Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-10-23


over and over to himself the address
to be delivered before the Governor in
the evening. And as he read his face
had wintry and iphospitable look.
The night came. Old Roses entered
the dining room quietly with the
crowd, for in the Governors wake.
According to his request, he was given
a seat in n distant corner, where he
was quite inconspicuous. Most of the
men present were in evening dress.
He wore plain tweed suit, but car
ried handsome rose in his button
hole. 1t was impossible to put him at
disadvantage. He looked distin-
guished as he was. He appeared to be
much interested in Lord Malice. The
early proceedings were cordial, for the
Governor and his suite made them
selves most agreeable, and talk flowed
amiably.
After a time there was rattle of
knives and forks, and the Chairman
arose. Then, after chorus Of "henr,
hears, there was general silence. The
doorways of the rooms were filed by
the women servants of the hotel. Chief
among them was Vic, who kept her
eyes mostly on Old Roses. She knew
that he was to read the address and
speak, and she was more interested in
him and his success than in Lord
Malice and suite. Her admiration of
him was great. He had always treated
her as lady, and it had done her
good He had looked earnestly and
kindly into her brown eyes, and
"And ] call upon Mr.. Adam Sher-
wood to speak to the health of his Ex-
cellency, Lord Malice"
In his modest corner, Old Roses
stretched to his feet. The Governor
glanced over carelessly. He only saw
n figure in gray, with II rose at button
hole. The Chairman whispered that it
was the owner of the house and gar
den which had interested his Excel
lency that afternoon. His Excellency
looked II little closer, but saw only q
rim of iron gray hair above the paper
held before Old Roses face.
Then voice came from behind the
paper: "Your Excellency, Mr.. Chair
man and Gentlemen"
~ uiIC liIob hOIbo lilt 'ONtTuOT
started, and his eyes flashed searching
ly, curiously at the paper that walled
the face and at the iron gray hair.
The voice was distinct and clear, with
modulated emphasis. 1t had a pc
culiarly penetrating quality. A few in
the room-and particularly Viewers
struck by something in the voice
that it resembled another. She soon
found the trail. Her eyes also fastene /
on the paper. Then she moved and
went to another door.
Here she could see behind the paper
at an angle. Her eyes ran from the
screened face to that of the Governor.
His Excellency had dropped the lower
part of his face in his hand, and he
was listening intently. Vic noticed
that his eyes were painfully grave and
concerned. She also noticed other
things.
The address was strange. 1t had
been submitted to the committee an6
though it struck them MS out-of-the
wayish, it had been approved. Ii
seemed different when read rs Ol5
, Roses was reading it. The words
sounded SO inclement rs they were
= chiselled out by the speakers voice
s Dickey Merritt afterward declared that
t many phrases were interpolated by
l Old Roses at the moment.
The speaker referred intimately and
l with peculiar knowledge to the family
= history of Lord Malice, to certain
more or less private matters which did
not concern the public, to the author
ity of the name and the high duty de-
voIving upon one who bore the earl
dom of Malice. He dwelt upon the
personal character of his Excellency's
antecedents, and praised their honor
able services to the country. He re-
ferred to the death of Lord Malice's
/, eldest brother in Burmah, but he did
it strangely.
, Then, with acute incisiveness, he
) drew picture of what II person in SO
| exalted position as Governor
should be and should not be. His
voice assuredly had at this point fine
edge of scorn. The aides-de-
were nervous, the Chairman apprehen-
siye, the committee ill at ease. But
the Governor now was perfectly still,
though, as Vic Dowling thought,
rather pinched and old-looking. His
eyes never wandered from that paper
nor the gray hair.
Presently the voice of the speaker
changed.
''But, said he, Gin Lord Malice we
have-the perfect Governor; a man of
blameless and enviable life, and pos
sessed abundantly of discreetness,
judgment, administrative ability and
power; the absolute type of English
nobility and British characterr
Then he dropped the paper from be-
fore his face, and his eyes met those
OF tue Governor, and stayed. Lord
Malice let go long, choking breath,
winch sounded very much like i'm
measurable relief. During the rest of
the speech-delivered in fine tenn
pered voice-he sat as in dream. vet
his eyes intently upon the other, who
! now seemed to recite rather than read