care free spirit that
he did not feel There came moments
when The false glamor OF his life palled
and he gave way to deepest melan-
choly. &ore and more ne resorted to
fhe baaciug influence of stimulants
and oessA&ion from this practise csly
nccentuated hiS uerbiduess
! For q fong time BIC kept the real
state OF his saind from Jane ana the
necessity for the deception carried hin
Farther and farther away from her. In