The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1926-11-30

NONE OF SOCIETY'S
BUSINESS
BY II. IRVING KING

htDt ii CLOSE SuD6ENlSlOil. fAlso u
stenographer-secretary and an only
son-each about twenty-five years
of age
Now you think that Walter Is 60
ing to fall in love with Cynthia,
that Curtis is going to object VIC
lently. there is going to be a row
and the lovers are going to be
married in spite of everything and
everybody. Just hold your horses
minute and see. Come with me
to one of those "English-basement,
brownstone fronts" on West Thirty
Something street A similar house
on the right has restaurant in
the basement, "Modiste" on the
first floor and offices representing
heterogeneous enterprises from
there up to the roof. The house
on the left is a 'rooming house.
In fact, No. 80 is the only house on
the block still in the occupancy
of the family which owned it and
dwelt therein when people spoke of
being "genteel"; and the crude and
busting seventies were trying to
Guido the idle and splendid for
ties. Step right into the drawing
room and let me introduce to you
Miss Margaret Blair and Mr.. Wal
ter Dillingham;.
Margaret" Walter was saying,
Il don't see any sense in waiting
any longer. l have heard him speak
of John Blair in such terms that
| don't think he will object much
to having John Blair's daughter for
a aughter-in-law."
Perhaps not" replied Margaret
thoughtfully. "Yet he might think
oh, he might think lot of things
the situation being as it is-that
| had inveigled you or something
like that. Anyway, we must wait
until the end of the year when my
contract expires-and in the mean
time l want you to promise me
that you won't say word on the
subject to your father.
Il will not make any such fool
PROMISE" said Waiter. And then
they had a little tiff and then he
put his arms around her and
kissed her and promised that he
would not say word to his father
unless circumstances forced him
to.
Margarets father had once been
wealthy, but his fortune had dWin-
died; and as it dwindled he and
his wife had gradually withdrawn
from society-and been forgotten.
When Mrs. Blair died society re.
membered for a whole week-she
had been a famous hostess in her
day. When, two years later, John
Blair died, society remembered
again. even went to the funeral,
and said that something ought to
be done" for Margaret. But Mar
garet refused all offers of assist
ance, and society having done its
duty, went away and forgot her
existence-which was just what
she had wanted society to do. John
Blair had left his daughter the
brownstone house in Thirty Some
thing street, and little, very
little money. She had to work to
"pi2ce out"
Two old servants. man and his
wife, remained with her; drawing
sessed of healthy appetites and
wasteful ways brought over from
opuIent times. These had to be
fed and clothed. The sensible
thing for Margaret to do would
have been to turn the old servants
adrift, sell the house and go to live
in a boarding house. But she
wouldn't do it. No, she would
hang on.
Walter Dillingham; did not toe
often invade the library when his
father was at work there with
his pretty stenographersec secretary
But sometimes he did, and when he
did he could not help looking at
the young woman. For Miss Gym
thia Waldron was good to look at.
Several times the elder Dillingham;
caught his son gazing upon the sec
retary with a look which was mC.t
Objectionable to him. Finally he
one day summoned Walter into his
august presence and discoursed to
him concerning various matters
pertaining to love, marriage and
ethics. MY son." said he, II trust
you will always remember that you
are a gentleman-born so. l do
not like your manner toward my
secretary, Miss Waldron. Strongly
object to 1t. While Miss Waldron
is in my employ"
Walter interrupted him. "WRy, |
father, your suspicious are cruelty
unjust. | wouldn't. on any account, |
Hi ~
cause ] am engaged to most |
charming girl, you see"
Engaged" cried Mr.. billing
ham. And then sternly, ITO whom,
pray?"
ITO the daughter of your old
friend, John Blair"
Indeed" replied the father.
Little Margaret i haven't seen
her for years. I have been dere-
lict in that matter. A child Of such
parents cannot but make worthy
wife. But why have you not told
me before? Why have you not |
brought her to see me?'
ooh, you see enough of her, as
II Is" said Walter. "She Is your
secretary, Cynthia Waldron. You
see, she took a fake name when she
went to work; didn't want society
TO catch on. None of society's
business, anyway"
Hum. hum, quite right" said |
Curtis Dillingham;, Esq. Miss Wal |
dron, will you step this way min
ute?"
That's all-except that Margaret
sold the "English-basement brown
stone front pensioned off the old |
servants and is Mrs. Walter Dill
lin mlnii But She still nets aS Ar