The Further Adventures of Quincy Adams Sawyer and Masons Corner Folks | Page 4

tonight, but we've lots of boarders, and they're allus wantin' ice water or
somethin' else, and so I told him he'd got to stay to home. You'll have
plenty of time to see him to-morrer."
Many others greeted the Governor and his right hand felt the effect of
so many hearty grips, some of them of the horny-handed variety.
The Cottonton Brass Band was now stationed in the hall, and a short
concert closed the evening's entertainment, which was allowed, by all,
to be the most high-toned affair ever given in the town.
As Quincy laid his head upon his pillow that night, his mind reverted to
his first arrival at Mason's Corner, and the events that had taken place
since.
"Alice, five years ago, could your wildest imagination have conjured up
such an evening as this?"

"No, Quincy. What has taken place in our lives is truly wonderful. My
daily prayer is that these happy days may last."
CHAPTER II
A DAY WITH THE GOVERNOR
Governor Sawyer sat in the Executive Chamber at the State House. It
was eleven o'clock on the morning following the festivities at
Fernborough. Quincy and Alice had staid over night at the Hawkins'
House, and Ezekiel in the morning urged them strongly to wait a day
and see what great improvements he had made on the old farm which
had been so neglected during the last years of Mrs. Putnam's life. But
Quincy said his presence in Boston was imperative, that certain matters
required his attention, and so the earliest train brought him and his wife
to the city. Quincy left the carriage under the arch at the State House.
Alice was driven to the well-known house on Mount Vernon Street, in
which Aunt Ella had lived so long, but which had lost much of its
cheerfulness, and all of its Bohemianism since that lady had gone to
England and become Lady Fernborough.
The Executive Chamber was a large room, and simply furnished with a
flat top desk of wine-red mahogany, a bookcase, and a few chairs. A
door to the left led to the office of the private secretary; the one to the
right to a short and narrow corridor across which was the door of the
Council Chamber--a room occupied by that last link between
democratic and aristocratic government. It must not be inferred that the
members of the Council are aristocrats--far from it, but with the
lieutenant-governor they form a "house of lords" which may or may not
agree with the policies of the chief magistrate. They can aid him greatly,
or they can "clip his wings" and materially curb his freedom of action.
The Council is a relic of the old provincial and colonial days, its
inherited aristocratic body clothed in democratic garments. As its duties
could be performed by the Senate without loss of dignity, and with
pecuniary saving, its retention as a part of the body politic is due to the
"let well enough alone" policy of the American citizen which has

supplanted the militant, progressive democracy of his forefathers.
At the end of the short corridor was the office of the Executive
Secretary and his stenographer from which, through an opening hung
with portières, one passed into the general reception room where the
faithful messenger stood guard, authorized to learn the business of each
new-comer.
The private secretary had opened the mail and had assorted it as
"ordinary," "important," and "most important." For an hour the
Governor dictated steadily, and it would take several hours' clicking of
the typewriter before the letters and documents were ready for his
signature.
The waiting-room was now filled with persons desiring audience with
his Excellency. A well-known city lawyer and ward politician was the
first to enter.
"Good-morning, Guv'nor."
The Governor arose, came forward, and extended his hand. "Good-
morning, Mr. Nutting."
"Are you going to send in the names of the Industrial Expansion
Committee to-day?"
"I have intended to do so."
"Well, I want to say a good word for Mr. Collingwood. He is
promoting a company to develop water power on the Upper
Connecticut above Holyoke. He is a client of mine, and I can vouch for
his business ability and his desire to improve and increase our
manufacturing facilities."
The Governor was silent for a time. He was busily thinking. No doubt
this Mr. Collingwood was concerned financially, indirectly if not
directly, in the proposed company he was promoting, and perhaps Mr.
Nutting himself would profit far beyond his normal legal fee if Mr.

Collingwood was named on the commission. Mr. Nutting noticed the
delay of his Excellency in replying.
"It will be all right if you send his name in. There will be no doubt of
his confirmation."
Again the Governor thought. The four wheels of the executive coach
were