The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-10
THE CORONATION,

i tho coronation, and somebody's got to be
coronnted, We can't wait a tninute!"
l1e stood for moment In b Nnpoleonic
attitude and then spratg for the door.
Call XII Nvilklnson' lie cried to q
page outside. Hurry up nov" he adde's.
sharply.
MIR. Christopher Wilkinson came o.. lie
run, CARRIED In ali indescribablc autflt
supposed to simulate the ASPECT O. Il Lord
Chamberlain and Master OF Ceremonies.
An aenormous brass chair, fcstooned from fn
! shoulder 10 shoulder, kept him X from
yislbly bursting with Importance and
white rod OF office, like "a slim cxclama-
ton point. called attention to his grand.
eur lie vas Hurried with the burden or
his duties and furious at the delay. IT
was tho Chamberlain who had planned
the whole fiesta With a ponp OF ritual
and cerenony this hitch In the proceed
| ings exasperated him. 8
For heavens sake, what's the mat
| ter?' he inquired and then ns his eye ran
around the room, where's the Queen!
The Prime Minister shrugged his shoul-
ders; the maid OF phonor was uncertain
whether to weep or laugh. "she is gone!"
the girl answered. B
| ''Gonc!" he roared, and he looked at
| Isyl as IL he suspected her Of having the
| missing Queen concealed about her per-
son. Then his surprise dissolved IN q
Iinelodramatic caution. He hastily closed
| the door and locked It.
4 Nov, what do you mean? Tell mo
/ what Is all this foolishness! Hush, II
! there's anything wrong. we don't want
the crowd to know it-cast OF all the
newspaper people
A state secret, big with ortent, con-
ifrontcd thcm!l It must be met and solved
without delay. a rhpplng at the door
| intensified their suspense. But the Cham
beraln rose To the occasion. III
.Ailss Shea he announced ''you must
| be crowned Queen OF the Fiesta we
| have no time to look for Miss Almeric. I
can't imagine what has happened. but
we'll say that she was suddenly taken
| III and has gone home. won't have this
show ruined now. after all I've done for
IT. But remember" he added, 'nothing
| is to be told OF Miss AlmcrIc's disappear
ance until we have had time to investi-
gate. You must promise on your honor!"
They nodded quite serious now and
| the Prime Minister. giving his arm to
| Isyl led Ter into the corridor, where the
procession was waiting In high disappova'
OF the delay. Behind the courtiers bevy
OF reporters already seeming trouble, was
watching sharply. The word was passed
down the line that as Miss Almeric was
| Ill, Miss Shea was to be made queen, and
! q Inurmur OF discomfort did not make
Isyls position any easier TO face.
| Preceded by small herald. wearing a
| blue baldric and holding to her lips a
pasteboard trumphct. the procession de-
bouchcd Into the hall OF the pavilion, and
marched up the central isle. Thet"Drag"
| was out in force. full Of expectation, tri-
Tumphant as usual, whether at election.
. trial or junket. The great family had
gathered under3th patriarchal guidance OF
Bob Almerlc. the uncrowned King OF the
4 County, Tonight his abstract majesty
was to be made vislbly manifest In, the
coronation OF his twenty year old daugh-
| ter; and hs aldermen, his judges, his
| police officers and his heads OF depart
ments were ready to do her homage.
| But as they watched, 10, here walked
| the defeated candidate. Isyl Shea. es-
! corted In triumph by a retinue OF the
boss own schoosng! It was incredible:
and a mur1nur OF many protesting voices
| rose to the ceiling. No one could deny
that Isyl was theH pretticr of the two
girls. and the more fitting to be crowned
Queen Of Beauty.
The mystery was explained by an an
nouncement- from the chamberlain, AMI
Bob Almeric. tearing himself away from
a nest of sympathetic friends. arose and
hurried from the hall.
The prime minister delivered half-heart-
eddy his coronation speech. Isyl advanced
With dignity, and bending her head, re.
ceived the crown and assumed the throne.
a high-backed piece OF furniture seldom
seen outside OF Photographic studios. The
| \ NJ NV MI IN a ~
| ma gnificent words highly eulogistic OF
..this our garden spot OF the world .
presented the Queen with the keys Of the
city is burned leather casket.
The band now struck up God Save the
! Queen and amidst a great gathering OF
chairs removed by frantic floor COM