Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-05
THE RANDOLPHS
OF NEVADA<~
BY HERMAN KNOELLER
DD0O00OG@0G GG000G0S
Copyright, 1903, by Daily Story Pub. co.,

and under protest. She was
heartily sick of it all. Her three
years experience sin society" since
she left school lad filed her with dis.
satisfaction and contempt. The pleas
ures she had anticipated had turned
to ashes in the realization. Instead
of the knight of her girlish dreams,
she had found co1orless idlers, addie-
fpated champions OF the golf field, and
men of the world who filed her with
distrust. The women seemed either
too narrow and frivolous to endure.
or so worldly-wise az to be fit com
.panions for the men with the past.
However, she was beautiful and
placid as ever as, she swept into the
drawing-room at the Mortimers. AS
usual, she became at once the center
of a group of clustering guests.
Presently an audible hutter near
the door drew attention. The man
who caused it was entirely conscious
of his situation, which made tt worse
He was wholly, out of keeping with
the company. Tall and sinewy, his
sun-burned face 8 contrasted oddly
with the dollhouse pallor Of the other
III
evening coat, he wore a Prince AlDer1i
and wore it MOST ungracefully. Ills
attire throughout lacked the hutle
elerances so essential to correctness,
and his whole bearing was that OF
q cat in strange garnet.
seFor goodness sake, how did that
break nP'' giggled A1gy Warn Basc1t' ad-
iustinsy hts monocle.
"Oh. that must be MIR, Rando1ph-a
business acquaintance of paP@s from
the west" exclaimed Heien Morhmer'
with a. glance of mock severity at Algy.
sPapa says he "a very smart young
man who has done SOME wonderful
things in engineering or Irrigation, or
something like that, and he wants to
show him some country" and Helen
turned to meet him.
Nobody excepting Mr.. Mortimer took
pains to make matters easier for the
stranger and he f1oundered worse the
further into the room he got. He APP
preciabed fully his helplessnessand his
disadvantage. Every one was on the
point Cor over .it) Of Eiggling and some
Of those to whom he was presented
could not resist a sly fling. His own
speech was Disconnected and altogeth-
er the situation was painful Fannie
could not resist joining the spirit Of
mischief. AIber8, she knew it was i'll
bred.
"Of the Virginia Randolphs 2" she
inquired innocently, and it was pain
fully apparent that the group was sup
pressing a giggle with effort.
The effect ON the stranger was cleo
trical. His nervous half-fright drop
ped from him in an instant. He threw
his head back and his keen, gray eyes
looked straight into Fannie's with an
expression SO domir ating and self-as-
sertive that hers dropped
. -'tNo," he replied, with quiet en-
phasis, "of the Nevada Rsndolphs."
The suggestion of litter. ceased. There
was a moment OF eloquent silence
Then Van Biscit, who felt called ON to
come to Fannie's rescue, asked:
"Old Family-the Nevada Ran
dolphs2" ss
sNo, very new replied Randolph,
turning to Van Biscit with the same
stern expression which sent the cold
chi1ls chasing up and down Algy's back.
ssWe make 1t our pride out there to
found families raher than boast of the
deeds of our ancestors. We are too busy
building an empire in the wilderness
and accommodating money for our sons
and grandsons to spend and brag about
to find time to make a study of family
trees"
The situation was becoming strained
and Mr.. Mortimer hurried his guest
along, chuckhng audibIy at the dis
comforture in hfs wake.
Tt was destined TO be an evening of
mishaps, for just as the refreshments
were served the electric lights went
out without warning. Lamps and can
dies were hurried ON, but made sorry
showing in! the great Ginning hall. Pres
emily it was reported to Mr.. Mortimer
that nobody in. the estab lishment could
find the cause Of the dffhculty and that
the electrician ,telsphoned for could
mot be there for an hour, or more. Ran
do1ph went over and whisperedt to Nor
timer and the two disappeared In a
few moments t1ierecalc led trant lights re-
suned business and shortly after the
two men reappeared, Randolph with
cuffs somewhat soiled, and coat wrinl1-
led, and Mortimer explained that the
party owed the illumination to Mr..
Randolph, who had found the trouble
with some difficulty and corrected it.
Fannie looked at Randolph curiously.
He was very differ emit man than when
he stumbled awkwardly into the room.
There was conscious power in his face
and perfect self-poss ession in his car
riage. Before leaving she sought him
cut and said:
''Mr. Randolph, want TO apologize
to you for my rudness. 1t was ill-bred
and inexcusab1e from any point Of
view" -t.5
''Do not mention it, beg of you" he
replied heartily. IT appreciate the
fact that am very much ont Of place
here, and If look like I feel, most
legitimate object Of ridicule."