This eBook was produced by Charles Aldarondo and Carrie Fellman. THE ONE WOMAN A STORY OF MODERN UTOPIA BY THOMAS DIXON, JR. ILLUSTRATED BY B. WEST CLINEDINST DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MY MOTHER (1834-1902) TO WHOSE SCOTCH LOVE OF ROMANTIC LITERATURE I OWE THE HERITAGE OF ETERNAL YOUTH CONTENTS I. The Man and the Woman II. Visions in the Night III. The Banker and His Fad IV. The Shorthorn Deacon V. The Cry of the City VI. The Puddle and the Tadpole VII. A Stolen Kiss VIII. Sweet Danger IX. The Spider X. The Black Cat XI. An Answer to Prayer XII. Out of the Shadows XIII. A Broken Heart-String XIV. The Voice of the Siren XV. Goest Thou to See a Woman? XVI. The Parting XVII. The Thought That Sweeps the Century XVIII. A Voice from the Past XIX. The Wedding of the Annunciation XX. An Old Sweetheart XXI. Freedom and Fellowship XXII. A Scarlet Flame in the Sky XXIII. The New Heaven XXIV. Courtier and Queen XXV. The Irony of Fate XXVI. At Close Quarters XXVII. Venus Victrix XXVIII. The Growl of the Animal XXIX. Bulldog and Mastiff XXX. The Cloud's Silver Lining XXXI. A Lace Handkerchief XXXII. A Lifetime in a Day XXXIII. The Verdict XXXIV. The Appeal XXXV. Between Two Fires XXXVI. Swift and Beautiful Feet XXXVII. The Kiss of the Bride List of Illustrations "Her tapering fingers rested on his broad foot." "About her personality there was a haunting charm, the breath of a soul capable of the highest heroism." "Little ringlets of hair curling about her face as though scorched by the warmth of the red blood below." "Ripped it open, tore it from his arms, and threw it on the floor." "Her arms stole around his neck." "A faint cry came from the full lips." "Driving his great fingers into his throat." "A cheer suddenly burst from the crowd and echoed through the court-room." Leading Characters of the Story Scene: New York-Time: The Present RUTH GORDON . . . The One Woman REV. FRANK GORDON . . A Social Dreamer KATE RANSOM . . . The Other Woman MARK OVERMAN . . . .A Banker MORRIS KING . . Ruth's Old Sweetheart ARNOLD VAN METER . . A Shorthorn Deacon BARRINGER . . Assistant District Attorney CHAPTER I THE MAN AND THE WOMAN "Quick--a glass of water!" A man sprang to his feet, beckoning to an usher. When he reached the seat, the woman had recovered by a supreme effort of will and sat erect, her face flushed with anger at her own weakness. "Thank you, I am quite well now," she said with dignity. The man settled back and the usher returned to his place and stood watching her out of the corners of his eyes, fascinated by her beauty.