The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-03-28
CHAPTER Y.

were expected at supper.
BEG pardon, sir but it is impossible,
sir We are not prepared. There's
only small filet in the house, sir, and
not duck-not a single duck"
Have SQUAD, then"
But, sir, we haven't
ooh, don't go on telling me what you
haven't got. Hash up anything. Make
some sandwiches if you can't do bet
ter. Only don't come to me with your
troubles. I'm no chef. But I'm going
to have some friends here tonight, and
/ shall expect you to feed them. That's
what you're here for, isn't it:'
"Ye-e-e-es, sir. At what hour, sir:''
"Eight-thirty, sharp"
"And how-how many plates, sir:'
81 don't know. Ten or fifteen or
twenty. Better make it twenty, and
then you can discard"
''I'll do my best, SIR
That's the way to talk, Eppings."
Having made these offhand prepare
lions, Mr.. Devine sat himself down on
the veranda. He heard a step and
looked up to see before him the arts
tocratic figure of the Countess Vecchi's
father. Mr. Hewington seemed some
what agitated.
You must pardon me, sir, for
seeming impertinence,'' he began, but
I have just learned by accident that
you contemplate giving a party here
tonight. Is it a fact?'
Mr.. Devine nodded. "Just a few
friends, a dozen or So
"Ah. Friends of yours" Mr. Hew
ingtOn gave the words a significant
emphasis. Then would it not beer
-prudent-perhaps discreet is the bet.
ter word-for my daughter to so else
where for the night-to the hotel in
the village perhaps:"
There was a twinkle in the Cherub's
blue eyes as he responded, Afraid Of
rough house, are you:'
My daughter. sir, is not exactly ac-
customed to-er-the KIND of persons
who might
'Oh, see. Well, suit yourself about
it-suit yourself. But it isn't at all
necessary. l shall try to keep them
quiet There are to be only a few
neighbors-the Walloways and
THE Wallowaysw
Eyes. and the Wilburs and the Mil
ler-Tremways and old Bishop Horton
and a stray baron or two"
Bishop Horton! Is Bishop Horton
coming? Coming here:'
"Why, yes. The bishops a friend OF
| mine. Know him, do you?"
I'VE We're college classmates, Mr.
Devine," said Mr.. Hewington.
That SO. 1 never went to college
| with the bishop, but I've crossed the
ocean with him twice, and once l held
| his hat While he made a speech"
"Extraordinaryv' said Mr.. Hewing
| ton.
"Think so? 1t may seem little
| queer to you, but the bishop doesn't
appear to look at it that way. Come
| down and meet him and the rest OF
the folks, won't you? We're to have
little supper about half past 8. And
say. bring the countess-that is. unless
| you're afraid of the crowd"
This last was violation Of a para
graph in the Cherub's own code OF
ethics, paragraph which read, "Whe1
the other fellows down and out dom
rub it in" But the words had escaped
before he knew it. Fortunately Mr.
| Hewington did not seem to notice the
allusion, for he retired. repeating in ar
| undertone: "The Walloways. Bishop
Horton! The MillerTremways.
And sure enough, early in the even
ing the big rooms Of the great house
began to echo with the lively chatter
of many guests. There was the portl!
Mrs. Walloway, whose dinner dances
are always such brilliant affairs; there
were the naughty Wilburs, the hyphen
| ated Tremways and a half dozen 9th
ers without whose names and pic
lures the Sunday supplements would
be incomplete.
They were somewhat disposed t.
| look curiously upon Mr.. Cherub De
vine at first, but when the bishop hat
patted him affectionately on the shout
der and the baron had effusively EN-
braced him the atmosphere thawet
perceptibly.
The one person who was least at hi
ease was young Mr.. Walloway. Fo
awhile he was sitter than ever and b.
had the air Of one who expects some
thing very embarrassing to happen.
But the Cherub was undi> urbed
Thus far he had gained his point
Whether Nick Walloway had been in
f1uenced by that suggestion Of futur'
business or whether he had acted pure
~ from motives of good fellowship h
cared not. The thing had been done
The program which the Cherub hat
so hastily outlined that morning wa
being carried out Moreover, his guest
appeared to be enjoying the novelty.
In the course Of half an hour ever
Nick Walloway seemed to have be
come treasured that nothing untOwar'
was about to happen. AS a matter o
fact, Mr.. Devine was acquittiLg him
self creditably.
Isn't he unique? So charmingl.
naive" whispered Mrs. MillerTrem
way.
Perfectly delightful"' assented Mrs
Wilbur. He says such odd things"
$50 glad you're to be a neighbor o
ours" the latter assured Mr.. Deyine
And how do you like Hewingtol
Acres:'
"Oh. it's 4 good deal like living Il
Central park" observed the Cherub
grass looks as if it had had i shave
hair cut and a shampoo, you know
| All tho piaca lacks are some IpuC 10