Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-02-15
The Governors PrGrOgatiVeS.
By MARY T. EARLE.
Copyright, 1896, by the Author.l


Governor Browns prerogatiyes were
numerous and peculiar. Few governors
could have exercised them without
great remonstrance, but then few gov
ernors would have cared to exercise
them. AS a usual thing, a governor,
however INSCRIPTIONS, holds himself
above the temptations of grocery store
and scorns ordering his neighbors to de-
prive themselves of their old clothes on
his behalf But if Governor Brown had
weaknesses to which other governors are
not prone he was also exempt from
many failings common to men of pow
er. He was not given to wire pulling or
nepotism or bribery, and the preroga-
tives he chung to were freely granted
him by his people.
Freely granted? Indeed they were,
freely and smilingly granted, by all of
the old inhabitants of Newton and its
vicinity. But there was one man who
questioned them--a bustling northern
man, who, after marrying a southern
girl in the north and bringing her back
to her cid home, had awakened the
whole county to stirring activity, max
ing it banner county of the new south
as it had been of the old. This man
could not understand the way in which
the governors habits were tolerated
If he had had his way-but fortunately
even he could not go so far as that-if
he had been town marshal, for instance,
the governor would have been arrested
some day and put into any sort of Gus
tody where his various prerogatives
would have been but memory and a
desire.
There is point where patience
ceases to be virtue" Mr.. Adams was
heard to say, land 1 think this town
has long passed that point in its treat
ment Of that crazy old darky, Brown.
No wonder your negroes are incapable
and tritling when you all join in encour-
aging vagabondism and petty thieving
in such a way. / can't understand it.
Why, even my wife, one of the most
sensible women | know, used to take
my trousers before they were half worn
out and give them to the governor
What's worse, once caught her hang
ing pair over the back garden fence,
where they would be handy for him to
steal. I've had TO put stop altogether
to his loating round our place.
lyon seem to forget that your wife's
father used to own him., said Raynes,
the express agent.
II don't see what difference that
makes, " Adams said
mo, l suppose you don't, but your
wife does, " retorted Raynes. "Here the
old fellow comes now," he added, ION
time for the o'clock train. Don't you
know, Adams, that more people remem-
Der Newton for the governors prayers
than they do for your big shipments of
beans and tomatoes?"
whats that he's singing?" Adams
asked, with Il frown, ignoring the
agents question.
A noticeably tall, lank negro was
coming down the street. The long win
ter Overcoat he wore would have been
too warm for the sultry June weather
had it not been torn and battered till
the breeze ventilated it and fluttered its
fragments like streamers, much to the
delight of the four yelping dogs that
capered around him, led by short
strings These were the governors body
guard, and he was seldom seen without
them. The remains of fur cap did its
best to cover his gray wool, while what
he would have called his shoes made no
pretense of covering his faded looking
feet He was singing at the top of his
voice, but the barking of his dogs made
it difficult to understand the words.
Perhaps he realized this, for when he
saw Mr.. Adams in the group at the sta
ton he gave his followers cuff that
admonished them in silence.
Miss Halle Howard! Miss Halle
Howard! Lives on pound cake! Lives
on pound cake Coin to heaven! his
stentorian voice rang out.
Good news for you, Adams" laugh
ed Montgomery Stuart, the next largest
truck farmer to Adams, as he drove
up. 1.-THE governor must have broken
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