The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-02-18
CHAPTER XVIII.
Paylnu the Price.

Paying the PRICE,
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. Ia
hard to say. Those who try to define |
At are generally those who know little |
about II, or who at least are not part |
of II. The circle is composed OF many |
segments. There are times when these
segments vie with others SO that II 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
haE grown vertically; its skyscrapers
stand as monuments to millions, but
from the Battery to the Bronx 1t
measures the same number OF feet and
inches as in the day of Peter Stuy-
vesant, and II is the landholdere of
New York that dominate the circle.
Within its circumference there have
been many encroachments. Savants
are welcomed, toasted and forgotten.
Marriage and intermarriage have
brought many newcomers; million
aires and billionaires have been toler-
ated, but the oligarchy remains.
The Brands had neither antecedents
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 II she had pursued these ac-
Quaintances, might have found an en-
tering wedge to the sacred sphere.
But the Brands lived on Little Rock
Bay and 1t was something Of hard
ship for Mrs. Brand to shift her
mounts from her stable half way
across the island. An ambitious wom-
an would not let such little matter
as that stand In the way OF social pre-
ferment. but she found the effort irk-
some She entered few of her favor
ties in the horse shcw, 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. AnC
lane wanted all or nothing. She craveC
not only entree to the circle. but ad
mittance to its most sacred confines
She urged Mrs. Brand to seek every
possible avenue OF approach to socia
recognition and influenced her to at
.tempt lavish entertainments. BranC
was agreeable enough. He rather en-
loved the energy and zeal that Mrs
Reynolds displayed and approved o
the effect il had on his wife. He as
sisted with supply of unlimited cash
James only sesame to her goal wa
through her friend and by the mean
of her own personal attraction. Sh
made the most of the latter and tn
bills from her modlste and milline
caused Bob many misgiving, despit
the abandon with which he made an
spent his money. He liked to see hi
wife look as good as the best and h
plunged harder and deeper so that b
could crafty her every wish withou
the semblance of question. Econom
was a word that he had banished fol
ever and II their house had permitte
Il he would have urged her to attemI
some of the prodigious affairs that sh
shared at the Brands.
Yet while Reynolds INDUCED al
encouraged his wife he found himse
often assuming a care free spirit tha
he did not feel. There came moment
when the false glamor OF his life palle
and he gave way to deepest melal
choly More and more he resorted
the bracing influence of stimulanI
and cessation from this practise onl
accentuated his morbidness.
For long time he kept the rel
state OF his mind from Jane and II
nscessi>y for the deception carried hi
farther and farther away from her.