Part 64 (1/2)
”Play that again and play it right, or I'll wring your necks!”
She began to dance again, and soon danced as she had done at first.
Applause was beginning again; but at the sound she stopped, looked over the audience disdainfully, and turning, walked coolly from the stage.
”Who is she?” ”Well, did you ever see anything like that!” ”Well, I never did!” ”The insolent creature!” ”By Jove! she can dance if she chooses!” buzzed over the room.
”Good for her,” said Keith, his face full of admiration.
”Did you know her?” asked Miss Huntington.
”Well.”
The girl said nothing, but she stiffened and changed color slightly.
”You know her, too,” said Keith.
”I! I do not.”
”Do you remember once, when you were a tot over in England, giving your doll to a little dancing-girl?--When your governess was in such a temper?”
Lois nodded.
”That is she. She used to live in New Leeds. She was almost the only woman in Gumbolt when I went there. Had a man laughed at her there then, he would never have left the room alive. Mr. Wickersham tried it once, and came near getting his neck broken for it. He is getting even with her now.”
As the girl glanced up at him, his face was full of suppressed feeling.
A pang shot through her.
Just then the entertainment broke up and the guests began to leave. Mrs.
Wentworth beckoned to Lois. Wickersham was still with her.
”I will not trust myself to go within speaking distance of him now,”
said Keith; ”so I will say good-by, here.” He made his adieus somewhat hurriedly, and moved off as Mrs. Wentworth approached.
Wickersham, who, so long as Keith remained with Miss Huntington, had kept aloof, and was about to say good night to Mrs. Wentworth, had, on seeing Keith turn away, followed Mrs. Wentworth.
Every one was still chatting of the episode of the young virago.
”Well, what did you think of your friend's friend?” asked Wickersham of Lois.
”Of whom?”
”Of your friend Mr. Keith's young lady. She is an old flame of his,” he said, turning to Mrs. Wentworth and speaking in an undertone, just loud enough for Lois to hear. ”They have run her out of New Leeds, and I think he is trying to force her on the people here. He has cheek enough to do anything; but I think to-night will about settle him.”
”I do not know very much about such things; but I think she dances very well,” said Lois, with heightened color, moved to defend the girl under an instinct of opposition to Wickersham.
”So your friend thinks, or thought some time ago,” said Wickersham. ”My dear girl, she can't dance at all. She is simply a disreputable young woman, who has been run out of her own town, as she ought to be run out of this, as an impostor, if nothing else.” He turned to Mrs. Wentworth: ”A man who brought such a woman to a place like this ought to be kicked out of town.”
”If you are speaking of Mr. Keith, I don't believe that of him,” said Lois, coldly.