The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-11-15

1 AoAk OoS INV n ouE.C
"Object !"
| The Speaker looked up In amaze
ment. The members of the Rans
turned about in their seats with
startled, guilty faces the rich geutIo.
men On the Speakers red lounge
leaned forward with rainsd expressions
MIR. Meredith WAS s.rl,l'g down the
centre aisle, his hat l.. S hand, his
face red, his eyeu on fire.
Hall way down tho aisle be halted
and once more shouted in that fearless
note:
II object! a million people IL Chi.
cago tonight are waiting to hear iron,
this House on this franchise bill
dare you to take it up in this sta, :
chamber sess,onY -
Mr.. Meredith's 3 hand swept large
arc that included ID. whole House as he
fuog his defiance, and then he stood
gla,ing ut them all. The eyes that
met Mr.. Meredith's eyes qualled the
House was still. No cne arose, no one
replied to him.
Then after a long minute OF this
painful silence tho Speaker, lowering
his head until janis could not SEQ his
face, said in low voice:
1"ObjectionS are heard."
And SO the franchise grab bill was
not taken up that day after all.
The session was very short after that.
and when the House adjourned Mr..
Meredith went down to the Speakers
dais. The Speaker looked up as If he
thought Mr.. Meredith was coming to
speak to him, but Mr.. Meredith stop.
ped st the steps, and taking Jamies
little hand he pressed It In his own big
palm and sa,d
"Come with me-"
1t was the proudest moment of
Janice life as he walked out OF the
noisy chamber, through the crowd of
angry, baffled members, past the star
ing pages, by the wondering doorkeep-
ers, and SO On out into the rotunda.
they walked down tho great white
stairs, and as they passed
around the polished brass railing of the
balcony on the second floor Mr.. Mere
ditA said, as K suddenly reminded of
something:
"Beg your pardon, but what's your
pame?"
"James Horn, replied jamie.
They kept on and jamie wondered
where they were going, until they
turned into the Governors office.
Jamles heart !eaped suddenly. Surely
this was day of big surprises, thought
he.
"Is the Governor in?" Mr.. Mere.
dith asked of the Governors private
secretary.
"Yes--just 60 right in. Mr.. Mere
dith," and in another instant Jamie
was standing beside Mr.. Meredith in
the presence of the Governor.
The Governor arose as they entered,
and looked first at Mr.. Meredith, then
lowered his kind blue eyes and fixed
them on Jamie.
"Governor, said Mr.. Meredith,
wish to present my little friend, Master
James Horn"
The Governor bowed, took Jamies
hand in his own and said in his soft
voice:
"I'm glad to meet you, Master Horn,
I'm sure"
Jamie felt himself tingIe all through
at the Governors wcrls.
"Maater Horn, Governor" continued
Mr.. Meredith, is Il page boy in the
House, and today, when we were all
caught mapping, he saved the franchise
bill from becoming 81 law"
xUC OONCAAOIs IOOhAnS uu0StAOu ~
Mr.. Meredith, said:
"Ah?"
eyes," answered Mr.. Meredith and
hen, when the Governor had notion
ID them take seats. and jamie had
worked and wlggled himself away
pack into deep leather chair, with
1is legs and feet sticking straight out
n front Of him. Mr.. Meredith told the
Governor the whole story. When he
lad done, the Governor arose and went
,ver to where Jamie sat in the big
:hair, his arms stretched along the
:hair's arms.
Jamie would have wriggled out of
he chair, but he had not time to do go.
And then, as he looked up into the
,rave, kind face, His Excellency, speak
pg very seriously, said:
"My boy, you have done the people
# Chicago and thespeople of Illinois
,reat servlce-a service you will under
tand some day-and now, ca their be.
lalf, wish to thank you for it,"