He turned his attention with renewed force to his business; but it was with many a backward glance at those radiant hours when, with Rita in his presence or enfolded by his arms, he had seen life from a new and poetic angle.

She was so charming, so naive--but what could he do?
For several years thereafter Cowperwood was busy following the Chicago street-railway situation with increasing interest.

He knew it was useless to brood over Rita Sohlberg--she would not return--and yet he could not help it; but he could work hard, and that was something.

His natural aptitude and affection for street-railway work had long since been demonstrated, and it was now making him restless.

One might have said of him quite truly that the tinkle of car-bells and the plop of plodding horses' feet was in his blood.