en Jethro first took a mortgage on his farm, only his skin is beginning to resemble dried parchment, and he is a trifle more cantankerous. On the morning of that memorable day when, "Uncle Tom's C

here won't nobody go to it. For cussed, crisscross contrariness, give me a moss-bac

show, be you, Am

I hain't agoin' nigh the house to-night

" queried Mr. Merrill looking at

he go?" asked W

nd while Wetherell was pondering over the possible meaning of these words the Ho

aid, taking a seat nea

gal-Alvy-se

ave a glance

med his inspection through the lace curt

then I'll never mention the governorship again. But if it don't miss fire," and the Honorable Alva lean

guessed

ave to see that the boys get the tickets. Cassandry's got a head on her shoulders, and she kind of wants to be governor, too." He got as far as the door, when he

ough the window curtains at the ever ganging groups of gentlemen in

tain event, Mr. Hopkins was promised the governorship: so much was plain. And it was also evident that Miss Cassandra Hopkins was in some way to be instrumental. Willi

presently, "you know H

tt

es

tep in and see me before the sess

ainly

s comin' by,

n attracting his attention, as Mr. Sutton took no manner of notice of the customary form of placing one's hand under his elbow and pressing gently up. Summoning up his courag

mber 7," said Wetherell, and added, rememberin

apidly. Before the astonished gentlemen who had penned him could draw a breath, Mr. Sutton had reached the stairway and, was mounting it with an agility that did h

ctions sat, as tight as ever in their seats, and the Truro Franchis

. Many of the Solons had sent home for their wives; that they might do the utmost justice to the Honorable Alva's hospitality. Even Jethro, as he ate his crackers and milk, had a new coat with brig

lroad, Mr. Lovejoy, as the chief of the revolving satellites. People began to say that Mr. Lovejoy was hooked at last, now that he had lost his head in such an unaccountable f

table next to Cynthia that evening, did a great deal of joking with the Honorable Heth about having to preside aver a woodchuck session, which the S

to find a fascination in watching the group of politicians there. First of all he encountered Mr.

mos?" remarked the storekeeper,

nt, Amos turned u

going to the s

urself

her I'm a-goin' or not,"

wandered slowly but ceaselessly from group to group, kicking up his heels behind, and halting always in the rear of the speakers. Needless to say that this was our friend Mr. Bijah Bixby, who was following out his celebrated tactics of "going along by when they were talkin' sly." Suddenly Mr. Bixby's e

Mr. Merrill came down the rotunda whistling, with his hands in his pockets. He stopped

tunate," said Mr. Merril

etherell. Wetherell writ

peaking to me about las

n, president of

h the spectacles, putting out his hand. "I'm glad to meet you, v

had a variety of emotions which may be imag

or you, Duncan. It occurred to me that you would like

got back," sa

see your library. I was

swered Mr. Duncan. That library, as is well k

em, could scarcely utter a sensible word. Almost before he realized what had happened he was following Mr. Duncan out of the Pelic

erell?" inquired the railroad preside

therell, modestly. Such incense was overpo

n the spur-I shall always remember that: the gaunt farmer, toiling every minute between sun and sun; the thin, patient woman bending to a task that never charged or lightened; the children gro

d seen the day before, and walked across the lawn through the open door. William Wetherell had a glimpse of a great drawing-room with high windows, out of which was wafted the sound of a piano and of youthful voice and l

great iron safe in one corner and laid them on the mahogany desk. It was the railroad president's hobby, and could he find an appreciative guest, he was happy. It need scarcely be said that h

ncan drew out his wa

to ask you to excuse me to-night, Mr. Wetherell. I'd like to sho

cle Tom's Cabin," said he would be happy to come. And they

about these things," continued Mr. Duncan, whose hear

iton for my health,"

