HAVILAND REFUSES
"Nobleness still makes us proud"
--FREDERICK GEORGE SCOTT
The election was Haviland's.
A great crowd gathered into Dormillière at the close of that long day,
thickening and pouring in from the country around, and arriving by boats
across the river, to hear the returns: and as Zotique read them in
triumph from a chair at the door of the Circuit Court, and the issue, at
first breathlessly uncertain, finally appeared, the cheering became
frantic. Chamilly himself came out to them, an incomprehensible,
determined aspect on his face, and amid deafening hurrahs, was seized
and hurried on their shoulders across the square to the crier's rostrum,
where he stood up before them.
And then and there took place the most unheard of incident, the most
remarkable outcome of Haviland's lofty character, of which there as yet
was record.
His voice can be heard distinct and clear over a perfect hush. What does
he say? tell me,--have we really caught it correctly? Fact unique in
political history; _he was refusing the election on account of the
frauds_!
"Grandmoulin,"--was Picault's subsequent remark, "The young fool has
courage. What a deep game he is playing. I tell you he has more talent
than the whole of our side together except yourself--curse him."
"It demonstrates the unpractically of his methods!" said the burly
Montreal politician to Zotique, with self-satisfied disgust.
"No," returned Zotique, firmly, "If we had followed his methods it would
have been far better. But nothing can make up for lack of intelligence:
_Sacré bleu_. I ought to have had a better head than to leave these
people to such as Cuiller and Benoit!"
Chamilly addressed firm words to the disappointed electorate: "I seek
not my own cause, friends. It is yours in which I do this thing and do
you, too, give all for country's honor. Lose not heart. Work on, like
iron figures, receiving blows without feeling them. Be we young in our
strength and hope, as Truth our mistress is perennial. Accept from me
who according to the rule of faint hearts ought to be most crushed by
our failure, the motto, "_Encouraged_ by disaster!"