OCR Text |
Show IIO she murmured, trembling yet full of unquestioning trust. A dozen eager men were closin(i around us. The Senbys had not been invited to jom any set. I gave back Lucy into the charge of her aunt. At once the suspected apostates became very popular. Whitebearded Elders and young fops dressed in the latest Pansmn style bowed and smirked to the merchant and his wife and begged the pleasure of an introduction to their niece. The first man to be favoured was requesting the pleasure of the next dance with Sister Neville when Chilcott thrust his way in through the group. "You're a bit too late, Brother Daggett" he exultingly called out. " This is my dance with Sister Neville." ." Excuse me, Brother Chilcott," I broke in. " If this IS to be a waltz, it is promised to me." ~e souphtto intimidate me with his threatening gaze. Don tJorget I asked S1ster Neville last night," he said. She favoured you with the first dance. The second is mine. As for its being a waltz we don't favour such Gentilish immoralities as r~und dances." !:fY anger ov~rbalanc~d my caution. Whatever It Is, you II not have this dance." He leaned towards me. "What's that you say? " " Tut-tut, boys! What's the row? " demanded the voice of Brigham at my elbow. " This young roos~~r thinks he's cock of the walk," sneered Chilcott. He wants every dance with Sister Neville." . " Not every one, Brother Brigham," I said, turnmg to smile mto the Prophet's suave face. " But as Miss Neville is my wife to be it seems to me that I - " , "Wife to be? H'm! That's news" he broke in squinting at Lucy's rosy face. ' ' THE MORMON LION III " Mrs. Sen by will tell you that our betrothal is very recent," l hastened to add. ' Yes, yes, indeed- very recent," murmured Mrs. Sen by, concealing her astonishment with difficulty. Mr. Sen by mopped his red face and bald head, and beamed upon me. The Prophet did not beam. He turned from Lucy to scrutinize me with an unpleasant stare. "You may remember that I asked counsel of you," I reminded him. " It was the first time I called at your office. You advised that I should press my suit with Sister Neville." "Ah, so I did- so I did," he admitted, his immeasurable egotism gratified by my deferential tone and the proof of my obedience to counsel. " Still, you're not yet scaled to Sister Lucy, my boy-And Brother William ain't either, though I take it he's got some sort of claim to this dance. I'll judge between you the way the stranger did with the boys and the nut- I'II take the kernel myself." The musicians had begun to play the Virginia reel. He offered his arm to Lucy. I smiled and signed for her to go with him. It is best not to growl at an uncaged lion- unless ready to shoot. Chilcott shouldered past me, his eyes glinting with cold anger. " Don't be so sure," he muttered. " You haven't got her yet- and you're not going to get her. It's between him and me." " I have obeyed counsel in the matter, Brother Chilcott," I mildly replied. He turned away, w1th an oath. Cora was standing where he could not fail to see her. He ignored her, to select a young girl from the surplus of ladies inevitable during a single-partner dance. Though Cora was a marri~d woman and men were so scarce, several young dand1es had clustered around to beg of her the pleasure of her company for the reel. She waited until her husband passed by, and then waved her fan to me. |