The Golden Room

Cathleen was greeted with handshakes by Armbruster and his wife. Alan greeted her more warmly with a chaste peck on one cheek. Then Cathleen introduced her aunts, Mi

'Well, well,' boomed Armbruster, 'this is a happy group.' Then addressing himself to Mi

'We don't circulate much,' replied Mi

'A pity,' said Armbruster. 'You're both too attractive to remove yourselves from society. To make you feel more at home, perhaps you'd like to have a look about?'

Armbruster plodded ahead of them as he led his party through the main downstairs rooms. There was a ballroom which could be converted into a theatre. There were several parlours. They visited the music room, which featured a rosewood piano – quite grand, Mi

Insisting that they all relax on the French Empire sofas in the library, Armbruster rang a bell. A maid and butler appeared immediately, one to serve pate de foie gras, the other to pour Veuve Clicquot.

Sipping his drink, Armbruster said, 'I thought we might have a little get-acquainted talk before we go in to lunch.'

'Where should we begin?' Mi

'With your niece's wedding to our son Alan, I should think,' Armbruster answered. 'The ballroom you just saw is where the'wedding will take place. I've already secured the services of a Lutheran minister, if that is suitable to Cathleen.'

'I'm a Baptist,' Cathleen said.

'No matter,' said Armbruster decisively. 'We all pray to the same God, don't we?'

'I guess so,' said Cathleen weakly.

'We'll be entertaining 200 guests, the most important people in Chicago. I assume you have your wedding gown, Cathleen?'

Mi

'Capital!' Armbruster exclaimed. 'The wedding will be formal, of course, because it will be a special occasion beyond the ceremony itself. Prince Henry of Prussia will be in Chicago on that date, and I'm making every effort to have him attend the wedding as an honoured guest.'

'Has he accepted?' Mi

'I believe Mayor Harrison has just presented the prince's Chicago schedule to his aides in Washington. I should have confirmation before the prince and his party arrive here by train from New York. I have little doubt that the prince will be delighted to be the honoured guest at the banquet in our home.'

'That would be a feather in your cap,' said Aida, speaking up.

'More than that, far more than that,' agreed Armbruster, rubbing his dry hands together. 'I'll tell you something else

that would be a feather in my cap, indeed, in all our caps.' He turned to address Bruce directly. 'Bruce, my daughter Judith has urged me to bring you into my firm once you're part of the family.'

Bruce blinked at him, taken off guard. 'You… you're very generous, Mr Armbruster,' he stuttered. 'I… I'm not sure what you mean – you mean once my sister marries your son.'

Armbruster laughed. 'More than that, far more,' Armbruster told him. 'I could see, down in Kentucky, that Judith was quite taken by you. Hardly a day has passed since our return to Chicago in which she hasn't mentioned your name.'

Judith blushed, and giggled. 'Oh, Father…'

Armbruster ignored her, continuing to address Bruce. 'I also had an eye on you, Bruce, when you were with Judith, and I observed you were quite attentive to her.'

'He would be,' Mi

'Well, I'm sure you won't have any difficulty making up your own mind, Bruce. For myself, I'd like Prince Henry to enjoy a rare experience, a beautiful double wedding. That accomplished, I feel confident I could take you into the firm. I could make you quite a rich person, young man.'

'In your meat-packing company?' Bruce managed to say.

'As my vice-president.'

'You're most generous, sir,' said Bruce. 'I have only one problem with that.'

'What would that be?' Armbruster wanted to know.

'I'm considering becoming a vegetarian.'

Armbruster was puzzled. 'Vegetarian? I'm not sure…'

'It means abstaining from all animal food,' Mi

Bruce pressed forward. 'Last night I found Upton Sinclair's The Jungle in Aunt Mi

at the top of the wheel he was shunted off upon a trolley, and went sailing down the room… then dangling by a foot, and kicking in frenzy – and squealing. There were high squeals and low squeals, grunts and wails of agony" as the hog was brutally killed to be converted into pork chops and bacon. That, Mr Armbruster, upset me terribly.'

Armbruster's face had reddened, until he was almost apoplectic. 'Upton Sinclair!' he roared. 'That anarchist trying to destroy the free enterprise system, with his propaganda that some of my workers fell into the sausage machine and came out as sausage links. He's an anarchist, no more.'

Mi

'All anarchists!' Armbruster bellowed. 'I couldn't consider a vegetarian in my company.' He glared at Bruce. 'You can't be serious. Maybe this is an immature eccentricity.'

'Well, maybe,' said Bruce uncertainly.

'I'm sure it is,' insisted Armbruster. 'After di

Bruce rose. 'I can say yes to the salad,' he promised. 'I'll decide on the steak when I'm faced with it.'

Rising, Mi

As Armbruster took her arm to lead her into the dining-room, Mi

In the dining-room, she sighed. Every piece was sterling silver.

That evening in the Everleigh Club, Bruce Lester and Karen Grant sat close together on a sofa.

He had dared to take her hand, and she had not resisted. Bruce continued to recount the adventure at the Arm-brusters'.

'Did you eat the steak?' Karen wanted to know.

'I nibbled at it, so as not to offend him.'

'But bringing up the vegetarianism in the home of a meat-packer,' said Karen. 'Were you serious about that?'

Bruce shrugged. 'I really don't know about becoming a vegetarian, Karen. I do know I wanted to offend Armbruster. He's such a coarse man.'

'How can you resist the offer of a vice-presidency when your father is in such trouble and you need money?'