He leaned forward and his deep eyes
came out in their wonderful way and seemed to collect every pair of eyes
at the table, even the most astounded, as he raised his glass. We all
held our breaths and waited for him to speak.
"No wonder we are all stricken dumb at Mrs. Carter's telegram," he said
in his deep voice that commands everybody and everything, even the
terrors of birth and death. "The whole town will be paralyzed at the
news that its most distinguished citizen is only going to give them two
days to get ready to receive him. I can see the panic the brass band
will have now getting the brass shined up, and I want to be the one to
tell Mayor Pollard myself, so as to suggest to him to have at least a
two-hour speech of welcome to hand out at the train. We'll make it one
'hot time' for him when he lands in the old town, and here's to him, God
bless him. Every glass high!" They all drank, and I suppose it helped
them. I wish I could have drained a quart, but I couldn't swallow a sip,
though I did a good stunt of pretending.
[Illustration: "Every glass high"]
The rest of this evening has paid me off for every sin I have ever
committed or am ever going to commit.
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