The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-10
An d large bare, room Of the Agri-
cultural Pavilion It San Jose,
4 two girls were aticking the last
\ scraps OF coirt-plnster TO their
XII fn,aa trbo elder ard the taller

L )s11%sJ scraps OF court plaster 70 thelr
HQsEJ faces. ,rle elder and the taller
and the blondcr Of the two was Norine
Aln1erIc Queen elect OF the Fiesta, go wf-.
ed In low.ctit white satin and lace, glrd-.
led with n rainbow Of artll1cinl gems
which brahched and fell 70 h l' i ,est-l
Miss 1syi Shea, her maid Of honor, was
4 good foil for the Queen. She was not
Al ali stntuesquc, but OF an ehtrancingly
domestic sort Of blnshlng plumpness. dhrK
olive OF com poxlon and extravngantlyi
feminine. q she was costumed almost MS
claborately as the queen, but In scarlet
applique with silver cloth.
"rsyl,', said Miss Americ. you're a
perfect pictured! You should have been
Queen. You're thousand times prettler
than I, ever longed to be. | feel IKE
elizabeth persecuting Mary Queen ], O. o.
Scots. Why didn't they elect SouY !
didn't want II. Heavens. have haa
everything wanted since was old
enough to make funny faces at Daddy.
only agreed to this on account Of Dad.
dy's friends, they made such point OF
It," 5
II didn't care either" the other an
swercd, but something In the steadness
OF her mouth belicd her as she went on.
.'I'apa had set his mind on It, too, and
he was terribly disappointed. He refused
y TO come tonight The Golden Gate boys
aren't coming either. They said the cleo
tlon was unfair"
Most lIkely4it was" Miss Almeric as
sented. calmly. "Daddy's friends have
q way OF winning very often" She smiled
rather sarcastlcally. 5E3
The maid OF honor partly opened the
door leading into the corridor and peepcd
out. Through this slit the buzz and rat
lie OF the increasing audience In the hall
came TO them with the nearer noise OF
talk and laughter down the corridor,
where the court, ba billing. flirting and
dooling, was assembling for the process
zion A determined voice was uttering
orders for the formation OF the pageant
Suddenly, from the other door Of the
waiting room came brisk rap and lsyl
turned to see Miss Almerlc answer 1t.
K IA small messenger boy In uniform entered
and, gazing in fascinated admiration,
handed her an envelope. Miss Almeric
Tore II open at once and glanced over H.
swat minute. Isyl," she said, II
4 will be right back and without further
explanation she passed through the door
and ran down stairs. The boy followed
her.
GN Several minutes passed and Miss Al.
meric did not return. Then the sound
+ Of horses hoofs was heard In the street
below. Isyl ran to the window Just IN
zine to catch a glimpse Of hack swiftly
turning the corner into the Alameda.
4 Then came another knock-this time from
the door which she had closed upon the
I. corridor
She opened. to find the Prime Minister
appointed by the Queen. He was wear
Ing, AZ unancctediy as possible for man
q who seldom soars to heights above O.
black diagonal .'cuta way and derby hat,
brilliant costume In which one might
iplck details from nearly every epoch
Eince the Renaissance.
N .'.The procession Is ready to start. your
4 majesty" he announced. with his eyes
on the floor. He raised them 10 find
5syl's merry smile the only other living
thinE In the room. y. "a
why. where's Miss Almeric ?" he de-.
manded. losing his gravity in tho sur
prise and isappoIntment az wasted en-
y ueavor.
g3 Isyl's smile fed, and she puckered her
brow. II don't know she said anxious
~. ''s;he just left the room a few mo-.
,nents ago, and she ought to be back. I
nm a little worried about 1t. to tell the
truth.
She went to the door, opened II and
Cooked down stairs. The Prime Minister,
with nervous hand upon his some what
& mischicvous sword, descended. In another
minute he reappeared With staring eyes,
5"She ain't there" he cried. .'she ain't,
anywhere! She's gone! Well. this Is a
Xix! We can't have the coronation With
out the queen! What'l we do?''
Isyl giggled Historically. We might
advertise for her. she suggested, her
.Eense OF humor triumphing over the
hnx!ety.
This thing Is serious, by Jove!' the
Prime Minister exclaimed There's a
crowd outside that's paid money to see