His face grew grave.
“I hardly think I need to state to the voters here to-day that the very fact of my standing forth to make this plea for Judge Willard indicates how necessary I think it is to put aside my personal feelings for the sake of the town.”
The expression on the faces of the listeners showed that they fully understood his allusion. It required no very close observation to see that Phineas Look, appealing for his old enemy, had won the majority of his townsmen to his side.
“I had heard that certain persons were planning to make a cowardly attack on him here to-day, and I did not propose to have my attitude toward him misunderstood, townsmen.”
The Squire shouted this.
“In Judge Willard’s presence I apologise for my frankness, but I say to you that he is an old man, to whom certain small things—small honours, if you care to say it—have much significance. I don’t believe the voters of this town will venture to wound an old man by any lack of generosity here to-day. I don’t believe they will listen to attacks made on him to satisfy selfish spite. I ask you, therefore, to treat this aged citizen with the consideration that is due to him. I ask you to nominate him by acclamation.”
He put both of his hands out to them, palms up, and smiled upon them with appeal in his eyes.
“That’s the way I feel about the town treasurer-ship, neighbours, and if the most of you don’t feel that way, too, I shall be disappointed. Will you not make it by acclamation?”
So accustomed were his townsmen to see the Squire at the head of their meetings that there was a chorus of “Ayes!” A half dozen men popped up and seconded his proposal. Squire Phin did not attempt to speak above this clamour, but smilingly motioned toward the moderator and took his seat beside Judge Willard.
The aged treasurer, during the time that the lawyer was speaking, sat twisting his thin hands under his shawl. His head swayed from side to side with a tremulousness that no one had observed in him before. His eyes were fixed appealingly on the face of his sponsor.