The southern sentinel., 1903-09-18
THE RANDOLPHS
OF NEVADA< <
By HERMAN KNoELLER

XMNanSCDDGCGS
pOpyr.sns, l,ss. By DAILY story Pub. CO..
rANNIE went to the party In pet
and under protest. She was
Heartily sick of it all. Her three
wears experience lin society since
She left school lad filled 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 girlfsh dreams
she had found colorless idlers, adoie-
pated champions of the golf fieid' ana
men of the world who filled her win
distrust. The women seemed either
too narrow and frivolous to endure
or so worldly-wise as to be mt com.
uanions for the men with the past.
However, she was beautiful ana
placid as ever as she swept into the
drawing-room at the Mortlmers. AS
usual. she became at once the center
of group Of chattering guests.
Presently an audible fiutter near
The door drew attention. The man
who caused it was entirely conscious
of his situation, which made 1t worse
He was wholly out of keeping with
the company. Tall and sinewy, his
sun-burned face contrasted oddly
with the hothouse pallor of the other
men. Instead of the conventional
evening coat, he wore Prince Albert
and wore it most ungracefuiiy. nus
attire throughout lacked the iittte
elepances so essential to correctness.
and his whole bearing was that Oh
= cat in a strange garret.
~ror goodness sa.le, how did that
break in?" giggled Algy Van Biscit' ao-
iusting hrs monocle.
ssOh. that must be Mr.. Randolph
business acquaintance OF paPa's from
the west" exclaimed Helen Mortimer,
with a glance of mock severity at Algy.
sPapa says he is a very smart young
man who has done some wonderful
things in engineering or irrigation OF
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 foundered worse the
further into the room he got. he ap-
preciated fully his helplessnessand hrs
Every one was on the
point Tor over it) of giggling and some
of those to whom he was presented
could not resist sly fling. His own
speech was disconnected and altogeth-
er the situation was painful. Fannie
could not resist joining the spirit OF
mischief. Albert, she knew it was ILL
bred.
ssOf the Virginia Randolphs?" she
inquired innocently, and it was pain
fully apparent that the group was sup
pressing q 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
so dominating and self-as-
sertive that hers dropped.
'sNo," he replied, with quiet en-
phasis, s.of the Nevada Randolphs."
The suggestion of litter ceased. There
was q moment of eloquent silence.
Then Van Biscit, who felt called on to
come to Fannie's rescue, asked:
~Old Family-the Nevada RAN
dolphs?"
mo, very new" replied Randolph,
turning to Van Biscit with the same
stern expression which sent the cold
chills chasing up and down Algy's back.
I'VE make it our pride out there to
found families raher than boast of the
deeds of our ancestors. We are too busy
an empire in the wilderness
and accummulating money for our sons
and grandsons to spend and brag about
to find time to make study Of family
trees.
The situation was becoming strained
and Mr.. Mortimer hurried his guest
along. chuckling audibly At the dis
comforture in his wake.
It was destined 10 be an evening Of
mishaps, for just rs the refreshments
were served the electric lights went
out without warning. Lamps and can
Idles were hurried on, but made q sorry
khowing in the great dinning hall Pres
kontly it was reported to Mr.. Mortimer
that nobody IN the establishment could
and the cause OF the difficulty and that
the electrician telephoned for could
not be there for IN hour or more. RAN
.dolph went over and whispered to Nor
timer and the two disappeared. In
few moments the erecalcitran lights re-
stunned business and shortly after the
two men reappeared, Randolph with
cuts somewhat soiled, and coat wrink-
led. and Mortimer explained that the
party owed the illumination to Mr..
Randolph, who had found the trouble
With some diffculty and corrected IL.
Fannie looked at Randolph curiously.
He was verydifferent man than when
~ stumbled awkwardly into the room.
IAere was conscious power in his face
md perfect self-possession in his car
Eiags. Before leaving she sought him
Dut and said:
Hr. Randolph, ] want to apologize
q you for INV rudness. II was ill-hre6