The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-01-24
VII.
A PrinceIy Generosity.

ne ielJ COInlus uOW upOu HIN dLOluSI
change. He said to himself that he
was now about to pass up, into yet an.
other era of his development.
One day, after his usual days rout.
Inc, he closed his Office door, took
his car at the curb, dropped in at his
club, imbibed the two cocktails which
| were now his evening wont, and again
emerging, nodded to his chauffeur in
the fashion which meant "Homel"
They passed on out again through the
floating crowd of various and Otter
vulgar vehicles, north-bound-shriek
ing aloud in a vast united chorus, de
handing speed, speed, and yet more
speed-along the throbbing arteries oil
the city's population. At last he
stopped once more at the front OF
Graystone hall "Forty-hve minutes.
Dennis" said he to his driver, snap
ping his watch. "Twenty-one miles:
you'll learn II after a while"
Mr.. Rawn vas In exceptional good
humor. He was at peace with the
world and with his conscience He
looked about him now calmly, with
appreciation in his gaze. His garden.
ers had done wonders. The walks
were solid and well kept, the green
sward sound and fo~urishinR. These
late stubbed and desolate trees were
now wide, green and branching. The
crocus borders were unbroken. the
formal monochrome beds, here and
there upon the lawn. showed c~lean-cut
and distinct. The tall pillars OF his
motley house even had a green veil
Ing OF Ivy, swiftly grown by art, and
not by time. On a terrace a bed OF
foliage plant, thirty feet long, grew
In the shape OF a word-a magic word
-"Rawn." II any passer-by wished
knowledge as to the creator of all
this, he might read as he ran
"Rawn."
Rawn passed up the steps and
looked out through the long hallway
from the rear of the house, or rather
Its real front, which lay upon the lake
shore. Beyond, he could see the faint
curl OF the distant steamers smoke
against the horizon. He stopped for a
moment, drinking In the scene OF
which he never tired. There were
birds twittering softly in the trees
about him. He caught the breath of
flowers, coming to him from the halls
within. Yes, IL was an abode suited
for a prominent citizen.
There came to meet him o the
quiet football which he had come TO
expect, mo- always patiently or with
pleasure, as the natural end of his
days labors; his wife, Laura. had
never forgotten this daily greeting OF
the old-fashioned wife TO her husband.
as the latter returned at the close of
his days labor.
He stopped as he heard her SLOW
tread upon the stair. She was com.
Ing to meet him. She always did. He.
John Rawn, controller OF men, a man
born to succeed and going yet higher,
had only, after all, an old-fashioned
wifei
II was an emergency this evening.
lie was accustomed TO meet emergen.
cies. He had come tonight prepared
to meet this one.
Laura" said he, after the servants
had drawn the curtains and left them
alon In the central room, whittier
they had repaired after dinner; sit
down here, / want to talk to you a
while"
Yes, john" said she quietly. But
she looked at him startled. Her face
grew suddenly grave. Be sure the
brute advancing to the pollax knows
Its fate. That was the look in Laura
Rawn's face now. Yes, John" she
said, knowing what blow was to be
hers.
He motioned her to a seat beyond
the little table and seated himself op-
posite. Reaching into a bulging peck
ct, he brought out a thick bundle OF
folded papers; long, narrow papers,
most OF them green, others brown. or
pale pink. He pushed this bundle
across the table. SO hat his wife must
see II. She reached out a hand, but
did not look at II.
What is II, John?' she said. Her
hand tarried, her face went still more
weary and gray. became even of an
asher pallor than was Its wont.
It's a trife. Laura" said John
Rawn. Look at 1t. There's bonds
and gilt-edge dividend-payers for just
exactly one million dollarsi"
"One million dollars, joint What do
you mean?"
Look at IL, see for yourself"
But, John-what does II mean?"
1T means a great deal, Mrs. Rawn,
a great deal for you. 1t took some
work to make 1t on my part. There are
not ten men In this town today who
could draw out of their business clean,
unhypothecated securities for a mil
lion dollars. I've seen to II that all
these are registered in your name.
It's my gift to you, without reserva-
ton"
John, how can I thank you-but I
don't want 1t! I've not earned 1t. I
wouldn't know what to do with 1t.
You're always $3.50 kind, John, with
me. But / can't take it, It's not