The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-09-10
Copyright, 1908, BY Daily Story Pub. co.,


TANNIE went to the party in pet
r and under protest. She was
heartily sick of it all. Her three
years experience 'in 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 colorless idlers, addie-
pated champions of the golf field, ana
men of the world who filled her with
distrust. The women seemed either
too narrow and frivolous TO endure
or so worldly-wise as to be mt com.
panions for the men with the past.
Everything was hers, wealth, posi-
tion, beauty, the Difference and nat
terry of society-everything but the
one thing she, crayed. sincerity and
reality, she told herself.
81 However, she. was beautiful ana
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 chattering guests.
Presently an audible futter near
the door drew attention. The man
who caused it was entirely conscious
of his situation, which made II worse
He was wholly out of keeping WITH
the company. Tall and sinewy' ms
sun-burned face contrasted oodiy
with the dollhouse pallor OF the otheI
men. Instead of the conventional
evening coat, he wore Prince Alper' y
and wore 1T most ungracefully. his
attire throughout lacked the hetie
e,epances so essential to correctness
and his whole bearing was that o.
cat in a strange garret.
For goodness sake, how dio tna'
break in?" giggled Algy Van Blscit' ao'
justing his monocle.
"Oh, that must be Mr.. Randolph
business acquaintance of papa's from
the west" exclaimed Helen Mortimer
with glance of mock severity at Aigy
"Papa says he is very smart young
man who has done some wonoer1u
things in engineering or irrigation o1
something like that. and he wants x
show him some country" and Heller
turned to meet him.
Nobody excepting Mr.. Mortimer tool
pains to make matters easier for tht
stranger and he foundered worse th'
further into the room he got. He ap
preciated fully his helplessness and hit
disadvantage. Every one was on thu
point (or over it) of giggling and som'
of those to whom he was presented
could not resist sly fling. His owl
speech was disconnected and altogeth
er the situation was painful. Fanni'
could not resist joining the spirit o
mischief. Albert, she knew it was i'll
bred
''Of the Virginia Randolphs?' sh'
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 thre'
his head back and his keen, gray eye
looked straight into Fannie's with al
expression so Dominating and self-as
sertive that hers dropped.
no" he replied, with quiet EN-
phasis, 'of the Nevada Randolphs."
The suggestion of litter ceased. Their
was a moment of eloquent silence
Then Van Biscit, who felt called on t
come to Fannie's rescue, asked:
s'Old Family-the Nevada Rar
dolphs?"
mo, very new." replied Randolph
turning to Van Biscit with the sam
stern expression which sent the col
chills chasing up and down Algy's bacl
We make it our pride out there t
found families raher than boast of th
deeds of our ancestors. We are too bus
bnilding an empire in the wilderness
and accommodating money for our son
and grandsons to spend and brag abou
to find time to make a study of farnil
trees"
The situation was becoming straine
and Mr.. Mortimer hurried his gues
! along, chuckling audibly at the di.
comforture in his wake.
1t was destined 10 be an evening {
mishaps, for just as the refreshment
were served the electric lights WEI