culture plucked from the Eastern hills, who, at the stern call of duty, has left her home and friends to devote her talents to this labor of love.  In her honor we meet, in her honor this room has been decorated with the colors of our beloved country, and to her honor we now dedicate the fleeting hours of this festal night.  It is impossible for her to greet you all personally, much as she wishes to do so, but as president of the Bachelor Miners’ Pleasure Club, and also,” with a deep bow to his blushing and embarrassed companion, “I may venture to add, as an intimate friend of our fair guest, I now introduce to you Glencaid’s new schoolmistress—­Miss Phoebe Spencer.  Hip!  Hip! Hurrah!”

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?”