The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-26
A SOCIAL
ENIGMA
By OTILLIA F. PFEIFFER


histrionic friends. There were present
only the members Of the Stroilers
company, dramatic aggregation to
whom the buxom, happy souled wild
ow had been mother, nurse and bank
er. From the gloomy Shakespearean
scholar, Macready Thearle down to
the midget phenomenon, little Eva
Raymond, all were present, Dan
Merton, the manager of the troupe, in
Guided.
They had comprised happy fam
lily, sharing joys and sorrows alike.
The functions of Mrs. Baseom includ-
ed care for the wardrobes and never
was there niftier member and make
shift artist who, over night, could
transform a royal robe into glow
ing garb for a debutante. She had
managed to keep her only child, vi
ola at a fashionable school, No one
of the company had ever seen this
daughter until now.
A wonderful thing had happened.
A distant relative of Mrs. Bascom had
left her large fortune. Among 9TH
err property was very handsome mar
sion in q fashionable suburb. Mrs.
Bascom decided to abandon the life
of the road and give herself over to
the securing of a social position for
Viola.
Intuitively the players recognized
that the days of good fellowship were
past and gone as far as the BascOms
:, were concerned Dan Merton checked
| @I,o e
, that whole-souled lady invited all
I these tried and true friends TO visit
her regularly. In a neat after-dinner
! speech he complimented her on her
e coming into her own reward for kind
d, ly care to the friends who would miss
IS her as a mother, but who gloried In
seeing her shine in the circle she was
SO ftly worthy Of She took each
=, aside in turn and pressed a little
roleaux into their palms.
II Some bonbons, dears," she ex-
II planned, but later they were revealed
as a dozen or more twenty dollar gold
III coins.
II The only stranger In the group was
a new recruit, Mr.. Evan Brookes,
who had filled the place of a second
- walking gentleman. He and Viola
is were mutually attracted one to the
st other. He was a reserved, courteous
g, young man,, showing excellent breed
G ing, and it was of him only the I'M
"a sophisticated Viola thought after
-. wards.
% Their new home was provided with
all that comfort or luxury could sug
" gest, but somehow the rumor had gone
he out that they were obscure and of
g, the newly rich. It disturbed the
he worthy play lady to be quite ignored
40 by the higher-ups, and when the sea-
W. son came on she decided to pass 1t
at a fashionable summer resort.
or The Strollers were taking their
I'm usual summer rest at cheap resort,
ut when old Dan broke in upon them
,rs with determined face.
he People" he said, 81 have been
nd picking up some information concern:
pr ing our dear old friend, Mrs. Bascom.
ali She is not altogether happy and
. want you all to unite with me in max
nv ing her fully So" "a
Count US in at once" directed the
gu company tragedian loftily. -
1--WE are all of one mind where dear
Use old mother Bascom is concerned" de.
| clared Miss Lucill Sutherland In
genue. - ..
aet DRAW near and hear the official
.or dictum!" sepulchraIly intoned the
oa Shakespearean scholar.
ng Then some things began to happen
-ou at Springville. One day magnificent
ya auto halted at the Bascom home, and
lk- an equally magnificent lady alighted
no and left card bearing a crest and, q
." name that indicated foreign
.o,, countess at the least. A few days
70 later the local newspapers announced
in that the son of an illustrious member
vs.. of the Canadian parliament had come
my to visit the Bascoms. had found then
absent and had doubtless later JOINED
ny them at a fashionable summer resor
ma where the beautiful Miss Bascom. wa,
In the belle Of the season. The appear
90 ance of several others and the men
at ton. Of the same in the paper begar
she to impress Springville with the. con
viction that the Bascoms were some
be- body, after all. Z
When Mrs. Bascom returned at til,
. end of the season, she was agreeabl,
= surprised to find herself the sough
= after of the town. Within. a few
months she was fully launched In tn
social swim.
One day, much to the delight o
Viola, Evan Brookes appeared. II
told of leaving the company and the
revealed to Mrs. Bascom the cleve
booming" that had been done by th
various members of the StroIlers.
week later Viola came to her mothe
blushing and timorous, confessing a.
engagement to young Brookes. Mrs
Bascom looked serious.
after all the show those old friend
have made of our grand acauaint
ances," she said. they will expect
high and lofty fance, Viola. but