The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-07
BUT THREE FACTS
Woman Shows Ambitious Hus.
band That Only Life, Love
and Death Count.
BY HARRIET M. ABBOTT.

| ~AioHSN az yOu.
Look over this great city. You see
at every hand men whose prosperity
depends on the merest turn of the
wheel. No, I'm not claiming thai
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 was the reply
with a slow, whimsical smile. Thus
If 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 good aim and steady hand"
Granted, but-suppose we take, as
example, 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
Wenwright for winning Edith Sils
bee? He 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 jove he doesn't pose as a
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, that night. so vivid
a picture of his early days that you
could fairly see the chrysals of the
awkward Vermont lad from which
emerged our present Napoleon of
finance. That's a hackneyed expires.
sion, but it's Jim Wainwright to the
life"
Indeed" Jennings drew in his
breath sharply. And If he is Napo-
leon, what, then, of Josephine?"
"You mean Mrs. Wainwright?
His companion hesitated Unlike
her husband, she is not in the public
eye; or, at least, not more so than
ia unavoidable She Is no social devo-
Ton hIt hnr NJ mo g Oftnn "A
with philanthropic movements On
the rare occasion when | have seen
her, have thought her as unassum-
ing as in the days when. the GOOD old
professors daughter, she dispensed
her hospitality in the white house be.
hind the elms."
A vision rose before them OF that
fair young girl and Jennings impuls-
ively exclaimed: ITO think of the in
SEPARATION she might have been to al.
most any man! Yet, such Is the irony
Of Fate, that she is doomed to wholly
merge her identity"
who knows" was the sober ques-
ton. "'Tis ticklish thing to cir
cumscribe woman's influence, even
in fancy. You never saw Wenwright
in just the light did, Jennings. There
is very defiance Of daring In the
man. that appeals to me, and at the
same time he has curious respon.
siveness. How can you tell what the
fine alchemy of his wife's nature may
do. even for the strong mind Of a Ma
poleon? But, bark. the newsboys are
calling Extras on the street below.
Suppose We stroll along and discover
the cause Of the excitement"
It was but a few hours later, when,
not three miles away, Hon. James
Wenwright hurriedly fitted his 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 Sc
clusion. A faint breeze gently stirred
the curtains, and the heat and hustle
Of the city seemed remote and forgot
ten. yet the burden Of the hour was
not one to be readily cast aside, and
as the mans gaze roved over the
quiet room he shuddered at the mir.
rored reflection Of his haggard face
Could that set. gray countenance,
with dull and nervous lips, be indeed
bis own?
AS If to ward of a blow, he threw
out hand, and recoiled instinctively,
as his fingers touched an icy, pol
lshed surface. What was that? All,
the statute! the Winged Victory
poised on its pedestal, in all the white
Of beauty and pride. What
place had Winged Victory here,
within his walls?
The muscles around Wenwright's I
mouth twitched in an ironical SEM
1lance of humor, and with the sar-
Ionic smile that was, in truth, but an
narticulate moan, he muttered: Con
ronted by Victory, and tonight! The
world has a grim fancy for contrast"
Had his dauntless ambition leading
lin to risk more and more, In order
o quaff deeper draughts from the
,olden cup lured him to destruction?
lie had never set sail to fear" had
relieved in victory, never in defeat;
tut growing holder. intoxicated with
uccess. he. too. had been at last out
ritted. and tonight he beheld himself b
"a ruined man
Who could have foretold that sud.