Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-21
THE RANDOLpHS
OF NEvADA% ~
BY HERMAN KNoELLER
Copyright. 1905. by Daily story Pub. Coz

FANNIE went to the party in pet
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
ftisfaction and contempt. The pleas
res she had anticipated had turned
TO ashes in the realization. Instead
of the knight of her girlish dreams,
ahe had found colorless idlers, addle-
pated champions of the golf field, and
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.
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 chattering guests.
Presently an audible futter near
tbe 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 s1newy' MS
sun-burned face contrasted oddly
with the dollhouse pallor of the otner
men. Instead of the conventional
evening coat, he wore Prince Albert
and wore it most ungracefully. ms
attire throughout lacked the little
q eleeances so essential to correctness,
and his whole bearing was that OF
cat in strange garnet.
"For goodness sake, how did that
break in?" giggled Algy Van Biscit, ad-
justing his monocle
"Oh. that must be Mr.. Randolph-a
business acquaintance of papa's from
eswest," exclaimed Helen Mortimer
with a glance of mock severity at Algy.
"Paps says he is 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
9 mains to make matters easier for the
stranger and he fioundered worse the
further into the room he got. He ap-
preciated fully his heiplessness and hrs
disadvantage. Every one was on the
point (or over it) of giggling 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 Albert, she knew it was i'll
bred.
"Of the Virginia Randolphs?" 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
trfcal. His nervous half-fright drop
ned from him in an instant. He threw
his head back and his keen, gray eyes
looked straight into Fannie's with an
expression so dominating and self-as
sertive that hers dropped.
'sNo," he replied, with quiet en-
phasis, "of the Nevada Randolphs."
The suggestion of litter ceased. There
was a moment of eloquent silence
Then Van Biscit, who felt called on te
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 COLI
chills chasing up and down Algy's back
"We make it our pride out there K
found families raher than boast of thu
deeds of our ancestors. We are too bus.
building an empire in the wilderness:
e and accommodating money for our sons
and grandsons to spend and brag abou
to find time to make a study of family
trees
The situation was becoming strained
and Mr.. Mortimer hurried his CUES
along, chuckfing audibly at the dis
comforture in his wake.
It was destined 40 be an evening q
mishaps, for just as the refreshment
were oserved the electric lights wen
out without warning. Lamps and can
dies were hurried on, but made a sorr.
showing in the great DINING hall. Pres
emily it was reported to Mr.. Mortime
that nobody in the establishment coult
FIND the cause of the difficulty and tha
the electrician telephoned for coul,
not be there for an hour or more. Ran
dolph went over and whispered to Nor
timer and the two disappeared. In
Q few moments the recalcitrant lights re
sumed business and shortly after tn,
two men reappeared, Randolph witt
cuffs somewhat soiled, and coat wrink
led, and Mortimer explained that tn
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 different man than whe
he stumbled awkwardly into the room
There was conscious power in his fac
and perfect self-possession in his car
riage. Before. leaving she sought hin
out and said: