Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-11
BOB HAMPTON OF PLACER.
BY RANDALL PARRISH,
AUTHOR OF swHEN WILDERNESS WAS KING.
Copyright 1907 by A.. c. Mccams Coz

of victory. CHANGING at his companion, he
saw her cheeks flushed, her head held
proudly poised, her countenance evidencing
the enjoyment of the moment and he felt
amply rewarded for the work which had
produced so glorious result A moment
| he bent above her chair. whispering one
| last word of compliment into the little ear
which redeemed at his bold speech. and
/ feasting his ardent eyes upon the flushed
and animated countenance- The impatient
crowd wondered at the nature of the COM
ing ceremony, and Mr.. Moffat strove to re-
i call the opening words of his Introductory
i address.
i amid the throng. A moment of hesitation
i followed; then a quick whisper of excuse
| to the waiting divinity in the chair and the
perturbed president pressed his way to-
| ward the door. Buck Mason stood there on
| guard. carelessly leaning against the post,
his star of office cleaning beneath the
light.
/ Teller Mcneil and those other eow-punohers
4 get in here? You had your orders
Mason turned his quid deliberately and
/ Jack" he responded cheerfully. yet with a
trifie of evaporation evident in his eyes
4 And what's more, 1 reckon they was
obeyed There amt nobody got in yere ter
night without they had n cyard"
/ well. there has," and Moffat forgot his
| natural caution in sudden excess of anger.
mo invitations was sent them fellers DO
you mean to say they come in through the
roof"
Mason Strengthened up. his face darken-
| ing.4 his clinched fist thrashing the air just
| in front of Moffat's nose.
II say they come in yere, right through
! this door! AM every mothers son of 'em
he'd cyard. I I know what I'm a-talkin'
| about. you miserable third-ciass idiot. an IL
! you good an proper. Go back thar whar.
! you belong an tind to your part of this
| fandango I'm a runnin mine
Moffat hesitated, his brow black as
| iy growing restless over the delay. calling
'sTime!' and PLAY BALI! and stamping
their feet. Besides. Buck was never known
to be averse to a quarrel. and Moffats
| bump of caution was well developed. He
7, went back. nursing his wrath and cursing
! silently. The crowd greeted his reappear-
ance with prolonged applause: and some Of
turned. He glanced down into the ques-
4 tioning eyes Of Miss Spencer, cleared his
throat then grasped her hand. and. as
they stood there together. all his confidence
Ladies and Gentlemen Of Glencaid." he
began gracefully, las president Of the
Bachelor Miners Pleasure Club. ii affords
me extreme qualification to welcome you to
this the most important social event ever
pulled off in this territory. It's going to be
a swell affair from the crack of the start
er's pistol to the last post. and you can
Il, 8
time. That's the sort of ha;rpins we are
all wool and yard wide. Now. ladies' and
gents. while 1t Is not designed that the
pleasure Of this evening be marred by any
special formalities. any such unnatural re-
strictions as disfgure such functions In the
effete east (applause), and while am only
too anxious to exclaim with the poet, On
| with the dance. let joy be unconfined'
| bered that this heightened outfit has been
got up for a special, definite purpose, as a
Mt welcome to one who has come among US
i with the high and holy object Of instructing
our offspring and elevating the educational
ideals of this community. We. of this
| Bachelors Club, may possess no offspring
to instruct. but we sympathize with them
others who have. and desire to show our
/ interest In the work. We have here with
| us tonight one of the loveIiest Of her sex.
flower of refinement and 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
I our beloved country, and to her honor we
| now dedicate the fleeing hours of this fes-
| tai night. 1t is impossible for her to greet
! you all personally, much as she wishes to
4 do so, but as president of the Bachelor
1 Miners Pleasure Club, and also," with a
| deep bow to his blushing and embarrassed
companion. Il may venture to add, as an
| intimate friend Of the fair guest. now in
troduce to you Glencaid's new schoolmis-
| tress-Mlss Phoebe Spencer. Hip! Hip!
! Hurrah9
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 spon-
/ taneous demand for speech. Miss Spen-
I! Ger shook her fossy head helplessly, feeling
too deeply agitated to utter word; and
Il To avyor h{vanv h,xkf
| important part he was playing in the bril-
I liant spectacle, stepped before her. waving
/ the cfamorous assembly into temporary and
expec.ant silence.
Our charming guest" he announced in
| tones vibrant with authority, sis SO deeply
| anected by this spontaneous outpouring of
! your goodwill as to be unable to respond in
! words. Let us respect her natural embar-
rassment; 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 may
| whirling of the dance we wilf7at once sink
1 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 poets lines, written
OF similar occasion:
! There was sound of reyelry by night
/ AND proud Giencaid haa gathered then
Her beauty and her chlvalry, and bright
| The lamps shone DER fair women and brave men,"
So. scatter ovt. 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 dis heart forth to the earliest strains of
the violins. his genial smile evidencing his
satisfaction.
i "Say-eh-just hold on-eh-a minuter'
] Moffat wheeled about. a look of amaze
4 ment replacing his previous jovial smile.
His eyes hardened dangerously as they en-
countered the face of Mcneil. The latter
was white about the lips. but primed for
action. and not inclined to waste time in
Ipreliminaries
Look here. this amt your time to butt
4 in began Monat, angrily. but the other
! waved his hand.
Say. gents-eh-that Teller had his spiel
! all right-eh-ain't he? He wants to be-eh
1.-The whole hos. but-eh-I reckon this is
1eh-free country, Amt 1t! Don't have
chino show"
/ go on, Blll!'
4 "Of course you do"
Make Jack Moffat shut upr'
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 in
stinctiveiy flung one hand back to his hip.