The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-04-01

on which young air. WaiIoway was
gazing with such rapt pathos was a
| likeness Of the Countess Vecchi And
| in an instant it was made clear to him
that the woman whom Nicholas Wal
lOway had loved and lost and still con-
tinued to love was the Countess Vec-
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 abrup.
ly the Cherub now came upon the real
ization of his. own purposes. He was
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 moment he was smiling
confidently. as was his custom when
once he had decided upon line Of
action. however unpromising might be
the future TIL, heavier the clouds
ahead the lighter the smile. Nick was
good fellow and all that, but If he
chose to nope inactive in the back
ground let him stay there. He Cher
ub Deyine) 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 had
been spoony on each other for years.
and she must have liked Nick. He
was a likable fellow, clean, sturdy,
substantial, one Of her own class, and
oh, the Cherub WINGED at that-one
| whom she would call a gentleman.
Yes. Nick would measure up to all her
demands as to what gentleman
should be.
And had it been really she who had
broken off the match, or was it due to
the ambitious plans Of her father?
Then after she had come back, hum
bled in spirit, the Hewington fortune
dissipated, had she perhaps held Nick
at arms length because Of her pride?
| Was this the reason of his seeming
inaction? Had he been all the time
waiting in the hope that some day she
would relent. and might she not do so.
now that in some measure her fortune
had been restored? Ought not she to
have the chance? Was not the oppor-
tunity for free choice due to her?
| Shouldn't Nick have another show too?
| Floundering through some such
maze of reasoning, the Cherub at last
came to this brilliant conclusion. with
only a faint suspicion that he was
about to make an astonishing chump
of himself He even experienced a
glow Of satisfaction as he hastily map
ped out his new program. You would
almost have thought by the cheerful
manner in which he laid it before
young Mr.. Walloway that he thought
he was attaining long desired end.
"Well. Nick" he began. this time CIV
ing young Mr.. Walloway due warning
of his approach. we're almost there.
Now. the first thing on the docket is
for you to fix up this business about
the house with the countess"
"I?" exclaimed Nicholas.
"Why. sure. You know her better
than do. You go up and have talk
with her: tell her how you sold the
stocks and what she can buy back the
property for"
| "But-but-why don't you
me. Oh. I've got to skip back to
town on this train. Just wanted to
get you started straight. You can do
1t so much better than can. being one
Of her own kind. and all that. Aren't
afraid of the countess, are you"
why, no. But see here, Cherub"-
"Now. that's all right, Nick. You
can do this fine. But, say, you call me
up on the phone at my hotel tonight
and let me know how you come out,
eh? Don't forget that. about 9 o'clock.
Just give me line on how she takes
it and so on You'll have some re-
/ port or other to make. I'll bet. Needn't
make too much of my snare in
business. Just talk like I'd handed it
over to you. as have. You're equal
to that job. aren't your
Now, just what sort Of mental proc
ess went on in the brain of Nicholas
WallOway it would be vain to try to
trace He was complex product
whose character had been nodded not
only by circumstances of birth and
breeding, but by the strong stamp Of
heredity.
! He was a young man chiefly distin-
guished by reserved stiffness Of
manner. quality which often inspires
! a confidence that obvious genius fails
to command. If, in hesitating to ac-
cept the advantage offered him by the
impulsive Mr.. Devine. he was trou-
bled by problems of an ethical nature,
! he allowed them to be easily swept
away. For many months he had want
ed to see the Countess Vecchi. Earnest
ly he had wished for a chance to talk
to her alone. and now this very Oppor-
tunity was thrust upon him.
well. Cherub, if you think you had
better leave this to me. why, p
Good! And don't forget about call
ing me up tonight to let me know
what luck you have"