The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-09-28
The Social
Ladder
There Is Money as Well
as Position on the
Top Round
BY ETHEL HOLMES

Billy Saxton and Eunice Mainwaring
were married at an unfortunate time.
They had been both brought up In lux
ury and had met, loved and become ell
gagged In the social whirl. But they
were the last of a long line of rich peO-
pie, and neither possessed anything
whereon to live except their clothes,
though this In Eunice's case was con-
siderable.
Love spurred Billy to make an effort.
and he secured a position giving him
$50 week. The two figured out how
they would make it do. and, Cupid
holding the pencil, brought their re-
quirements within 1t. So they were
married. But unfortunately the pan
European war came on about this time,
and prices began to soar. Billy's sal
airy remained where 1t was. Articles
that they required rose from so to 100
per cent. Therefore their income was
really not more than from SIS to 500 a
week. Cupid after he has got couple
off his hands by marrying them, does
not further trouble himself about their
ures, but the little god was not wag-
ging the pencil, and this time the result
spelled ruin.
After long conference 1t was agreed
between them that Billy should go to
Mr.. Goodwin, the head of the firm by
ton to the raise in prices Of necessities
and ask If something could not be
done to enable him to earn better in
come. The next day after business
hours when Mr.. Goodwin was about to
leave his private Office Billy opened the
door and walked in. Billy had on
suit he had worn at the time of his
marriage, beautiful polkadot necktie
and yellow spats. Most Of his attire
was somewhat worn. but It was in
good style, and its owner looked more
like a deposed prince of the blood in
quiring for a rich American wife than
Q mere clerk.
Billy stammered forth his case while
his employer listened, rather noting the
young mans aristocratic appearance
than the burden of his argument But
when the request came Mr.. Goodwin
told his employee that, while he saw
the justice Of his demand, he could not
grant it. The profits in his business,
while prices had been rising, had fallen
proportionately. True, the firm had
been doing larger business than be-
fore, but everything required in it had
so risen In price that the more business
done the more money lost.
Billy knew that this was not So and
: the knowledge only made him feel the
more bitter at the refusal. He went
out sorrowful. AS he made his exit
the wife of the head Of the firm en-
tered. She was richly dressed and be-
spangled with jewels. She had come
to drive her husband home in his auto.
"Who is that young MANI she asked.
His name is Saxton. Why do you
ask?"
Hes the most aristocratic looking
person | have seen in long while. Is
he in your employ"
"Yes; he has a minor clerkship."
"A minor clerkship! A young man
Of his age and to the manner born &C.
cupying minor clerkship!'
sour clerks are not appointed be-
cause they are aristocratic looking and
wear fine clothes"
Nevertheless | think l see in this
young man something more valuable
and ornamental than one perched on a
high stool turning over the leaves of
ledger"
"Well, my dear, if you will tell me
how to make him thus valuable I will
see what can do about It."
ASK him to dinner"
Mr.. Goodwin, having just refused
Billy raise in salary, was not minded
to invite him to dinner. Such an invi-
tation would suggest that the employ
er had reconsidered the request of the
employee and would show q favorit-
ism to one of the Office force that would
have a bad effect. Mr.. Goodwin said
that he would see about it, and the
subject was dropped for the time.
When Mrs. Goodwin brought it up
again her husband told her that Billy
had wife and it would be out of the
question to give him an invitation
without including his consort. Mrs.
Goodwin, not being sure that Mrs. Sax
ton was up to Billy's aristocratic stand
ard, dropped the MATERIAL least for
the time.
One Sunday Mr.. and Mrs. Goodwin
were reading the morning papers, he
the financial articles. his wife the so
ciety columns. Mrs. Goldwin's eye
alIghted upon an announcement of the
first appearance in the social world for
some time CT Mr. and Mrs. William
Saxton at function given by Mrs.
Saxton's aunt, Mrs. DeVersey Main
waring. Mrs. Goodwin at once called
her husbands attention to the an
nouncement and berated him soundly
for not having given the invitation she
had suggested. Mr.. Goodwin, who
knew something Of social customs,
suggested that Mrs. Saxton must be
considered In the matter and raised
lot Of objections. which for the time
being carried his point.
But his wife, whose sole ambition
in the world was to force an entrance