The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-07-14

Distance" said the pretty maiden
sen:entiously, sis not a matter OF miles
with me, at least" she added pru
IDENTIFY.
"Well, we can have jolly time by
ourselves, anyhow" Mr.. Randolph as
sured her.
The pretty maiden hesitated-that
is, she would have hesitated, but Mr.
Randolph's cheerful confidence left her
no room to do so.
They walked on rather slowly, for
the crowd was dense, and Mr.. Ran
dolph's shoulders acted as a buffer
more than once.
"We'll have time to 60 and get some
ho, chocolate before Rex gets here, u
he calculated cheerfully. "Look out
there, will you?" The last to line OF
college boys who were going through
the crowd like an animated wedge.
The pretty maiden laughed deli
ciously.
"You looked so angry" she explain
ed between gasps, then storpcd sud-
denly because small red devil, with
buttered mask, aimed shower of con-
fetti at her laughing face.
There was a blare oftrumpets 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 tie t,o.Oall fed, and
the pretty maiden found herself in the
front of the crowd. Mounted police
men paced slowly past her, band
shrilling forth IF Ever Cease to
Love-" and then Rex and his cohorts.
The pretty maiden dimpled and
blushed from sheer delight at the gor-
geous spectacle. and the capering
maskers on the fantastic floats repaid
her interest. One threw her a great
fragrant bunch of violets, which she
clasped with both hands like an excit-
ed child; another tossed an armlet of
brass; third g box of French sweets,
until young Randolph was hugely
proud of her. Then, when the last
silver tower and shimmering veil had
melted down the street, he swung her
into the crowd again, her cheeks pink
with excitement and the great purple
violets nesting in the furs under her
pretty chin.
"Now let's have that chocolate"
said Mr.. Randolph. They found a
corner in pretty tea room, and he
dispatched a waiter tor their order,
willie the room filled steadily.
"Do you know" he said, "you've
changed somehow"
The pretty maiden came back with
a start to the fact that Mr.. Randolph
was not lifelong friend.
"Have II" she asked safely. :.
eyes," he repeated, somehow
you've changed. You always were
pretty, you know, and I always was
your abject slave, but now
GIVE changed?" asked the pretty
maiden mournfully.
"You're $3.50 much more So" he
explained lucidly.
"You remember" asked Mr.. Ran
dolph presently, show we used to love
each other when we were ten and l
was fourteen?"
1--WE didn't" she said, with a start.
ooh, nonsensel You cried your
eyes out when l left for school. And
you said you'd marry me when you
grew up-and when we said goodby-
you kissed me-"
~ did nothing of the Sort" cried
the pretty maiden, very pink and fur
ious.
"You've forgotten" said Mr.. Ran.
dolph. "There's no reason why you
should be ashamed of it. A childish
affection is the most sincere-and you
certainly were fond OF me" he finished
tamely.
ave changed very much," said the
pretty maiden, thoughtfully selecting
a macaroon from the plate of cakes.
"I'm sorry" said Mr.. Randolph
simply, "because you're even nicer
than you used to be-"
II want to tell you something" she
said. "I'm not Miss Preston-I new.
err saw you before. I'm here for the
carnival and I lost my people in the
crowd this morning; and then you
came and-I know it was horrid Of
ma"
SWELL" said Mr.. Randolph stiftly
"Well, it was jus! a lark" she plead.
ed defiantly, "and won't you please GO
|-now-hurry, please" The pretty
maiden had seen her mother and faith.