Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-24
CHAPTER ".

What is called fashionable society,
or that portion of il which sets it.
self a steady task of dining, dress
ing and dancing, is divided into two
distinct groups: The debutantes of
the first and second years, who are
organized defensively against the
married women; and the young
married set, about which cluster
the foolish virgins of the fifth and
sixth seasons. Fiji Nordstrum was
a social guerrilla, pursuing her pre-
datory way through all sets. The
young matrons feared her; the
young debutantes initiated her with
gushing admiration. She was in her
9th year, and her portrait and do
ings were as we'll known to the read
ers of the Sunday supplements and
fashion magazines as the best ad-
vettised actress. She had been re-
ported engaged to three celebrities
of the headlines-an Arctic explorer,
a famous aviator, and the hero of
the last international polo match.
She knew every one of note from
the opera and the stage, where she
had the entree, to the latest dancer
with whom she danced and the last
cafe favorite who sang his songs to
her. She was a dark North-of-Ire-
land type, without particular beauty
except for deep blue eyes that were
radiant with animation, and teeth of
remarkable whiteness and regular
ity. Her body was straight and firm
as an Indians, her nose upturned,
her mouth thin and wide. She spoke
in high, nervous voice. She
walked without grace, and she
dressed often with complete dis
dain for coquetry. But, for all that,
she knew how to place value upon
herself in the eyes of men.
Her first movement, after em-
bracing her cousin with the ardor
of young bear. was to stare at
Morley.
."Hullol What's your manner Seen
you before" she said. fiinging her
furs in the general direction OF the
maid.
Morley, Miss Nordstrum; / was
three years with Mrs. Challoner."
Eyes; / remember, you were with
the Ice-maiden," said Fiji, who re-
scented Mrs. Challoner's sculptural
beauty. "Well, Morley, hang UP my
things in the hall, and don't listen
at the door, for we want to be
alone"
She dismissed the maid thus in
the most natural way in the world,
so that Morley, who patronized her
went out laughing. Fiji
installed herself by the gas log.
drawing up her skirts to warm her
legs, lit a cigaret, made a grimace
and flung it away.
We'll, tell me all about it. You
beast, you might at least have wait
ed till / got back from California
What made you marry him, any
way?"
aCouldn't help it." said Amy,
and forgetting that a
moment before she had asked her
self the same question.
That's no answer" said Fiji,
looking round. "Who furnished the
Hubby9 Heavens, what
a SCRAMBLED
Amy burst out laughing, which |
was the only way to handle her, and
brought out two photographs of
Andrew. one on horseback, taken on
their trip west, and another in foot
ball togs, a memento of his college |
days.
Fiji, in the slang Of the day, = like |
ugly men. He's nicer than / ex-
pected."
keep Off
for me-"
''What do you meant"
ooh, no ofense," said Fiji, throw
ing herself back in a chair and
oIucking out a cigaret which, this |
time, she continued to smoke with |
rapid, deep-taken breaths. "Busi.
ness men are the only real type OF
Americans-if only they wouldn't be
ashamed of it. The others are imi-
tation, bad European imitation.
They make love like sand crabs, and
they bore you. How can they help |
boring you when they are bored to
death themselves. If you've got |
nothing to do, you must have brains
10 do it. Well, if you don't treat
Andrew decently, ] shall come up |
and play with him myself"
Amy laughed and replaced the !