The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-04-08

kEEz4tET4 : SsSenan--N3&D
THE PICTURE WAS A LIKENESS OF TIE
COUNTESS yECCHI.
Of young Mr. Walloway. A question
suddenly occurring to the Chcrub. he
abruptly walked back to whery young
Mr.. Walloway still sat, intently gazing
at something he held shielded in his
two hands. 1t was nothing more than
the gold oval which he wore as a
watch fob. Dozens Of times the Cherub
had seen it dangling from the breast
pocket Of Nick's coat without specially
remarking it. Now he noted that it
was really locket. for it YVES open.
CHANGING carelessly over Nick's Shout
der, he saw it contained a pi rturc, q
miniature on ivory. And the picture
on which young Mr.. Walloway vas
gazing with such rapt pathos was a
likeness Of the Countess VeccEi. And
In an instant 1t was made clear to him
that the woman whom Nicholas Wal
loway had loved and lost and sill con-
tinued to love was the Countess VEG
Chi
Fortunately Mr.. Devine had not spo-
ken. and the roar Of the car wheels
had drowned his approach. Swiftly
he withdrew. Then he sat down to
ponder on the situation. Quite abrupt,
ly the Cherub now came upon the real
ization of his own purposes. He was
a little staggered by the discovery OF
his audacity. but this was no new
sensation. His audacious flights were
always more or less Of an impromptu
nature. In a moment he was smiling
confidently, as was his custom when
once he had decided upon a line OF
action. however unpromising might be
the future. The heavier the clouds
ahead the lighter the smile. Nick was
good fellow and all that, but If be
chose to NOPE inactive in the back
ground let him stay there. He Cher
ub Devine) would show him how to
| play the game boldly-perhaps how to
win.
And then came the thought, Would
that be absolutely just to the Count
ess Vecchi? She and Nicholas haC
| been spoony on each other ior years
and she must have liked Nick. He
| was a likable fellow, clean. sturdy
substantial, one of her own class. anC
oh. the Cherub WINGED at that-one
| whom she would call a gentleman
| Yes. Nick would measure up to all bel
demands as to what a gentleman
should be.
| And had it been really she who haC
| broken off the match. or was II due Il
the ambitious plans of her father
Then after she had come back, hun
! bled in spirit. the Hewington fortuna
| dissipated. had she perhaps held Mel
at arms length because Of her prjde
! Was this the reason of his seen!n:
| inaction? Had he been all the tim
waiting in the hope that some day sh
| would relent. and might she MT do SC
now that In some measure her fori I'M
had been restored? Ought not Sha t
have the chance? Was not the oppOi
tunity for a free choice due 10 her
Shouldn't Nick have another show 100
Floundering through some sue
maze of reasoning. the Cherub at las
/ came to this brilliant conclusion. Wit
only faint suspicion that ne wa
about to make al astonishing chIm
Of himself. He even experienced
glow of satisfaction as he hastily maj
ped out his new program. IcI Wput
almost have thought by the rhevrft
manner in which he laid II beTor
young Mr.. Walioway that he thoug'
he was attaining long DESIRE ED.
well. Nick" he began. this time Si'
ing young Mr.. Walloway due waruin
Of his approach. we're almost tter'
Now. the first thing on the { pchet
for you to fix up this business aDoU
the house with the countess"
az" exclaimed Nicholas.
"Why. sure, You know her bette
than do. You go up and have ia
with her; tell her how you sold II
stocks and what she can buy back It
property for"
"But-but-why don't you
"Me. Oh. I've got 10 skip back
| town on this train Just wanted
get you started straight. You can {
it so much better than l can. being OIL
Of her own kind. and all that. Aret
afraid Of the countess. are YOU"
why, no. But see here. Clerub"-
"Now. that's all right. Nick. Il
can do this fine. But, say. you call Il
up on the phone at my hotel TONG
and let me know how you come OF
eh? Don't forget that. about . o'cloc
Just give NE line on how she tax
1t and SO on. You'll have some |
port or other 10 make. I'll bet. NeedI
make too much OF my share in I
| business Just talk like Id handed
over to you. as | have. You're ECU
to that job, aren't you"'
Now. just what sort Of mental pro
ess went on in the brain of Nichol
Waiioway it would be vain TO try
trace. he was a complex prodU
whose character had been nodded I
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