Allison gazed absent mindedly at the passing landscape as the surrey wended its way along the road from the train station to South Fork’s Lake Conemaugh. She barely took notice as Andrew and the other young man prattled on about the brilliance of his recent business venture.
A classmate from Harvard, Powell Sutton had been raised on an Alabama cotton plantation. During the war, the Suttons came north and reinvested their wealth in steel to amass a great fortune, sufficient to open the doors to even the most elite social circles. This was fortunate for Powell since, as engaging as he was at first blush, his proclivities didn"t lean toward matters of kindness or sincerity. Of course, women adored him during the early stages of acquaintance. His acerbic wit and delightful drawl enlivened any
