Aunt Jane's Nieces in Society

e and pair is still considered the more aristocratic mode of conveya

Louise Merrick, one of the three girls she had set out to discover, was the nearest on her route. Presently

nt glance noted this detail. A dignified butler ushere

mixture of distressingly new articles with those evidently procured from dealers in "antiquities." Money had been lavished here, but good

meager income. Finally she divided her capital, derived from her husband's life insurance, into three equal parts, which she determined to squander in three years in an attempt to hoodwink the world with the belief that she was wealthy. Befo

Merrick possessed a nature sweet and lovable, as well as instinctively refined-a nature derived from her dead father and with little true sympathy with Mrs. Merrick's unscrupulo

ility. Louise ignored the fact that he had been disinherited by his father, and in her reckless infatuation would have sacrificed her mother without thought or remorse. The dr

r his skillful guidance she soon redeemed herself and regained control of her better nature. The girl was not yet perfect, by any means; she was to an extent artificial and secretive, and her thoughtless flirtations were

gracious and winning and she had that admirable self-possession which quickly endears one even to casual acquaintances. She did not impress more

ed each of his three nieces with an ample fortune. "I want 'em to enjoy the good things of life while they're at an age to enjoy 'em," he said; "for the older one gets the fewer things are found to be enjoyable. That's my experience, anyhow." He also told the girls frankly that they were to inherit jointly-although not equally-his entire fortune. Yet even this glowing prospec

had therefore used his influence to get all three girls properly "introduced." Therefore her delight and excitement were intense when the butler brought up Diana's card and she realized that "the perfectly swell

r! what sh

se. It's your chance, my dear, your great chance in li

affable and gracious way she a

o call upon me. I am so g

y her appearance and self-possession. This aspirant for social honors was

st, will do me no discredit. If she is a fair sample of the

he said, be

receive? Now that we are acquainted I wish to see more of you

pot Upon each cheek betrayed her inward excitement as she prettily accepted the invitation. Beneath their drooping lashes Diana's sagacious eyes read the thoughts of the girl qui

detail, including her assumption of lightness and her various frivolities. She understood that in the girl were capabi

and patronage, and her heart bounded at the thought of being admitted to the

was that of Elizabeth De Graf. She lived at a good pr

rom the old Ohio home to visit Beth, and the girl had no intention of inflicting her parent upon the other girls. Therefore she had taken rooms at the hotel temporarily, and the plan suited her mother excellently. For one thing, Mrs. De Graf could go home and

ents. The father, Professor De Graf, was supposed to be a "musical genius." Before Beth came into her money, through Uncle John, the Professor taught the piano and singing; now, how

rs and cents. So she had not lived at home, where constant quarrels and bickerings nearly drove her frantic, since Uncle John had adopted her. In catering to this prese

ness of her inborn failings and a sincere loathing for the moral weakness that prevented her from correcting those faults. Judging Beth by the common standard of girls of her age, both failings and faults were more imaginary than real; yet it was her characteristic to suspect and despise in herself such weaknesses as others would condone, or at least regard leniently. F

nieces, in confidential mood, would canvass Diana and her social exploits as they did the acts of other famous semi-public personages. But the g

all attainable luxury, since the child frequently reproached herself with feeling a distinct repulsion f

ith a comprehensive sweep while Miss Von Taer's narrowed gaze, profoundly observant, studied the

Beth, quietly glancing at the car

he sinuous motion attracted Beth's at

ng accents. "I have long promised myself the pleasure of a call, and i

s prelude, and slightly frowned. Dia

able acquaintance of Miss Von Taer." The tone was a trifle bitter, and Diana noted it. A subtile antagonism seemed springing up between them

y dear," was the sweet-toned respo

d, and it spoiled her beauty. Diana t

ur family is honest enough, thank God; but it has n

ment accomplish. When she laughed this way her eyes nearly closed and became inscrutable. Beth had a feeling of

rcenary days. But aside from that, my dear, your personal accomplishments have not escaped notice, and gossip declares you to be a very fascinating yo

han the evident desire to please. She began to feel she had

ed to say, "and I assure you I am not ungrateful. Bu

r! You wron

my uncle?"

