The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-06-28
At the Court
of Rex
BY FANNIE HEASLIP LEA

New Orleans, and the pretty maiden
had been In town only three hours. two
of which had been spent in II hotel.
Il have lost my mother" she said
again as If to Impress the fact upon
herself-'and my father'-then she
added as an afterthought, and my
purse"
III the street the people crowded each
other for more room, and there was II
constant stream of maskers, gay dom
inoed fellows with tinkling bells and
swapping whips and the pretty maiden
watched them from the entrance TO
the department store. and her ideas
quite lost their balance and toppled
over into the mad whirl of carnival.
I'm glad I'm lost" she said to her
self; they'll know was separated
from them by the crowd and they'll be
fearfully worried, but after awhile
they'll find me, and meantime | feel aS
If something were going to happen n
wild adventure perhaps. Oh. l love
carnival. I'm glad / came"
drum throbbed subtly In the dis
lance, the crowd surged to the edge of
the banquette, then Surgcd back again
with easy laughter, for no parade ap-
peared.
"Ah." said some one ut the pretty
maiden's elbow. Il beg your pardon
but | thought | was never going to
find you. The crowd Is SO thick"
The pretty maiden stared \ young
man, clean shaven aud cminently pre-
sentable was regarding her. hat i'll
hand.
Pm afraid you don't remember me"
he suggested, II trltie crestfallcn. Isn't
this Miss preston?"
The pretty maiden's eyes widened.
To herself she cried, The udventure'
but aloud she sHid quite coolly:
Pm afraid the advantage Is yours"
I'm sorry, he answered stifliy
But please don't think me an imperti-
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 mime Is Robert Ran.
dolph." he finished awkwardly.
The pretty maiden hesltnted 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 Il bare then
oh" she said, with the fricndliest
smile imaginable, you Hre Bobby Ran
dolphf'
OF course, he agreed cheerfully.
Its been II great while since we saw
each other, but still
so II has" said the pretty maiden
cunningly. Let me see. just how long
exactly"
Just ten years" said Mr.. Randolph !;
ten years, three months, seven days,
two hours and, | think, twenty seven
minutes"
Dear me-" she murmured breath
lessly
"And, by the way, where's your sis
ter? Didn't she come"
MY sister? said the pretty maiden
quite astonished. My sister! Oh-er
yes, OF course she came But she
had fearful headache and she decid
ed to stay ut tie hotel, and hate to
miss the parade, you see"
'>Of course. Too bad she won't see
H." said Mr.. Randolph rcgretfully.
The trip was SO long and tiresome,"
said the pretty maiden incautiously.
Two hours long! like that. Why
it's only forty eight miles between here
and Pass Christian
distance" said the pretty maiden
sententiously, rs not mntter of miles
with me. ut least" she added pru
IDENTITY.
well. we can have II jolly time. by
ourselves, anyhow" Mr.. Randolph as
sured her.
The pretty maiden bestatcd- that f.
she would have hesitated, but Mr.. Ran
dolph'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 buffer
more than once.
"We'li have time 10 go and get some
he calculated cheerfully. Look 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
ciously.
you looked so angry" she explain
ed between Sasps, then stopped sud
denly because small red devil, with
battered mask, aimed shower of con
fetti at her laughing face.
There was blare of trumpets down
the street and the long roll OF 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. a band shrilling
forth "If Ever | Cease to Love" and
then Rex and his cohorts.
The pretty maiden dlmpled and blush
ed from sheer delight at the gorgeous
spectacle, and the caperlng maskers on
the fantastic floats repaid her interest
One threw Der a great fragrant bunch
Of yiolets, which she clasped with both
hands like an excited child; another
tossed an armlet OF brass; third a
box Of French sweets, until,young Ran
dolph was hugely proud Of her Then,
when the last silver tower and SHIN
merlng 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 csrner In
a pretty tea room, and he dispatched Il
waiter for their order, while the room
filed 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 a lifelong friend.
"Haye IL she asked safely.