Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-10-06
Copyright, 1905, BY Fannie Heasl,p Lea

Dut llOuSnl L was never going 10
find you. The crowd is so thick"
The pretty maiden stared. A young
man, clean shaven and emincntly pre-
sentable, was regarding her, hat in
hand.
I'm afraid you don't remember me-"
he suggested, trifle crestfailen. Isn't
this Miss PrestonT'
The pretty maiden's eyes widened.
To herself she cried, "rhe adyenturep
but aloud she said quite coolly:
I'm afraid the advantage is yours"
I'm sorry" he answered stiilly.
But please don't think me an lmpcrti-
nent stranger. My cousin wrote me to
meet you here, you and your sister.
She asked me to show you around for
the parade. my name is Robert Ran
dolph," he finished awkwardly.
The pretty maiden hes!tated bare
moment, but the carnival spirit was
strong within her, and the trick that in
her natural environment would have
been impossible unfolded itself like
magic in this atmosphere.
The moment was bare onc-then-
"Oh," she said, with the frlendliest
smile imaginable, you are Bobby Ran
dolph?"
"Of course" he agreed cheerfully.
ITS been n great while since we saw
each other, but stlll''-
$50 it has" said the pretty maiden
cunnlngIy. Let me see, Just how long
exactly?"
'.Just ten years" said Mr.. Randolph:
"ten years, three months. seven days,
two hours and, I think, twenty-scven
minutes"
"Dear me~ she murmurol breoth-
lessly,
"And. by the wov where's vour sis
ter? Didn't she Gomez"
"NTv sister3 said tho nretty no;don
quite astonished. "Mv sistor? Oh-er
yes. of course she came Bpt she
had n fearful headache md she dectd-
ed TO stav Mt the hotel and bate To
miss the Darade. Won SOC"
"Of course. Too had sba WON'T ses
lt." said Mr.. Randolph recre,fullv
"rhc trin was so long and tiresou,e "
said the pretty maiden incoutiousIv
Two hours longi I like that. WHY.
It's only forty eight miles between hero
and rass Christian"
"Distancc," said the prettv maiden
sertcuti,usIv "is not n motter of miles
with me. at least" she added pru-
IDENTITY
"WnIl va can bovo n ioI,v timo Inv
oursclvcs ouvbow" Mr. RondolDh as
Tho nratty noidon basi+o+od tbot ia
she would have bcsitoted but Mr. <2an.
dolph's cheerful confidence left her no
room 10 do so
They walked on rather SLOWLY. for
the crowd was dense, and Mr.. Ran
dolDh's shoulders acted AS n buffer
more than once.
"Wp'I have time to 20 and get some
hot chocolate before Rex gets here"
he calculated cheerfully. "Lool, out
there, will you?" This last TO line of
college boys who were going through
the crowd like an animated wedge.
The pretty maiden laughed deli
clously.
"Iou looked so angry" she explain
ed between gasps, then stopped sud
denly because small red devil, with
battered mask, aimed shower of con-
fetti at her laughing face.
There was a blare OF trumpetz down
the street and the long roll Of a drum.
A wave Of excitement submerged the
people. Randolph used shoulders and
elbows with skill that bespoke long
experience on the football field, and the
pretty maiden found herself In the
front Of the crowd. Mounted policemen
paced slowly past her, band shrilling
forth IF Ever I Cease to Love-" and
then Rex and his cohorts.
The pretty maiden dimplc1 and blush
ed from sheer delight at the gorgeous
spectacle, and the capcrng maskers on
the fantastic floats repaid her interest
One threw her a great fragrant bunch
of yloets, which she clasped with both
hands like an excited child: another
tossed an aY1nlct of brass; third q
box of French sweets, until young Ran
dolph WAS hugely proud of her. Then.
wheu ths last silver towur ana SHIN.
marine, ve,l hod roltcd down tbe street
ba svuno hnr info tbe crowd AGAIN her
cbonl,s mini, win excitement and the
croot n,rnIa violnts nostlino i'm tha furs
undor bar nrettv chin
"Xow lots have that chocolate" soid