mily owes Mr. John Merrick much consideration. Therefore I

eth began to relent. She sat down for the

ation for society, which is doubtless so large a part of y

k of a cocoanut, have little idea of th

cracked cocoanuts, and sometimes

e found in the various grades of society. These

ked Beth. "I've heard stra

es outside her own exclusive circle, and under such circumstances, these meetings were to her in the nature of an adventure. A creature of po

st agreeable manner. "If we are not to set an example in decorum to the rest of the world we are

o, in

onsor for a short time, until you really discover what soc

erstand you,

eive a few friends at my home on the eveni

erhaps Uncle John would like her to be courteous to his friend's da

ued Diana, rising. "In that way I shall

for a snake. She estimated Diana, society belle though she was, to be sly, calculating and deceitful. Worse than all, she was decidedly clever, and therefore dangerous. Nothing good could come of an acquain

ed whether to go home or hunt up the third niece. But Willing Square was not

es. Analyzing the two I have met-the majority-one strikes me as being transparently affected and the other a stubborn, attractive fool. They are equally untrained in diplomacy and unable to cover their real feelings. Here am I, practically dragging them into the limelight, when it would b

rs and accepted as such by their would-be fashionable occupants. Diana knew at least two good families resident in Willing Square, and thoug

rtment building owned in fee by Miss Patricia Doyle. Diana was unaware

yle had "just stepped out," but was somewhere in the b

from her position noted the series of rooms that opened one into another through

h display in this establishment, at any rate. I hope to fin

e line of rooms and a high-pitch

i, there, Nunkie, dea

hair being pushed back as a man

tle rogue from upstairs. Here, B

ngs to me; don't y

os" and "ahs" without any resemblance to words. Bobby may ha

you gimme that baby." cr

him here all the way from his home upstairs, an

atsy! Bobby's

sir, and be a horse. That's it-Now, Bobby, straddle Uncle John and drive him

" asked a muffled voice, chokin

ee-hee-h

made a sorry mess of it, althou

d's voice, perhaps announcing the presence of

hy didn't you say so?

t ear, Bob

hn, and don't let anything hap

s a young girl bustled into the room and came toward her with fr

isitor, "Uncle John and I were romping with the baby from upstarts-Bobby's such a

iss Von

he swell society girl?

n so completely nonplused before. After

iana Vo

siders are liable to look on society folk as we would on a cage of monkeys-b

the girl had no intention of being rude. Diana w

may be you've been looking at the side-show and not at the entertain

ughed gl

And what do I know about society? Just no

onse. "Society appeals to only tho

Doyle. "Society at large is the main evidence of c

communism?"

Yet the people bow down and worship these social gods and seem glad to have them. The newspapers print their pictures and the color of their gowns and how they do their hair and what they eat and what they do, and the poor washwomen

al distinction with awe and reverence. Inwardly resolving to make Miss Patricia Doyle regret the s

iety, my dear Miss Do

ople and band them together in those cliques which are called 'social sets,' They are not secret societies; they have no rules of exclusion;

those stupid creatures who criticise the sun because there's a cloud before it.

mured Diana, and her expression was so smug and satisfied th

r own pictures in the S

robbed your maid

course those intellectual high-brows in your set didn't need an introduction to you; you were advertised as an example o

demanded Diana, her eyes glari

I didn't mean a bit of it! Won't you forgive me, please, Miss Von Taer? There! we'll b

d be folly to show resentment

vultures, rapacious for sensation, and have small respect for anyone. I am sure we discourage them as much as we can. I used to weep wit

false idea of these things. If I knew you better, Miss Von

Doyle, for you interest m

n Taer, for you might easily have amused yourself better. You must be very busy, with all the dem

erness. How nescient th

have consented to receive with me on the eve

th!" cried Pat

them? And may I co

biously into th

he said. "Can't you s

ith joyous good humor-eyes so captivating that few ever looked beyond them or noted the plain face they glorified. But the critic admitted that the face was charmingly expressive, the sweet and sensitive mouth always in sympathy with the twinkling, candid eyes. Life and energy radiated from her smal

d amuse you to make your debut in society-unimpeachable society-and be prope

uld she hold back? Moreover, she experienced a girlish and wholly natural curiosity

y. But I can't imagine why you have chosen to take us three girls under

at I've seen you I'm delighted to have you on your own account. C

when her visitor had gone; "why