The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-02-07
CHAPTER I'll.
The New Mr.. Raw1.


It was a wholly different John .Rawn
who. at forty-eight, found himself
seated at the vast and shining desk
OF the president Of the International
Power Company, in the city Of Chi
cago. The past was so far behind
him that ne could not with the utmost
striving reconstruct the picture of it.
He was wholly new, distinct and diff,
ferent man. He had not as yet ever
worked at a desk blessed with a TOW
Of push buttons, and was ignorant as
yet, and very naturally, in regard to
the particular function Of each Of
these several buttons whose mother
of pearl faces now confronted him.
Resolving to take them seriatim, he
pushed the one farthest to the right;
which, as it chanced, was the one ar
ranged to call to him his personal
stenographer.
The door opened silently. John
Rawn looked up and saw standing be-
for him young woman whom he had
never seen before. II beg pardon.
Madam" said he, half rising. 81
didn't know you were there. How did
is there anything can do for you?'
"I am the stenographer assigned
for your work, Mr. Rawn, until you
shall have concluded your own ar
rapgements III the Office" answered
the young woman.
She was almost tall, certainly and
wholly shapely; young, Sbut fully and
adequately feminine; wonanly indeed
an every well curved line. Her hands
and feet, her afms-the latter now
disclosed by half sleeves-all were OF
good modelling. Her hair, piled up in
rather high Grecian eoiffure and con-
fined by a bandeau Of gold-brocaded
ribbon, was perhaps just in the least
startling.
Virginia Delaware, Mr. Rawn's per-
;sonal stenographer, was born the
daughter of a st. Louis baker. She
had, however, passed through that
epoch of her development and by
some means best known to herself
and her family, had attained good
education, ended by three years in
young ladies' finishing school in the
east.
'T was just about to say" he went
on. chat I intended to have the boy
get my car ready. Would you tell him
to have 1t at the door in fifteen min
utes? Then come back. There are
-. -. +,,,o 1;T%1o lot1orc
A few moments later the young
woman was seated at a small table
near the end of the desk. Without
any nervousness she awaited his pleas
Ure.
Mr.. Rawn's long and shiny car was
waiting for him when he stepped with
stately dignity down the broad stair
of the National Union Club.
Threading it's path through the
crowded traffic of the side streets, the
scar presently turned up the long
rnurthbound artery Of the great west
,arn city. Miles Of cars carried hun
dreds of me-. :, ms Of niaHSiGHs
LESS than an horr, from town to home
John Rawn also pulled up at the eli
trance to mis- home. Speed limits arc
not for such as Mr.. Rawn.
This residence, yet another OF these
,pretentious mansions, topheavy on
it's inadequate delimitatioEs, and done
by one Of the most ingenious archl
tects to be found for money, was as
new. as hideous, as barbarous as any
that could be found in all that Ions
assemblage Of varied proofs OF aTeiil'
tectural alterations. 1t was as ne"
as Mr.. Rawn himself. The brick
walks were hardly yet firmly settled,
the shrubs were not yet sure CT root
the crocus rows in the borders still
Showed gaps Large trees, transplant
ed BODILY, still were sick at heart IN
their new surroundings.
.Rawn's dignity was such that he
scarcely saw the man who took MS
cost and hat, and who received no
greeting from his master. Laura Rawn
needed to speak to him the second
time.
We'll" said he. turning and signing
@Fhow's everything?'
Very well, John"
Not so bad, eh?" He jerked
thumb to indicate the lake.
TITS grand!' said his wife, yet with
mo vast enthusiasm in her tone
''I should say it is grand! Anyhow
there's nothing grander around chi
cago. There's not very much here IN
the way Of scenery. OF course IN
New York"
"oh. don't let us talk Of New York.
John"
"I don't see how l could stand any
4hing bigger or grander than this,
It could not have been called a
wholly happy family gathering, this a.