joy of youth and life. He runs up the steps, two at a time. The lady
on the porch lifts her eyes just one moment, but womanlike she sees
much in a glance. She sees that his eyes are of a wonderful dark blue;
that his hair is thick and wavy; and that he is tall, straight and
strong. How lithe and supple he seems, too, as he runs up the steps
and disappears into the house. Has he seen the lady Madonna? She does
not know. There is indeed something strange about this dark haired
man; something out of the ordinary and fascinating....

The Holbrooks had been immensely wealthy at one time but owing to
gambling and unsuccessful mining deals their fortune had dwindled, and
at the death of Mr. Holbrook his widow had found that her sole
possessions consisted of a beautiful home and three lovely children.
Eileen Reed had come to Mrs. Holbrook with a letter of introduction
from a friend in the East, and had been taken into the home for the
period of her exile.

It was young Holbrook who had tripped up the steps and entered the
house without apparently seeing her. Having a keen woman's
understanding, I wondered if this apparent ignoring of the lady's
presence was not what first caused her keen interest in the young man,
for Eileen was not accustomed to being ignored. She bore her crown of
beauty with added brilliance and grace because of the passing years,
and was fully aware of her power to sway the will of those about her,
and move the hearts of men with her irresistible charm and perfect
splendor, alike persuasive, compelling and all-powerful.

She had never really loved: a poor girl of a respectable family, she
had taken up nursing; had married a wealthy doctor, and had been in
the position of the penniless but beautiful wife of a rich husband.