Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-21

THE Shark house by day was as unattractive as it
by electric light Its hostess received me in
small, bare reception room which reminded me of a
physicians office. She had practically parted with
Flora Mcasters They had differed about the house,
the furniture tie iveries and finally the dinner and
the gifts
Mrs. Shark indeed changed woman. From
timid creature she had evolved into mood that
brazen bold and stubborn. She had completely lost
her head. Without much parley she unfolded to
plan of social campaign which she wished to engi-
neer-which literally breaking into Society with
a crowbar. At first nothing said about my COM
pensation was wary about giving points; but told
her honestly that she would have to put up good
round She had already made serious bunders by
the in which she entertained She would have
to lie low for awhile Even if she had large fortune
Society required something more than that. l con-
graduated her the foundation she had built, the
many friends she had made during her pilgrmages to
health retreats and tried to show her where she
undoing much of her good work. In case took her
up, 1 must have absolute charge and no opposition
from her.
She laughed in my face She wanted to begin at
Newport. When told her that this move was impos-
sible she calmly informed me that she had already
taken villa on Bellevue avenue there, and that it
would be pixies Peak or bust"
Just them shall never forget it that
not alone. Someone else had glided into the ROOM
If had been believer in spirits fairies, could not
have been startled. Standing between and
the door was a young girl dream Of youth in all its
buoyant springtime. l thought she the most
beautiful creature | had ever seen. gazed abso-
lutey speeches. at this appartion until was rudey
awakened by the hard bur of Mrs. Shark who was
rough on her RS.
why Darrter where did you from?" And
then to me, This is my darrter RUBY"
Her daughter? Impossible! How could such
woman-Ruby! Gracious! what name! 1t sounded
like the heroine of weak, oldfashioned ballad, who
scattered dried flowers through the leaves Of brown
covered books. Where had this girl been? Why had
heard of her before? The voice thar responded
my greeting low and sweet and the curtsy that
followed when she was babe by her mother to run off
to Fraulen, was marvel of quaint grace. But the
secret was out. Here exposed the mystery of
Mrs. Sharks ndomitable insistence upon shining in
Society. l did not blame her. She had stellar at
traction. But for all that Newport with its jealous
mothers with daughters to marry, and its prejudces
against new people no place from which to make
a start.
was willing to do much for little-Nfrs Sharks idea
of terms and expenditures being below my lowest figures
to be Ruby, as actually found myself falling in
love- offered to Mrs. Sharks assistance any
time that she might need advice and this something
should never have done for anyone else.
HAVE said that the Sharks lived in the shadow of the
great Bellmore mansion In fact among other
preposterous plans limited at by Mrs Shark some
thing the effect of securing the neghborly good offices
of old LADY Belnore she generally called, for
the Newport campaign Someone compared the Bell
residence to grim fortress commanding Fifth
avenue with Lady Bellmore standing its battements
and bidding daily defiance the onward march of trade
toward her castle well the onslaughts of social
climbers. Perhaps not dominant in Society
the late Mrs Astor, Lady Bellmore nevertheless
great power. She descendant of the colonial
Dutch PATRON Riner Bevewyk and
arstocrat of the aristocrats. The first known Bell
more the maker Of the faniy's fortunes, and he
believed in odtime eugencs. His wife had
from poor but exceedingly proud Knickerbocker
family
In each succeeding generation the wealthy Belmores