The Washington times., 1913-10-10

thrown wide; there seemed to be a ra-
diation Of warmth and high spirits
from within. And still the chorus Of
laughter was uplifted.
House" I exclaimed stupidity.
1T can't be-" she answered. leaning
wasT
Wen go in." declared, Tightening
my grip on her and half lifting her up
the steps that led to a broad porch.
As we approached the open doors. q
srotesque figure darted out and almost
ran into US. We drew back with an In
voluntary start. The thing was . circus
clown-chalked face. fools cap, Eliza
bethan run. absurdly loose Jacket and
upon his cheeks; there was a ridiculous
black dot on the end of his nose.
He stared at us for an instant then
wheeled with shout, and bounded back
into the brightly lighted hall
Here at last. heard him cry at the
them. And. oh! what a sight"
Mary and / crossed the threshold and
entered the house. There was a smooth.
waxed floor under our feet and I re-
member recovering my balance with
difficulty as / slipped. The next mo-
ing mob OF extraordinary-looking be-
ings.
There was q second Of silence. and
then l heard q woman's voice from
somewhere in the crowd cry:
Perfect! Perfect! But what are
they?"
In front Of US stood an aged man in A
long, flowing robe. with a scythe in his
hand and an amazingly large hour-glass
stuck under his arm. To his left was
the most disreputable tramp I ever laid
eyes upon. with reddened eyes. a dirty
slouch hat upon his head, and a tin can
dangling from string he held In his
hand. =
Next was a dainty little yellow-haired
woman, who looked like Columbine.
Back In the ranks I could see a devil
dressed all In red. with a sinister goatee
ana muStache AT the right of the old
man with the scythe stood a shep-
netoess, then a gorgeous brunette with
a tambourine and a brilliant red and
yellow gown that reached only to her
knees, then a stately lady with DOW
dered hair and a couple of black patches
upon her cheek. And after that. mixed
In a mad confusion. were soldiers and
sadors. and Indian princes. and Chorus
girls, and monks. and suffragettes-
every incongruous creatures that might
be grouped together from the ends of
the earth.
Must We guess?' called a voice.
Whdt a wonderful make-upr' l heard
somebody whisper.
The hall in which We stood wa. Of the
old colonial type. A wide staircase
ascended in the middle of II, From
ether SIDE OF 1t extended great rooms
that We're blaze Of light.
stared at the array Of figures In
front Of me, and then down al Mary
My arm was still around her, and she
was shrinking close to me, one hand
ciutching at my sleeve. Her ewes were
wide with wonder.
Such pose,' cried the tramp, bang
Great! Greatr
In with them!'' shouted a turbaned
prince.
The motley crowd closed upon US, and
we We're carried along like chips on a
swiftly flowing tide. Somebody grabbed
my broken arm roughly, and / cried
out with pain. but none seemed to heed
me. On into big room we were swept,
across its glossy floor, and upon a dais
that was canopied with flowers. Then
Announce yourselves cried a red
coated soldier in stentorian voice
All could do was to look down at
Mary. who was clinging to me. her face
half hidden against nv shirt.
Announce. Announce!' came
chorus. You must announce!"
My eyes roved over the crowd. but
my throat seemed to be paralyzed.
Its the rule said the old man with
the sophie. waving IL at me. Every
body has announced. Tell us what you
are"
For Heavens sake, what are We
where are we?" I whispered to Mary.
bending my head toward her.
"Shipwrecked couple" called a chorus
girl in blue and white. "A hero and his
fair bride. just off a desert isle!'
.Nonsense," retorted an admiral. The
hero isn't barefooted.''
1.-The downtrod, The Poverty Hollow
delegation proclaimed a cowled monk.
Three cheers for poverty!'
Railroad wreck