Swinging his hand high above his head, the enthusiastic orator led the
noisy cheers which instantly burst forth in unrestrained volume; and
before which Miss Spencer shrank back into her chair, trembling, yet
strangely happy. Good humor swayed that crowd, laughter rippled from
parted lips, while voices here and there began a spontaneous demand for
a speech. Miss Spencer shook her flossy head helplessly, feeling too
deeply agitated to utter a word; and Moffat, now oblivious to
everything but the important part he was playing in the brilliant
spectacle, stepped before her, waving the clamorous assembly into
temporary and expectant silence.
"Our charming guest," he announced, in tones vibrant with authority,
"is so deeply affected by this spontaneous outpouring of your good-will
as to be unable to respond in words. Let us respect her natural
embarrassment; let us now exhibit that proud Western chivalry which
will cause her to feel perfectly at home in our midst. The orchestra
will strike up, and amid the mazy whirling of the dance we will at once
sink all formality, as becomes citizens of this free and boundless
West, this land of gold, of sterling manhood, and womanly beauty. To
slightly change the poet's lines, written of a similar occasion: "There was a sound of revelry by night,
And proud Glencaid had gathered then
Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright
The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men.
"So, scatter out, gents, and pick up your partners for the first whirl.
This is our turn to treat, and our motto is 'Darn the expense.'"
He bent over, purposing to lead the lady of his heart forth to the
earliest strains of the violins, his genial smile evidencing his
satisfaction.
"Say,--eh--just hold on--eh--a minute!"
Moffat wheeled about, a look of amazement replacing his previous jovial
smile. His eyes hardened dangerously as they encountered the face of
McNeil. The latter was white about the lips, but primed for action,
and not inclined to waste time in preliminaries.
"Look here, this ain't your time to butt in--" began Moffat, angrily,
but the other waved his hand.
"Say, gents,--eh--that feller had his spiel all right--eh--ain't he?
He wants to be--eh--the whole hog, but--eh,--I reckon this is
a--eh--free country, ain't it? Don't I have--eh--no show?"
"Go on, Bill!"
"Of course you do."
"Make Jack Moffat shut up!"
The justly indignant president of the Bachelors' Club remained
motionless, his mouth still open, struggling to restrain those caustic
and profane remarks which, in that presence, he dare not utter. He
instinctively flung one hand back to his hip, only to remember that all
guns had been left at the door. McNeil eyed him calmly, as he might
eye a chained bear, his lips parted in a genial smile.