Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-27
the good Lord will show us some
other way to get him a start.
Mos respectively YOURS,


sheet partly back into the envelope.
The encouragement rose. saying he
had an important hearing in his de-
partment, and went out. The governor
remained silent for some moments,
sitting with his hand upon the coffee
| cup and his eyes upon the envelope
AT last he looked up and said:
Colonel, you have seen by. the
papers that many good men haveIpeen
recommended to me for appointmeps
to the vacant judgeship in your dis
| trict"
,"Yes. ! have, governor, and most Of
them would be an honor to the bench.
Our district has an unusually large
number of good lawyers.
| 1T has been a difficult question TO
decide. colonel. Few people know
what questions come before an eX-
ecutive. Just to give you an idea OF
their variety, colonel | have here
letter from man who puts the whole
future of his son into my charge. /
wish you would read it,
| He handed the sheet across the desk
and the colonel adjusted his glasses.
| "Strayton! the latter said. That
is in our judicial district, governor.
And it is from Dan Blair"
| You know him?' the governor
asked.
! mot personally, but understand ne
is worthy man, and would not ask
anything unless he was compelled to 90
So"
| While the colonel read the letter the
governor got up and set several books
straight in the revolving case near MS
| chair. then timed his watch by the
clock on the mantel. The colonel took
off his glasses when he had finished the
letter. and said:
THAT deserves the best considera-
ton. governor"
so it does, and as the boy is waiting
outside must do something with him.
That gives me two important matters
to decide in three-quarters of an
hour" the governor said, with his eye
on the clock. Il must appoint the
judge today before 1 start for the
train, and 1 must make man of Dan
| Blair's boy"
He stopped, and CLEAN of humor
came to his eyes as he added:
Il cannot appoint the boy as the
judge"
l -allu you CdllliOl llldhS d iliclil VI hiiA'A
| in three-quarters of an hour" the
| colonel said, with a smile.
| But l can make the boy a kind of
| adjunct to the jndgeship," said the
| governor. THAT is. the man who gets
the judgeship takes Dan Blair's boy.
But, to come to the point, colonel,
| how would you like to take both these
questions off my hands? You would
| be an honor to the bench, and I would
| be proud to announce such an appoint
| ment; and I am sure that in your dis
| trict you can find a good home for the
| boy and start him towards being
man."
The colonel glanced quickly at the
governor, and, seeing that he was
earnest, rolled the letter between his
| fingers and looked through the window
at the trees in the park. At last he
said:
This is an unexpected honor, gov
ernor.''
Il know it is, for your name has not
been mentioned, but there were OBJ
jections to all those who have been
named. and 1 cannot see a single one
to your appointment"
Il am glad it pleases you to say so,
governor said the colonel, but it IS
a great responsibility"
1.-The boy or the judgeship?" the gov
ernor asked with a smile, having OBJ
served that the colonel was favorable
to the latter.
Both" was the answer Though l
am not so sure but that the boy is the
greater responsibility of the two"
mo man is better equipped for
both urged the governor. And
would like you to accept both. I'll
have Mr.. Wood bring in the boy
His ring was answered by a page,
who received his bidding, and within
few moments the private secretary
brought in David Blair. He walked
forward as if remembering his moth
er's injunction to be manly, and the
governor took him kindly by the hand.
Il am very glad to see you, my
boy" ne said. II have read your
fathers letter, and I think we can do
what he asks. He did me service
shall always remember, and 1 am only
too glad to make a return. Colonel
Robertson, this is David Blair"
II presume you have seen me in
Strayton, my boy" the colonel said.
taking the boys outstretched hand.
''Oh, yes, sir: 1 have seen you.
Father pointed you out to me one day.
your father is very i'll, l under
stand?'
Eyes, sir; he will never get well"
II am very sorry to hear so. You
know, of course, that my home is not
many miles from yours"
Yes, sir. know where it is
$50 that if you should come over
there as our office boy and have the
best help Of my son and myself in
growing UP to be lawyer yourself,
you would not feel that you were alto
gether among strangers"
The boy looked up into his face, then
at the governor and back to the
colonel.
rs that what father asked in mis-
letter. sir?" he inquired.
"ETe wrote that he wanted me TO
make a man of you, David, the gov
ernor replied, land Colonel Robertson
is kind enough to help me. You VIII
be in the best of hands, and l. think
you should go"
+ David turned his hat i'm his hands
thpughtfully for a few moments, qpr