Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 11.pdf/418

 A Three-Cornered Election. fellow-men, in the direction in which it is cal culated to bring about the most good to this great Province of Carolina." The expression here bestowed upon " friend Turbeville" said plainly that there was but one direction in which to cast it in order to bring about such a result, and that was in the direction toward Broughton himself. At the same time there was such a look over spreading the whole bland face that said plainly that did he decide to cast it at so worthy a target, it would not be dodged. "Come," said Mr. Gibbs, "let us vote. We are wasting precious time." His impatience was great. He let it be seen, and it lost him the day, as it has many a man before and since. The result of the second ballot showed no random firing. It was a clear shot. Each man from his corner had sighted straight at the mark. A governor for the great Province of Carolina had been elected. Broughton had again voted for himself; so had Gibbes. But to Broughton's vote had been added that of Turbeville. The newly-elected governor arose quickly. He was clearly elated. "Having received two-thirds of the votes cast," he said, " I am plainly elected." Then he waited no longer, not even to thank the man whose vote, cast in response to affectionate solicitation, had given the de cisive turn to the election. This was another fatal error committed that day, but Gibbes was not to be the sufferer this time, far from it. The newly-elected governor of the great Province of Carolina moved off pompously, albeit with celerity. To the friends gathered in the building he announced the result and also to those he met on the streets. In each instance he would add, " I am going home to prepare for the inaugural. I must have my friends present and many of my people. Now, you do your best by my return to morrow, to make arrangements worthy of — of — ahem! of the occasion."

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The back of the new governor had not more than disappeared from the room, when the honorable chief justice, turning to plain Mr. Turbeville, remarked, " He goes quickly. His head is all in a whirl like a top. Some men can't stand honors it is clear." Then he added a little ironically as well as insinuatingly, " It does look as though he might have tarried long enough to return thanks for favors received." The expression of " friend Turbeville's" face at that moment showed plainly that he fully endorsed these words. He was a man of feeling as well as of oscillation. The mere fact that he could swing from side to side proved that he had very impressionable sen sibilities. "Had it been for me now, my dear Mr. Thurbeville, that you had shown your prefer ence," continued Mr. Gibbes, with an air as suave as though he were addressing one of the Lords Proprietors himself, " I would have considered my first obligation to you, not only in the shape of thanks, which would have been immediately fortheoming, but in another and — a — a — in short, in a more substantial way. I am sure you understand me. The governor of this great Province, aside from his exalted position, also has favors to bestow, which it seems your friend Broughton forgot along with — shall I say — with his manners." Mr. Turbeville approached and gave the honorable chief justice a close scrutiny; he asked, "Have I not the right to change my vote?" The words came slowly, but those of Mr. Gibbes's reply did not. They were quick and to the point. "Yes, if on second thought you become convinced that you have not cast it to the best effect and to the highest good of this great Province which we have the honor to represent, you and I." The words as well as the manner were highly flattering to Mr. Turbeville. He had made a mistake. He saw it now. Here