Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-02-15

much difference left between us, " Mr..
Hallam said, with soothing laugh
"But there's one thing that marks you
for northerner yet, Mr.. Adams, and
that is the way you call our darkies to
account as if they were white men.
You'll learn in time that the best of
them are not exactly responsible. As
for the old governor, he has been crazy
for years. "
"You say they are not responsible,
and yet you trust even the crazy ones
at large"
'The governor is perfectly harmless,
and in q certain way We are fond of
him. Can't you see that as long as we
have him about we are all of us kings,
with him for fool? We don't mind if
our dignity suffers little The old fell
low is healthy for u.s. He is shrewd
enough to hit all our weaknesses. "
cts very pleasant and kind to take
that forbearing view of him." Adams
said, "but l feel that the community
will regret its course some day. He is
Enthusiastically, and he's likely at any
time to make trouble either by uneX-
pected violence or by pure lack of sense.
Mrs. Adams thinks I'm hard hearted not
to let him hang round our place any
more since we've had the children, but
l tell you don't dare to have him with
them, and my minds not easy while
he's at large. 1 suppose l take him
more seriously than other people do
because he's so devoted to my family"
81 don't think you have cause to-,
said the minister Gwen if the govern
or were to grow violent-though he
never will-he would not hurt a hair
on your wife's head or touch the chill
dren. He would die like dog for any
Of your father-in laws people. l don't
believe he would ever have gone crazy
if the family had not broken up at the
old gentleman's death. After Miss Hal
lie went north, sir, he just crawled into
his cabin and grieved himself daft. His
heart would have broken if his mind
had not. Mr.. Hallam checked him
self suddenly. He was growing warm,
and he remem Sered that he had said all
this before. 1t had done no good, to be
sure Yet lie felt that Adams was a
kindly, well meaning man, whom it
would be useless to offend, since, after
all, he could not be expected to under
stand.
ut is queer, isn't it,, the minister
resumed, that the body stands broken
mind so much better than a broken
heart? A sad illustration of that came
to me the other day. was called to see
a dying woman. She was dying of
heartbreRk, nothing else, and it was
because her husband had gone insane.
He, poor man, is hale and hearty, like
ly to live out his years, but the doc
tors say he is hopelessly mad"
81 know who you mean-the Tay-
lors, p" said Adams, and their talk drift
ed safely away from the governor, who
in the meantime was wandering down
the street, while the whole town might
hear that he was on his way to a camp
meeting then i'll progress in the next
town south.
Just as the knot Of people who had
been waiting for the mail to be distrib-
uted scattered from the postof1ice Adams
hurried in. Mr.. Hallam, in his privi-~
legged, elderly way, had delayed him aft
er it was evident that the mail was
open, and now Adams was eager to be
getting home, for the afternoon was
wearing late, and there were clouds
gathering He must stir his tomato
pickers to get over the field as fast as
possible, for fear the storm would catch
him with ripe tomatoes on the vines.
The tallative postm'H A2r seemed to have
been lying in wait for him, however.
Heard tho joke on Brother Parish?"
he asked.
mo, b" said Adams brusquely.
"Well, said the postmaster in the
exasperating tone Of one who settles to
leisurely enjoyment Of his own story,
'well, you know Brother Parish-only
being stationed here last year-don't
know the governors ways very well
and don't like him, but he don't want
to show it, so he's always trying to
joke with him, Bless you, the old gov
NH