The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1921-05-20

CabT"
! "No, l can't" said Miss Thornton
declsively, and stared meaningIy at
the clock, as though she were worry.
ing over her next engagement
Mr.. Randolph flushed, rose hastily.
AMI possessed himself Of hat, stick and
gloves.
II mustn't keep you" he said, awe
got an appointment In about FIVE min
utes myself"
She rose, an absent-mlnded look In
her eyes and accompanied him 10 the
! door of the room. He opened II and
took his hand from the knob TO shake
I good-by. Her hand reached out TO.
I ward his llstlessly, as though u had
I become infected with the selfsame
droop that had assalled the corners
/ Of her lips.
MAY I--er-call agninY
No" cried Pamela, snatehed back
I her hand. threw both arms mp against
I the doorjamb, dropped her curly head
upon them, and burst into tears
/ Mr.. Randolph's platnum-headed
I cane fell with chatter; his gloves
! fiuttered to the floor, and his new top
hat. emitting clucking, mlrthful
sound. hurled across the room. In
/ less time than Il has taken Ia de-
scribe these simultaneous events, he
had seized the sobblng girl In his arms
aud was habbling as follows:
Miss ThO--Pamela--Pan Won
dearest and sweetest or MI the little
women 10 the world on, darling.
don't cry; but II y0n must then cry
On mc--so That's right. my precious:
put your arms round my neck aud
hold me close S-strnngle me. b.
but never. never let me 60"
He stopped gradually. picked her ~.
and made for the couch Just before
he got there, he reached small
prayer rug Of Persian design aud OF
great value, one of many such oasrs
In the large expnnse Of beautifully
waxed flooring. The specified rug
seemed IN take sudden onensp nj Mr..
Bnndolph's rude football. II took 10
Itself wings and few from under him
The crash 81 TWO Of the choicest hits
Of Manhatinn's humanity WIS terrific
Above the din Of scattering furniture
could be heard the peal nt girls
clear laughter, and presently voice
ringing mcrr,ly through halfswai.
lowed s0bs:
"M-my q bump"
They sat on the floor. face 90 face,
and matched q treble: "lial hal
Ha" with heavy male: "Ilawi
Hawi Hawl"
The terrified Tomlinson burst IN up
on the scene and there are twenty-siK
adjecilycs that would have iitted the
look on his countenance, the first Eve
being "astounded," "scandallzcd,"
"amazed.' "deprecatIng," appalled,"
"M-Master Robert M-Mlss limo.
gener'
Pamela pointed one finger at him
weakly, and was on again 10 tumble
down another cascade Of laughter,
Tomlnson shook his solemn head from
side TO Side IN a grieyed and palsicd
motion
such doingsl nevcr--no--I
never I"
"T0mllnson IL right" said Mr.. Ran.
dolnh solemnly as he rose and helped
Pamela 10 her feet. II consider this
the most astonishing sample ~ de.
pertinent that has come tO my lmmedi.
ate attention for--for ten years" He
turned to the unmollIaed scryltor.
"Tomlinson," he continued. sim sup
porting the lauRhter-weakened Pamela
with one arm, II think u Is due YOU
10 explain that Miss Thornton and
were merely rehearslng, or. rather re-.
yivlng the occasion OF our first meet
ing. II was sitting Just as you found
us that we FIRST made each Others re-
quaintanee a decade ago, except that
the encounter took place on the west
ern sidewalk Of Fifth avenue nj about
the c0iner Of Forty-eighlh street /
trust that this Information will clear
up all doubts In your mind MS 10 our
sanity, and that you viii now leave
us TO the settlement Of certain per.
sonal affairs Of great moment"
Tomllnson withdrew, stIll sinking
his old head from side to eide, and
mumbIing his opinion that the expla.
nation, far from condoning an afrront
TO what had once been an orderly es-
Enlistment, was in the nature Of a
plant on his credulity. No sooner had
he closed the door softly but firmly
on the scene of wreckage than Mr..
Randolph turned all his attention TO
the lady In his arms.
After a few moments, he laid his
hands on her shoulders, held her
at arms length, aud forced her eyes
to long and breathlessly solemn
meeting with his own. my dear girl"
he continued, when came here this
afternoon, the sudden bloom OF your
beauty swept me or my usually con
fident mental bearings. saw how
completely desirable you are and my
courage sank and left me, az though
SOME one had said, You can have her
II youth Just step up TO Mars When
| was running away, so that I might
live To fight for vou I'm manv other