Middletown transcript., 1914-06-27

us waiting in a dense crowd close to
the Deans Yard entrance to the Abb
bey doors as triple line Of policemen
would permit. We had stood there for
hours; we had been jostled and
mobbed, our hats were askew and our
dresses crushed; but we were in the
front rank of spectators. and even the
hundreds on the grand stands, that
had been built close to the Abbey en-
trance, could see no more than we.
By ten o'clock we were scarcely able
to stand.
'Is there any chance of getting in to
see the Coronation ?" 1 asked a mount
ed policeman, as he backed his horse
into me.
He laughed out loudly.
Not much there amt, Miss" he an
swered. IVY, all the seats was al
lotted weeks ago, to peers and their
ladies and the foreign princes and
mobiles. Folks like you and me can't
see nothink."
"The impudence of the creature!"
murmured Estelle, bridling in her new
found British dignity. 'If l had you
in Cedar Plank"
Hush, never mind,' said. Listen!
Here comes somebody"
A murmur that came out of the dis
tance swelled into a cheer, which TAX
en- up by those in our vicinity, an
nounced that the procession was ap-
preaching. OF course the main body
Of the participants in the ceremony
entered the main doors of the Abbey;
at the Deans Yard entrance, where
we were standing, the lesser fry"
came in. Nevertheless, their pres
ence was sufficiently imposing, their
uniforms and robes aweprovoking,
and the equipment of their carriages
alone, could see, impressed Estelle,
who was more used to motor-cars and
buggies than coaches with out-riders.
The crowd closed in round the digni-
taries whose vehicles pulled up around
the Deans Yard; but the police
quickly massed themselves into a
solid phalanx in front of US, and l
could only perceive, through the occa-
sional spaces in their blue ranks, the
etrangely-clad ministers and lesser en-
voys Of foreign states who were not
permitted to join in the main process
sional. Each was saluted with ringing
but-half-ironical cheers as he descend
ed from his carriage and strobe to the
entrance, where, after a glance at his
card of admission, the watchful guard
ians made way for him. So dense be-
came the crush that we were swept
off our feet, tossed hither and thither,
and even the police could barely keep
their ranks. Suddenly the cry went
up:
"Pickpockets! Look out for your
pursesi"
1 clutched at my handbag. Thank
heaven! l had it still, tucked away
safely inside. Hastily inspected the
contents. Yes, there lay my precious
$500. And there lay the key to the
safe in the vaults of Magniff & Co.,
bankers, Of Paris, where lay my Pa
mama bonds, which were so eagerly
sought by Magniff, junior, and his vii
famous associate, Zeuxis. clutched
my purse tightly in my gloved hand,
resolved not to let go of it.
why should those people enter
when we are excluded" murmured
Estelle, plaintively. Look, look,
Anne!" she exclaimed, grabbing me
excitedly. They're letting black men
in! Isn't that a shame? Black men,
with towels about their heads, and
we kept standing here. What shall l
tell the folks at Cedar Plank"
"Estelle," 1 answered, speaking
from some curious interior convic-
ton, I'VE shall yet find some way of
entering. am q mascot"
She glanced at me incredulously, yet
with the pathetic confidence Of a
small child. Although full ten years
older than l, she felt the dominance
Of my own purposeful nature. 1 am
not lightly deferred from my inten-
tions. And just then, while was won
dering how to make good my foolish
boast, saw an acquaintance.
The police, as think have said,
had temporarily lost control of the
crowd and had been forced back until
they were lined up against the car
riages which brought up the rear Of
the procession. At this moment a
carriage halted close to US, and its
occupants, seeing that it would be i'm
possible to drive up closer, descended,
with the object of making the few
remaining PAGES Of the journey to the
Abbey door afoot. One was a tall,
MISUNDERSTANDING old man, with
snow-white hair and mustache, att1red,
like the younger man upon whose
arm he. leaned, in a rich military uni
form. A broad sash crossed his breast,
which was covered with orders; he
wore a cavalry coat, riding breeches
and a pair of the highest, widest buff
riding boots that l have ever seen,
rising far above the knees and ending
in wide, gaping, cavernous tops, in
which, l thought anonymously, he
could have concealed his luncheon
quite easily. And the younger was my
unknown aviator!
They descended from their carriage
and surveyed the mob with some Gu
riosity. Evidently, thought, the old
er man represented his government in
some military capacity. Then who
was the other who had masqueraded
as Competitor No. s" at the South
Northwood aviation grounds? He was
quite simply dressed in a silk hat and
frock coat; he might have been any
body. They halted Immediately in
front of US and began conversing in
French.