Алая чума

           Allhecouldtalkaboutwasmotorcars,machinery,gasoline,andgarages—andespecially,andwithhugedelight,ofhismeanpilferingsandsordidswindlingsofthepersonswhohademployedhiminthedaysbeforethecomingoftheplague. Andyethewasspared,whilehundredsofmillions,yea,billions,ofbettermenweredestroyed. 

           “Iwentonwithhimtohiscamp,andthereIsawher,Vesta,theonewoman. Itwasgloriousand...pitiful. Thereshewas,VestaVanWarden,theyoungwifeofJohnVanWarden,cladinrags,withmarredandscarredandtoil-callousedhands,bendingoverthecampfireanddoingscullionwork—she,Vesta,whohadbeenborntothepurpleofthegreatestbaronageofwealththeworldhadeverknown. JohnVanWarden,herhusband,worthonebillion,eighthundredmillionsandPresidentoftheBoardofIndustrialMagnates,hadbeentherulerofAmerica. Also,sittingontheInternationalBoardofControl,hehadbeenoneofthesevenmenwhoruledtheworld. Andsheherselfhadcomeofequallynoblestock. Herfather,PhilipSaxon,hadbeenPresidentoftheBoardofIndustrialMagnatesuptothetimeofhisdeath. Thisofficewasinprocessofbecominghereditary,andhadPhilipSaxonhadasonthatsonwouldhavesucceededhim. ButhisonlychildwasVesta,theperfectflowerofgenerationsofthehighestculturethisplanethaseverproduced. ItwasnotuntiltheengagementbetweenVestaandVanWardentookplace,thatSaxonindicatedthelatterashissuccessor. Itwas,Iamsure,apoliticalmarriage.