"Good Lord!" said Mrs. Hawkins to Olive Green, who sat next to her, "to
hear that man talk anybuddy would think that nobuddy else in the town
ever did anything."
"To conclude," said the speaker, "I don't wish, feller citizens, to have
you understand that I am defendin' my actions. They were mean in spirit
and mean in the way in which they were done, but the one against whom
they were directed returned good for evil, and heaped coals of fire on
my head. At a time when events made me think he was my greatest enemy,
he became my greatest friend. It is to his assistance, advice, and
influence that I owe the present honorable position that I hold in this
town, and here to-night, in his presence, and in the presence of you
all, I have made this confession to show that I am truly repentant for
the past. At the same time, I cannot help rejoicing in the good fortune
that those misdeeds were the means of securin' for us all."
As the speaker sat down, overcome with emotion, he was greeted with
applause, which was redoubled when Mr. Sawyer arose in his seat. But
when Quincy leaned forward and extended his hand to Strout, which the
latter took, the excitement rose to fever heat, and cheers for Quincy
Adams Sawyer and Obadiah Strout resounded throughout the hall and fell
upon the evening air.
Pages:
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713