The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-01-30
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| A TRIUMPH'S
{ EVIDENCE
BY uARRitT N. ABBOTT
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lcopyright by paIly st0ry Poo. Col

at every hand. men whose prosperity
depends on the merest turn OF the
wheel No. I'm not claiming that
brains and moral force are no longer
of account, but insist that they rare
ly get the showing they demand"
yet. there's everything In the point
OF view, jennings. and we have the
law of compensation" was the reply,
with a slow. whimsical smile. Thus,
II the lucky dogs are too busy In
wrestling still other bones from the
less fortunate. to settle down and
enjoy the sweets of conquest. OF what
advantage is their conquest? Now.
success in life means something far
deeper than that which Is brought
about merely by luck. Luck may be
but a chance shot with fortunate re-
suits; but behind success there is usu.
ally a good aim and steady hand"
Granted. but-suppose we take. as
example, a man who has TO all appear
ances, never known defeat What OF
our old classmate. wenwright? Wen.
wright. the lucky. as We used to call
him, even in college"
All. had Jennings never forgiven
Wainwright for winning Edith Sils-
bee? lie glanced thoughtfully from the
window; then answered. with seem
Ing irrelevance: How wish you
had been in town when Wainwright
made his famous speech last month!
But. By joye. he doesn't pose as
chance darling OF Fortune. let me tell
you His two terms In congress have
developed all his latent power as a
speaker. and In vigorous, polished sen.
fences. he gave. chat night. 80 vivid
picture OF his early days. that you
could fairly see the chrysalis OF the
awkward Vermont lad. from which
emerged our present Napoleon OF
finance. That's haokneyed expires.
sion. but It's Jim Wenwrlght TO the
life"
Indeed" jennings drew In his
breath sharply. And n he r. Napo.
leon. what. then. OF Josephlne7"
ANh Hl'sAu tAAna NfhNNNNHAH
His companion hesitatcd. Unlike
her husband. she IL not In the public
eye: or. az least. not more 80 than
Is unavoidable. She Il no social devo-
tee. but her name is often connected
with philanthropic movements on
the rare occasion when have seen
her. have thought her a. onassum.
Ing a. In the days. when. the good old
professors daughter. she dispensed
her hospitality In the white house
behind the olms"
A vision rose before them. Of that
fair young girl. and Jennings i'm.
pulslvely exclaimed: ITO think OF the
inspiration she might have been. 60
almost any man. Yet. such IL the
irony Of Fate. that she IL doomed
TO wholly merge her Identity"
Who knows was the sober ques.
ton. IT'S a ticklish thing TO cir.
oumscribe a woman's influence. even
In fancy. You never saw Wenwright
in just the light did. Jennings. There
Ia very defiance Of daring In tho
man. that appeals 10 me. and az the
same time he has a curious respon.
slyoness. How can you tell what the
nne alchemy OF his wifes nature may
10. even for the strong mind OF a Va.
polcon9 But harkl the newsboys are
calling Extras on the street below.
suppose We stroll along and discover
the cause Of the excitement
II was but a few hours later. when.
not three miles away. Hon. James
wcnwrlght hurriedly fitted bis latch.
key In the door. and entered his home
On the avenue.
The cool spacious library with It's
soft light. had an air OF peaceful 81.
clusion A faint breeze gently stirred
the curtains. and the heat and hustle
Of the city seemed remote and forgot.
ten. yet tho burden OF the hour was
not one to be readily cast aside. and
as the mans gnEe rovcd over the
quiet room. he shuddcrcd AZ the mir.
rorcd reflection OF bis haggard face.
Could that set, gray countcnancc.
With dull and nervous lips. be- indeed
his own
As II 10 ward on n blow. he threw
out a hand. and rccoilcd instinctiyciy,
rs his fingers touched an icy. pol.
lshcd surface. What was ihatg All.
tho statue the Winged Victory,
poised on lie pedestal. In all the white
arrogance Of beauty and pride What
place had a Winged Victory here.
within his walls7
The muscles around wonwright's
mouth twitohed IN an ironlcal sem.
blailcc Of humor. and with the aar.
ionio smile that was. In truth. hut an
lnai ticulats woan. be muttorcd: Con.
trontcd by Victory. and tonight The
world has n grim fancy for contrast"
Had his daunticss ambition leading
him to risk more and more. In order
10 guam deeper draughts from the
golden cup. lurod him 20 desiructionf
lie had never. set sail TO fear" had
believed In victory. never In defeat:
but growing holder. intoxicated with
success. he. too. had been az last
outwitted. and tonight he beheld him.
self-a ruined man.
Who could have foretold that sud.
den drop In II. & RI Not hei but
II came-too late 10 close out. and
now-the end. How the hours drag.
gcdl Tomorrow. all his little world
would know that he. wenwright. the
lucky. had forfeited his claim to the
title. and gone down. like many an.
other.
but. a look like that Of a dreamer
rudely awakened. swept over tho
| ,,.ns. face M ratafng Ma hcnd. he