The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1906-01-13

Ut was early in the day. and the
fashionable establishment Of the
jeweler ROversi was almost bare
Of patrons. Dignified gentlemen.
gray or bald. were standing behind the
glass cases. waiting with waxen pla-
cidity for the opening Of the days bust
ness, and there was neither life nor
color In the scene save by the door,
where q golden haired young woman
daintily gowned was talking with Paul
ROversi, nephew Of the proprietor.
Between them was a small, plain, IN
expensive Jewel case, open. and the
lady was looking down into il. where
lay a string OF pearls, not large ones
nor especially notable 10 the ordinary
observer, but possessing reconcile mer-
its which commended them dearly TO
the cOnnoisseur.
Il love them" said Mrs. Hasbrouck.
81 could look at them all day. Aren't
they beautiful And she pushed the
box toward ROversl, who looked at the
pearls for a few seconds and then
closed the lid upon them. Mrs Has
brOuck turned a tiny key in the lock.
ROversi escorted her to the carriage
which waited before the door. and
when she was seated be put down the
little green casket beside her. He had
brought it from the store. holding It be-
fore IN in both hands as if il had
been fragile, and when be had set it in
the carriage he uttered some words OF
caution n a half testing tone.
1t mattered little what be said. He
fascinated hep always when he spoke.
for his lips were delicate and wonder
fully mobile. and his eyes Frightened
and changed with the current Of his
thought. Surely he was a remarkably
handsome young. man, and the lady
was aware Of his cuarm 10 the point Of
positive pain. Yet she could never IN
derstand why il should not be an IN
mixed pleasure; surely 1t was one that
no human being had a right to deny
her. She was a widow whose married
life had scarcely a semblance Of reality
In her memory. 1t was only a dream
Of a mans sudden and fatal illness.
and. looking back upon it, she seemed
10 behold herself in bridal dress and
mourning Grape on the same day.
Three years had dimmed the picture
She was a glrl in-heart and in looks-in
all things. indeed. except the independ-
ence Of her station and the control Of
a great fortune. Roversi was her equal
socially. and, though he had not a pen
ny Of his own. she had enough for two.
II he had extravagant tastes, so that
he must 60 to his indulgent uncle twice
a year with handful Of debts, at least
be was a gentlemanly spendthrift, and
his fOllies had never brought him into
condemnation under the easy code Of
modern society. 1t is not probable that
Mrs. HaSbrOuck analysed the young
mans character to any serious advan-
tage. Her fears and hopes. her joy and
pain, proceeded not from the workings
of her mind. but was from the agita-
tiOn Of her heart
Absorbed in meditatiOns which were
upon the whole agreeable, Mrs. Has
brOuck rode hOmeward with her pearls.
The carriage stopped beside the curb,
aud the lady glanced out Of the open
window, expecting to see the familiar
doOrsteps and red masonry before the
portal of her house. Instead she saw
the face Of a groom in her employ who
was standing in an attitude Of apology
with cap e. hand.
BEG pardon, ma'am." said he. Il
was on my way to Mr.. Chandler's"-
a maker Of saddlery-"abOut saddle