Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-07-28

with a Qunintly tragic afr.
She stood back against the window
OF a big department store on Canal
street and scanned the surging crowd
before her. II was Afarii Gras day In
New Orleans. and the pretty maiden
had been IN town only three hours. two
OF which had been spent In a hotel.
Il have lost my mother" she said
again as II TO impress the fact upon
herself-"and my f~ather"-then she
added as an afterthought, "and my
purse"
In the street the people crowded each
other for more room. and there was a
constant stream OF mnskers, gay dom
lnoed fellows with tinkling bells and
swapping whips. and the pretty maiden
watched them from the entrance TO
the department store. and her ideas
quito 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 I was separated
from them BY the crowd and they'll be
fearfully worried. but after awhile
they'll find me, and meantime l feel as
Il something wero going to h%appen-a
wild adventure perhaps. Oh, / love
carnival. I'm glad l came"
A drum throbbed subtly in the dis
lance. the crowd surged TO the edge OF
the banquette. then surged back again
with easy laughter, for no parade APP
peared.
"Ah," said some one at the pretty
maiden's elbow. Il beg your pardon.
but ! thought I was going to
lnd you. The crowd is so thick"
The pretty maiden stared. A young
man. clean shaven and emlnently pre-
sentsble, was regarding her, hat In
hand.
I'm afraid you don't remember me-"
he suggested. a trihe c~restfallen. Isn't
this Miss PrestonT'
The pretty maiden's eyes wldened.
To herself she cried, 1.-THE adventurep'
but aloud she said quite cOolly:
"Tm afraid the advantage Is yours"
I'm sorry he answered stlfiy.
'But please don't think me an lmperti-
nent stranger. My cousin wrote me TO
meet you here, you and your sister.
She asked me to show you around for
the parade. L-my name is Robert RAN
dolph." he finished awkwardly.
The pretty maiden hesitated q 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 a bare one-then-
"Oh," she said, with the frIendliest
smile imaginable, you are Bobby Ran
dolphV'
"0f course he agreed cheerfully.
Its been q great while since VIC saw
each other. but still''-
$50 Il has" said the pretty maiden
cunnlngly. Let mo see, just how long
exactlyf"
Just ten years." said Mr.. Randolph;
"ten years, threo months. seven days,
two hours and. l think. twenty-seven
minutes"
Dear me-" she murmured breath.
lessly.
"And. by the way. where's your SIS
teri Didn't she Conner
MY sister, said the pretty maiden,
quite astOnlshed. my sister, Oh-er
yes, OF course she came. But she
had a fearful headache. and she decid-
ed to stay at the hotel. and l hate to
miss the parade, you see"
"Of course. Too bad she won't see
It," said Mr.. Randolph regretfully.
"The trip was so long and tiresome."
said the pretty maiden incautiously.
1.-TWO hours longl I like that. Why,
it's only forty-eight miles between here
and Pass Christian"
Distance" said the pretty maiden
sententiously. rs not a matter OF miles
with me, at least" she added pru-
IDENTIFY.
well. we can have a Jolly time by
ourselves, anyhow" Mr.. Randolph as
sured her.
The pretty maiden hesitnted-that is,
she would have hesitnted, 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 n buffer
more than once.
Wen have time TO go and get some
bot chocolate before Rex gets here"
he calculated c~heerfully. Look out
there. win your This last TO a line OF
college boys who were going through
the crowd like an animated wedge.
The pretty maiden laughed deli
ciOusly.
You looked 30 angry" she explain
ed between gasps. then stopped sud
denly because a small red devil. with
battered mask. aimed a shower Of con
fetti at her laughing face.
There was a blare Of trumpets down
the street ana the long roll OF a drum.
A wave OF excitement submerged the
people. Randolph used shoulders and
elbows with n 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 shrlllinl
forth III Ever l Cease 10 Love-" and
then Rex and his cohorts.
The pretty maiden dlmpled and blush
ed from sheer delight ut the gorgeous
spectacle. and the caperlng maSkers OF
a.. n..a.-sf. 49, -...lT 49,. F-e...as