FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   259   260   261   262   263   264   265   266   267   268   269   270   271   272   273   274   275   276   277   278   279   280   281   282   283  
284   285   286   287   288   289   290   291   292   293   294   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   304   305   306   307   308   >>   >|  
debate came to a sudden end, of course. Triumph No. 1. Then the vote was taken on the adoption of the report and it carried by a surprising majority. Mr. Buckstone got the floor again and moved that the rules be suspended and the bill read a first time. Mr. Trollop--"Second the motion!" The Speaker--"It is moved and--" Clamor of Voices. "Move we adjourn! Second the motion! Adjourn! Adjourn! Order! Order!" The Speaker, (after using his gavel vigorously)--"It is moved and seconded that the House do now adjourn. All those in favor--" Voices--"Division! Division! Ayes and nays! Ayes and nays!" It was decided to vote upon the adjournment by ayes and nays. This was in earnest. The excitement was furious. The galleries were in commotion in an instant, the reporters swarmed to their places. Idling members of the House flocked to their seats, nervous gentlemen sprang to their feet, pages flew hither and thither, life and animation were visible everywhere, all the long ranks of faces in the building were kindled. "This thing decides it!" thought Mr. Buckstone; "but let the fight proceed." The voting began, and every sound ceased but the calling if the names and the "Aye!" "No!" "No!" "Aye!" of the responses. There was not a movement in the House; the people seemed to hold their breath. The voting ceased, and then there was an interval of dead silence while the clerk made up his count. There was a two-thirds vote on the University side--and two over. The Speaker--"The rules are suspended, the motion is carried--first reading of the bill!" By one impulse the galleries broke forth into stormy applause, and even some of the members of the House were not wholly able to restrain their feelings. The Speaker's gavel came to the rescue and his clear voice followed: "Order, gentlemen--! The House will come to order! If spectators offend again, the Sergeant-at-arms will clear the galleries!" Then he cast his eyes aloft and gazed at some object attentively for a moment. All eyes followed the direction of the Speaker's, and then there was a general titter. The Speaker said: "Let the Sergeant-at Arms inform the gentleman that his conduct is an infringement of the dignity of the House--and one which is not warranted by the state of the weather." Poor Sellers was the culprit. He sat in the front seat of the gallery, with his arms and his tired body overflowing the balustrade--sound a
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   259   260   261   262   263   264   265   266   267   268   269   270   271   272   273   274   275   276   277   278   279   280   281   282   283  
284   285   286   287   288   289   290   291   292   293   294   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   304   305   306   307   308   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Speaker

 

galleries

 

motion

 

ceased

 
voting
 

gentlemen

 

members

 

Sergeant

 
Division
 

Buckstone


Voices
 
Second
 

Adjourn

 

adjourn

 

carried

 

suspended

 

impulse

 

stormy

 

wholly

 

applause


overflowing
 

silence

 

balustrade

 

restrain

 

gallery

 

thirds

 
University
 
reading
 

culprit

 
direction

dignity

 

moment

 
attentively
 

general

 

titter

 
conduct
 
inform
 

gentleman

 

infringement

 

object


warranted

 

spectators

 

rescue

 
Sellers
 

offend

 
weather
 

feelings

 

seconded

 

vigorously

 
decided