The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-12-07
SADIE'S VISIT TO
s. THE GOVERNOR.
BY HARRIET cARYL cox.

THE governor was returning from
luncheon in good humor, albeit in
something Of hurry.
Te had fingered longer than he in
tended, listening to the anecdotes OF
his companions; so now he passed rap
IDLY down the corridors of the state
house, exchanging greetings with those
he met, and entered his own office.
His quick eyes noted the one clerk
Lusi.v at work, and he nodded as he
passed on to the inner Office.
Eis hand was on the doorknob when
child's voice demonstrated: "The
governor amt in there; he's gone to
dinner. You'll have to wait"
The clerk turned his head as if to
speak; but the governor silenced him
with a motion as he turned toward the
speaker. His kindly eyes took in with
4 glance the small girl figure resting
back ii the big chair. Her feet did not
reach to the floor; her coat was flung
over the back of another chair, and her
nat hung on to the doorknob of the
governors private Office. She certain
iv was very much at home.
She looked up and smiled.
Have some?" she said, holding up a
doughnut. There are plenty more"
looking down at the paper bag in her
lap. Il brought my lunch along, cause
1 was afraid I'd get hungry; and if
you've got to wait you might as well eat
something too.''
The governor smiled in answer.
"I've been here most forever" she
continued, confdingly, "and there've
been just piles of folks in; but that man
over there'-pointing to the listening
clerk-"he said the governor couldn't
see anyone before three o'clock. Hes
4 real nice man, though, even if he did
send them off, emust be some partic-
ular friend Of the governor, I guess, see
ing he stays here all the time and looks
out for things. He's been real polite to
me, and you'd like him, I know" nod
ding gravely into the governors nused
face.
Suppose we go in here and wait, :"
suggested the governor, opening the
door of his inner Office.
"Oh, daren't!" The child's voice
was full of awe. cts the governors,
you know, and he mightH't like it."
Her voice was scarce above whisper
as she slipped noiselessly from her chair
and stood by the governor, gazing into
the room with wide-open eyes.
'N'c might go in, don't you think?'
qreried the governor, a break in his
voice, turning to the clerk.
"Oh, yes, certainly" replied the clerk,
with an answering smile.
There! didn't tell you?" cried the
child, as she danced into the room.
Hes kind man, just as I said"
You sit there" indicating the re-
vo.ving chair at the desk, land we'll
make believe you're the governor. /
wish you were wistfully.
"Why?" queried the governor. "You
aren't afraid of him, are you?'
No." hesitatingly. That is, not
much. I guess almost amt. But he's
the governor. you know, and has to do
very important things, and he might
rot like to be bothered with little
girl. But I wouldn't be afraid of you,
cause you've got such kind eyes. You'd
listen to me, but he might tels me to get
out. Do you suppose he would?'
No. the governor reassured her.
He might be very busy, you know, but
1 guess he'd listen to you; that is, if
you should tell your story well and
plainly. You might tell it to me as
sort OF practice, then can tell better if
the governor will listen to YOU
al right" she began, settling back
il her chair and rubbing its shiny arms.
It's about a fair, you see," looking
NJ into the kind eyes. 1--WE want to
have one out where I live-one to help
the grand army, you know. cause they
were soldiers, and their houses got
burned down, and they don't have any
pace to meet. But nobody won't go to
fairs, cause they're tired of them, and
some one said if they could only "'
the governor to come dow2 p =.
there AID say something, a. snake
hands with the people, hey could
get big crowd out.
folks would come frc7n all round,
same's they do to cattle show, cause
they're awfully fond of the governor.
He's the best one we ever had, you
know. That's what they say, bE@E
guess it's partly cause some of the men
was in the same company with him in
the war; and seeing he's governor and
they know him, it makes 'em feel pretty
big.
Anyway, I heard MAJ say so; but
then, he's always saying something that
amt nice. He said the governor
wouldn't come when the committee
wrote to him about it; and when the
answer came that he had too many en-
gagements he just smiled and said: 1
tcld you so.'
And they felt awful discouraged,
and papa felt so bad just thought I'd
come and see about it. l thought If
could see the governor and tell him
about it, perhaps he'd come after all.
don't suppose he will, though, seeing
I'm only little girl
He might the governor suggest
ed. looking beyond her out of the win
dow. He might not have under
stood, you know; for he gets a good
many invitations to go to places, and
probably he didn't realize how much
you wanted him."
The child's face frightened. ''Oh,
we do want him awfully,' she cried;
"and we'd make lots of money. know.
And thought perhaps he'd bring his