The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-07-29
The Society
Column
BY H. IRVING KING
90 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.)
(WNU Seryice)


wise had daughter, who was very
pretty and not at all prim. Her name
was Rose, and she was of about the
same age as Florence, that is, about
twenty-five. Rose came often to the
Office and always stopped to chat with
Florence. In fact, they had become
exceedingly good friends, although
Rose was decidedly in the social swim
and Florence as decidedly was not.
She had got into the habit of read
ing the society column in the news
papers. And she noticed that when
ever in list of among those present
were" Roses name appeared the name
Of Lucius Dartmore began to appear,
to0-and with increasing frequency.
This added to her discomfort. For she
knew Lucius Dartmore and he had
every outward quality calculated to
attract the admiration Of an unmar-
ried young lady of twenty-five, looks.
wealth and most captivating man.
ner. He was Mr.. Carpenters wife's
nephew. Whenever he visited his
uncle's Office, which was frequently,
he was always very polite to Florence.
She had even taken "dictation" from
him upon occasions and enjoyed the
work.
"Of course, Rose will marry Lucius,"
she thought, "and they will live happy
ever after with yachts and country
houses, and expensive cars with liv-
cried chauffeurs, and-oh, everything;
and / shall make shorthand notes and
pound this internal old typewriter I'M
til get too old to work any more"
Florence made three mistakes in tax
Ing dictation that day and was so
cross that Raymond Hartley, who was
deeply In love with her, was heart
broken. Raymond was one Of MIR.
Carpenters bright young men,"
sort Of confidential clerk.
Florence liked Raymond-he was, to
her, the most companionable person
in the Office. She even allowed him
to take her to dinner occasionally.
But what commonplace fellow he
was compared to the gorgeous and all
conquering Dartmorel mo more to
be compared to Lucius than / am to
Rose" thought Florence little bit
tedly. But the day after she had been
SO cross with him she was sorry, and
made atonement by being unusually
agreeable; whereat Raymond's pessi-
mism vanished.
Then things began to happen rapid
ly. Three days after "Mr. and Mrs.
Lawrence Carpenter announced the en-
gagement of their daughter, Rose, to
Mr.. Lucius Dartmore," Rose eloped
with lieutenant of marines-of good
family, it is true, but no money-and
was married. The matter was
smoothed over as well as it could be
as such things always are among SEN
sible people Of the world-the truant
bride was forgiven by her parents, In
form at least, and the bridegroom es-
capped court-martial.
1t was a sensation, Of course, while
1t lasted, but new style OF bobbing
the hair, or some other important
event, happened about that time, and
1t was soon forgotten. The manner in
which Dartmore accepted the situation
was delightful to see. His manner
took on just the proper tinge of resig-
nation, just the becoming hint Of heart
break, lust the admirable air of rising
superior to the blows Of fate. In his
heart Lucius felt rather relieved. The
match between Rose and himself had
been made by his aunt and he had ac-
cepted the proposition. With all his
good qualities 1t must be admitted that
Lucius was, after all, of rather shall
low nature.
But having got the idea Of marriage
into his head Lucius did not readily
get 1t out again. mo more heiresses
for me-" he thought. "Pve enough
money of my own. And no society
butterflies either. Now there's that
little Puritan in Uncle Lawrence's Of
fee. She's just my idea Of what q
girl ought to be to make a good wife.
No desire for society, no longings for
all the fiubdub which makes up the
life Of the wealthy" Little did he
guess how with longings and envy
Florence had read the society column
when he and Rose were cayorting
about the social arena. "Miss Flor
ence Capwell," mused he, II think we
will change your name to Florence
Dartmore."
It Is needless to go into the details
Of how Lucius sought out Florence
and paid court to her. He did 1t all
very properly, deftly and dexterously;
as became an adept in good practice.
At first Florence was flattered-and
futtered. All the glittering visions
which had arisen from the mists of
the society column became realities
within her reach. But as realities she
found she did not fancy them-they
did not glitter worth cent near at
hand.
The day after Lucius had proposed
and been rejected-Florence went to
the Office as usual but In an unusu-
ally thoughtful mood. Raymond"
she said about four o'clock that after
noon, "you may take me out to dinner
at Archambeau's tonight, If you want
to-" He did want to. But it was six
months before they were married.
Raymond, on Mr. Carpenters death.
took over the business. In the society
column you sometimes see the name
of Miss Florence Hartley. That's the
daughter Of our Florence.