The Prescott daily news., 1908-07-11
excited Chinese chatter, a pause. and

excited Chinese chatter, pause, anu | the entrance of two men carrying towering white pagoda, surmounted by | the word God" in huge gilt letters. With some difficulty the sugary struc- ture was safely landed in the center of the table, and Vic Wah and his as- sistants withdrew to the cover of the
 doorway, where Stella saw the cook
 peeping expectantly through. It was
 his master tribute to the occasion. An instant of silence followed; then an infectious snicker ran around the table in spots breaking into an actual laugh
 Stella saw Vic Wahs eyes open
 wide with astonishment and question:; yet in a breath they gleamed with
 anger. His face went livid, and he
 hurried away.
 But Sally B. saved the moment. My
 cook set up all night to make that
 cake, MT. Crocker; please don't
 laugh!" she whispered past the two intervening guests.
 At once the host rose, and taking
 his cue from her anxious face, pro-
 posed a toast to The Cake and the Cook" that was responded to with
 hearty cheers Vic Wah entered
 bowed, and retired with beaming face
 The toastmaster now rapped for order The conversation and laughter
 ceased, the soft rustic of serving and
 eating hushed, and the speeches be- gan.
 MT. Crocker spoke first. to the gen. eral topic: "The Railroad" He told
 the story of it's inception and progress, paying tribute to Theodore T. Judah to the men who furthered the under taking i'll congress and legislature, to
 all the officers, especially to MT. Greg
 ory; and closed with neat compli
 ment to Alfred. Stella ever so gently
 pressed his arm with her own; but the
 woman on the other side smiled allur- ingly into his face, and pouted at her
 uncle.
 Uncle Charley didn't say half
 enough about you," she whispered. yet
 Stella heard it.
 
 of gratitude for me to liquidate," the
 beauty continued. "Or-or can I pay Uncle Charley's scores?" she ques- toned in mock humility, leaning to-
 ward Alfred till her breath brushed his cheek. Perhaps my coin is not
 current in your market" Of course, he had to meet her badin- age. She meant her coin should be
 current with him. and above par; and he would have been ice had he entire 1 ly escaped the spell of her witcheries. | Several speeches followed, among
 them MT. Ludlow's memorable toast,
 'The Pacific Railroad, the Beautiful
 the Golden Buckle"
 | At the close of the banquet Stella escaped through door; and from | cover of darkness watched knots of
 men gather and dissolve about Miss | Hamilton; marked her every motion
 and speech; noted her vivacity, her | perfect grace, her quick smile; saw | fiattered Alfred's ready response as
 she appealed to him prettily for fact | or corroboration of her own assertions. | The little court melted away at last. MT. Crocker was buttonholed by MT. | Gregory and led off. Viola disap- | peared; and Sally B. was already rush. | ing the transformation that must pre-
 cede the five o'clock breakfast. | When the radiant two were alone
 Stella saw Miss Hamilton's animation
 fade in a breath; saw her pale and
 tremble and lift a pathetic little face to Alfred And Stella marvelled at
 the heroism that had kept the girl
 keyed so long to her role. However
 artificial Miss Hamilton's manner
 might have been before, Stella recog-
 nized the significance of the dropped
 mask. Here was perfect honesty, and
 the sweet appeal of pain courageously borne. How could Alfred resist it, or | her trust in him, her beauty, all the subtle intimateness of the moment? |. "Oh, MT. Vincent, I've nearly died this last hour" she said unsteadily. Wont you please find Uncle Charley as soon as you can?"
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