The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-01-28
Copyrigbi 1912 By EmeTson Hough
Illustrations by
Ray Walters

conscious of a feeling of lonesome
ness7 Why should he be left to dread
the drawing of the curtains at night,
when there remained only the pound
of the surf along the wall, the wall OF
the wind In the cornice? One chloro-
forms a formerly priced dog, but miss
es II. IL is much the same way with
the divorced wife. Too many unpIeas-
ant features attend the process of
such separation. Any civilization
worth the name ought to devise some
method less annoying for this which
Mr.. Rawn has SO fttingly described
as the corollary of the marriage rite.
Surely our boasted age has It's draw
backs, it's shortcomings!
Some men In such circumstances
brood; some drink; others search out
the other woman or women. John
Rawn was cast In different mold. He
had, In short, spoken truth when he
told his wife that he had no new mat
riinonial plans. Situated thus, yet
handicapped thus In his new-found
solitude, but a few days had passed
before he sent over for his daughter,
Grace. and her husband, Charles Hal
sey; there being in his mind a plan
to mitigate certain unpleasant fea-
lures OF his life as he now found 1t
ordered.
He greeted Halsey and Grace at the
door ~gravely, with dignity, when they
came one evening In response to his
invitation. They entered. just a trife
awed, as they always were, by the au-
gust surroundings of Graystone hall,
80 different from their own cottage
nea the factory. The owner of the
place looked we'll the part OF owner
here. John Rawn still was large and
strong, the city had not yet much soft
ened his lines. His hair now was
whittier about the temples, but its
Wilderness left his appearance only
the more distinguished. You scarce
could have found in all the haunts Of
prominent citizens a better example
of prominent citizen than himself,
John Rawn.
The major domo took the wraps of
the young people and vanished silent
ly. Rawn, waiting for them in the
drawing-room-not in the hall, as once
he would have done-with dignity mo-
toned them to places In his presence,
even brought a low chair himself for
the sad-faced, hunchbacked child
which represented the Rawn success
sion In the third generation.
go kiss grandpa, Lola!" said
Grace to her daughter; and went to
show her the way. But the child,
turning suddenly. only hid her face
In her mothers skirt.
"Laura's timid," apologfzed the
mother. The disapproval on her IA
Tiers face was obvious enough. He
had passed bitter hours alone, pom
iering over this child. he~sitating
whether to love it or TO hate 1t,
whether to accept 1t or to regard 1t
as a blot upon his life. He had hoped
! grandson, since he no longer might
hope q son Of his own. This crippled
child was the sole Rawn succession.
His pendulous lower lip trembled for
! time In the self-pity which now and
again came to John Rawn. 1t seemed
hard enough THAT he, John Rawn,
president of the International Power
Company. should have no better evil
dence Of gratitude on the part of for
tune. He hated Halsey all the more.
But now he did not lack directness.
Grace" he said, i've called you over
tonight because tomorrow, as you
know, is Friday"
"Yes, Pa"
And as you know, Grace, your
mother-that is to say, the late Mrs.
Rawn. always had the way-in short,
| may say that she induced me to de-
pend upon-I mean to say that always
she had shoulder Of pork and cab
bage for Friday evening. Now, l am
left alone, helpless--it is too much!"
Mr.. Rawn made no attempt wholly
to conceal his just emotion. 'Now
look at me-" he resumed. "Your
mother went away, and selnshly neg
lected to take into consideration this
habit, OF to provide any e for
meeting 1t. Ny chef has tried often
to prepare this dish. I must say he
always has failed"
Why don't you write to Mrs. Rawn
and ask her for the r~ecipe?" asked
young Halsey soberly.
THAT IL not practical" rejoined Mr..
Rawn icily. "even did / know that
iady's present address; as I do not"
His daughter sat gazing straight at
him, under her heavy brows, but made
no comment. Grace had not improved
with years. Her face was heavy,
pasty. her expression morose. The
Of her mouth turned down,
and deep vertical frown-wrinkles sat
between her dark eyebrows.
but I do not wish that name men
toned again." said John Rawn rails
Ing his hand. Il dismissed that thought
Of asking her aid as something un-
worthy OF me Let Friday come. I
shall seek no aid outside of those
from whom 1t may ltly be expected"
All, heroi
Nov. Grace" he continued later.
turning toward her, Il know very well
MossDuo n .~~l r~.~~L~~~n.