Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-03-18
CHAPTER XVIII


wA@m @A Lh~lE money anu AH mENs
Strands charm the Brands were not
within the inner circle Of New York
society. just what the circle is. is
hard to say. Those who try 10 defins
Il are ssaerally those who know little
ahoat II, or who at least are not part
Of II. The circle is composed of many
ssgmsnts. There are times when these
ieEmenta vie with others NO that Il 10
difiicuit to tell where the one begins
and the other ends. But the houndar
RES are there, and. generally speaking,
shsy may be determined by the hori-
sontal and vertical lines. New York
has grown vertically: its skyacrapers
stand 60 monuments to millions. but
from the Battery to the Bronx II
measures the same number OF feet and
inches N In the day OF Peter stuy.
veaant. and II 10 tina landhulders OF
Nsw FORK that dominate tho circle.
Within iGs circumference there have
eean many Entertainments, Savanta
are welcomed, toasted and forgotten.
Marriage and intarmarriage have
brought many newcomers; million
airos and hillionairea have been toler.
atsd, but the oiigarchy remains.
The brands had neither antecedeuts
aor nsatrimory al passports. Brands
wSe@ hSd 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.
sha had been received by come very
smart people OF the younger set In
the hunts at Hampstead and Meadow
brook and II she had pursued these ac-
suaintanees. might have found an en-.
tering wedge to the sacred sphere.
But tho Brands lived on Little Rock
nay and It was something OF a hard.
ship for Mrs. Brand to shift her
mounts from her stable hair way
acroas the ialaHd. An ambitious WON.
m would not let such a little matter
90 that stand In the way of social pre-
tsrmsnt. but she found the effort trk-
soma, She entered a. few of her favor.
itsa In the horse show. but mere frem
pride for her horses than In social
quest In fact. MIRA 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 Mira, Reynolds
lacked In matter of means was amply
furnished by her new friend And
Jane wanted all or nothing. She craved
not only eutree to the circle. but ad.
mittance 10 its uaoat sacred confines
She urged MIRA Brand TO seek every
possible avenue OF approach to social
eeeognition and influenced her to at.
eempt lavish entertainments, Brand
wss agreeable enough. He rather en-
toyed the energy and seal that Mira,
Raynoida displayed and approved OF
The sstect II had on his wife. He a.
siated with supply Of unlimited cssA.
IAns's only sesame 10 her goal was
tAFoagh her friend and by the means
81 her own personal attraction. She
asds the NEST Of the iattar and tho
kliia from her modists and miliiner
caused Bob many y snisgivtng. despats
tAs abandon with which he made and
spant his money, He liked TO soc his
wife hook 90 good a. the best and he
plunged harder and deeper 20 that no
scaid crafty her every wish without
lac ssmblaaos Oh question. Economy
was . word that he had hsnishad Tor
sver and II their house had permitted
. Do would hare urged her to attempt
tome OF tho prcdixtoas asrairs that she
sAsred st the Bganda
Yet while Reysnids INDUCED and
discouraged his wife he found himself
sfsan assuming . care tree spirit that
10 did not feel There came moments
when the false glamar of hls life pallsd
md be gave way TO deepest mslan-
aholy More and more he resorted 10
The braeing influence OF stinulsnts
md cessation from this practise only
sccentaated bis morbianess.
For long time he kent the real
tSate Of hia mind from Jane ana the
secsssisy for the deception carried him
@rSAss and farther away from AAr4 ln