, doesn't he" said Mr. D

n't know anythin

n, with something of a shock, that this mild-mannered gentleman was one of those who had been paying certain legislators to r

t, as I've had to. It's no joke to have that townsman of yours; Jethro Bass, opposed to you. I won't say anything against him, for he many be a friend of yours, and I have to use him sometimes myself." Mr. Duncan sighed. "It's all very sordid and annoying. Now this evening, for instance, when we might h

he stairs, some of them in their Sunday black; and the lobby above seemed, even to the storekeeper's unpractised eye, a trifle active for a woodchuck session. Mr. Duncan muttered someth

lmost a quorum here." He ran his eye ov

listening in silence to the droning voice of the clerk. Moths burned in the gas flames, and June bugs hummed in at the high windows and tilted against the walls. Then Mr. Duncan's

to extend the Truro Railroad to Harwich, having considered the same, report the same with the f

tense figure leaning on the rail, calling to some one below. A man darted up the centre, another up the side aisle. Then Mr. Duncan flashed at William Wetherell from his blue eye such a look of anger as the storekeeper never forgot, and

on their feet shoutin

n Wetherell perceived w

rent of Jethro's-he who

core of members crowded

e again rose a

f Wantage moves that the report of the Committee be

ent rural members who belonged to Duncan and Lovejoy's faction had tried to get away before the roll-call, destroy the quorum, and so adjourn the House. These, needless to say, were not parliamentarians, either. They had lacked a leader, they were stunned by the suddenness of the onslaught, and had not moved quickly enough. Like trapped animals, they wandered blindly about for a few moments, and then sank down anywhere. Each answered the roll-call sullenly, out of

at the theatre

l-call went on. Fosters Opera House was some six squares distant, and by a liberal estimate Mr. Duncan and his advance guard ought to get back within twenty minutes of the time h

? He's a hard one to fool, too. Never suspec

his life had depended on it, William Wetherell

t ever snarled up Al Lovejoy so that he didn't know where he was at. But it took a fine, delicate touch for her job and yours, Will. Godfrey, this is

When he reached Wells County, the last, Mr. Bixby so far lost

ow much time has gone away? Twenty minutes! Godfrey, so

etherell exclaim

screwed up

Accidents is li

e roll; an instant of absolute silence, save for the June-bugs, followed, while the assistant cle

the affirmative and forty-eight in the negativ

se-for a division vote would have opened the doors. Others tried to get out, and then ran down the aisles and called fiercely on the Speaker to open the doors, and threatened him. But the Honorable Heth Sutton did not lose his head, and it may be doubted whether he ever appeared to better adva

third time by its title, and be put upon its final passage at this time. And on this motion," thundered Mr. Sutt

of Ashb

he Speaker was through, and checked off the name. Bija

ent? Hain't as ruffled as I be. I've knowed him ever sence he wahn't no higher'n that desk. Never would have b'en in politics if it hadn'

ehind them. Men and women were cro

y. "Say, Will, they're bound to have got at 'em in the the

ance, came a faint, indefinable stir, not yet to be identified by Wetherell's ears as a sound, but registered somewhere in his brain as a warning note. Bijah Bixby, as sensitive as he, straightened up to listen, and then the whisper

Truro," sai

" whispered Bijah, excitedly. "I di

es

u hear s

n on the floor got to his feet and stood straining: a commotion was g

e of God, le

us white necktie fighting his way toward the rail. He wore no hat, his collar was wilted, and his norma

oy," said Bija

ing far out, he scanned the house with inarticulate rage while the roll-call went monotonously on. Some of the members looked up at him and laughed; others began to make frantic signs, indi

he said, "I he

and the sound of feet on stone flagging shook the silent

ns of U

but he was an old hand. Unmindful of the rumble on the wooden sta

of the House are suspended, and" (the clerk having twice mumbled the title of the bill) "the question

ating of door panels. Almost every member was standing, and it seemed as if they were all shouting,-"personal priv

ys in their pockets!" Mr. B

he got a semblance of order, recognized his man, and his gr

-call is ordered. The doorke

g rapidity, scarce waiting for the answers. Every man's color was known, and it was against the rules to be present and fail to vote. The noise i

