Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-08-28
Tn 9 Daily
Short Story
AN EPISODE OF LONDON SOCIAL
LIFE
BY Warren Miller

80 made an enormous fortune Then
he went to England to occupy the
famiIys former position.
He said nothing there about his
wealth. but announced that he was
Cocker, with view TO gaining. II the
name would assist him, an eutree to
society Some remem bered the nosf-
ton held by has ancestors. hut no one
seemed to take him up on account OF
it. Then he mentioned his wealth
but even that-at least the mention af
it-made no impression CA society
Finally he fell ia with Sir Thomas
Sp0ttiswoode. an impecunious haroua4
who told him that TO get into society
he must spend money and spend IL In
a way to accomplish the object he de-
sired Sir Thomas offered To direct
his expenditures for consideration.
A bargain was struck by which STR
Thomas was to receive $4,000 for him
self and an unlimited amount for So
ciety.
The beginning was a dinner given by
Cocker the invitations to which were
given by the baronet lie knew those
in society who needed money and PAID
literally for acceptances from the
right people Among those invited
were Mrs Mulholland and her two
daughters Lillian and Grace. aged re-
no means an unattractive man. ana
Grace ATulh0lland took fancy to him.
But IN sending checks Sir Thomas
made mistake. He sent a separate
check to the mother and each of the
daughters. Grace MuIh0lland had
been unaware UP To that time how her
mother maintained her social position
In the face of poverty and was in6ig-
naut She sent her check right back.
and to Ir. Cocker himself
C0ker said nothing about the mat
ter to his social manager. He felt sure
that liz the main the baronet was man
aging well. and this turned out to be
the case. CokeT after a few months
got beyond the people he had invited
to his first dinner, though in rare in
stances he met the MulhoIIands. After
a time he broke through the c0oiness
with which Miss Grace treated him.
having excused himself for his action
toward her on the ground that he had
desired to enter London society and
had placed the management of his en-
tree into the hands Of another In
time her prejudice was worn away, but
scarcely before the American rose to a
social position so high that he was
quite beyond the MulhoIlands. and he
never met them.
Cocker spent several years In Lon
don, reaching the t0pmost round OF the
social ladder then at 81, he had eX-
hausged whatever pleasure there had
been in it for him. He resolved to re-
turn to his native land and lay ont for
himself a career What that career
was has nothing to do with this story
Shortly before leaving he was driv-
ing BY the house where the AulhoI-
lands lived and saw a red flag flying
F4r f-a
MuIboIIand's management of her af-
fairs had not been a financial success
and the home given the family for ser
vices TO the state b. the first MuLn0l-
land must so by the board.
a few days later Cocker sent out in
vitatious TO q farewell dinner. 1t was
souvenir ocCasi0n-that Is, SOU
venir was 10 be given to each guest
He sent an invitation 90 the Nalhol-
lands writing one himself for Miss
Grace, begging her 10 accept. II she
declined he would consider the deCli-
nation to mean that she had not for
given him fer that which he never
would have permitted had he been pre-
viousIy honored by her acquaintance
She wrote an acceptance. saving that
she had never blamed him and. -
make him feel comfortable about thu
matter, would keep the souvenir In
tended for her as d mement0 Of very
pleasant acquaintance.
When the dinner came en- every one
was surprised to see the HulhoIlauds
for they had not been able financially
TO keep up their social status espe-
ciaIy with the set in which C0kar now
moved not even by the mothers cues
E-0nable methods. Several Young
women present who had endeav0rad
to snare tine wealthy young American,
wondered when they saw him sIngu-
IarIy deferential to Grace Nulheland.
The. dinner was q splendid affair. aI@
the souvenirs were very costly. IheE
We're brought in far q last course. ana
Wlau The covers were removed many
magnificent jewels glistened in the
lights All we're handsome except that
of Grace MulhOllaud which Was
glove box containing q dozen pairs OF
gloves She smiled sincere thanks.
considering her comparatively value
less gift "a reparatiou for the eleaA
that had been sent her
When she got home she took out the
gloves. and with the last pair came
false bottom to the box il having
been glued to the gloves. Beneath was
a folded paper of legal appearance IL
was q deed to the Nulhoilsnd home
made cut ia her name
Many q painter would have been
pleased to catch tba expression en- the
girls face AT this mark Of devotion oil
Ehc man for whom she had had q fancy
from the moment OF their first meet
iEe 1T required two DAYS for her 20
come to a decision 10 return tine deco
to the doner with q note expressive Of
her deep gratitude end saving that she
could not accept such gilt from any
man r. e Dv-. HVf %E8 ALL