Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-04-18
CHATTER VIII.
AIazcs,r.

Ovcrton settled down into n rut,
waiting and working by fits and starts
upon his picture. During these weeks
he lived from hand to mouth. sciiin.
nm occasional pot boiler for pit.
,ance that jus; managed to keep the
wolf from tho door.
Days Eiided into weeks lie worked
spasmodicaiiy. wandered about Lon.
don. dreamed OF mighty things that he
could do II invested with the touch OF
Midas. and sometimes spent an even.
ing wish Mascttc and her aunt.
These social events always had
saiu,ary cffcc, upon oycrton. and many
times he brcathcd blessings upon the
little miniature painter for her sister.
ly affection. as he was pleased to con.
slider II. which soothcd him In such a
wonderful manner. :.
His painting was complete.
A he stood in front OF II he knew I,
was masterpiece that must withou, q
doub, bring him both fortune and
glory.
OH II she would but only wait un.
I'll the day when all London echoed
with his name. and IL would be an
honor 10 Know him.
but the hero of many an African nnd
indian border foray was impatient in
his wooing. sinec he had reached an
age when man must needs make
haste IL he expects to shake on the
thralidom of bachelorhood and takD
upon himself the VOWS and duties OF a
benedict. since the older he grows the
more difficult u becomes to assume
new obligations.
when Ovcrton read in the Times that
the wedding was TO occur on the next
Thursday evening at n fashionable
church he seemed turned into stone
for time. lie became moody. almost
sulien. He avoided those friends who
had been OF late such comfort to him.
Mazette chanced to meet him on the
strcet-pcrhaps the use Of that word
can hardly be allowed. since she pur.
poscly went out of her way to pass
near his lodgings In the hope Of seeing
him. for the article concerning Fc-
dora's coming marriage had caught
her eye. too. and she began to fear for
Jack again.
When she saw him SO moody and ap.
parently at cross purposes with the
whole world. abe felt very bitter te
ward FEDORA. and had II been in her
power Just then to remedy L,ttcrs.
even at the expense of pain to herself.
A.ukette would have only too gladly
done so. for Jack married to Fedora
and happy was far better than Jack
miserable, despondent and devoid OF
ambition.
The fatal evening came.
Jack had grimly made up his mind
he would by hook or crook witness the
ceremony that was to darken his life
and take from him the girl he had so
long looked upon as his inspiration.
Knowing that a fashionable audi
encc would fili the church. and that
admission without n card would be
difficult. he made friends with the or.
ganist and managed to get an invita-.
tion to occupy seat in the loft.
Mazette insisted on accompanying
him-at first he had been appalled, by
the thought of another witnessing his
mute suffering. but she was so per
sistent. and her sweet presence al.
ways served to arouse his better ma
ture. so finally he gave reluctant con.
sent.
When the organ pealed out the we'd
ding march from "Lohengrin." Over.
ton shut his teeth hard and waited the
coming OF the white procession that
started down the aisle, flower girls
strcwing the way with rare blossoms.
Fedora looked like dream-her ap.
pearance would haunt him to his dying
day.
And Livermore was very handsome
in his dress suit-he appeared very