The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-01-22

And then 1t occurred to John Rawn
with sudden and ~unpleasing force
that, although he was among this
Ithrong, he was not OF It. Himself a
man OF power, success, yes, even OF
wealth. he lacked In certain betoken,
ing appurtenances thereto. A not un-
usual wave of self-pity crept slowly
lover him. Why should he, a mar OF
his attainments, lack In any degree
what others had?
He stood bordering, not wholly hap.
lpy. until presently he felt, rather than
saw, a glance bent upon him by a
man who passed, a stately and well.
CARRIED young woman upon his arm.
He was q man now In faultless eve
ming dress, yet easily to be recognized
none less, indeed, than the dyspep-
tic director who SO summarily had
been dismissed by John Rawn himself
not three hours ago. His dark face
hccs,ne 'aRen darker SIS he saw the
victor OF that controversy standing
here alone. He smiled s~ardonically.
To Rawn 1t seemed that he smiled
because he saw the solitary attitude
of a man as good as himself, as fit
as himself for all the insignia OF
power, yet publicly self-confessed as
lacking all such insignia. He start
ed. flushed, frowned. He had shown
these men, these influential magnates
In New York. that he could be their
master upon occasion-he had mas
tered this man passing yonder. Yet
now he stood here alone, with no
woman to advertise his power to the
world; and men laughed at himl No
woman wore his silks, displayed his
jewels. He was John Rawn, born to
the purple; yet he might be taken
here for a country merchant on his
first trip from home.
He turned to the k~ey-counter. The
clerk. with infallible instinct-without
his request-handed him the key to
his room. not lacking acquaintance
with men of Mr.. Rawn's acquaintance,
and knowing money when he saw 1t.
/. Rawn passed down the hall,
went up two flights in the elevator,
turned into the left-hand corridor, and
at length knocked deliberately at a
door where q light showed.
"Comel" called a soft voice. He
knocked again, a trife hesitant, and
looked down the corridor, each way.
The voice repeated, "Comel" He
pushed open the door.
Virginia Delaware stood before her
dressing-glass, her toilet for evening
completed except perhaps for a touch
about her couture. She turned now.
and flushed as she saw her visitor.
Mr.. Rawni" she exclaimed; Il
thought 1t was the maidi l had just
called her."
"Rawn turned and shut the door
Never mind her." he said. 81 will
be gone In a minute. / just wanted"
You must go!" she exclaimed.
You ought not to have come--it Is
not permitted-it Is not right"
How stunning you look, Miss Della
ware!" was all he said. He had never
before seen her arrayed In keeping
with these other lilies OF the field.
indeed. his life had given him small
acquaintance with conventions, or
hose who practiced them. He had
no mental process of analysis as he
gazed at her now, or he might have
seen that after all the young woman's
costume was no more than one of
flmy blue, draped over a pure and
Iustrous white. He could not have
named the fashion which drew it so
1aringly close at hip and hem as to
reveal frankly all the lines OF a figure
which needed not to dread revelation
Tor its W sake, whether or not for
other sake. He could not have
guessed what skill belonged to the
hand that fashioned this raIment,
could not have told It's cost. To him
the young woman was very beautiful:
and he was too much confused to be
capable of ~anlysis. The corsage of the
gown, cut square and daringly deep,
displayed neck and shoulders white
as those Of any woman OF any city.
Her figure gave lines had her costume
not aided. She was beautiful, yes.
And there was something more,
Rawn could not tell what. There was
some air of excitement. of exaltation,
some sort OF fever about her, upon
her. In her eyes shone something
Rawn had lever noticed there before.
Hastily he made such inventory as he
might of unanalyzed charms. He ar
rived at his conclusion, which was.
that Virginia Delaware would dol
You could travel In fast
my dear GIRL" said he approvingly.
What do you mean?" She turned
upon him.
That you could go quite a consider.
able pace, my dear girl. You'll do. Let
me see your hands!" he demanded.
And In spite of her he coolly tool up
q hand, examining the shapely finger
tips. He sighed. No needle had
blackened or roughened them, the
typewriter keys had not yet fattened
them. He stepped back, looked at
her from head to foot, appraising all
her graces, valuing her height and
roundness Of figure. There was small
light In his eye other than that of
judicial approval. She bore out his