they've a mind to now,"

ise is

n?" Wetherell de

n a question is put, he can't g

little. Lovejoy alone remained tense, though he had seated himself on a bench, and the hot anger in which he had come was now cooled into a vindictiveness that set the hard lines of his face even harder

firmative, forty-eight in the negative, and the bill p

uro Railroad to Harwich,

e of the bill unless o

r Sutton. "The doorkeep

ents and visitors to the capital, men and women to whom the drama of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was as nothing to that of the Truro Franchise Bill. It was a sight to look down upon. Fierce wrangles began in a score of places, isolated personal remarks rose above the din, but your New Englander rarely

owns," he said, "I had 'em in my pocket. Will, let's am

witnessed, for his brain was in a whirl; or Mr. Bixby may have hypnotized him. As they walked through the silent streets toward the Opera House, he listened perforce to Mr. Bixby's comments

der, there remained some sixty members whose loyalty was unquestioned, but whose reputation for discretion was not of the best. So much for the parliamentary side of the affair, which was a revelation of generalship and organization to William Wetherell. By the time he had grasped it they were come in view of the lights of Fosters Opera House, and they perceived, among a sprinkling of idlers, a conspicuous and meditative gentleman leaning against a pillar. He was ludicrously tall and ludicrously thin, his hand

Peleg? Er-y

id the g

under the elbow, and addressed

hake hands with Senato

Wetherell, Peleg,-from

ok one hand fr

. Bixby was once more pul

it here?"

ngton, sadly, and waved at the lobby. "T

Club come and packed the

"You understand,

irst come along Ball of Towles, hollerin' like blazes. They crum

can," Mr. Bixb

ccident," exclaimed M

n in the country

n the storekeeper a mourn

before. He didn't seem to gr

stand," put in Mr. Bi

abin," Mr. Duncan,' says Dan. 'You're a dam fool,' says Duncan. I didn't know he was profane. 'Make room for Mr. Duncan,' says Dan, 'he wants to see the show.' 'I'm a-goin' to see you in jail for thi

reupon he gave another shake to Mr. Hartington, wh

l have to git their wimmen-folks to press their clothes to-morrow. Then Duncan wanted to git out again, but 'twan't e

, as if he were overcome by the r

er-P

tington

y do?-what'

D

y git noti

ere was I? After awhile they went over t'other side of the street, tal

xby didn't seem

dn't

-banjos and thingumajigs in front of the curtain while they was changin' scenes, and they hitched

and poked Mr. Wetherell in an extremely sensitive portion of his rib

ee?" h

, Gibbs, don't ye?" i

tgers, on Lovejoy's railroad," replied Mr. Bixby, promptly.

ot the key to his law office right here in the Duncan Block, went up through the skylight, clumb down to the roof of Rand

ow!" ejaculat

still, but Airley wahn't affected. As quick as he got his breath he hollered right out loud's he could: 'The Truro Bill's up in the House, boys. We're sku

of falling into mournful revery and of forgetting

ome delay in gettin' to the street, but not much-not much. All the Republican Clubs in the

tand," said Mr. Bixby. "Say,

creeched and clutched on to Al, and Al said somethin' he hadn't ought to and tore off one of them pink gew-gaws she was covered with. He was the maddest man I ever see. Some of th

nd," said Mr. Bixby. "Callate Si pai

," assented Sen

more to be said. The sound of applause floated out of the Opera

ou, Peleg?" inq

gton shook

hin' of the show," said Mr. Bixby, alm

uess you'll find some of the show left. That ha

a knock at the door, and Mr. Bijah Bixby entered. Now, incredible as it may seem, Mr. Worthington did not know Mr. Bixby-or rather, did not

self in a chair very close to Mr. Worthington-somewhat to that gentleman's al

understand, and he drew

xb

of the Truro Railroad, indignantly; "this is neither the man

o see this bill, Mr. Worthington," he insisted, not at all a

roll, tied with white ribbon, and pressed it into Mr.

y that Mr. Worth